The 5 Forces Shaping Advertising

Those of us in the advertising business know the industry is undergoing a transformation. There is a blurring of lines among advertising, digital,  and management consulting. Traditional folks are trying to be more digital, digital folks are trying to be more traditional, and management consulting folks are looking to upend the industry. All the while, new entrants are testing, learning and trying out new business models.

Agency evolution is “inextricably tied” to an evolving and complex digital landscape. It is no longer black and white. It is getting harder and harder to parse out digital and non-digital work. As complexity rises, brands are bringing on more and more agencies who are expected to collaborate. Things are certainly getting more confusing. Yet, at the end of the day there are 5 forces shaping advertising. Focusing on these 5 forces can help organizations navigate the turbulence.

What are the 5 forces?

1. An evolving & complex digital landscape
2. Consumer control & empowerment
3. Technology growth & proliferation
4. An expectation for marketing to have a positive  impact on the bottom line
5. A shift from making campaigns that are one and done to making experiences that live on – and are fueled by consumers and social interactions

There are lots of things that need to change about how business is done in order to reap the benefits of Nike and American Express. The most important thing that needs to be changed is how we think about leadership. Leaders of organizations must embrace a new construct of leadership – namely creative leadership. The book,  The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner, is one of my favorite sources of inspiration when it comes to a creative leadership mindset. The authors detail the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership as follows:

Using these practices, organizations can navigate the complexity and change brought on by the forces shaping advertising. It is clear a transformation is underway. Though none of us yet knows whether advertising agencies, digital agencies, management consultancies, or new entrants will win, Nike and American Express make a case for building creative leadership skills. After all, it took new ways of thinking and leading to break down the organizational silos, working through the cultural barriers, and rethink the role of marketing in order to bring Nike Plus and Link, Like, Love to fruition.