Advertising

Advertising Trends

Like most areas of marketing, advertising is changing rapidly.  Some argue that change has affected advertising more than any other marketing function.  The more important trends in advertising include:

Digital Convergence

While many different media outlets are available for communicating with customers, the ability to distinguish between outlets is becoming more difficult due to the convergence of different media types.  In advertising convergence, and more appropriately digital convergence, refers to a growing trend for using computer technology to deliver media programming and information.  Convergence allows one media outlet to take advantage of features and benefits offered through other media outlets.  For instance, in many areas around the world television programming is now delivered digitally via cable, telephone or satellite hookup.  This delivery method uses the same principles of information delivery that is used to allow someone to connect the Internet. 

The convergence of television and Internet opens many potential opportunities for marketers to target customers in ways not available with traditional television advertising. For example, technology may allow ads delivered to one household to be different than ads delivered to a neighbor’s television even though both households are watching the same program.  But convergence is not limited to just television.  Many media outlets are experiencing convergence as can be seen with print publications that now have a strong web presence.  The future holds even more convergence opportunities.  These include outdoor billboards that alter displays as cars containing geographic positioning systems (GPS) and other recognizable factors (e.g., GPS tied to satellite radio) pass by or direct mail postcards that carry a different message based on data that matches a household’s address with television viewing habits.