It dawned on us last week that it's been almost a year since we started landing in your Inbox every week with our newsletter. Of course we won't go into the best of it right now but it's a head's up that we're gearing towards an anniversary edition, so watch this space!

Of course our efforts are still ongoing in Afghanistan, as we continue to move people by any means we can – mostly by land, getting people to safety and security.

We came across a report from Statista on the rise of digital video ads – which is projected to grow more than 50% in the next four years. Despite already being the biggest digital ad segment in the outlook, placing ads tailored to people’s online searches is still poised for growth because of its direct access to customers who are looking to make a purchasing decision. But that does mean, one must throw caution to the wind – because ad fraud is very much a thing. As high as the growth is in ad spend, ad fraud is commensurate. We've got you covered on that front with our ad fraud audit services. Just scroll down a bit and you'll find our 'Online Armor' spiel.

On the psychology side of things (we have a real penchant for understanding human dynamics!) there's a great piece in 'Diversions' about the cost of our behavioural immune system. Touch has been the most affected sense. We used to open the doors to our workplaces, touched by a hundred other hands every day, and hold them open for someone else without giving it a second thought. We used to shake hands with strangers before we got to know them. We used to pass everyday objects to each other through our hands. Even as lockdowns begin to ease unevenly, we might still bump elbows, wave instead of hug, and obsessively disinfect our hands. So, could this experience of the world being out of reach, beyond our fingertips, have a corrosive effect on our social relations? Read the full analysis below.

And if we didn't say it loudly already, HELLO SEPTEMBER!

Team E.

See You Out There

Events season is officially upon us! (hello and thank you, September!) We may have lost some opportunities to communicate your brand to your target audiences through experiences due to the pandemic but we're moving forward – and coming with us, are events!

Events and experiences are an equally important method of communicating with your target audience. Our events and promotion team can handle the most intimate to large-scale global promotions and campaigns for both brands and individuals, with unparalleled access and reach in the Middle East, Europe and North America. We can organize and promote: galas; conferences/exhibitions; B2B/B2C events; red carpet appearances; charity events; press days; concerts; luxury experiences …and everything in between – each of which can have an enormous effect, especially if coupled with other forms of messaging – all the while maintaining and promoting the integrity of the brand and your reputation. We also take on a number of bespoke, specialized projects and campaigns for our clients upon request.

From event coordination to post event reporting, we are there with you every step of the way.

SHAPING TOMORROW

We’re always on the look out for dynamic change makers, disruptors and new information to fuel our own dexterity and creativity. So, this section sees a few of our recent picks on how the world’s outlook is changing. We hope these little nuggets will help you land on that 'aha!' moment you were looking for!

OUR DIVERSIONS

We know everyone says it's not all work, it's about play, too – and as much as we don't want to sound like a broken record, there is truth in the truism. Like we said earlier, we are all about ingesting the complex and the trivial in equal measure. In fact, we love nothing more than thinking deeply about the more 'playful' things in life. Read ' em and ponder away.

TODAY'S QUOTE

Being comfortable in your own company is just as important and productive as being surrounded by others.

THE OUTLOOK

We felt like breaking the summer tradition of sun, sea, sand and bring you something a little more snowy.