brand-e

By Steve Mullins. Let down by your big shot ad agency? Looking for quick turnaround? Then maybe it’s time to plug into an online exchange.

US tech outfit Aquantia did just that over the recent 4 July holiday weekend after it had received the Red Herring Top 100 North America award and wanted to place an ad in the publication. However, with many agency types taking a break, Aquantia turned to blur Group’s creative network.

By Steve Mullins. Looking for an alternative to traditional agencies? Well, brands can have the pick of more than 11,000 creatives on blur Group’s creative services exchange which brings together marketers and a whole raft of professionals ready to work on campaigns.

“With us, brands are getting more choice and a faster turnaround, plus lot of the costs are taken away,” says Philip Letts, founder and chief exchange officer of blur Group. “They get all the benefits of network and it’s accessible to anyone. In 2010, we did around 100 briefs, this year we expect 500 plus.”

Crowdsource that branded animated tattoo. Whisky brand Ballantines linked a Paris tattoo artist up to the public via Facebook so that people of a certain bent could influence that tatt design. Then along comes a smartphone app, ScanLife, and the whole thing comes to life. It’s all to do with something called Human API which the brand is messing around with.

By Steve Mullins. Volkswagen Canada is turning to crowdsourcing for its advertising. The car brand is running a video ad series, Drive Until… and having produced two chapters, has now tasked customers with helping select the script, the cast, the music and final edit for the next spot. All via Facebook.

By Mark Terry. Fashion brand New Era and London creative agency The Tailor of Shoreditch are launching a consumer-led global marketing campaign comprising digital, user generated content and social media platforms, plus consumer-curated events.

The communications initiative boasts elements around the world, including London, Berlin, Madrid, Dubai, South Africa, Paris, Stockholm, Milan, New York, LA, Rio, Toronto, Montreal, Mexico City, China, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

By Maria Stadtmueller. Deadmau5 has joined forces with crowdsourcing outfit Talenthouse to task fans with designing the next official mau5head. Creatives have until mid-July to submit their mau5head designs, with consumers able to vote for their favourites.

By Steve Mullins. Branded filmmaking outfit Mofilm is heading to this week’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to host a session together with actor Jesse Eisenberg and Paul Edwards, executive director of marketing strategy at General Motors, exploring how crowdsourcing can build global brands.

By Maria Stadtmueller. When a country’s deep in the financial mire, its politicians discredited, then only one thing can save the nation. It’s crowdsourcing. Yes, Iceland is drawing up a brand new constitution by leaning on the wisdom of the crowd.