Advertising Week: Day One Recap

Yesterday was the first day of Advertising Week 2011, and it was an incredible show of the strength an innovation in our industry. The line at the Times Center wrapped around the block as thousands flocked to hear what industry heavy-weights were going to say. AOL was proud to be front-and-center.

Yesterdays panels covered the full spectrum of the industry, from cause marketing to the re-invention of the agency. Don't miss a second: Watch the panels live, and follow the conversation with #gettalking.

To give you a taste, here are some top highlights from the first day.

Fast Company Talent Summit

At this panel, we learned that company culture may be the most important recruitment technique. Employees are looking to grow, learn and have fun at work. One way R/GA invests in creating great talent is by co-creating curriculum in certain universities like the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Building a Better Brand Experience: Best Practices for Creating Engaging Ads

Brian Atwood, Senior Director Sales & Strategy, AOL Premium Formats and Sam Duncan, Director of Product Management shared best practices for marketers in building premium ad formats, including how to reach traditional non-engagers. They also showed what's next for the Devil ad, with the brand new "Window Shopper" module, which allows consumers to shop and purchase all within the unit.

From @AOLAdvertising Live-Tweet Coverage:

"Ads as content! Eye trackers prove that Devil ads engage users in the same way content does, says @batwood14 #gettalking #mixx"

"Ad engagers aren't born, they're made" - AOL Premium Formats Director of Products; you just need a message that resonates #gettalking #mixx"

Trust, Community and America's Search for Real World Solutions

This all-star panel featured Arianna Huffington and Howard Fineman from The Huffington Post; Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski from MSNBC's Morning Joe; Conor White-Sullivan, CEO/Founder at Localocracy; David Frum, Editor of FrumForum.com and CNN contributor and Lisa Belkin, a former New York Times parenting columnist, now also a member of the Huffington Post team.

This spirited group debated about what it means to create political progress across party lines and how local action can be an important counterweight to national politics.  We learned from Joe Scarborough that when the going gets tough on Twitter, be positive! And when the going gets tougher, quote the Bible.

From @AOLAdvertising Live-Tweet Coverage:

"@JoeNBC when someone insults you online, just quote a bible verse or turn it positive. He's now up to 50K followers #gettalking #aw8"
"@ariannahuff asks @morningmika about unemployment-- why aren't we addressing this with the urgency it deserves? #gettalking #aw8"

CMO Desk of the Future

At the CMO desk of the future, Quentin George from IPG Mediabrands and panel spoke about the increasing amount of data and its ability to create democratization within advertising. The revelations aren't in unified consumer observations, but in many small ones; delegation of decision making is needed.

To stay in-the-know during Advertising Week follow us on Twitter at @AOLAdvertising and let us know what you think by using #gettalking.