Author: Product Marketing

The AP Top 25 football poll, the longest-running poll of its kind at 85 years, and AP’s marquee college football honors will again be sponsored by Regions Bank for the 2021 season.

The preseason AP Top 25 poll will be released on Monday, Aug. 16. The preseason AP All-America team, an extension of the longest-running honor roll of the nation’s top players, will be released on Monday, Aug. 23.

The first regular-season AP Top 25 poll will be released on Tuesday, Sept. 7 and subsequent regular-season polls will be released each Sunday until the end of the regular season, with the final poll moving hours after the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 10, 2022.

The preseason poll and preseason All-America team will be announced on AP lines at noon ET and  published on AP’s college football poll page and on the AP News app. The AP Sports report will also provide analysis and additional details.

Regions Bank will also sponsor AP’s full suite of postseason awards, including the AP All-America team, the AP Coach of the Year, and AP Player of the Year. The honors will be announced in December.

An expert panel of sports writers and broadcasters from AP-affiliated media around the country decide the AP Top 25, an ongoing tradition since 1936, and name the preseason All-America players for each position to first and second teams. The first AP All-America team was selected in 1925, a decade before the first Heisman Trophy.

“The AP Top 25 Poll has long been a part of both college football history and the AP brand,” said Tom Januszewski, AP’s vice president of global business development. “We are excited to team up again with Regions Bank and appreciate their support of the AP college football poll.”

Regions Bank in 2019 became the first sponsor in the AP Top 25 poll’s long and storied history.

It will also present AP’s weekly Top 25 podcast hosted by AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo.

“Regions has been a sponsor of collegiate athletics for more than 25 years,” said Abbas Merchant, Regions Chief Marketing Officer. “As the Official Bank of the Southeastern Conference, Regions and our associates know firsthand the resilience of our communities and the students, student-athletes and fans that are a part of them. We’ve all been reminded this past year of the importance of community, tradition and being together and we’re proud to continue our support by bringing the AP Top 25 and more to fans this season.”

The sponsorship was secured in collaboration with Undertone, the leader in data-driven, intelligent high impact campaigns for the world’s most prominent brands. Undertone will provide additional distribution of the branded sponsorship through its engaging, high-impact digital ad formats across hundreds of quality publisher sites and apps.

“We are honored to continue our partnership with Regions Bank and collaborate again for the second sponsorship of AP’s Top 25 football poll,” said Dan Aks, president of Undertone. “We’re very excited to be a part of the poll’s 85th year.”

A panel of more than 60 sports writers and broadcasters votes weekly throughout each season to decide the AP Top 25. All voters have an extensive background in covering college football. The poll is determined by a simple points system based on how each voter ranks college football’s best teams. A team receives 25 points for each first place vote, 24 for second place and so on through to the 25th team, which receives one point. The rankings are set by listing the teams’ point totals from highest to lowest. The mathematical formula is the same as the one used for the AP Top 25 rankings for college men’s and women’s basketball.

Newspapers that subscribe to AP Sports will get paginated pages designed by the Adams Publishing Group’s Big Sky News Design team that highlight the preseason poll results for use in print, each with space available for local advertising or content.

Follow the poll and related sports coverage on Facebook and Twitter.

Undertone, a leader in data-driven, Intelligent High Impact campaigns across screens and a subsidiary of Perion Network Ltd. (NASDAQ:PERI), has ranked on the Selling Power 50 Best Companies to Sell For [https://bit.ly/35RmLi1] list. This is the 21st consecutive year the ranking has been published by Selling Power and the 9^th consecutive year Undertone has made the list.

Daniel Aks, Undertone President, says “This achievement is one that we are so proud of as an organization – it reflects directly to the talent and passion we see in our leadership, sales teams, and support teams. Even in a year filled with disruptions, this team exceeded goals and continued delivering white-glove service. ”

Selling Power magazine founder and publisher Gerhard Gschwandtner says, “The companies who earned a spot on this year’s list have truly world-class sales organizations. In addition to providing superior onboarding and ongoing sales training, they quickly pivoted their strategy to give their sales reps the tools and skills they needed to succeed in today’s digital, remote selling environment.”

To assemble this year’s 50 Best List Selling Power’s research team created a thorough application where they gathered data across four main categories:

• Compensation and benefits
• Sales culture
• Onboarding and sales enablement strategies
• Sales training and coaching

Companies were ranked in each of the categories above to determine the final list. The methodology is the product of years of research, and Selling Power continues to refine the approach each year. Almost all the companies featured on the list invested in and offered thorough training specific to virtual selling in response to the pandemic. The list encompasses companies of all sizes – with sales forces ranging from fewer than 100 salespeople to companies with sales-force numbers in the thousands.

The full ranking of Selling Power’s 50 Best Companies to Sell For in 2021 can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/35RmLi1.

About Undertone
Undertone creates memorable ad experiences by thoughtfully orchestrating solutions across video, advanced TV, rich media, and social, to drive unmatched brand lift and audience engagement on virtually every screen, and every device. Their award-winning creative team uses the company’s 20 years of experience, and billions of impressions worth of data to intelligently craft campaigns that can drive full-funnel KPIs while making meaningful connections with the 200MM+ unique users they can reach every month. Undertone brings the art and science of advertising together to intelligently craft campaigns that uplift consumers, brands, and publishers alike. Visit undertone.com to learn more.

About Selling Power

In addition to Selling Power, the leading digital magazine for sales managers and sales VPs since 1981, Personal Selling Power, Inc., produces the Sales Management Digest and Daily Boost of Positivity Enewsletters, as well as videos featuring interviews with top business executives. Selling Power is a media sponsor of the Sales 3.0 Conference (https://www.sales30conf.com), which is attended by a total of more than 4,500 sales leaders each year. For additional information, please visit http://www.sellingpower.com/.

TEL AVIV & NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jun. 17, 2021– Perion Network Ltd. (NASDAQ:PERI) a global advertising technology company that delivers holistic solutions across the three main pillars of digital advertising – ad search, social media, and display / video / CTV advertising – announced today that Undertone, a leader in data-driven, Intelligent High Impact campaigns across screens, has a new division dedicated to retail marketing. Retailers are now able to deliver dynamically updated, personalized, and geographically-sensitive pricing – on an item-by-item and bundled basis – across its suite of high impact digital display units.

The convergence of dynamic, AI-driven optimization and Undertone’s breakthrough creative has been beta-tested in the circular market – with millions of consumer interactions – and has been proven to be an omnichannel home run, generating ROAS (Return On Ad Spend) up to 9x, increasing low price perception by over 60% and aiding in up to 83% brand awareness, per Lucid studies conducted.

The new Retail platform and its innovative digital circular could not come at a more perfect time. Grocery retailers are looking forward to enormous upside – industry sales are expected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2027, according to Grand View Research – as the pandemic has fueled growth in DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) and stay-at-home behaviors. But this comes in the face of the well-established slow death of print media, which has dramatically reduced the distribution of the conventional circular.

Meghan Galligan, Senior Manager of Digital Media, and Experience at Stop & Shop, who participated in the high impact circular beta test, noted that:

“Undertone’s high impact circular capabilities were extremely turn-key to execute and have allowed us to transform the content and distribution of our weekly ad. Not only is it personalized, but Undertone’s interactive formats also provided the ideal canvas to showcase a curated selection of top deals each week, specific to geographic shopping behaviors. We are planning to scale this technology to ensure our customers are getting the content that is right for them. Based on the results of our initial campaigns, it’s clear our shoppers love it too!”

Undertone plans to expand its Retail platform and Price & Item technology more deeply into the retail operating system, since the data solutions it provides have end-to-end impact, from supply chain and warehousing to POS.

Undertone President, Dan Aks, “Undertone’s Retail platform s is an innovation-driven by our core assets, and unique ability to combine data, technology, and creative to drive outsized results for our clients. We have been listening carefully to our retail partners – particularly in grocery – as they have shared the complex challenges they face in today’s hyper-competitive, digital-first environment. We believe that our new division will become an invaluable strategic and operational partner as they build their moats.”

Doron Gerstel, Perion’s CEO, added “Our healthy early growth – and exciting future in the Retail Media vertical – represent the next level of Perion’s cross-channel diversification strategy. We’re putting more and more efforts to verticalize our offerings and gain both market share and long-term partnerships with our important customer partners.”

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains historical information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the business, financial condition, and results of operations of Perion. The words “will”, “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views, assumptions, and expectations of Perion with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Perion to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, or financial information, including, among others, the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of companies and businesses we acquired and may acquire in the future, risks entailed in integrating the companies and businesses we acquire, including employee retention and customer acceptance; the risk that such transactions will divert management and other resources from the ongoing operations of the business or otherwise disrupt the conduct of those businesses, potential litigation associated with such transactions, and general risks associated with the business of Perion including intense and frequent changes in the markets in which the businesses operate and in general economic and business conditions, loss of key customers, unpredictable sales cycles, competitive pressures, market acceptance of new products, inability to meet efficiency and cost reduction objectives, changes in business strategy and various other factors, whether referenced or not referenced in this press release. Various other risks and uncertainties may affect Perion and its results of operations, as described in reports filed by Perion with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 25, 2021. Perion does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

About Perion Network Ltd.
Perion is a global technology company that delivers holistic strategic business solutions that enable brands and advertisers to efficiently “Capture and Convince” users across multiple platforms and channels, including interactive connected television – or iCTV. Perion achieves this through its Synchronized Digital Branding capabilities, which are focused on high impact creative; content monetization; its branded search network, in partnership with Microsoft Bing; and social media management that orchestrates and optimizes paid advertising. This diversification positions Perion for growth as budgets shift across categories.

About Undertone
Undertone creates memorable ad experiences by thoughtfully orchestrating solutions across video, advanced TV, rich media, and social, to drive unmatched brand lift and audience engagement on virtually every screen, and every device. Their award-winning creative team uses the company’s 20 years of experience, and billions of impressions worth of data to intelligently craft campaigns that can drive full-funnel KPIs while making meaningful connections with the 200MM+ unique users they can reach every month. Undertone brings the art and science of advertising together to intelligently craft campaigns that uplift consumers, brands, and publishers alike. Visit undertone.com to learn more.

Undertone Launches the Uplift Collective, a Curated Media Network that Connects Minority-Owned and Underrepresented Publishers with Likeminded, Committed Advertisers

The Uplift Collective provides underrepresented publishers with opportunities for increased awareness and revenue while empowering advertisers to make meaningful media buys

NEW YORK – June 09, 2021 – Undertone, the leader in data-driven, intelligent high impact campaigns, today announced the launch of its newest initiative, the Uplift Collective. The trailblazing network is designed to connect Undertone’s collection of minority, women and LGBTQIA+ owned publishers – in addition to publishers that are committed to advancing social justice, environmental sustainability, and equal representation – with advertisers. In turn, the Uplift Collective makes it simple for advertisers and brands to make a real impact through mindful media buys. Publishers in the Uplift Collective, which include Her Agenda, SheMedia, Black Southern Belle and more, reach more than 50 million people worldwide.

“As an African American woman and founder of a lifestyle brand, it’s always been my focus to support other women through my platform. Particularly, women from small, rural communities are near and dear to my heart, as rural South Carolina is my home base. I’m thrilled to be a part of Uplift Collective, an initiative engaging, supporting, and promoting women business owners,” said Michiel Perry of Black Southern Belle.

The Uplift Collective consists of both a media network, and a marketing support program – with the goal of a 25% increase in revenue directed towards its members. To further enhance this initiative, publishers in the collective will be provided additional tech, tools, and education, and advertisers will have access to an array of custom, audience-aligned creative services. Undertone will also be donating a portion of the proceeds to charities and organizations selected by the company’s publisher and brand partners.

“Designed to help bring demand opportunities to well-deserving publishers, while also providing brands with a straightforward and impactful way to support underrepresented communities and global causes, the Uplift Collective is truly a win-win situation,” said Daniel Aks, President of Undertone. “I am immensely proud of the Undertone team for developing this much-needed, highly functional innovation that will truly make a difference for publishers nationwide.”

Undertone has long been dedicated to putting its resources towards the people and causes that matter most. Undertone employees are encouraged to log 40 hours of paid time off for community service throughout the year and are given the opportunity to participate in donation drives. Through the #undertonecares program, the company identifies an important cause each month, uses social media platforms to inform, educate and engage audiences, and ultimately donates to a related charity.

In addition, Undertone has partnered with Givsly, a social impact corporation that helps companies turn their existing resources into tools for social good to give back to local communities through in-person and virtual events. Undertone was the premier sponsor of Givsly’s “Season without Swag” initiative, which raised over $350k for local charities over the 2020 holiday season.

“When we began to engage with publishers about the Uplift Collective, we were overwhelmed with the positive response and feedback from the community, as they confirmed the important need that the network fills,” said Karla White, Head of the Uplift Collective. “Not only is it a great opportunity to celebrate worthy publishers, but it also serves as a tangible way to support their long-term business goals through increased revenue opportunities.”

For more information on the Uplift Collective, visit https://upliftcollective.splashthat.com or email us directly at upliftcollective@undertone.com.

About Undertone

Undertone creates memorable ad experiences by thoughtfully orchestrating solutions across video, advanced TV, rich media, and social, to drive unmatched brand lift and audience engagement on virtually every screen, and every device. Their award-winning creative team uses the company’s 20 years of experience, and billions of impressions worth of data to intelligently craft campaigns that can drive full-funnel KPIs while making meaningful connections with the 200MM+ unique users they can reach every month. Undertone brings the art and science of advertising together to intelligently craft campaigns that uplift consumers, brands, and publishers alike. Visit undertone.com to learn more.