CHELMSFORD, Mass., June 10, 2013 – Captivate Network, the leading digital media company for reaching on-the-go professionals, has found an increase in “Homing from Work” among white-collar workers. This trend, which entails taking care of personal and family needs during the workday, is improving work/life balance and creating new opportunities for brands to engage with customers when they are in-market for a variety of goods and services. These findings are based on Captivate’s Office Pulse, an ongoing survey that looks at the experiences, insights and opinions of a panel of more than 4,000 white-collar workers across North America.

Captivate first looked at the issue of work/life balance in 2011. The 2013 study revealed there has been an 11 percent increase in the number of people reporting a healthy work/life balance since 2011. This improvement comes despite a 30 percent increase in respondents reporting working more than nine hours a day. This unique finding of longer working hours but healthier balance seems to be explained by the increase in “Homing from Work” behavior.

“People seem to be getting more comfortable with putting in longer hours,” said Scott Marden, research director at Captivate Network. “Part of that appears to come from the growing ability to take care of personal business during the workday. In fact, 93 percent of people reported “Homing from Work.” It’s a definite shift and it’s impacting not only the way people work but also the types of issues and activities that are on their minds during the workday.”

Most advertisers recognize that white-collar workers are in-market for business products and services during the workday. The research from Captivate’s Office Pulse shows that its audience would also be receptive to offers that help them manage their home and personal lives.

“What ‘Homing from Work’ says to me is that the channels that reach people during the workday should be used for more than B2B brands,” said Dan Levi, chief marketing officer at Captivate. “This research points to new opportunities for reaching consumers when they are researching and purchasing products and services for themselves and their families.”

The fastest growing “Homing from Work” activities are entertainment (an 80 percent increase between 2011 and 2013); surfing and shopping online (a 63 percent increase between 2011 and 2013), running errands (a 31 percent increase between 2011 and 2013) and shopping in retail stores (a 34 percent increase between 2011 and 2013).

Captivate’s Office Pulse study uncovered details on the specific types of products and services people report engaging with during the work day:

“The workplace presents an under-utilized advertising opportunity,” said Levi. “People are researching and purchasing products, they are stepping out to take care of personal business and highly-targeted media channels like Captivate Network can effectively educate them on their options and alternatives. This study reinforces that there is an opportunity for marketers to make the phenomenon of ‘Homing from Work’, work for them.”

A detailed report on the findings, “Captivate Office Pulse: Work-Life Balance Research Insights 2013,” is available at captivate.com/homing-from-work/.

Captivate’s Office Pulse research is designed to offer an empirical glimpse into the attitudes and behaviors of the white-collar workforce. Captivate commissioned MarketTools, the leader in software and services for Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) and Market Research, to build and manage the Office Pulse research panel, consisting of over 4,000 white-collar professionals working in Captivate’s footprint of 1,000+ class A office buildings across North America. The panel is the source for workplace behavior and advertising communications measurement for dozens of Fortune 500 companies and their agency partners. The “Homing from Work” research was conducted in February, 2013 and was based on the responses to an online blind survey of 838 people in 14 major metropolitan centers in the US and Canada. For more information about Captivate’s Office Pulse, visit officepulse.captivate.com.

Captivate Network is the leading digital media company reaching 5.6 million on-the-go business professionals throughout the workday across North America. Captivate cuts through the clutter of information overload to provide viewers with content and product messages that are timely, relevant and empower them to balance the personal and professional demands of the workday. Known for its vast network of more than 10,000 office elevator displays, Captivate continues to expand the delivery of customized, actionable information to a busy, upscale audience via emerging technology platforms. Founded in 1997, Captivate was acquired by Gannett in 2004.

CHELMSFORD, Mass., May 29, 2013 – Captivate Network, the leading digital media company for reaching on-the-go professionals, has been recognized as one of BtoB Magazine’s 2013 “Media Power 50” for the 13th consecutive year. BtoB Magazine’s annual list honors the most innovative and effective media properties to reach B2B decision makers. The special report recognizes Captivate for its ability to provide targeted, engaging editorial content that builds audiences and attracts B2B advertisers. Captivate’s daily programming appears on more than 10,000 elevator displays found in more than 1,000 premier office buildings across the United States and Canada.

“It is more of a challenge than ever for marketers to reach and hold the attention of business decision makers, especially today’s always-working, always-connected professionals,” said Dan Levi, chief marketing officer at Captivate Network. “Our unique network, with its rich and engaging content and almost iconic placement, has proven its value in delivering results for B2B marketers for more than a decade. It’s an honor for Captivate to be recognized again by BtoB Magazine.”

As the workplace has changed and evolved, Captivate’s content and capabilities have evolved as well. New ad formats, content partnerships and location-based targeting are just a few of the ways Captivate continues to meet the needs of B2B marketers. In addition, as busy professionals seek to maintain a healthy work/life balance by spending workplace time on personal needs, the network is increasingly being used by advertisers of consumer products and services to cut through the media clutter and effectively reach and impact upscale professionals.

About Captivate Network

Captivate Network is the leading digital media company reaching on-the-go business professionals throughout their workday. With millions of monthly viewers across North America, Captivate cuts through the clutter of information overload to provide viewers with content and product messages that are timely, relevant and empower them to balance the personal and professional demands of the workday. Known for its vast network of 10,000 office elevator displays, Captivate continues to expand the delivery of customized, actionable information to a busy, upscale audience via emerging technology platforms. Founded in 1997, Captivate was acquired by Gannett in 2004. For more information, please visit www.captivate.com.

CHELMSFORD, Mass., April 24, 2013 – Captivate Network, the leading digital media company for reaching on-the-go business professionals across North America, has added a range of new programming partners that greatly expand Captivate’s editorial content. The Muse, GOOD, Greatist, Lonely Planet and Oyster.com are now among nearly 100 content providers that contribute to Captivate’s daily programming, distributed across 10,000 elevator displays found in more than 1,000 office buildings. Captivate’s programming provides an engaging, workday information source that empowers the modern professional and delivers a valuable audience of engaged viewers for advertisers.

Captivate’s editorial team works closely with its content partners to deliver timely and worthwhile programming to its audience of upscale professionals. Content is scheduled to provide the most relevant and actionable information throughout the workday – need-to-know business news in the morning, sports and traffic information in the afternoon, easy dinner recipes at the end of the day, new restaurant reviews for the weekends, and breaking news and weather updates throughout the day.

“Each month Captivate reaches nearly 5.6 million smart, busy, upscale professionals who are striving to ‘do it all.’ They depend on us to quickly bring them up to speed when they are on the go,” said Dan Levi, chief marketing officer at Captivate Network. “Our audience is highly engaged with Captivate. Ninety five percent of the tenants in our buildings watch Captivate every day and ninety four percent say they enjoy the experience. The addition of these fantastic new content partners brings greater depth and diversity to our programming, and are high-quality complements to the news-driven content we already offer from USA Today, Forbes, Business Insider and many more.”

Captivate’s screens have long been a source of water cooler chatter, but they are also a reflection of the changing nature of work and the workplace. Professionals are increasingly bringing more of their personal interests and activities into the office. Captivate has sought out programming partners that focus on and support this changing work experience. For example, 49% of Captivate viewers book travel at the office, making Captivate’s new partnerships with respected travel brands Lonely Planet and Oyster.com a timely and relevant addition to Captivate’s programming mix.

New content partners include:

• The Muse, where inspired professionals come to find, get, and excel at their jobs
• GOOD, a global community of, by, and for pragmatic idealists working towards individual and collective progress
• Greatist, the trusted health & wellness resource for anyone looking to make healthier choices
• Lonely Planet, inspiring travel through expert content and advice
• Oyster.com, the hotel tell-all

“Captivate’s audience of smart professionals who are passionate about their careers is exactly who The Muse is designed to reach,” said Kathryn Minshew, chief executive officer at The Muse. “We’re pleased and proud to be a part of the Captivate Network and to be able to inspire workplace conversations across the country.”

“Our mission to inspire and inform healthier choices has never been more important for professionals to talk about,” said Derek Flanzraich, chief executive officer & founder at Greatist, “There’s no better way to fuel workplace conversations on topics that matter than with Captivate Network.”

About Captivate Network
Captivate Network is the leading digital media company reaching on-the-go business professionals throughout their workday. With over 5.6 million monthly viewers across North America, Captivate cuts through the clutter of information overload to provide viewers with content and product messages that are timely, relevant and empower them to balance the personal and professional demands of the workday. Known for its vast network of 10,000 office elevator displays, Captivate continues to expand the delivery of customized, actionable information to a busy, upscale audience via emerging technology platforms. Founded in 1997, Captivate was acquired by Gannett in 2004.

What gear is a must-have for this golf season?

Definitely the Taylor Made R1 driver. It is the most hotly anticipated and then well-received club I can remember in years. It won on the PGA Tour in its debut, the season opener, just a couple of weeks before it went on sale to the public and it was heavily pre-ordered. Taylor Made already dominated the club court on Tour, but this steps it up a notch. They revolutionized drivers a few years back by introducing user-changeable face angle to correct slices and hooks, and this model adds changeable loft, in a wide range, to help each golfer select proper ball flight.

Taylor Made R1

I also think we will continue to see the public move toward “skate shoe” style golf shoes like the Ecco Street Shoe as more and more Tour players embrace them on TV.

ECCO Mens Street Premiere

Once people wear them and realize how comfortable they are and how well they perform, I think traditional golf shoes will have a hard time. Almost every major manufacturer now makes this style.

Finally, either a dedicated golf GPS or smartphone app. A few years ago these were a rarity for the most anal gofers; now they are commonplace, giving you thousands of course maps, and then when you play, distance from the hole and other useful info.

What’s the must-play course this season?

Streamsong in Florida, between Orlando and Tampa, and by a huge margin. The 36 holes opened in late 2012 and both courses were immediately named 1 & 2 “Best New” by Golf Magazine and have gotten stellar reviews across the board. In California, the true “must play” remains Pebble Beach, because of all the history, despite the difficulty and expense of securing a tee time. For Chicagoans it’s Whistling Straits in nearby Kohler, Wis., one of the few public courses to have hosted a Major, the PGA Championship, twice in recent times.

Streamsong

Who’s going to wear the Green Jacket this year?

I think Tiger but that’s hardly going out on a limb. He holds the tournament record, he’s just won in dominant style two in a row, he’s the world’s number one player, the course suits him and everyone else seems to be collapsing in the wake of his resurgence. My second pick would be Keegan Bradley.

Where’s your absolute favorite place to stay when on a golf vacation?

I am answering this question from the lodging perspective, which is not the same as my favorite place to go on a golf vacation. In the US it is very hard to beat the American Club in Kohler, Wis., for world-class golf resort lodging with world class golf. I also really love The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. In Ireland, The Lodge at Doonbeg, in Doonbeg, and in Scotland the Turnberry Resort, in Turnberry.

Clockwise, from upper left: Doonbeg, Broadmoor (from Associated Press), Turnberry Resort, The American Club

Read more from Mr. Olmsted at USA Today, Forbes, and on his website, Larry Golfs the World.

]]> http://www.captivate.com/2013/04/golf-like-a-pro-best-courses-equipment-and-insider-info-for-2013/feed/ 0 http://www.captivate.com/2012/10/hurricane-sandy-aka-frankenstorm-essential-online-resources/ http://www.captivate.com/2012/10/hurricane-sandy-aka-frankenstorm-essential-online-resources/#comments Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:20:32 +0000 captivate http://www.captivate.com/?p=3266 5 Essential Online Resources For Hurricane Sandy

With much of the American East Coast wading through the aftermath of Superstrom Sandy, these 5 essential resources can help keep you informed while you’re conserving power.

#1 Keep Track on Twitter

Organizations on Twitter are mobilizing to keep everyone informed. The must-follows:

@stormcenter is managed by the Gannett social team, based out of D.C. in collaboration with local broadcast stations across the Eastern seaboard.

@fema The official word from fema.gov on the path of Hurricane Sandy and available resources in your area.

#frankenstorm and #sandy to see what other people on Twitter are saying about the storm. TIP: Use either hashtag along with your city name, i.e. “#sandy #nyc” to see what things are like closer to you.

Follow your mayor’s office. The offices of @MikeBloomberg and @CoryBooker, for example, are tweeting about flooding zones, public schools and local resources.

#2 The Weather Channel

The Weather Channel (weather.com) has the usual resources you would expect like live maps, photos from impacted areas and projections of severe weather along with unexpected things like a “Friends at Risk” feature which lets you keep track of friends in designated bad weather areas.

#3 Food Safety

Make sure you know what’s safe to eat and what isn’t when the power goes out. This article from Boston.com has great tips on food safety before, during and after a power outage.

#4 Google Crisis Response

This incredible application from Google Crisis Response interprets data to show current conditions and forecasts along with optional views like emergency shelters, webcams and YouTube videos, public alerts, traffic conditions and cloud imagery. You can toggle the map view to see what is relevant to you.

#5 National Hurricane Center

This no-frills response site from the National Hurricane Center has up-to-date information with a focus on the next 48 hours. The barebones presentation shows the public advisory along with the current and projected conditions.

•Keep your power consumption to a minimum.

•Use your social networks to communicate, as phone lines will likely be down or busy.

•Stay indoors, no matter how tempting it may be to step outside to take photos/videos.

Stay safe everyone!

CHELMSFORD, Mass., October 2, 2012 – Captivate Network, the leading digital media company for reaching on-the-go business professionals across North America, has named Dan Levi as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Levi will be responsible for helping Captivate Network, whose screens are a welcome and familiar fixture in nearly 10,000 elevators in Class A buildings, find innovative ways to serve the needs of clients and attract new brands to the digital place-based media space. He will report to Captivate’s President Mike DiFranza.

Levi brings more than 25 years of media and marketing experience to Captivate, including senior marketing roles at Zoom Media & Marketing, Monster Worldwide, World Wrestling Entertainment and MTV Networks. He is also a recognized leader in the expanding digital place-based media industry.

“Dan has deep and rich understanding of our industry in addition to his knowledge of the digital and television marketplace,” said DiFranza. “The entire Captivate team is thrilled to have his leadership as we bring the business to the next level and focus on continually and creatively serving the needs of our customers.”

“Captivate has a great team, tremendous credibility and has established itself as the market leader in the rapidly growing digital place-based industry,” said Levi. “I’m excited by the potential and opportunity to do great things for the company and our clients. Advertisers are clamoring for effective and efficient ways to engage with their most important, hardest to reach consumers, and Captivate delivers a Nielsen-measured, research-proven audience of busy professionals who truly love our programming.”

Prior to joining Captivate, Levi served as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Research at Zoom Media & Marketing. He also held senior marketing positions at Monster Worldwide, World Wrestling Entertainment and was instrumental in the launch of MTV Asia. In the digital place-based media industry, Levi has served as an advisory board member of the Digital Signage Expo, chair of the Creative Standards Committee for the Digital Place-based Advertising Association and member of the Technology Innovations Committee of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America.

A self-professed music junkie, animal-lover and Philadelphia sports fan, Levi will be based in New York where he lives with his wife, son and multiple pets. He will split his time between Captivate Network’s New York City and Massachusetts offices.

About Captivate Network
Captivate Network is the leading digital media company reaching millions of on-the-go business professionals throughout the workday across North America. Captivate cuts through the clutter of information overload to provide viewers with content and product messages that are timely, relevant, and empower them to balance the personal and professional demands of the workday. Known for its vast network of nearly 10,000 office elevator displays, Captivate continues to expand the delivery of customized, actionable information to a busy, upscale audience via emerging technology platforms. Founded in 1997, Captivate was acquired by Gannett in 2004.

“Our survey results show that office attire can be a major distraction for some employees,” said Mike DiFranza, president of Captivate Network. “Companies must navigate the shifting definition of what’s acceptable to wear in the workplace to minimize distractions without turning employees off with overly stringent policies.” A breakdown of results follows and includes the percentage of workers who reported seeing an item worn or shown in the office; who finds it acceptable; and who finds it distracting.

Cleavage

45 percent of people report seeing cleavage in the office

Who finds it acceptable: 45 percent of senior managers

Who finds it distracting: 87 percent of senior managers

Bare legs

49 percent of people report seeing bare legs in the office

Who finds it acceptable: 58 percent of those over 50 years old

Who finds it distracting: 72 percent of men

Tattoos

45 percent of people report seeing tattoos in the office

Who finds it acceptable: 67 percent of 35-49 year olds

Who finds them it distracting: 61 percent of those over 50 years old

Short skirts

29 percent of people report seeing short skirts worn in the office

Who finds it acceptable: 21 percent of mid-level and junior mangers

New Fall TV Shows Not Getting Affluents’ Attention

By: Scott Marden

Each year, our research looks to uncover television’s most anticipated programs among affluent consumers. This year, this important group has shown little to no interest in the Fall television season. When it comes to new programs premiering this fall, very few made the must-see list among high-income consumers. The list pales in comparison to the number of programs anticipated on the eve of the 2011 Fall television season. This lack of excitement for new shows may be the result of choice overload, lack of star power or just a laissez-faire attitude toward network TV.

2012 New Shows Listed as “Top Anticipated” by Affluents

666 Park Avenue

Arrow

Revolution

The Mindy Project

2011 New Shows Listed as “Top Anticipated” by Affluents

2 Broke Girls

New Girl

Pan Am

Person of Interest

Terra Nova

The X Factor

Unforgettable

Up All Night

Whitney

The Bright Side – AMC, HBO, Showtime are all Strong Among Affluents

This year, more so than in previous years, Affluents are reporting greater levels of anticipation for cable programming. Topping the list of anticipated programming are staple shows and niche series from cable networks and premium channels. Compared to their non-Affluent counterparts, Affluents are 68% more likely to list the following programs as one of their three most anticipated TV shows this fall.

The Walking Dead (AMC)

Breaking Bad (AMC)

Game of Thrones (HBO)

Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

Mad Men (AMC)

Homeland (SHOW)

Network Staple Programs Remain Strong Among Affluents

Similarly, but to a lesser degree, Affluents are 57% more likely to list the following programs as one of their three most anticipated TV shows this fall.

Monday Night Football (ESPN)

Big Bang Theory (CBS)

Dancing With the Stars (ABC)

30 Rock (NBC)

Two and a Half Men (CBS)

American Idol (FOX)

Driving Tune- In Among Affluents

When targeting Affluents, networks may be best served by following the example of HBO, which boasts an 88% positive brand rating (the highest of any network) among the affluent demographic. Affluents within our research cite the HBO brand’s “cool factor” and “quality” as top reasons for watching or recommending HBO to their friends and family. While HBO’s strong lineup of original programs and movies has much to do with its high brand rating, the effort HBO puts into building its brand as the premium cable network using traditional, digital place-based and new media has helped it build and maintain a loyal fan base.

For marketers hoping to reach affluent consumers through network television, the fall season does not appear to be a strong draw. This means marketers may want to evaluate alternate media channels that are more effective at reaching this valuable audience.

Here is a sampling of some of the key pick-up highlights:

NBC Nightly News – Yes, Brian Williams….We are “the folks who measure such things”

Bloomberg BusinessWeek

SmartMoney

Huffington Post

LA Daily News

MSNMoney

New York Magazine

San Diego Union Tribune

San Francisco Chronicle

Global Montreal / Global Edmonton

Payscale

TechVibes

“Make sure you take in new experiences whenever you can. … Once you have this new perspective, you no longer think of things in a narrow point of view, and can often come up with solutions that will satisfy more than one group.”
– Sara LeBlanc, Global Program Manager for GM Infotainment

With the proliferation of wireless devices, it seems there’s not a minute of the day we’re not in touch with the outside world – even while driving. What used to be a lonely commute has now become an hour-long opportunity to catch up on the latest music trends, chat with friends or get in on a meeting. But is it safe to have such distractions on the road? Sara LeBlanc and her team at GM are working to ensure we can all stay in touch while staying safe as we navigate our way to work, the grocery store and everywhere in between.

Sara gives us insight on GM’s MyLink technology, the importance of being open-minded, and more in today’s Captivate Executive Thursday profile.

– – –

Captivate: How did you get started in your career?

Sara LeBlanc: I decided to become an engineer when I was very young. I always had a strong curiosity for fixing things, and would love to spend time with my dad in his workshop when I was growing up. He was an Engineer for General Motors as well, so it seemed natural that I follow him into the automotive field.

C: What advice do you have for people looking to advance their career?

SL: Make sure you take in new experiences whenever you can. Since I started my career at GM, I have worked on many continents and in many different parts of the business including engineering, quality, finance, vehicle teams and manufacturing. Each new position became an opportunity to learn more about the different customer needs and the different business needs. Once you have this new perspective, you no longer think of things in a narrow point of view, and can often come up with solutions that will satisfy more than one group. This type of thinking is definitely an asset for any employee.

C: What do you mean when you say people should think of MyLink “as smart phone, dumb radio”?

SL: The MyLink radio in the Chevrolet Sonic and Spark mini-car is really just an extension of the customer’s smartphone. The connected features on your smartphone – your music, your telephone contacts, your apps – will play through the radio, but are not stored or saved there. They remain on your smartphone. I started using the phrase “smart phone, dumb radio” as an easy way for our customers to remember how MyLink will work with their smartphone.

C: How do you give drivers what they want – in-car access to phone, music and apps – while keeping them safe?

SL: The entire radio was designed with Driver Distraction regulations in mind. The screen colours, the font sizes, the placement of the buttons, the number of items per screen – each was considered to create a design that was both simple to use and safe to operate.

C: How do you balance work life and home life?

SL: With a global job, this can be quite a challenge. Luckily my husband and I work as a team to juggle work, doctor appointments, football games, band concerts, whatever comes at us. We have a very close family, and work hard to stay that way. I also think the flexibility of my job is an important means to maintain this balance as well.

C: Who would you most like to be stuck in an elevator with?

SL: Besides an elevator repair man? I would have to say a great story teller like my husband, Jeremy. He could keep me laughing for hours.

– – –

This interview is part of Captivate’s series called “Exec Thursdays.” For more of our interviews, click here.