Marketing News South Africa

Briefs with insights: It's not what you think.

This is the second in a two-part series on insights. The first article 'Why insights should not be in creative briefs' can be found here.

In that article we defined insights as an understanding that can be leveraged for a result in a certain dimension. For example, when a manufacturer succeeded in reducing the noise from their kitchen mixers, consumer interpreted it as less powerful. I am told they put the noise back.

Can a brief be a one-liner?

It was also previously argued that insights, as a specific 'block to be filled out' in the brief was somewhat self-defeating. All the brief needed to contain was enough information for creatives to know who they're talking to (and why).

If a picture is worth a 1,000, then this article is more than 2,000 words long, courtesy of Volkswagen. I let the pictures speak for themselves.

Here's the brief...

Briefs with insights: It's not what you think.

Note: This specific model is not a South African version, but was used in conjunction with the advertisement below. For current South African models visit the local website

And here's the ad:

Advertisement reproduced with kind permission from Volkswagen South Africa.

I rest my case.

To discover more on strategy and insights, attend Sid Peimer's course in Durban, Cape Town and Joburg this month: Essential Strategic Planning Skills for Client Service Creative and Non-Planners this month in Durban, Cape Town and Joburg.

About Sid Peimer

A seasoned and insightful executive with multisector experience in roles as diverse as senior management, strategic planning and copywriting. I am a qualified pharmacist with an MBA from UCT. I am also an accomplished keynote speaker and presenter.
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