Cannes Lions 2021 awards: Unilever, Mastercard and Bodyform among the big winners

Cannes Lions 2021 looked different this year, as creativity was fuelled during Zoom chats instead of in-person brainstorming sessions due to the pandemic. In this article, we look at all 35 winners from the biggest creative marketing awards event of the year.

Twitter Spaces: the audio chat heats up

Spaces launched on the web edition. This Clubhouse-style audio chatroom gives new opportunities for brands: hold online events, sponsor content, get thought leadership exposure, – there are many routes for nurturing their network, creating leads, and sharing information. Don’t forget the vox pops and market research too. Find out how:

‘Idea Pins’ take on TikTok

This video-first feature is for creators who want to tell their stories using video, music and creative editing tools. It’s similar to the TikTok short video formats, letting influencers record and edit creative videos – with up to 20 pages of content. Tools include voice-over recording, background music, transitions and other interactive elements. The tools make agency-quality content more readily achievable and will particularly help small brands.

TikTok in-app shopping is here

When they started testing in-app shopping in Europe with clothing brands, the excitement was palpable. The energy of the TikTok content can flow into shoppable media, and on into sales. ByteDance ran early tests with streetwear brand Hype. What’s next? Watch every social platform accelerate its shoppable media.

Reddit starts in-house creative agency

To get more attention from brands, and make the process easier, Reddit has launched “KarmaLab”. The agency provides social listening and trends reports, community management assistance, creative workshops and campaign development. This adds to the growing ad offering, which now includes a wider range of video options.

Clubhouse audio chat launches on Android

The much-awaited rollout to Android boosted audience reach and helped turn this into a more viable platform for brands. Audience numbers and profile are key for reaching the critical mass needed in PR and advertising campaigns. Clubhouse is growing fast and looking set to become a powerful channel for brands that have creative ideas that fit the format.