“Thanks!”
A quick ‘thanks’ to all our valued clients who have contributed towards our continued support of a great charity – the NSPCC. WDA have supported the NSPCC for a number of years, and instead of giving clients gifts make a yearly donation to their Christmas campaign. The funds raised by the NSPCC helps children in many different ways, with most of the donation money getting through to directly fund charitable activities to end cruelty to children (in 2012/13 of every £1 donated, 79p went directly on charitable activities, with 20p spent on fundraising activities; and just 1p spent on Governance to meet constitutional and statutory requirements).

So, whilst you hopefully received our funky Christmas e-card, if you are feeling unloved because you didn’t receive a gift-wrapped bottle, now you know why (and yes, we still love you!!).

Media and creative agencies have a “critical” role to play in Facebook’s future plans, according to global marketing leader Carolyn Everson.

Carolyn Everson, vice president of global marketing solutions, Facebook

Everson, Facebook’s vice president of global marketing, said 80% of her time is dedicated to helping both advertisers and agencies understand how to get the best out of the new opportunities unfolding across the social network. The site’s 850 million users around the world have already enabled Facebook to forge strong direct relationships with many global clients, but bonds with agencies are viewed as an essential part of the mix.

Talking about the role of media strategists, Everson said: “Agencies are critical… It is absolutely essential for us to have tight relationships with the agencies, which helps us scale. We want to partner with the agencies, we have zero interest in dis-intermediating them. I have a dedicated agency team now that works under me at a global level, and we have folks in each region. So we have a team in the UK that focuses exclusively on the agency community. The faster we can make sure that the agency community is not only up to speed but really being strategic advisors to clients the better for our business, because they help us scale.

“We need them in our corner. Creative agencies are critical. The way the creative agency community has to think about this is that for many decades they’ve been thinking about the 30 second spot or the print or the billboard. They have to think about Facebook as an open, creative canvas, and their skillset around sparking a conversation is probably a new skillset.

Creative agencies used to think about why should someone care, they now have to think about why would they care and why would they share?”

With global advertising spends generally back on the rise, it is no surprise that internet ad spend has grown more than any other media in first half of 2012 (up 7.2% over the same period last year). However, social media and Facebook in particular still seems to be under leveraged by most brand owners who view it as simply a place to put out press releases or news bulletins, hoping viewers will care, comment or share; but not really having a clear objectives or any way of measuring success.

Whilst periodically posting quality content may be sufficient for some businesses (ie b2b companies who generally have a relatively small group of customers who respond best to personal direct communications), consumer facing brands wishing to engage and motivate large numbers of more passive viewers need to think beyond a daily update, picture post and the occasional poll or competition. As Everson says, Facebook should be viewed as a new and exciting media (route to market) – but one which still needs be driven by a sound marketing strategy, and engaging creative ideas (route to mind).

WDA offer simple social media start up packages (including Facebook fan page creation) through to complete social campaign strategy and implementation (including custom apps). Get in touch and we’ll happily look over your current activities or answer any question.

*The Everson article was first published on campaignlive

A great year for the Automotive sector with 5 of the top 50’s auto brands enjoying positive brand value changes. The sector as a whole outperforming all others in terms of brand value, ahead of both the financial and FMCG sectors. Whilst Coca-Cola remains in top spot, it is impossible to ignore Apple’s 129% increase ahead of both Google and Microsoft in the technology sector. Chart positions aside, the increasing fiscal values placed on these brands show just how much economic benefit is derived by their respective owners from ‘brand value’ – largely an intangible asset which is increasingly often worth more than a company’s tangible ones.
WDA have delivered branding and brand strategy consultation for clients ranging from global multi billion revenue companies, to SME’s and start up businesses, and everything in between. Regardless of size or market standing, the strength and relevance of your brand will almost always factor heavily in your customers decisions when faced with options to buy from you or a competitor. If you would like a chat to explore further how WDA might help your brand move up the charts,  then get in touch.

Last month we told you we had embarked on a re-build of our own website, and today we officially GO LIVE! – right on schedule. We hope you like it – take a quick look around and let us know what you think.

Apart from being due a refresh, the new site was created as part of a wider rebranding of WDA, including an updating of information site-wide to reflect WDA’s new processes and approach. From a visual perspective the new identity has been designed with a cleaner layout and minimalist colour scheme, reflective of a simplification of our service offering.

The new site launches WDA’s ‘ideas agency’ approach, created in response to the increasing number of exciting new media options available to brand owners today. This separates our services into ‘Route to mind’ (the ‘Killer Ideas’ which underpin everything we do), and ‘Route to market’ (the execution of those ideas utilising whichever media will give our clients maximum ROI). The site has been built on a new platform and features several functionality improvements to allow more rapid distribution of dynamic content. Both the case studies section and news blog have also been updated and revamped.

Thinking of a re-fresh yourself?

Your website is typically the most visible component of your brand, and as your business evolves to meet market needs, so should your site. Whilst content needs updating frequently to improve search and visitor retention, and incremental design or layout changes will keep your site fresh; sometimes more fundamental changes are necessary – especially if the visual impact of your site no longer represents your business, or if you are getting left behind your competition. Sometimes it is just a case of updating the back end to simplify and streamline content control, or to allow you to fully leverage the growing number of online and social media channels which your target customers are using.

If you would like WDA to evaluate your existing website to see if we can improve your customers experience, increase reach, improve functionality, and drive more enquiries and sales, then get in touch.

WDA are never happier than when we’re immersed in a sea of web code, and this month we’re putting the final touches to our own site, which will replace the one you are viewing now very soon.

The re-build will bring the home of WDA fully in-line with our new brand visual identity, and has been created utilising a more flexible platform to allow us to better showcase our digital media work including motion graphics, video and animation. Social integration will also be much improved in this update.

Much like WDA’s ideas agency approach focusses on the message before media delivery, the new platform is designed to allow us to focus on rapid content creation and distribution, without technical factors getting in the way. Along with this increase in productivity, the site will be better optimised and have a more robust back end with better security and backups.

As we write, Ricardo and Kevin are refining a new intro animation sequence which we are creating to convey our ideas agency concept and explain our refreshingly different approach to brand marketing. The making of this sequence has also seen Patrick Chapman christen the new sound studio and make his debut as a voiceover artist!

For web, digital and motion graphics enquiries please email here.

WDA to host marketing workshop at next weeks EXPO 2012 show.

WDA have been invited to run a Marketing Knowledge Shop at Europe’s biggest trade motorcycle show – Expo 2012, which opens for business at the NEC exhibition centre this Sunday 22nd January.

A select panel of professional partners will give free impartial advice at the knowledge shop which will cover every aspect of running a professional and successful business within the motorcycle sector. The MCN sponsored workshop area is also supported by respected industry associations and government initiatives such as the Motorcycle Retail Association, Get-On, BMF and SHARP amongst other privately owned consultancy firms. Each are on hand throughout the entire show to dispense free advice and discuss any specific issues attendees might be facing within their own businesses.

WDA specialise in creating, marketing and licensing brands to the entire Automotive market but also has clients within the Cycle and Leisure sectors, says Managing Director Lee Waterhouse. However the company can trace its roots back to motorcycling and it’s still a sector I am personally very passionate about having ridden bikes in competition and for pleasure since the age of eight(!)

WDA are multiple award winners for our work within motorcycling, and as official partners to its principal show we are looking forward to supporting the industry and putting something back in. We really are honoured to have been selected.

A Brilliant Brand should be relevant and differentiated from competitors in such a way that it reaches out and engages your customer through the best media choices – not be driven by media. Which is why WDA focus on ‘route to mind’ (the idea) first, before ‘route to market’ (the media channel). By remaining firmly media neutral we ensure that any advice is in the best interests of the client, and not biased to match internal agency resourcing or potential media commissions. Considering media spends can account for up to 80% of overall marketing budget, the potential savings and added returns of this approach are considerable.

At Expo, discover how WDA’s ideas driven integrated marketing solutions work and why a unique ideas agency approach can boost ‘return on idea’, and save on overall marketing spend. Find out why this model facilitates working with clients who are contracted to incumbent agencies, or have in-house design and marketing resources (you might be surprised the number of clients who benefit working in this way).

WDA will also reveal our unique BrandBuilderTM process which the agency has used to create some of the industries most successful brands.

Two directors will be on hand for the duration of the show, and the format will be friendly and informal. We would like people involved in the industry to view this as a one off no obligation opportunity to gain an insight into how some of the industries most successful brands have been built.

There is no appointment necessary, but feel free to get in touch should there be anything specific you would like to discuss or anything you would like the team to see or be thinking about in advance – the more information you can give the better the advice.

The Knowledge Shop area is located centrally in the main hall, facing the MCN stand (No. 640)

Show opening times are:

Sunday 22nd Jan 9:30 – 17:00

Monday 23rd Jan 9:30 – 17:00

Tuesday 24th Jan 9:30 – 16:00

For further show information please visit: www.motorcycle-expo.co.uk


WDA have just finished a new television commercial commissioned by Fuchs Silkolene to promote its high performance Pro 4 Energy motorcycle oil.

This commercial was first aired on the big screens at round 10 of the MCE British Superbike Championship held at Donington park this month, and will be run extensively on Motors TV.  WDA will very soon be able to create full 3D versions of its video creations at a dedicated motion graphics facility which is set to open in January. The facility will feature a purpose built projection room for clients to view video and animation projects in an authentic environment. To make an appointment to visit for a coffee and a viewing of our latest showreel, or to discuss a project of your own, please contact Lee Waterhouse on 01332 372728 or email lee@wda-automotive.com

“Create extra demand for KBC products, and increase sales by streamlining the online to in-store customer journey”

This top line objective is just the kind of challenge WDA relishes as it gives us the opportunity to create something with a very focussed commercial goal.

With KBC we set about creating a visually stunning site to give the the brand an edge over its competition; whilst a complete overhaul of the user interface makes browsing and product selection easy and enjoyable for the viewer.

Additionally we have introduced a whole range of increased functionality over the outgoing site aimed at streamlining certain processes which were previously handled manually off line, including consolidation of the global dealer listings.

The site is built around an all new easy to search range selector hub, with online registration and a comprehensive support section for owners. Additionally there is a new blog which posts out to KBCs social networks, and a twitter feed coming back into the site. Video content is streamed onto the home page and media area, which also has downloadable screen savers taken from the new advertising suite.

Putting KBC’s global dealer network in control

The dealer locator component of the site created by WDA’s developer team is bespoke and gives nearly 30 global distributors administrator access to manage their own country specific dealer listings. Assigning control to the distributors aims to streamline the management process and ensure lists are accurate and up to date, ultimately making the customer experience as smooth as possible from website to point of purchase.

The new site is the first of a whole range of planned promotional material to leverage KBC’s new Design Edge brand positioning and visual identity (also devised by WDA).

Visit the new KBC website  www.kbchelmets.co.uk
Read more about the KBC rebrand here

WDA Automotive are pleased to announce a 100% survival rate following Sundays Ancaster Karting GP.

Lincolnshires Ancaster Kart track was the venue for the 2011 WDA Kart GP which saw the best WDA drivers finally line up on the grid following weeks of speculation, bragging, mind games and self-promotion. The action did not disappoint; with an almost continuous stream of incidents from the green light.

Scary high speed crash

Massa Hungaroring crash of the day went to Simon Llanos who was the victim of a high speed shunt into a huge tyre wall by a crazed Patrick Chapman, looking for revenge following a previous (office based) altercation. Lewis Hamilton award for most aggressive move went to Nicky Box who launched her 270cc Honda Biz Kart at full chat into Lee Waterhouse following a lost 50/50 in the previous corner.

After a full 45 minutes of sliding, bumping, pit lane speeding, and grabbing of huge chassis twisting chunks of kerb the results (by fastest laps) were in:

  1. Lee Waterhouse
  2. Kiel Bull
  3. Simon Llanos
  4. John Colley
  5. Patrick Chapman
  6. Nicky Box
  7. Sally Parkin DNS
  8. Tracey Wilmot-Simmons DNS

www.ancasterkarting.co.uk