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Virgin Media demonstrates ‘unlimiting’ power of data-driven creative

Earlier this year Virgin Media took a truly data-driven approach to creative solutions, embodying the ‘unlimiting’ power of its services with a unique UK-wide campaign that physically broke out of more Out of Home frames than ever before.

Virgin Media set the challenge to relaunch its brand, with the ambition to stand out in a typically cluttered space by breaking out of all advertising formats to reflect the ‘unlimiting’ nature of its new ‘Ultimate Oomph’ package. Traditionally creative solutions are limited to a small number of hand-picked sites across a larger media plan, however specialist media agency Talon wanted to break the boundaries of traditional advertising spaces at scale and put the idea of bigger and better at the core to truly encapsulate Virgin Media’s offering.

To take the campaign a step further, Talon paired data with creativity using its proprietary data management platform, Ada. A custom audience was created based on bespoke Virgin Media segmentation data as well as user-level behaviour data available within Ada. This allowed Virgin Media to target audiences based on real and observed behaviours, so the brand could reach the most valuable and relevant people with its OOH campaign.

Ada evaluated thousands of advertising locations and prioritised them based on their ability to reach the bespoke audience most effectively. This data-led approach allowed Talon to consider a range of less traditional sites such as lifts and station walkways, that indexed highly with the core audience, based on their standout and ability to reach the right people rather than restricting ourselves to a particular format. The result was a creative, data-driven campaign which broke out of multiple formats, across multiple sites with a bespoke creative on each – a truly unlimited approach for the ‘unlimiting’ campaign.

Virgin Media’s objectives for its ‘Unlimiting’ campaign were clear – be memorable and stand out. After the campaign, Virgin Media’s share of mind was on a par with a major internet service provider, despite such companies’ spend being ten times greater, according to Nielsen ad spend data.

OnDevice, an independent research agency, reported that Virgin Media also saw significantly stronger ad recall scores, that were 14 per cent higher than the benchmark. Sites in London that were selected based on Ada insight were particularly successful in reaching Virgin Media’s objectives, with top of mind awareness 23 per cent higher than outside of London.

Overall, the use of data, insights and dynamic creativity created appeal amongst consumers and positively impacted key message take-aways. This bright, bold campaign allowed Virgin Media to stand out in a saturated telecoms market and better resonate with consumers.

Cilesta Van Doorn, brand & marketing director at Virgin Media says: “With the launch of our new creative platform ‘Unlimiting’ this year, our aim was to show customers that with Virgin Media, they really can do anything. Using innovative media solutions that literally ‘broke the limits’ of standard formats was key to our strategy and our outdoor activity with Talon is a great example of our ongoing ambition to punch above our weight and drive distinctiveness in the category”.

Barry Cupples, CEO of Talon says:, “This bold campaign took over the UK during the summer, breaking out of more frames for a single campaign than ever before. Not only has it shown the power of our creative solutions but also how creativity powered by data can drive brilliant results. The Ada optimisation helped to deliver the campaign where it would make the biggest impact at the right moment, whilst still capitalising on OOH’s core strength of large-scale reach”.

About Talon: Talon Outdoor is a truly independent Out of Home media specialist and a significant player in the Out of Home agency sector with a focus on delivering smarter, creative, technology-led and integrated OOH communications. Combining independence with a collaborative approach, Talon promotes open working between agencies, clients and media partners.

Talon has achieved the Campaign Best Places Number 1 Medium sized UK Company to Work For and has also featured in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100, as No. 1 in Best Companies and in LSE’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain.

Talon handles the Out of Home media for several of the UK’s leading advertising brands through Omnicom Media Group UK agencies, along with other agencies including AMS Media Group, JAA, Havas Media Group, Goodstuff, Ptarmigan Media and Republic of Media.

Talon has offices in London, Manchester, New York and San Diego, plus several other US cities, and has built an OOH planning and buying network covering US, Europe, Asia and Latin America covering 75 markets.
www.Talonoutdoor.com

For further enquiries please contact:

Nick Mawditt – [email protected]
Lucy Watson – [email protected]

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