Intelligence Briefs

"Hand and finger gestures amplify the impact of your spoken words by as much as five times," notes public relations veteran and "Zoom expert" Rosemary Ravinal. "In fact, people will remember more of what you said if you gesture while you speak." Learn more in this freshly penned column.

To little surprise, those between the ages of 18 and 24 are more likely than all adults to cut the cord. But, why? And does this signal a goodbye to "traditional TV" — including over-the -air channel consumption?

"Short attention spans in person and online compel us to do better when we want to engage people when we speak or set the stage for the featured guest who will follow," says Rosemary Ravinal. In her view, the introduction is the on-ramp for a powerful opening. Her latest column offers valuable tips for both main stage speakers and emcees.

What's the size, share and trend headline associated with social media advertising? It's a question many linear media sales associates should have the answer to, as it could help them better compete for dollars in an increasingly competitive space.

Not happy with the ratings data Nielsen provides your radio and/or television stations? Marketers are right there with you, it seems. That's according to the nation's dominant audience measurement and consumer data firm.

Have you ever felt that your heart just wasn’t into what you were presenting? "The motivation, attitude, and feeling you bring to speaking can be more important than what’s in your head," says "Zoom expert" and public relations industry professional Rosemary Ravinal. This latest column uncovers why heart-centered speaking is key to winning oration.

The information from Nielsen, which is mulling a takeover bid while shopping around for a better offer, offered the data in its first-ever "State of Play" report, which highlights the increasing boom of video content in both linear and streaming in recent years.

After a very particular year, 2021 marked the return to a kind of normality in the TV industry. Worldwide content has appealed to large audiences. At the same time, Médiamétrie of France finds that the digital revolution has created "a strong dynamic in the industry with all actors rethinking their models."

Eye contact is everything in public speaking in person and online. "It’s one of the characteristics of effective public speakers," says PR veteran Rosemary Ravinal, now a "Zoom expert." She says, "Creating positive and meaningful eye contact is important to engage your audience and help them remember more of what you said."

According to Statista, consumer spend on QSRs is expected to reach $296 billion this year. But, fast-food brands, just like other major TV and radio advertisers, are today navigating through the impact of inflation by responding to disintermediation, catering to customer experience and partnering with celebrities.

Growth in time spent with social networks among U.S. users will taper to 94 minutes in 2023, following a huge uptick in 2020. This, says eMarketer, comes after domestic social network users spent an average of 97 minutes per day on the platforms in 2021, a gain of 2.5 minutes over 2020.

Online audio consumption in the U.S. showed significant gains year-over-year, according to The Infinite Dial 2022 from Edison Research, sponsored by Wondery and ART19. The study also finds the number of monthly podcast listeners declined slightly year-over-year as the U.S. population returns to pre-pandemic routines.

As "Zoom expert" Rosemary Ravinal sees it, one of the things that unites all people regardless of culture and geography is the smile. As such, Ravinal says in this column, "A smile will help you command the physical or virtual room with warmth, likeability, and credibility."

What a difference a year makes. "While 2021 results showed, in aggregate, that the ratio of ad spend to GDP rose to 1.26%, the highest level since 2006, there is a growing sense of doubt about the sustainability of these trends in the long run." That's according to respected Wall Street watchdog Michael Nathanson.

Delivering a powerful finish to a presentation is just as important as how you open. But, "Zoom expert" Rosemary Ravinal says one must also have a strong close to help a message resonate with the audience and increase the chances that they will take actions in your favor.