We've arrived at a point in time wherein brands throughout the world recognize that they need to be producing original content -- and lots of it. After all, the publication of compelling content is one of the top 3 reasons why consumers follow brands on Twitter, and a whopping 90 percent of consumers say they find custom content useful. While this is great and all, as with anything that takes off throughout the world, brands publishing content has become commonplace. It is no longer a unique selling point. It is the quality of the content itself that is the USP.

Some forward-thinking brands have recognized this and, in a bid to stand out, are taking risks by publishing controversial content. In some cases, this has paid off; in others, not so much. While there's no perfect strategy for the use of such content, it's definitely worthwhile looking at where others have succeeded and failed.

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Revenue growing in a country with strong economic growth and an expanding middle class.

Fonterra's Malaysian operation has doubled its revenue in local currency terms over the past five years.

David Ross, managing director of Fonterra Brands in Malaysia, said the forces at work there are similar to those seen throughout much of Asia.

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THE three-paragraph letter said it all. But the Advertising Standards Authority of Malaysia (ASA) needs a pat on the back for its efficiency. A complaint against the distasteful political advertisements was sent on May 7. Its committee sat the next day and on May 10, the reply arrived.

"Pursuant to the said deliberations, we are directed to inform you that the Committee considers that the political advertisements referred to you do not come under the scope of the Malaysian Code of Advertising Practice (MCAP)."

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — The government company set up to build affordable homes for the lower-income group was criticised today after it paid for full-page advertisements in Umno’s Utusan Malaysia and the MCA’s The Star to congratulate Datuk Husni Hanadzlah on his reappointment as second finance minister.

The advertisements by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) feature a colour photograph of Husni and is from the board of directors, management and staff.

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Think long-term investment when it comes to your mobile strategy, Shaun Dobbin urges, noting that mobile works wonders… if it’s done properly.

Over 54% of Australians own a smartphone and just over 22 million Australians own some sort of mobile device. It’s now almost critical for businesses to ensure they are accessible over multiple mobile channels.

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Questions are being asked about Barisan Nasional’s (BN) “war room” strategists whose plans with a substantial budget did not appear to stop the ruling coalition from losing more federal and state seats in the May 5 general election.

The BN war room was tasked with selecting the candidates and advising various strategies to win the polls. It counts Rompin MP Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, PWTC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Alies Anor Abdul, Petronas director Omar Mustapha Ong, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor, party information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan and former minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as among its members.

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As the world it inhabits becomes more complex, WPP, the world’s largest marketing communications group, has continued to evolve: competing in more sectors to deliver more services to more people than ever before.

“I hate to use the word suppliers,” says the company’s founder and CEO, Martin Sorrell. “I prefer junior partners. 
“But whether you call us junior partners or suppliers, we are actually very important in the process.”

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A campaign for the Singapore Cancer Society that urges women to ‘Lift your skirt’ and take a pap smear test has caused something of a stir in the conservative city-state.

Notorious gossip site Stomp ran a post today on the campaign – which features women in Marilyn Munroe-style poses and the line ‘Lift your skirt. Save your life’ – suggesting that the campaign was sexist and unnecessarily lewd.

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Sophia tops the list of names for American baby girls for the second year in a row, while King and Messiah are becoming increasingly popular names for boys, the US Social Security Administration said yesterday.

Jacob has become a standby for boys’ names, topping that category for the 14th straight year. Liam and Elizabeth broke into the Top 10 at No. 6 and No. 10 respectively, the SSA said in a statement.

But rising on the list are a couple of less traditional, but more attention-grabbing names. Messiah was the fourth fastest-growing name for boys, rising to 387th in 2012 from the 633th spot in 2011, according to the federal agency.

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The retail investor is a market segment Phillip Futures Sdn Bhd sees potential to tap into for growth of its derivatives business in Malaysia.

While retail investors are well aware of the Malaysian equity market, the trading of derivatives on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Bhd (BMD), despite growing annually in terms of volumes traded, remains a domain of a small group of traders.

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