MAM
ZenithOptimedia launches search engine marketing unit in India
MUMBAI: Tapping into a growing segment, Publicis Groupe‘s ZenithOptimedia (ZO) has launched its search engine marketing unit, Performics, in India.
ZO said Thursday the India launch is critical to Performics‘ global plans “as it is one of the fastest growing markets and the clients in India are more focused on ROI”. The range of Performics‘ services are also more suitable for India.
Performics is going to work on current ZO clients like Timesjobs.com, Ebay, and global Performics clients like Air France and Microsoft.
“We strongly believe India will be a key market for Performics and our ‘One Search‘ proposition and performance skill set will deliver great value to our clients,” said Performics global managing director Andras Vigh.
Performics will focus on bringing in the concept of OneSearch that optimises SEO (Search engine optimization) and SEM (Search engine marketing) in an integrated and embedded way.
Performics‘ agnostic approach pairs third-party platforms with proprietary technology, including BenchTools, Global Analytics Tools and Socialtools, to deliver solutions.
Said ZenithOptimedia India CEO Satyajit Sen, “Search today is central to intended consumer and fundamental to our Consumer Pathway and with clients demanding best in class specialized skills and seamless digital integration, I believe that Performics‘ capability provides that extra edge to our robust ROI offering.”
For Microsoft in India as around the world, the demand for search and performance marketing solutions always shows an upward trend. “I am delighted that we will now be able to leverage on Perfomics‘ capabilities in India,” said Microsoft India CMO Vineet Durani, on the launch of Performics India.
According to ZenithOptimedia‘s Advertising Expenditure Forecasts released in December 2010, global paid search advertising expenditures are expected to grow by more than $15 billion within the next three years. Total paid search spending in 2010 was more than $30.5 billion, which is predicted to exceed $46 billion by 2013.
Performics was acquired by Publicis Groupe in 2008 and has been part of ZenithOptimedia Group since 2010.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
