Havas Media Group & Sky Media Crack Code on Mobile Ad Measurement

Havas Media Group and Sky Media have joined forces to research the best ways of measuring mobile advertising effectiveness by trialling cutting edge methodologies.

Nationwide, Domino’s and Birds Eye took part in the research and worked alongside research agencies Differentology and On Device Research, who are specialists in the field of mobile measurement. 

The research included two tests which analysed real world ad campaigns in a live environment and two lab tests. The study enabled testing of different mobile ad formats not widely served at present. The Sky Sports, Football Score Centre and Sky News mobile phone apps housed the advertising placements.

The research shows that mobile is an effective medium for building brands. It highlights that those who make the best use of the creative space by making ads more intriguing, fun and interactive will achieve greater standout, and generate the best results.

Key findings include:

· Mobile advertising works hard: Combined brand perception across all three brands showed an uplift of 13% from the non-exposed to the exposed group of respondents.  Furthermore combined brand consideration increased by 9% for those exposed.

· Native is a star performer: Native mobile ads are considered more relevant and engaging than standard banner ads.  They reduce irritation yet still retain strong cut-through levels.

· Mindset matters: A consumer’s mood and mindset can drive message absorption and enhance brand effects.  Those taking action increased by 70% for those who were more enthusiastic and excited at the point of ad exposure to the Birds Eye banner.

· Exciting formats deliver cut-through: Mobile formats and creatives that were fun and generated intrigue, achieved a greater cut-through. Furthermore, those with interactive elements were seen as more engaging, relevant and more likely to drive action than non-interactive formats.

Nationwide and Domino’s took part in a control and exposed effectiveness test using a new methodology from On Device Research. This approach provides a solution to the challenge of being unable to cookie track on mobile, whilst still testing brand effectiveness in a live environment.  Birds Eye carried out a control and exposed effectiveness test in a lab environment rather than a live setting. This enabled native mobile ads, currently not widely served, to be tested, and also allowed for creative diagnostics testing of a number of different mobile formats.

Alex Bennett, Senior Manager - Digital Marketing at Nationwide said "With the continued rapid growth of the mobile channel it is critical for Nationwide to maintain a good understanding of how our communications perform across different platforms. The increased importance of mobile to consumers means that it is more important than ever for brands like ours to effectively interact through this medium in a way that fully utilises the unique benefits mobile can offer. The results of the study have provided us with additional insight into how we can further expand our approach to mobile."

Sorcha Garduce, Digital Insight Director at Havas Media said: “There is no question of the importance of mobile devices to consumers which clearly translates into importance for brands.  This means research into mobile effectiveness has never been more important.  This study highlights that brands can utilise mobile advertising as part of their communications strategy to influence both ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ brand metrics, moving consumers along their brand journey.”

Other findings include:

· Mobile display increased brand salience.  Domino’s saw a 25% uplift in agreement that ‘Domino’s is a brand for people like me’.

· Purchase consideration for Birds Eye increased by 7%. 

· 72% of those exposed to the Domino’s mobile display ad claimed that they took some form of action as a result of exposure (e.g. downloading the app or ordering a pizza).

David Fisher, Head of Futures at Sky Media said: “Standard mobile advertising formats clearly work, but brands should consider more advanced, high impact and native formats to produce even greater engagement. This research is evidence that exciting new format opportunities in the right environment can deliver vastly enhanced brand metrics.”

*The 54% increase in awareness is based on a live test environment for Domino's and Nationwide ad placements.  Birds Eye ad placements were tested in a lab environment.

The research took place between June and August 2014 and over 2,600 mobile app users took part in both the live and lab tests.