IDC

As Japan’s AI market surged by over 56% in 2024 — reaching JPY 1.34 trillion — IDC set its sights on leading the dialogue. The AI & Automation Forum 2025 aimed to connect global AI innovators with Japan’s growing ecosystem of solution providers, analysts, and sponsors. Creative For More was engaged to bring this vision to life — building awareness, generating qualified leads, and attracting sponsors through a campaign that spoke to Japan’s tech audience in their own language, both literally and culturally.

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Objective

Our campaign goals were threefold:

  1. Raise awareness among Japanese AI suppliers and mid-market tech firms unfamiliar with IDC’s network.
  2. Generate high-quality leads through form completions and event registrations.
  3. Attract new sponsors by showcasing the forum’s reach and the credibility of IDC’s analyst-led content.
Approach

To reach an audience “unfamiliar but interested,” our strategy combined precision targeting, cultural localisation, and multi-channel storytelling.

  • Audience Insight
    Research revealed a clear opportunity: many Japanese AI startups and SMEs focus on practical applications of automation and predictive analytics but lack access to credible global insights. Messaging therefore centred on use-case-driven narratives — showing real examples of AI improving efficiency and ROI, backed by IDC’s analyst authority.
  • Localisation & Transcreation
    We transcreated all ad copy and key messaging into Japanese, not through direct translation, but through cultural adaptation. Each headline, CTA, and supporting line was refined to reflect Japanese tone, hierarchy, and phrasing conventions — ensuring that the content felt natural, professional, and trustworthy to local decision-makers.
  • Creative Development
    Our team conceptualised and designed the creative assets for Google Display Ads, from banners to awareness visuals. The assets followed IDC’s global brand system while incorporating Japanese typography and visual nuances — balancing global consistency with local relevance.
Results

Channel Strategy

A monthly media spend of USD 4,000 was distributed across:

  • LinkedIn (60%): reaching CTOs, R&D Heads, and Innovation Leads at firms with 50–500+ employees.
  • Google Display (27%): custom intent segments around “AI platforms,” “digital transformation,” and “Japanese tech buyers.”
  • YouTube Ads (13%): search-based targeting such as “AI in business” and “workflow optimisation.”

The mix was optimised for both awareness and lead capture, projecting ~450K–530K impressions and 44–72 qualified leads per month. The campaign established IDC as a credible connector in Japan’s AI and automation space.

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