Dave Fleet’s Post

Last week, Jeremy S. Thompson, SVP, Corporate Affairs, Edelman Global Advisory, shared key insights from the 2024 Trust Barometer Special Report on Brands and Politics during his presentation at Brandweek 2024. Three key takeaways: 💡 Navigating election season is like surviving a horror movie—you need the right tools to make it to the end. 💡 Your ultimate survival tool? Understanding your permission space. This means identifying where your brand values intersect with both internal and external stakeholders. 💡 Don’t forget to factor in the political and cultural context of the landscape you're operating in. Ignoring it could lead to a classic case of contextual naiveté. 💡 And just like in every horror movie, the scary monster always returns for the sequel. Regularly revisit this exercise to ensure you're prepared for whatever comes next—election season or beyond. Download the full report: https://edl.mn/3Br4CdT

Do Brands & Politics mix? New Special Report from the Edelman Trust Institute exploring how to prepare for and navigate politics in a divided world. https://lnkd.in/gA9nWHy6 This is for CEOs, business leaders, board members and those who advise them. Particularly relevant to Chief Corporate Affairs, Marketing, Communications and Sustainability Officers. 1. Brand Nationalism emerges with force. Huge numbers of customers are rejecting foreign brands. It's happening on a scale we have not seen before. 2. Impossible to avoid even the most banal actions being seen as political by about 25% of people on both ends of the spectrum. Give up trying to stay out of trouble. You're in it, whether you like it or not. Just get smarter. 3. Surprising demand across the political spectrum for brands to "do more, not less" across a number of topics. Climate Change and Fair Pay top the list, with those on left, right and center all wanting action. 4. Hiding won't work. 71% of global respondents think you should stick to your position when put under pressure. The message is clear: don't back down. #Trust

How can brands be a unifying force in today’s world? This is a thought-provoking piece from my colleagues exploring the role of brands in a deeply polarized society. Check it out on Fast Company.

The other major news on this November 5? Sadly, most people will only talk about politics and economy a certain period of time every four years. And you know, what DO people speak about most days? - What's on Netflix, - Is the new olive oil in squeezable plastic bottle really good? - What's the latest drink at Starbucks... if they should go to Starbucks... etc. On November 5, submissions open for TIME top 100 most influential companies. Economy, jobs, aspirations, dreams, mental health, relaxation... all are emotions driven and led (sometimes not that well) by brands such Tesla, Disney, Amazon, Nike, Victoria's Secret, Apple, Skims, Patagonia...etc. Most companies don’t realize that this list is built from open nominations reviewed by TIME100’s expert board. That means your brand has a chance to be celebrated as one of the 100 companies making the biggest impact worldwide. TIME will once again recognize the 100 companies making the biggest impact around the globe. In today’s world, brands have grown to be as influential as politicians and cultural icons. They’re expected to have a bold vision for the future, connect deeply with audiences, create engaging experiences, set new standards, improve lives, and provide sustainable value. Of course, getting press for new products is important, but a place on the TIME 100 list? That’s the kind of recognition that can take credibility and influence to the next level. That's #PR #PR #Publicrelations #elections2024 #influential

Last week was an incredibly inspiring one, as I had the honor of judging the Golden Drum International Festival of Creativity works as part of the Omnichannel Jury. Our ambition was simple yet powerful: to discover creative solutions that are crisp, cut through the noise, and have the potential to inspire the industry for the future. 🤯 At the same time, my mind was weighed down by news from home, Slovakia, where aggression, divisive language, and backward thinking have been taking over. This contrast only deepened my belief in the necessity of creativity and communication as a tool for progress and inclusion. During our jury discussions, someone mentioned how our region—Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe—faces unique challenges that demand unique creative solutions. It struck me how deeply true that is. What I admire about Golden Drum is that the awarded work always feels deeply rooted in culture, reflecting current pressing issues. This year was no exception— the projects were a mirror of the times we live in. Businesses and private companies are stepping into roles that, ideally, should be carried out by the public sector and political representatives (hello there, my dear friends from Pride Business Forum). It’s clear that, when leadership falters, brands are rising to the challenge, standing up for values that go beyond profit. And to those courageous enough to honor humanity, stand strong, and use creativity as a force for good—I applaud you. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary. We need more voices that push for a society based on empathy, progress, and human dignity. In moments like these, I believe even more strongly in the power of communication, words, and media. We have the responsibility to use these tools to shift the narrative, to create a more human atmosphere that’s worthy of the 21st century. (And it also helps business, finally, there is data for that. Will talk about the Kantar Brand Inclusion Index soon). PS: Thank you for a wonderful discussion. Looking forward to seeing you in Portoroz. Kentaro Kimura, Costin Bogdan, Dawid Szczepaniak, Kerstin Raidma, Laura Tohtua, Miha Bevc, Mihai Gongu, Yolka Marcela Udičová 🫶🏻

Think young people don't read online news from trusted news sources? Think again! Fascinating piece of work from Newsworks and Jason Brownlee - powered by Ipsos iris clickstream data. If you want to understand how people actually behave rather than believe what they say they do, then Ipsos UK iris passive clickstream data can uncover the true story #newsworks #colourtext #ipsos #clickstream #passive #behaviouraldata #digitalfootprints #onlinejourneys

Great to see this Jo Allan. There are so many myths and poorly-evidenced arguments about young people and their interest in, and consumption of, journalism. Generations are not as different as people often suggest. Alertness to misinformation risks are high. Propensity to pay for relevant and useful online services is higher than for my generation. And brand safety has all its criteria upside down. Brands do not become associated with war or fear or politics. They are associated with valued, trusted and immersive content experiences.

I'm really looking forward to speaking at The Marketing Society Scotland's Changemakers Conference in less than 2 weeks. We're going to show how younger, emerging consumers are using their power to build & burn brands. Which side would you rather be on? How can your brand survive and thrive in a modern reputation-based marketplace? #marketing #brandbuilding #socialimpact We Are Futures #brand #socialmedia

In an era of dwindling consumer trust, our CEO, Richard Pemberton, challenges us to redefine 'better.' His article, "For the Better," kickstarts a thought-provoking series on elevating brands with purpose, integrity, and tangible impact. This is just the beginning. Over the coming weeks, we’ll get into what it is, how it works, and the benefits to us all. Think - a proprietary research, strategy and action program designed to help businesses thrive sustainably, today, tomorrow and the day after. What better time than B Corp month to share it with our communities and the wider world? Stay tuned and join us on this journey to discover how we can all contribute to a remarkably better world. Head over to Remarkably Reads for the full article - link in comments! #RemarkablyBetter #ForTheBetter #PurposeDrivenBranding #SustainableBusiness #EthicalMarketing #ArticleSeries #BCorpMonth

I found out recently that people hate me And I'm loving it 🤣 The truth is, when you stand for something, you automatically stand against something else. It just comes with the territory. It's like me deciding to drink coffee this morning or wine on a friday night and making a post on my IG stories. Guaranteed someone will be like "Mike, that's unhealthy!" either to me or in their head. Just by choosing coffee and wine, I've taken a stand against that specific health-conscious person, who represents a section of any given audience. It happens automatically when you believe in something. People will say things against what you believe and what you say. Most brands tend to shy away from making polarising statements like that with the fear of losing a section of the audience they have. But i've come to learn that the great brands own it. They don't shy away from having "enemies." Hell, they even name some of their enemies. By great brands, I mean ones with influence and recognition, not necessarily doing "good". But the point is - they embrace that their stand will create opposition. Average brands try to be liked by everyone. But influential brands know - if you believe in something, you better be ready to defend it. What do you stand against? Check the comments for mine