MUMBAI: Started a little more than four years ago as a Facebook page, The Minimalist today is one of the most sought-after digital agencies within the country working with brands like Google, Coca Cola, Saint Gobain, HDFC, Kotak Mahindra, etc., and now the founders are planning to embark on a global expedition. Co-founder Sahil Vaidya in a telephonic conversation with Indiantelevision.com revealed that the creative solutions company is already working with a number of start-ups based in New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore, amongst others, and is willing to expand its footprints across the globe.
Talking about how the global industry is more evolved when it comes to advertising and marketing, Vaidya said that though the Indian brands are quite similar to foreign ones when it comes to a hard-core focus on customer experience, the latter subjects are much advanced when it comes to technology. “The approach essentially differs depending upon the size and nature of the brand and not because of geography. Working with hi-tech startup industries abroad, we have noticed that they have a very similar approach as Indian startups. It’s just that they are pretty much new-age and their usage of technology is very advanced.”
The Minimalist is also looking forward to investing more in its in-house video production capacities to capitalise onto the surging trend of video advertising. Vaidya believes that even when some brands do not have enough money to create large-scale TV campaigns, they are willing to spend on tactical video efforts that give them the required reach.
He said, “Transition into videos was a big trend in 2019. People realise that videos are the next big thing and that too not high-budget, large-scale productions but snackable content that can be rolled out on a day-to-day basis. That’s where we have our own propriety called ‘Mideos’, short form for Minimalist Videos. We have our own in-house production arm that helps the brands in creating short videos to generate engagement and virality.”
Vaidya is of the view that another big thing that is going to rule the roost in the coming times is geofencing that will help the brands to deliver targetted ads based on the consumer’s location. This is going to especially help those brands who have an offline retail presence.
He was also excited about the creative opportunities the rise of audio-based apps is going to serve the marketing and advertising community. He said that the skills required to create good voice spots are going to be the same as creating good radio ads.
Vaidya concluded, “I think a lot of creative strengths needed to create good ads are going to remain the same but the mediums are going to evolve.”
