iMedia Connection: creative

How to make dynamic ads work

Despite the buzz, marketers are still challenged by the definition and execution of dynamic online ads. Take a look at some ideas to simplify the process.

Brands that made consumers love them forever

How do we cultivate relationships with consumers that create lifelong loyalty? Let's take a look at some fantastic brand romances and see what we can learn.

5 ways you will be defeated by the pitch process

You blew the pitch, and you might have done it before even agreeing to participate. Here's where things went wrong, and how to keep from suffering the same fate next time.

3 things you don't know about Old Spice's success

Old Spice's humorous YouTube series is a smash, but this was no overnight success. Here's how the brand and its agency set themselves up for a viral victory.

Getting digital-out-of-home ad creative right

Done right, DOOH can have a massive impact on a brand's marketing results -- provided they understand the creative nuances of the medium. Consider these distinctions.

Creative and tech working together: 3 case studies

By integrating their creative and technology teams, marketers can build campaigns that excite and resonate with key audiences. Here are three examples of the power of collaboration.

Case study: A 60% CTR and still counting

People in online forums are highly receptive to product messages. See how one electronics manufacturer tapped into this opportunity to target influential automotive enthusiasts.

5 ways to turn company slide decks into marketing weapons

A set of brand-consistent slides is one of the strongest assets you have to build your business. Follow these tips to make your presentations more social, engaging, and interactive.

Case study: How a site redesign doubled returning visitors

See how the new Souplantation.com engaged its loyal customers, increased gift card sales, and drove tremendous gains in the company's social media following.

Killer creative showcase: The brands that "get" digital

Creative is in the eye of the beholder. So how can you ensure your digital campaigns resonate with your target audience? Take a lesson from these evocative case studies, broken down across five key demographics.

7 ways to get bold campaigns approved

Are you having trouble pushing through your most innovative marketing concepts? Here are a few points you might want to consider.

Your career makeover: A 4-point business plan

The most successful job seekers understand the need to align their skills with the needs of today's business environment and create a business plan for their search. Here's how to start.

Why a well-written brief is critical to success

What's in a brief? Without one, we often spin our wheels trying to answer impossible questions. Here's how to avoid a misfire.

Case study: The benefits and pitfalls of QR codes

A global software company used a mobile scavenger hunt to engage SXSW participants. Here's what the company learned when it comes to the benefits -- and limitations -- of using QR codes.

Presentation skills: 5 secrets of the pros

The power to tell a good story is inherent in the human DNA, but not everyone remembers how to tap into it. Let these five fundamentals bring you back to presentation greatness.

Meet the agency of the future

The agency format isn't necessarily dead, but it is in need of a transplant. See why you need to put the fear of change aside and start taking steps to become an indispensable marketing partner.

How to keep a client happy without wimping out

Sometimes it's difficult to say no to a client. Here's some advice for when you find yourself in a sticky situation.

Case study: The brand that went 100% digital

Most brands are exploring digital media, but some hesitate to truly take the plunge. See what happened when one company decided to invest the entirety of its marketing budget in making online connections.

Case study: Successful engagement with emerging technology

Although QR codes are widely accepted as a marketing tool in Japan, they have yet to catch on in the U.S. See how early adopter Kidrobot used this technology to make a connection.

3 tips for fostering creativity

Creativity plays an essential role for all agencies, but how do you keep the good ideas coming? We asked some top digital agencies to tell us what keeps them inspired.

Can your mom understand your creative?

Simplicity is the rule when it comes to designing successful ads. If dear old Mom can't figure out your ad, you're setting yourself up for failure.

Social media creativity: Winners and losers

Are you dismissing creativity when it comes to your social media efforts? These examples demonstrate how compelling creative (or lack thereof) makes the difference between success and failure.

5 fantastic digital branding campaigns from 2009

This year saw brands use digital to complement their traditional advertising more than ever. See why Levi's, Dos Equis, and others stood above the rest.

4 online brand gimmicks that failed

Even the biggest brands make mistakes sometimes. Check out these botched campaigns from McDonald's, Pepsi, and others and learn how to avoid making similar mistakes.

Rebooting the legacy brand: Do's and don'ts

How can you cash in on the cache your beloved brand has earned? Get some tips for cementing your audience connection from these digital do-overs.

4 ways to deal with a client overload

It's a good thing when your marketing services are in demand, but it's also easy to get overwhelmed. Try exploring these methods for streamlining your process, while continuing to deliver great results.

9 new marketing tools you need

There are countless new computer tools out there, but separating the wheat from the chaff can be challenging. Here's a handful of proven apps that can make your job easier.

Terror, on demand

Paramount's "Paranormal Activity" became the little horror flick that could, thanks to a campaign that put the film's release decisions into the fans' hands. But did the supply of social media touchpoints measure up to the audience demand?

What would you ask Sir Martin Sorrell?

WPP's Chief Executive Sir Martin Sorrell will give the opening keynote address at ad:tech New York next week. Here's what a handful of digital marketing executives would like to hear from this venerable ad man.

Agency pitches that get noticed

Learn from these key examples the right and wrong ways for your agency to stand out with an innovative pitch idea or platform.

Case study: A success story in bilingual social media

If you think jumping into social media is tricky enough, try doing it in two languages. See how one company tackled the challenge.

Do's and don'ts of web images

Photos that you think are free could cost you plenty -- in legal hassles. Find out when that great shot you used on your site could put you in the line of fire.

Case study: A marketing icon's Facebook journey

The Aflac Duck is the first and only spokesduck on Facebook, but it wasn't an easy task getting him there. Find out how the brand turned a mascot with a one word vocabulary into a social media success.

Monetizing a niche social network

Does the idea of building relationships with your customers and making money while doing it sound too good to be true? Here's how one entrepreneur pulled it off.

A CMO's guide to hiring a digital agency

Need a new digital agency but don't know where to start? You're not alone. Find out what you should consider before inking a deal with a new digital partner.

The Zen of capturing consumer emotion

Zappos' head of user experience explains why he values authenticity above all else, and why social media will someday become more powerful than any kind of advertising imaginable.

How your campaign could be doomed by clicks

An obsession with CTRs could be what's keeping online from getting a greater share of the pie. Are we too far gone, or is there still a chance for a creative revolution?

So you wanna have a web series

Branded entertainment is hot, but there have been some notable meltdowns. Find out how these shows work best and how to get involved without getting burned.

Case study: Pitching a relaunch

Creative agency Rare Method shares the secret of its winning pitch for a re-imagined TV Western.

5 ways to inject storytelling into your campaign

Consumers aren't interested in your message -- they're interested in entertainment. Find out how to create storyline-rich content that combines both.

Online candy campaigns: 6 case studies

In search of their online sweet spots, candy companies continue to experiment with new interactive tactics. See who's making the connection -- and who's leaving a bitter taste in consumers' mouths.

3 dominating digital ad campaigns

Watch as iMedia's marketer on the street zeros in on this year's greatest ad campaigns.

Online marketing's creative worst practices

Is your brand a purveyor of bad creative? Take a look at these common faux pas across a wide range of online channels to see how you can avoid future blunders.

How to avoid a brand overdose

Watch as iMedia's marketer on the street investigates how to turn audiences on to your brand without making them tune out.

7 habits of highly effective creative directors

No matter where you are in your creative career, you'll benefit from these words of wisdom from an industry vet.

4 rich media myths worth busting

There are several debates about the value of rich media among all the online alternatives. Find out how brands are reaching new levels of success with this powerful tool for audience engagement.

Case study: An affordable way to build a social community

Marketing is all about forging relationships, both with a brand and among users. See how one company engaged potential customers -- without breaking the bank.

Case study: A Facebook campaign that connected

College students are an elusive bunch. See how Adobe engaged this audience with an innovative social media experience.

10 hot creative agencies to watch

Searching for great creative but not sure where to look? These agencies may not be on your radar, but they should be.

7 ways to get more out of your creative

You can get better results from the creative assets you develop if you keep an integrated approach in mind from the start. And it's easier than you think. Find out how.

Brand stories that connect on a personal level

In storytelling for interactive marketing and advertising, it's not about the destination -- it's about the journey. Take a look at a roadmap for successful progress.

Display ads: Will bigger be better?

iMedia asked a group of interactive marketing thought leaders what the OPA's proposed new advertising units will mean for the future of online display. Here's what they had to say.

Stop counting impressions, and start making them

Advertisers are trying to make the most of their smaller budgets by putting their money into trackable digital media. See why this focus on impressions may eventually hurt your bottom line.

Creative partnerships that worked

How hard is it for brands and agencies to collaborate on creative? Watch as three industry leaders describe their most exciting and successful partnerships.

AKQA on what's crushing creativity

Is there a lack of imagination in interactive, or is it just being held up by restrictions and regulations? AKQA's co-chief creative officer weighs in.

Why media and creative need to cross the aisle

These two camps need to break free from their silos to move the industry forward, especially at a time when innovation is the key to success. Find out why.

Campaigns that killed 'em with cuteness

Learn how and why brands like Coke, Microsoft, and Nike are attracting eyeballs with adorable and engaging ads.

4 low-cost methods for creating innovative campaigns

Leapfrogging the competition is still possible, even in a time of shrinking budgets. Try these practices to revamp your creative process.

Engaging the next wave of marketing talent

A group of graduate students devised campaigns to revamp the auto industry. See how iMedia's panelists selected the winning team -- and what marketers can learn from these fresh minds.

10 ways to improve the client/agency RFP process

While the intention behind the RFP is good, the execution is not. Let's get rid of all the headaches and focus on these key steps to improve the system.

9 lessons Obama taught us about brand identity

No matter how skillfully crafted the launch of a new brand is, without a well thought-out and executed strategy, the message sent can be quite the opposite of what is intended.

3 ways to test your creative's effectiveness

Interactive offers the unique ability to tweak campaigns on the fly and maximize the exposure of your best creative. Discover what works best by implementing these testing methods.

Whopper campaigns sizzle with controversy

From tracking down burger "virgins," to asking people to sacrifice Facebook friends, Burger King publicized its product -- but also polarized the press.

14 hilariously effective online campaigns

As digital media have evolved, humor has largely supplanted other emotional styles of online marketing. Here are ways to more effectively use laughter to build your brand.

How to find your conceptual cojones

Wieden + Kennedy's digital guru is tired of all the conversations about traditional media spend moving into interactive. Traditional media isn't going away, he argues, so get used to it.

Is the digital ditty dead?

Amid the mash-up madness and made-up metrics for determining viral potential, why do marketers' messages still misfire? See what the classic ads of yesteryear did right, and why the strategies behind them still resonate today.

Lessons from expensive marketing failures

Now that consumers can talk back to brands, it's a lot easier to gauge the response to your advertising -- for better or worse. It's also easier to learn from others' mistakes.

Samsung pictures are worth a thousand votes

Photographer Nick Turpin documents his travels with a Pixon camera phone, letting consumers click to decide where he'll end up next.

5 ways to achieve the big idea

It's not just about digital anymore. It's about digital connections to the physical world. Here are five ways you can move your brand into the new marketing reality.

Ogilvy's Shelly Lazarus on the importance of authenticity

The industry veteran reveals what Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide is doing to stay on top of tomorrow's digital trends, and how connecting with consumers on multiple platforms is the formula for success.

Saab and USA give out spy lessons

Find out how this campaign for USA Network's popular spy show and Saab's new convertible garnered impressive results, along with our panelists' reviews.

Can you tell me how to get to SesameStreet.org?

Today's Creative Showcase is brought to you by the letter "A" for "awesome." Find out why parents and kids alike find this popular show's new site hard to resist.

What's missing from your online campaign

VideoEgg's CMO laments the loss of joy in the world of online marketing and offers suggestions to help create the happiest place online.

The X Factor: The sex factor

You don't need suggestive imagery to tap into the true power of online campaigns. But there is a vital emotional component that will likely get a rise out of your audience.

Discovery creates a Shark Week site with more bite

The site invigorates a popular yearly event by immersing fans in games, stories and virtual explorations of what they love -- and fear -- most about sharks.

Campaign envy: what agencies wish they had done

Find out how BMW, McDonald's, Zyrtec and others earned the admiration of agency execs.

Anatomy of a winning pitch

See what it took to impress some big guns in Hollywood with this blow-by-blow account of a successful creative proposal.

Stupid marketing copy mistakes

Marketing copy intended to elicit emotion or make people laugh can sometimes go horribly wrong. Heed these warnings.

Mentos starts an online kiss fight

The candy maker lets players lay one on their opponents in the online kissing battle of the century.

Are you ready for a new digital creative era?

Marketers give their thoughts on what innovations will be changing the digital space and what that means for the industry.

Is this the end for rich media?

The term "rich media" no longer accurately conveys digital advertising's capabilities. It's time for the industry to embrace a new alternative.

Levi's grabs consumers by the seat of their pants

Find out how the clothing company drew nearly 3.5 million views with its recent viral video campaign.

The X Factor: Get newbies to shut up and learn

Staff training has to get better or agencies are going to damage client relationships beyond repair. Stop treating your staffing requirements like you did 10 years ago. The client has grown up. Have you?

Paramount brings fans behind the "Iron Man" curtain

The studio's latest film site offers fan art, downloads, widgets, branded partnerships and more.

5 consumer touchpoints for viral viability

The key to getting consumers to pass along your viral campaign may just be rooted in your ability to meet a basic human desire. Here are a few ways to plant the seeds of a connection.

How to be funny online

Humorous campaigns can be the biggest viral hits -- or virulent failures. Learn the rules for injecting humor without causing a fatal overdose for your brand.

Hanes wages war against wedgies

This integrated campaign sheds a humorous light on a common fashion flaw for the ladies while allowing consumers to share their own wedgie woes.

Brands reveal their favorite creative

VIDEO: Top brands discuss their favorite campaigns, including those they wish they had created.

Death of a sales funnel

Has the internet made awareness campaigns obsolete? Ant Farm Online's SVP shows how to effectively build user flow that will drive consumers into the sales funnel more reliably.

Keep viral video from coming back to haunt you

When it comes to new media campaigns, get excited, get creative and get edgy, but don't forget the fundamentals of Marketing 101. See how good buzz can go bad, and how to avoid it.

Dissecting an agency: Nurun

We take an in-depth look at this international agency and get constructive feedback from clients on its services.

A roadmap to creative success

Part of what makes a campaign work is appropriateness of media and message for each stage of the purchase process. Here's how to map it out.

13 easy steps to better industry relationships

The fundamentals of social networking are crucial for business success. Here's how to start using "old school" relationship tools that have always worked.

Diet Dr Pepper ad takes the cake

Our panelists review the latest banner from Diet Dr Pepper to find out just how sweet it really is.

Put the point-of-purchase on every PC

Find out what our panelists have to say about this innovative campaign that allows users to buy tickets directly in the ad unit.

Make the click worth their time

Before making a deeper connection, consumers want to have confidence that their clicking time is worth the effort. HypeCouncil's founder shows how to make them glad they said yes to your brand.

Become an interactive storyteller

The art of storytelling offers time-tested lessons you can apply in new ways to interactive marketing.

How to boost clickthrough rates 14,000%

Well thought-out rich media can be a boon to a campaign. Learn the strategy secrets from an Advertising.com creative director.

MediaVest's agency score card

Find out what current and past clients have to say about this media agency, plus take an in-depth look inside.

4 must-have components of brand experience banners

Think online consumers can't try before they buy? Take a look at some key strategies that can build relationships and increase purchase intent within a humble banner ad.

Volvo's webisode gamble gets mixed reviews

This online campaign puts an actor from "The Office" in a series of specially produced webisodes to get audiences to talk about the Volvo C30.

The secret to creativity: slow down

Take this counter-intuitive approach and you might just find yourself newly inspired.

Organic's agency score card

We take an in-depth look at this agency and ask past and current clients to evaluate its services.

How Verizon reinvented its brand

To demonstrate that it's more than a phone company, Verizon created interactive experiences for consumers around the NFL, Gwen Stefani and the Grammys.

How Dove and others keep the buzz

Once you've had a viral hit, how do you ensure an encore? Here are some follow-up efforts worthy of note.

EA's SimCity site offers a slick city

Electronic Arts developed a vibrant website to promote the new SimCity for Nintendo DS, featuring a mini-game, history and other game insights to pull in gamers.

The great advertising swindle

The RFP process may not be ideal, but does it have to be a breeding ground for idea infringement? Experts from Deep Focus, Real Branding and Ask.com explain how to cope.

Elevate interactivity with XML tags

Learn from Eyeblaster how advertisers are using tagging to connect with and engage consumers.

Ethnic marketing: when good intentions go wrong

In an attempt to address the cultural needs of ethnic niches, the advertising industry is reinforcing stereotypes. An Organic creative director discusses the issues and solutions.

Putting the user's eyes to work

Just because an image on your marketing website looks pretty doesn't mean that it's doing the job you need it to do. The NextStage CRO explains.

How to engage the consumers who count

There is a group of consumers that has more influence on your brand message than you might realize. Find out who these consumers are and what it takes to win them over.

Visa and Ford digitize the great outdoors

Check out how brands are delivering interactive elements to potential and current customers on the go. Whether it's in the air or on a nearby billboard, they're capturing attention in exciting ways.

Young & Rubicam: in pursuit of the "Big Idea"

Want to know how one of the top agencies comes up with its creative plan? Read on for the five key principles.

Wallace & Gromit engage fans between flicks

Aardman Animations Ltd. refreshes its brand and gives "Wallace & Gromit" fans a place to gather, create, learn and play with classic characters.

Spice up your site's usability

Don't let your quest for usability overpower your site to the point of drowning out your brand's unique flavor.

Give your campaign a Millennial makeover

Break this generation's rules of conduct for interactive marketing and you risk damage to your brand identity. Here's a Millennial's three-step guide towards success.

In-house creative threatens agencies

With companies like Hearst and NBC increasingly creating ad programs for themselves and their clients, how will it affect agencies? A panel discusses the issues.

Cutting-edge agency exposes creative secrets

Agency imc2 has created innovative campaigns for blue chips like P&G, GlaxoSmithKline and Unisys; learn about its philosophy and meet its superstars.

Will MySpacers make or break Cherry Coke?

Coca-Cola relaunches Cherry Coke with a MySpace user-involvement campaign and contest designed to generate brand advocacy.

Vitamin Water: If it's good for celebrities, it's good for you

Glaceau created an interactive site featuring funny videos, tons of celebrity consumer profiles and just the right mix of fun to represent its eclectic brand.

OXY cleans zits, impresses mom and son

OXY's newest site appeals to young acne-prone hipsters while making mothers happy too.

Taco Bell gets the interactive munchies

DraftFCB and Taco Bell try to inspire late-night munchers to stop by for some interactive fun.

Rock rich media creative like the Beatles

Yes, you have rich media. But have you set the right creative priorities? EyeWonder breaks it down with a nod to a Liverpool group that forever redefined creativity in Rock & Roll.

ROI of infotainment

In the information age, the only way for a brand to control its identity is to feed the hunger for knowledge.

Nudie uses video game interface to sell jeans to young men

Kokokaka and Nudie jeans partner to create a video game-inspired site with an easy-to-use interface to sell jeans.

Lessons on achieving branding goals

Dynamic Logic uncovers the top performing online campaigns and shares what they have in common.

The Fruit Guys make music and become brand celebrities

Fruit of the Loom created a branded minisite to reintroduce its Fruit Guys with music videos and downloadable MP3s that are sure to turn fruit fans into fruit fanatics.

Reebok's online community and free music makes it easy to run

Molecular and Carat Fusion helped Reebok make an online community for the everyday runner, with running trails and downloadable workout playlists.

Hunting for stoners in a sober campaign

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign and Above the Influence expose stoners in their natural habitat to promote drug awareness.

IKEA encourages college students to get freaky in dorm rooms

IKEA has viral videos, music downloads and product specs galore to get those summer-burnt brain cells ready to return to school.

My dream pitch: Virgin America

Questus shares its creative vision with a dream pitch for this new U.S.-based low-cost airline.

Mentos intern orders you lunch, reinvents social media

Give him orders, chat with him or watch his videos. BBH has created a whole new way to use social media.

CP+B pushes the creative envelope

This Miami-based agency is best known for work like the Subservient Chicken; learn about CP+B�s philosophy and meet its superstars.

Worktank's Top 5 Creative Priorities

Here's a list from Worktank's VP/creative director of the crucial items a creative team should address before beginning any campaign.

Diesel Jeans Creates Web 2.0 Dating Community

Diesel and Wysiwyg employ Web 2.0 tactics in creating "Denim Dating," using video and authentic personal ads to promote Diesel jeans.

Design to Break Through the Clutter

Learn from this agency head how to harness short attention spans so conversions skyrocket.

Media and Creative Teams: Can't We All Just Get Along?

Developing creative in a vacuum is never easy, but here are some tips on making the process friction-free.

Royal Caribbean Packs Your Bags for a Personalized Vacation

Royal Caribbean, Big Spaceship and Arnold Worldwide introduce the "Hungry Suitcase," an award-winning microsite that could charm anyone onto a cruise.

Find and Foster Your Future Brand Advocate

Brand Ambassadors are the most valuable element of your sales force. The author of "The New Influencers" explains how to get them on your team.

Burger King Gets Creative with User-Generated Moustaches

Men and women alike can draw and shape custom moustaches and send singing telegrams to friends in this Burger King campaign.

Intelligent Website Design: Expand Your Market

NextStage's founder believes that when you've captured as much of your current market as is possible, it's time to expand that market.

Mitchum's Armpit Orchestra: Offensive or Inspirational?

Mitchum's new brand site either ignores its female demographic or inspires users to share their farts with friends. See if it passes our panelists' smell test.

Want Leads? Get Creative

Prospectiv's president and CEO lays out a six-step guide on how to develop creative to boost leads.

MTV's Boy Band BioDome Sells Soda to Voyueristic Teens

Dr. Pepper, KFC, Wal-Mart and MTV team up to give teens a sneak peek into Cartel's music making process with well-placed webcams and voyeuristic incentives to purchase their products.

Doritos Says Buy Chips Now, Name Chips Later

Doritos issues a call-to-action: buy its new mystery chip, taste it, and, with hard-to-find clues given on the site, try to name it.

My Dream Pitch: Diageo

If Weber Shandwick's screengrab unit had the opportunity to make its dream pitch for the world's leading premium drinks company, it would go a little something like this.

How Brands Make Friends Forever on MySpace

If you're a brand, making friends on MySpace is the easy part; making your friends count is the challenge.

Headlines That Attract Attention

The NextStage CRO walks you through how to write a headline that catches and keeps your consumers' attention.

Verizon Gets 11,000+ Users To Create Their Own Action Hero

Customizable options and freakishly well done graphic renderings can make anyone into an action hero with the help of Verizon's Broadband.

Jumping into Interactive: Creative Directing in the Digital World

Brand New World's chief creative officer offers tips to improve what you bring to the creative table.

Microsoft Defends Users Against Zombies, Ninjas and Hackers

Microsoft's new mini-site uses real customer case studies and humor to promote its newest and easiest way to protect your computer.

A Pick-up Artist's Guide to Landing Pages

Pick-up lines and landing pages have more in common than you'd think. Here's how to avoid getting blown off.

Organic's 5 Steps to Offline-Online Unity

Partnering with a traditional agency to launch an interactive campaign? Organic's associate creative director has some advice.

Brand Icons Get an Online Facelift

How have Uncle Ben, Mr. Peanut, the Michelin Man and others made the jump from traditional to digital?

Cottonelle Fetches Consumers with Branded Puppy

Cottonelle wins the hearts and minds of the consumer with the help of OTO Labs and a virtual puppy.

The Next Big Thing in Mobile: Video or QR Codes?

The future of mobile marketing may not be in video so much as in QR codes. Find out what they are and who's using them.

adidas' YouTube Hustle Draws 2 Million

adidas has extended its campaign to a dedicated YouTube channel, driving online sales and reaching more than 2 million viewers.

Website Design: Choose Your Battles

Red Door Interactive's president explains that successful website design requires a prioritizing of objectives.

Make Sure Your Site Sells Lemonade�

Not lemons. The NextStage CRO explains how to turn an off-putting, negative approach into an attractive, positive one.

Jameson's Banner Ad Attracts Eyes with Rich Media, Smooth Taste

Pointroll's bottle-centric banner ad entices users with visually stunning graphics and historical facts about one of Ireland's most beloved whiskeys.

Travelocity Maximizes ROI on MySpace with Fictional Brand Advocate

The Roaming Gnome engages his friends, encourages travel and shares deals in order to captivate users and create brand loyalty.

Sync Up Search, Email and Your Site

Offermatica's president explains how to improve conversions by promoting cross-team collaboration.

Xerox Targets Frugal Customers... with a Goat

Xerox shows its customers how to put the "fun back into fundamental fiscal responsibility" with this educational mock-site promoting affordable color.

Is It Too Late for Traditional Agencies?

Agency execs explain why traditional agencies are letting their clients down.

Sunsilk Users Recruit Friends for Color Showdown

The battle between hot blondes and sassy brunettes wages on as Sunsilk inspires healthy competition with fun videos, cat-fights and helpful hair tips.

Coca-Cola Embraces the User-Generated Side of Life

The "Coke side of life" demonstrates how to work successfully with users without losing brand identity.

Users choose to take a Jeep Adventure

Creative Showcase: Organic puts an online spin on an old-school interactive technique, inviting users to forge a trail through the woods in a Jeep Patriot.

"Get the Glass!" A Brandtastic Advergame

Got Milk? asks you to help the Adachi family steal milk from "Milkatraz Island" in this interactive caper created by Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and North Kingdom.

Wall Street Journal's Interactive Journey Paves the Way for Advertising

The Wall Street Journal's "Every Journey Needs a Journal," opens the door to a new interactive experience, ripe for readers and marketers alike.

Wish-Bone Offers Women Therapy

Dr. LeitenSpritz offers interactive therapy to those who have been feeding their dressing obsession with Wish-Bone's new line of salad spritzers.

Do You Know the Michelin Man?

Michelin offers a better way forward with this new interactive and educational infosite for the road of tomorrow.

Adobe Expands Your Creative Mind

Click your way through a universe of surprises both beautiful and educational in Adobe's new Creative Suite Campaign.

Tony Hawk's Flip Kickin' Banner

65media and EyeWonder teamed up to bring a new face to the latest Tony Hawk game, giving you the opportunity to show off your skater moves in this expandable banner.

Geico Welcomes You to the Caveman's Crib

The insurance company gets it right with this website, where audiences can listen to the Caveman's favorite tunes, read his blogs, listen to his voicemails and more.

An All-Star Ad for EA Sports

Freestyle Interactive 's EA Sports NBA Live 07 tandem ad unit lets audiences drag NBA stars from neighboring banners to initiate video.

YouTube, Virtual Rodent Drive Tourism

Ripple Effects Interactive makes Pennsylvania exciting with this website, following the Groundhog and his shadow across North America.

GE Wows with Ecomagination Site

Syrup designed the GE Ecomagination site, shooting video, recording Kevin Kline's voice, and traveling the world to create the best, most-compelling site possible.

Altoids Brings the Web Carnival to You

Play an arcade game or watch a mini-feature about Altoids on this website, which successfully reinforces the brand's quirky appeal.

Kodak Gets Hip to YouTube

Kodak's YouTube video features a stodgy spokesperson who, by the end of the video, has ruffled hair and raised voice. The transformation caught the attention of almost 200,000 viewers.

6 Ways to Make Your Ads Sticky

The NextStage Founder and CRO walks you through easy and practical steps to make your marketing materials stick in your customers' minds.

Levi's Lets You Get into His Pants

Personiva, the platform behind HP's successful "The Computer is Personal Again" campaign, worked on this website for Levi's where audiences can get into the ad-- literally.

Give Your Campaign Universal Appeal: Tips from Carat Fusion's Mike Yapp

What works in Boston may not work in Beijing. Check out these tips from Mike Yapp to make your campaign work everywhere.

Men with Cramps?

Procter & Gamble has jumped into the internet hoax fray with this website for male menstrual cramps. Will it succeed in boosting product sales and branding?

And Now a Word of Thanks...

NextStage Evolution's founder and regular iMedia columnist responds to readers' comments received throughout the year, and previews what's to come.

ING Direct Condemns Apartment Life

Creative Showcase: Mortgages get a dose of humor with Creative Priority's website selling home mortgages to the apartment-dwelling population.

Maxim Site Sells the Moto Q

Creative Showcase: Targeting the young male demographic, Motorola chooses Maxim, Stuff and Blender, leveraging their audiences to sell the Motorola Q and bluetooth products.

See the Future with Georgia-Pacific

Creative Showcase: IQ Interactive transforms homebuilding into an engaging, fantastical experience with its time machine site for Georgia-Pacific.

Sony Bravia "Paint"-- Viral, Take II

Creative Showcase: Fallon follows up its wildly successful "Balls" campaign with "Paint," which unleashes streams of paint in a housing estate in Scotland.

Simon & Schuster Markets Online

Creative Showcase: Geary Interactive teamed up with Simon & Schuster to market "The Thirteenth Tale" with an interactive site that welcomes audiences into the story's world.

Heineken Banner Invites Vandalism

Creative Showcase: UV's banner synchs up with the Heineken Inspire Art Festival 2006, inviting audiences' inner artist, and inner vandal, to come out and play.

How to Build a Super-Sticky Homepage

Check out this guided tour of select homepages to learn what grabs audiences, what turns them off and how to craft the perfect message for your target customers.

Creative by the Numbers

Marketers no longer can rely on intuition alone for creative. Wilson RMS' president and chief strategist describes how to use data to improve the creative process.

Mapping Personae to Outcomes

NextStage Evolution's founder explains how to attract the right people to your event or product with personae mapping.

NBC and YouTube Make Nice

In this Creative Showcase, our panelists give kudos to NBC for turning a grievance with YouTube into a wildly valuable partnership through a funny spot featuring Bill the Promo Guy.

A New Branding Paradigm, Online and Off

The NextStage CRO explains how the rise of online social networks means that brands must pull rather than push, and how to turn your brand messaging upside-down to reach your consumers.

How Marketers Can Harness UGM

As the volume of user-generated media increases, Brand New World's creative chief argues that marketers who find ways to smartly embed their brand attributes within the world of user-generated tags stand to come up big.

A Rockin' Site for Tenacious D

In this Creative Showcase, the official site for New Line Cinema's Tenacious D Movie embraces all that rocks, including an interactive "ass-trology" reader, original short videos featuring Jack Black and a virtual fan mosh pit.

Pavlov's Eyes: Get Users to Respond

The NextStage CRO demonstrates how website visitors will take a marketer's desired action when guided by animated eyes showing them the way.

Algorithms Don't Feel, Creative Does

As both contextual and behavioral targeting algorithms become more sophisticated, Brand New World's creative chief argues that no amount of optimization can make you feel.

Save Budget with Creative Testing

Offermatica's president explains how you can save budget by testing and optimizing display and text ads.

Creative Showcase: Body Grooming

Learn why men should start shaving, ahem, down there with Tribal DDB�s "Shave Everywhere" site-- a comic treatment with big viral potential.

Creative Showcase: Orbit White Gum

�Step into the bright� with EVB�s Orbit White minisite, which markets the whitening chewing gum with a campy cult-like world.

Creative Showcase: Got Milk?

Explore foreign planets with GS&P and North Kingdom�s �Planet in Need� (of milk) website.

Creative Showcase: Event-Driven Marketing

Let your inner basketball pro come out with T3�s Courtyard by Marriott banner, designed to leverage the excitement of March Madness.

Creative Showcase: Motorcycle Racing

Update your RSS feed with Zugara�s PlayStation Tourist Trophy website, or personalize your MySpace page with Tourist Trophy banners.

Creative Showcase: Xbox Banner Taunt

Taunt your friends with Ferrari antics in this AKQA banner for Project Gotham Racing 3.

Creative Showcase: Ciroc Vodka

See how Real Branding's sleek expandable banner markets this French vodka with in-banner martini recipes.

Creative Showcase: Nike Women

Explore R/GA's Nike Women website, combining workout instructions, music videos and more!

Creative Showcase: Staples' Easy Button

Discover how EyeWonder brought Staples' "The Wall" campaign to the web, spicing it up in the process.

Extending March Madness Online

March Madness hits the internet with this free player, sponsored by Dell and Courtyard by Marriott.

From the Desktop Straight to Hawaii

AdTools created a branded desktop app that offers live web cam footage and real-time streaming of Honolulu radio stations.

Maxim Targets the Young Male Audience

Speed Stick opted for Maxim Online to create and run a minisite that targets the elusive young male audience.

Absolut, Kravitz Mix on Epic Site

An eclectic new site from Absolut features an exclusive song from Lenny Kravitz, 10 remixes, 11 videos and all the trimmings.

A New Branded Game for Vicks

An old-style space game gets new marketing life when Vicks First Defence protects your busy schedule from seasonal illness.

Hip Humor Reaches Youth

fuse TV targets youth with a website that offers animation, comedy, downloads and music.

Slate.com Flips for Visa

Visa taps AKQA for a fresh take on the classic page takeover to promote its bold new "Life Takes" campaign.

Building Relationships with a BDA

AdTool�s new desktop app for Tamiflu gives audiences a one-stop command center for combating the flu.

A CPG Website with Action-Packed Video

Click Here�s Kiwi website sells shoe polish with quirky, fast-paced animated movies.

Adidas Uses Web to Enhance TV Spot

EVB�s adidas minisite allows audiences to immerse themselves in the dark and dangerous world of Kevin Garnett, as presented in recent TV spots.

Ecommerce Leverages Clickable Video

This skateboard mail order�s website offers video of skateboarders in action. Like their gear? Just click and buy.

HBO Ad Introduces Crystal Ball Approach

PointRoll�s HBO unit predicts what gifts you should give based on the gift recipient�s personality.

New Banner Revives the Classics

Klipmart's Turner Classic Movies unit markets its classic programming using modern online marketing tools and techniques.

Retro Cool + Modern Hip = Nike

AKQA�s Nike website has a very modern feel, while still highlighting the product�s history.

Carving a Niche with Humor

This job website combines interactive video, games and comedy to ensure audience interaction and site referrals.

A Better Way to Brand Online

Klipmart�s V CAST unit incorporates music and original web content: ad elements proven to boost branding.

Letting the Users Make the Ads

United Virtualities' Red Creek ad lets audiences create a mini-movie: tapping into their creativity while also showing them what Red Creek does.

Google Maps TV Ad Spreads Online

This consumer-generated 30-second spot has launched a frenzied viral campaign.

An Addictive Ad Campaign

United Virtualities catches audience attention and time with this entertaining interactive game for Chili�s.

Firefox: the User Unleashed

The alternative browser taps the power of consumer-generated marketing with a site where fans can upload video extolling its benefits.

SNL Hits the Web

Saturday Night Live skit "Lazy Sunday" is reborn on the web, with millions of downloads; the brands it mentions might see this as an opportunity.

Ecommerce Meets Entertainment

Shopping and entertainment merge in Fallon�s Nordstrom BDA; audiences can watch remixed music videos, and buy the featured clothing while still within the video.

10 Best Interactive Marketing Practices

Carat Fusion's national executive creative director tells us how to do interactive marketing right... and it has a surprising amount to do with Bazooka Joe.

Google's Branding Innovation

Google rewrites its moniker in Braille for Louis Braille's birthday; our panelists weigh in on the significance of such a branding technique.

Baked for Conversions

PointRoll and MRM created this banner for Betty Crocker -- with cookie recipes and decorating opportunities contained within the unit.

Busting out of the AIM Window

Unicast�s "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" creative unleashes an airborne Potter from AIM onto your computer screen.

A Banner like a Minisite

Klipmart's Prince of Persia leaderboard and skyscraper interact and expand upon rollover, creating the immersive experience of a minisite.

Shocking New Creative Fights Smoking

Sedgwick Rd. and Seven2 create a bizarre website with games, video and disturbing extras to keep young adults from smoking.

Nailing a Brand Message

Mullen and United Virtualities teamed up to launch an online campaign for Stanley Tools. The result: a riotously funny breakout banner.

eBay Campaign Mixes Mystery & Comedy

BBDO and Agency.com�s eBay campaign sparked curiosity and awareness before launching into the branding phase.

Enticing the Online Consumer

MSN�s Mother of All Shopping campaign uses a familiar face and funny concept to lure online shoppers into the MSN shopping pages.

The Bigger Picture

AKQA's Nike Free minisite hosts TV commercial footage, as well as games, click-and-drag functionality, special downloads and more.

A Virtual Hotel Visit

T3 sells Marriott with a website that offers panoramic video and room features that respond to the user�s command.

Honda Video Sparks Integrated Campaign

A collection of online videos for the Honda Element were such a hit, they became the cornerstone for a broader integrated campaign.

Moving Engagement Beyond the Browser

AdTools' "Family Guy" desktop app drives consumer engagement and boosts DVD sales.

Video Meets Integrated Marketing

IQ Interactive creates a microsite for The Weather Channel network that blends original video with the campaign's TV spots.

Motivating Your Audience

A promotional microsite for �24� by Geary Interactive/L.A. Promo drives web visitors back to the TV show to hunt for key bits of trivia.

The Seven Principles of Effective Online Ads

Ignited Minds' Lydia Estada articulates seven principles of effective online advertisements.

Nestea is N-ICE

JUXT Interactive demonstrates cool capabilities with its very interactive Nestea ICE site.

Enlightened Audi

Enlighten's Audi A3 microsite offers audiences a lesson in the road.

The Sugarshots Campaign!

iMedia's inaugural open source marketing effort links top marketers from across the interactive community to guide this campaign. We update this Sugarshots home page 3 times a week, so please bookmark it and check back.

Announcing the Sugarshots Campaign!

Welcome to Open Source Marketing! iMedia Case Studies presents Sugarshots: a quarter-long campaign unfolding before your eyes.

Lexus Lets Us...

Eyeblaster's interactive Lexus campaign gives online audiences a sense of the freedom of the road.

Balancing Act

EyeWonder's New Balance expandable video banner asks viewers to ponder the question: for love or money?

Fueling at the Pump

Zugara's microsite for the RBK Pump offers interactivity and videos that energize.

High-Tech Horsepower

An Eyeblaster interactive banner for Cadillac's Escalade demonstrates that technology doesn't have to be geeky.

Reward Interest w/Immediate Fulfillment

With the Web, consumers can be rewarded for interest with some kind of benefit, while marketers are rewarded with the clear identification of a prospect or lead.