Performics, a global performance marketing agency and division of VivaKi, has taken a deep dive into a market segment whose track record for influencing, participating with and promoting brands is a valuable insight to have in our world of ever-changing digital media marketing: “Social Moms.”

Forbes and MSNBC.com both recently published exclusive articles about Performics research initiative, “S-Net: A Study in Social Media Usage & Behavior.” The articles features the study’s key consumer insights about the social media usage and influential consumer behavior of “Social Moms.”

The most notable findings of the Performics study assert that moms are:

• - Approximately 61% more likely than other women to own a smartphone
• - 75% more likely than other women to trust information they receive from companies through social networking sites
• - 45% more likely to make a purchase as a result of a recommendation on a social networking site than other women
• - 16% more likely to visit Facebook daily and 46% more likely to visit Google + daily

“Moms continue to take advantage of the little spare time they have by utilizing all the tools at their disposal.  This includes their mobile devices and social networks,” notes Daina Middleton, Global CEO of Performics. “Increasingly, as a segment of the social networking population, moms’ perception is their voice can be leveraged to influence, participate with, and promote brands.”

An infographic from Performics highlights their findings concerning “Social Media Moms.”

VivaKi CEO Jack Klues today announced the appointment of Kurt Unkel  to president of the VivaKi Nerve Center. He was previously EVP/general manager of the Nerve Center’s global, addressable media buying practice Audience on Demand™  (AOD). He assumes responsibilities from 24-year Publicis Groupe veteran and former Nerve Center CEO Curt Hecht, who is leaving the organization to pursue a new role at The Weather Channel.

Unkel will report into Frank Voris, global chief financial officer for VivaKi. Rishad Tobaccowala, chief strategy and innovation officer of VivaKi, will serve as advisor to Unkel and the Nerve Center leadership.

“Curt Hecht has built a strong foundation for the VivaKi Nerve Center, and Kurt Unkel is just the right person to drive our vision forward,’ said VivaKi CEO Jack Klues in a press release announcing the appointment. “Kurt has shown great leadership in building and developing AOD from one of the first agency-led ad trading platforms with two clients and three employees to a world-class practice that has been replicated in markets all over the world, and leads the competition.”

Unkel has been a member of Publicis Groupe for more than a decade and was among the Nerve Center’s first employees. Prior to joining the Nerve Center, he created and led digital strategy, investment, analytics and ad operations teams across Publicis Groupe, with a special focus on General Motors (GM).

Unkel is supported by a seasoned leadership team that includes:  EVP/Product Development Doug Kofoid; EVP/Partnerships Sean Kegelman; Nerve Center EMEA Executive Managing Director Marco Bertozzi and EVP/Innovations Director Tracey Scheppach. He will also be supported by Chief Technology Officer Pradeep Ananthapadmanabhan, as well as Ken Wiesman, who leads Finance, and Barb Jobs, who leads Talent, for the VivaKi Nerve Center.

Wondering what a new electric cooktop would look like in place of that rusty old gas range? Jenn-Air’s new iPhone app, DesignVision, enables consumers to visualize what their kitchens would look like when equipped with the brand’s luxury appliances.  This free app, created by Digitas, allows users to select a Jenn-Air appliance, position it over their current appliance and snap a photo. The finished image then shows the selected appliance in place of the existing one. This app also allows users to choose different finishes, share photos with friends, get product specifications and find local showrooms.

The mobile app was introduced this year at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, the nation’s largest exhibit of luxury home products and widely considered the pre-eminent event of its kind.

Brian Maynard, vice president of marketing for Jenn-Air, notes how target consumers “are very visual and enjoy the process of decorating and remodeling.”

DesignVision also ties into a four-page, print insert ad running in Architectural Digest magazine. The front page shows a silhouette of a range. Inside, a photo spread highlights a Jenn-Air range and includes a three-dimensional, die-cut piece. Readers are instructed to remove it, stand five feet back from the range in the kitchen, and then hold it at arm’s length to “eclipse the competition.” Architectural Digest has reported four to five times more interaction with the print ad than any others running in the book.

Chia Chen, SVP for Digitas’ North American mobile practice, remarks on the powerful personal experiences mobile marketing can help facilitate: “Mobile allows us to address moments in users’ lives that are authentic and organic.”

A strong showing at both the MENA Cristal Awards and the Dubai Lynx Awards has led to Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) being named the most decorated media agency of the year in the MENA region, thus far.  “The honour of being the most awarded media agency of the year really sets the tone for the months to come,” announced Filip Jabbour, the CEO of SMG MENA.  This honor helped the agency kick off 2012 on a positive note that recognized SMG MENA’s ability to provide creative solutions for a diverse client roster.

At the Dubai Lynx Festival, SMG took away seven awards, including the highest distinction of “Most Awarded Media Agency of the Year.” The prestigious title of “Media Agency of the Year” was given to SMG at the MENA Cristal Awards, along with four Cristal Awards and the designation of being  “Most shortlisted media agency.” Three of SMG’s Gold-winning campaigns were achieved through partnership with its sister agency, Leo Burnett.

SMG’s achievements, as recognized by at these two prominent industry award festivals signal a change in the type of work being recognized . “Last year proved to be more favourable for creative agencies, but we’re proud to have taken the title back for the media category,” continued  Jabbour.

In addition to all of the Dubai Lynx hardware, SMG also enjoyed a number of firsts at this event, including:

• - Participation and creation of the agency’s first panel discussion at the MENA Cristal Awards.
• - Securing the first global VivaKi speaker on the agenda: Rishad Tobaccowala, VivaKi Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer.
• - John Sintras, CEO SMG Australia and Chairman of Global Product Council, became the first Global SMG Judge.
• - Sponsorship of a unique VivaKi MENA networking event that focused on mobilizing conversations with pioneers in the Social Media, Design and Content space.

Ad Age’s Best top 40 Places to Work list is out… and three VivaKi agencies made the list!

With a nod towards the agency’s “relaxed but driven” work ethic, Performics came in the highest at #8 on the list. The Chicago agency’s Rewards Program, monthly lunch and learns and flexibility with working from home were just some of the reasons cited by the publisher.

Not far behind, Digitas’s innovative and flexible culture helped it come in at #13. The various offices have their own ways to inspire their employees to stay on the cutting edge of digital and come up with creative and original ideas for their clients.

Rounding out the list is #36, Starcom Worldwide. The Chicago-based agency got major points for its various programs that encourage work-life balance, such as a universal month of paid time off at hire. The sense of community and rotation program were also noted.

Congratulations to all the winning offices and to sister-agencies Leo Burnett and Kaplan Thayer, which were also winners!