Marcom this week: From A to zinc

From multi-billion-dollar takeover bids to warm-and-fuzzy car commercials, here’s a look at what made headlines this week in the integrated marketing communications industry.

Celebrating the Digital Decade

As the Digital Decade comes to a close, The One Club announced this week its favorite One Show Interactive winners from the past 10 years. From Burger King’s Subservient Chicken to Dove’s Evolution campaign, these works showcase how the real and interactive worlds were seamlessly brought together. The decade of digital may represent the successful launch of the first branded viral video and the birth of online social engagement, but what will its legacy be 10 years from now? And, what does the next decade have in store for us?

View the top 10 digital campaigns.

Groupon, Meet Google

Google is expected to make a staggering $5.3 billion bid for Groupon in the near future, a move that at first seems intuitive, as Google hasn’t had much success making a name for itself in online social technology. (Remember Google Buzz? We didn’t think so.) This acquisition could also serve as a remedy for its local advertising problem, an issue it attempted to solve by offering to acquire Yelp for $550 million in late 2009.

However, some industry experts are calling Google’s near-record-setting offer an act of desperation. Next in line to acquire Groupon would be Google’s arch nemesis, Facebook. The two sites have established a symbiotic relationship, and Facebook’s acquisition of Groupon would only strengthen its growing online advertising prowess. It seems likely that Google’s bid is merely to ensure Facebook can’t get its hands on Groupon. This especially seems probable when you consider that Groupon’s popularity peaked around the end of summer and has since dropped off substantially.

In related news, Groupon wasn’t the only discount email company making headlines this week. Its rival LivingSocial is reportedly in talks with Amazon to receive an investment of up to $150 million.

GM Falls Down

Vitamin IMC’s campaign pick of the week is General Motors’ heartfelt, but not too heavy-handed “Thank You (We All Fall Down)” commercial that aired over Thanksgiving weekend. The 60-second spot created by Goodby, Silverstein & Partners is a tribute to iconic American entities – GM, included – that have fallen hard, only to rise up and stand tall once again. A reminder that, perhaps, those things worth fixing are never broken beyond repair.

Marcom This Week: From A to Zinc is compiled by the Vitamin IMC editorial team. They can be reached at vitaminimc@gmail.com.