Ad News and Views from around the Web

Ad spend uptick; agency-client mind-meld; yodeling for dollars; creatives need geeks and more

Global ad spend shows signs of improvement
Good news for media buyers. According to Nielsenwire, while global ad spend is still down, the market looks ready for a turn-around. Phew!

Ad agency culture: It’s what’s on the inside that counts
Writing in Ad Age, Phil Johnson explores how agencies need to culturally mind-meld with their clients to create success. “Whether you’re looking for a job, or conducting an agency review,” writes Johnson, “look beyond the cool lobby, the foosball table, and all those glamorous people walking the halls.” What’s Phil got against foosball?

Go ahead, yodel!
Yesterday Yahoo’s Buzz Marketing wing—yep, there really is one—launched the Yodel Studio, where your yodel can compete to win money for your favorite charity. For more, see Yodel Anecdotal, and enjoy these snaphots from the Times Square yodeling event on Yahoo’s Facebook page.  Need some inspiration? Check out the extended dance mix version of our new Anthem ad.

Creative teams need geeks, too
“It used to be that creative departments were the province of the tragically hip, writes Joe Mele over at Mele’s Musings. But in today’s high-tech ad world, “You better find some folks who wear ironic t-shirts, know what w00t means, and who in past times would have worn short-sleeve shirts with ties and pocket protectors…” Preaching to the choir, Joe!

Yahoo! refuses to stop innovating
MediaPost takes an objective look at our next wave of search enhancements in this post by Laurie Sullivan. The article details several new Yahoo! innovations and initiatives for advertisers that address the big changes happening in the market now. For more on Yahoo! innovation, see Product Pulse over at Yodel Andecdotal.

A day at the office
Just for fun: Ever felt like this at your office? We totally want to work with these folks.