ame central theme or idea. Since reach and frequency needs are no longer met by using traditional media methods, an effective program requires that messages rigorously reinforce each other at every point of consumer contact. Given the way most advertisers are organized, this is The golden age of advertising may be just ahead of us. This is according to Catherine Bension, CEO of Select Resources, one of the largest advertising agency search consultants in the world. Bension presented at a recent ad industry conference in Milan, Italy on behalf of Worldwide Partners (www.worldwidepartners.com). This is an interesting thought to ponder, given the complexities the proliferation of media has brought to advertisers.

Consider for a moment how difficult it is becoming for marketers to consistently get their messages in front of their most important audiences. With myriad choices, many advertisers are less visible to their core audiences. A primary reason is that consumers are not consuming media in the ways they did even five years ago. While time in front of video screens is increasing, these screens now include e-mail, Internet web searching, video games, and DVD movies. While much television is viewed, TIVO is giving consumers control to skip over commercial messages.

As a result, it is more important than ever that all elements of advertising programs work from the same central theme or idea. Since reach and frequency needs are no longer met by using traditional media methods, an effective program requires that messages rigorously reinforce each other at every point of consumer contact. Given the way most advertisers are organized, this is a

ide Partners (www.worldwidepartners.com). This is an interesting thought to ponder, given the complexities the proliferation of media has brought to advertisers.

Consider for a moment how difficult it is becoming for marketers to consistently get their messages in front of their most important audiences. With myriad choices, many advertisers are less visible to their core audiences. A primary reason is that consumers are not consuming media in the ways they did even five years ago. While time in front of video screens is increasing, these screens now include e-mail, Internet web searching, video games, and DVD movies. While much television is viewed, TIVO is giving consumers control to skip over commercial messages.

As a result, it is more important than ever that all elements of advertising programs work from the same central theme or idea. Since reach and frequency needs are no longer met by using traditional media methods, an effective program requires that messages rigorously reinforce each other at every point of consumer contact. Given the way most advertisers are organized, this is

their most important audiences. With myriad choices, many advertisers are less visible to their core audiences. A primary reason is that consumers are not consuming media in the ways they did even five years ago. While time in front of video screens is increasing, these screens now include e-mail, Internet web searching, video games, and DVD movies. While much television is viewed, TIVO is giving consumers control to skip over commercial messages.

As a result, it is more important than ever that all elements of advertising programs work from the same central theme or idea. Since reach and frequency needs are no longer met by using traditional media methods, an effective program requires that messages rigorously reinforce each other at every point of consumer contact. Given the way most advertisers are organized, this is

now include e-mail, Internet web searching, video games, and DVD movies. While much television is viewed, TIVO is giving consumers control to skip over commercial messages.

As a result, it is more important than ever that all elements of advertising programs work from the same central theme or idea. Since reach and frequency needs are no longer met by using traditional media methods, an effective program requires that messages rigorously reinforce each other at every point of consumer contact. Given the way most advertisers are organized, this is

ame central theme or idea. Since reach and frequency needs are no longer met by using traditional media methods, an effective program requires that messages rigorously reinforce each other at every point of consumer contact. Given the way most advertisers are organized, this is a tall order.

Many advertisers have different groups handling advertising, direct marketing, sales promotion, Web site design, and public relations. Within most organizations, these groups are independent and do not collaborate in ways to ensure success in this new media age.

Advertising agencies are mostly organized in a manner similar to their clients. They run specialty areas like direct marketing, interactive, and advertising as separate business entities. Each area is vertically integrated with full service staffing. In practice, this does little to solve the realities of today’s media world.

Bension’s organization, Select Resources, helps marketers with significant budgets find agencies that are the right fit for the marketer’s needs. They also know what is on the mind of decision makers for household brands when it comes to advertising their products and services.

At the Milan conference, Bension summarized what today’s marketers want from their ad agencies. First, they are concerned about the proliferation of media and the resulting complexity this creates. They want thei