Page 49 - IBT Sept 2021 (1)
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What were some of the adverse                    wall paintings, billboards, leaflets, etc. In Bangladesh,
                                                                                                                                           effects of the pandemic on the                    traditional modes of advertising will not change too much. Of
                                                                                                                                           advertising sector? How did the                  course, it will be impacted. In a conversation with some of the
                                                                                                                                           sector respond and innovate in                   core members of the advertising and communication sector, we
                                                                                                                                           view of the challenges that arose?
                                                                                                                                           What are the lessons the industry                are already thinking of whatever way we can move so that we
                                                                                                                                           has learned?                                     remain relevant to the consumer. As I have mentioned, at the
                                                                                                                                           In any adverse situation, the first cut the      onset of 2010 and the digital disruption brought on by it has
                                                                                                                                           industry makes is on advertising                 certainly made an impact causing traditional modes to take a
                                                                                                                                           because its relevance diminishes. This           hit. We were concerned about film-making, but OTT platforms
                                                                                                                                           pandemic was a little different, in the          have offered the space for filmmakers, actors, sound
                                                                                                                                           sense that the sector took a hit, more           specialists et al.
                                                                                                                                           specifically the creative aspect of the
                                                                                                                                           sector took a hit. In person events like         Can you give us an understanding of the kind of
                                                                                                                                                                                            messaging and content clients are requesting for?
                                                                                                                                           fashion shows, talent shows were                 The brand is up for sale. Advertising offers the chance to hype
                                                                                                                                           impacted, reality shows also took a hit.
                                                                                                                                           These shows are sponsored by brands              up the sale. Now, during the pandemic, when it comes to
                                                                                                                                                                                            messaging, clients have moved towards socially responsible
                                                                                                                                           and therefore these shows fall within
                                                                                                                                           the parameters of communication/                 messaging such alongside.  Another thing brands are trying to
                                                                                                                                                                                            do is they are trying to be interactive on social media or digital
                                                                                                                                           advertisement.
                                                                                                                                           Concurrently, the pandemic also drew             media. There is a chase for influencers now and these
                                                                                                                                                                                            influencers are now becoming the vehicle for brands to further
                                                                                                                                           people to the screens. It became a point
                                                                                                                                           of engagement. Therefore, media buying                                     their cause. Earlier they were
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      the big screen or small screen
                                                                                                                                           was not affected which is also a part of
                                                                                                                                           advertising.                                                               stars, now the new avenue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      for brands are the social
                                                                                                                                           Content on the OTT platform is a major
                                                                                                                                           player in the communication world now.                                     media influencers.

                                                                                                                                           From what we observe, the OTT                                              Can you share some of
                                                                                                                                           platforms have started to flourish.                                        the most notable
                                                                                                                                           Nowadays, people are saying that the                                       campaigns Asiatic has
                                                                                                                                           next big platform for advertising will be                                  undertaken during the
                                                                                                                                           the OTT platforms, e.g. a brand may be                                     pandemic?
                                                                                                                                           placed in a popular platform, the                                          At the beginning of the
                                                                                                                                           platform has amassed a big fan                                             pandemic, we did a campaign
                                                                                                                                           following, that brand subsequently gets                                    with BRAC where  Kuddus
                                                                                                                                           the relevant visibility.                                                   Boyatis rendition “Jaina
 Asiatic has pioneered the advertising   have the mediums changed,  but the way in which people work                                                                                                                  Cholen, Maiyna Cholen “
 sector of the country. As one of the   has also undergone a massive shift.                                                                What is a trend in the advertising                                         created adequate awareness
 market leaders, can you give us an   Through the 90s, another round of changes started taking                                             sector caused by the pandemic that                                         about the “dos and don't s”
 overview of how the advertising realm   hold in the way communication visual advertising was done.                                        is bound to become a permanent                                             during a pandemic. Then we
 has evolved over 50 years?   An advertisement meant one entire minute of “promotion of a                                                  fixture going forward? Also how                                             did another campaign with
 There have been big changes in the   brand or service” for television, cinema, or radio advert. Of                                        has consumer behavior changed?                                             popular actor Chanchal
 advertising sector. When it started prior to   course, there were the cut-down versions of the advert.                                    Peoples’ behavior has undergone                  Chowdhury, Dilara Zaman, and other Super Stars gave out
 my joining, there was a simple way of   In the 90s, advertising and communication started to take on                                      change. With prolonged necessity to stay         messages to educate people about social distancing, hand
 interacting and communicating with people   longer forms, especially social communication messaging e.g.                                  homebound, regular things like parties           washing and follow other relevant health guidelines. This
 – we had press and cinema. Television was   if you wanted to tell anybody about health services, family                                   and “in-person”  get-togethers have been         campaign was done by Asiatic for UNICEF.
 there too but in the mid-60s it wasn’t the   planning, education – these messages would be achieved                                       minimized. The digital medium is
 dominant form of media, but slowly it   through protracted campaigns like a drama that would run for                                      getting people together through FB,              Does Asiatic use big data in its advertising operations?
 became an integral medium for the industry.   52 weeks to ensure viewers were instilled with a message/s  in                              Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok                   Do you think such targeted ads will become the norm?
 Radio was also an important medium for the   each episode.                                                                                engagements. After the pandemic is               Since we do work with notable clients, we do have big data
 industry.   After 2010, another shift began taking shape in the                                                                           contained, people will continue relying          specialists. Big data allows for very niche customer targeting,
 In the studio of an advertising agency,    advertising and communication sector when social media                                         on digital media.                                e.g. say you’re 25 years of age, you are interested in fashion,
 everything was done by hand. The layout   came into the forefront, and digital communication became a                                       In your opinion will the rise of               and you like the songs of Arnob – these metrics can be used to
 was made, each word was carefully cut out   big player in the market. Till date, this has been the biggest                                dependency on technology and                     send a personalized gift. With big data management, you can
 and pasted – it was a completely manual   shift and the scenario has changed a lot. For advertising, there                                digitization, will traditional modes             translate the information and do targeted outreach.
 process that is significantly different from   have been waves of change, and where we have landed today   SARA                           of advertising become obsolete?                  Technology-driven, focused advertising is being generated
 how the industry runs today. So, not only                                                                     Photograph: ICE TODAY       Traditional modes include television,            through the usage of big data.
 is a different realm altogether.   ZAKER
                  Co chairperson
                  Asiatic 3sixty

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