 | by Tameka Kee on Thursday, March 11, 2010
What makes some of the top execs at leading digital marketing and publishing companies tick? Want to learn from their past successes (and sometimes failures)? Then dig in to our Five Questions column. This week, we ask Neil Salvage, EVP of advertising at IAC-owned Citysearch about why the company decided to invest in an SEO firm, and how he really feels about competition from Yelp. Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, March 10, 2010
If ad networks are having a hard time finding publishers and audiences, Good Health Media never got that memo. The company is coming off a February that anyone on the digital content business would take. The February 2010 ComScore Report, lists GHM at the tops for percentage growth among health ad networks, a group that includes veterans such as AdRX, Healthline and Everyday Health. GHM audience is up 93% over a year ago to 32 million unique visitors monthly. Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, March 10, 2010
From a techy point of view the new features are called “integration with FBML exporting, conditional content and expandable ad functionality.” Sprout is hoping that its connection from display to Facebook page breathes new life into displays ads and rich media. Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by Danny King on Tuesday, March 9, 2010
One of the fastest areas of exposure for Citysearch is through hyper-local reviews of restaurants, bars and other retailers written by customers on their mobile devices, according to Kara Nortman, vice president of publishing at Citysearch. She shared insights with digiday:SOCIAL LA attendees on Tuesday. Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Danny King on Tuesday, March 9, 2010
It's not a popularity contest. Social-media marketers need to define the value of a user beyond simply the number of friends or fans in order to measure value and estimate marketing budgets. The message came from executives with Facebook, Razorfish and Forrester Research at digiday:Social LA. Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, March 9, 2010
In our video window: 25 minutes inside the mind of of Google's director of mobile advertising. Diana Pouliot, Google's director of mobile advertising demonstrates Android's contribution to innovation in mobile media and explains how advertisers can leverage it. All from digiday:MOBILE in LA yesterday. Tune into DM2PRO.com for more updates from this and today's digiday:SOCIAL. Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The company says its new system will be a personalized advertising recommendation engine offering content creators, brands and agencies a cost-effective way to tap into StumbleUpon's community of over 10 million users. Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Stephanie Miller on Tuesday, March 9, 2010
ROI is the elephant in the social marketing room. Is it likely that social marketing will not produce ROI in it's current form? "Viral Loop" author and NYU Journalism professor Adam L. Penenberg dug a bit into the history of "viral" marketing at digiday:SOCIAL LA. He also pushed attendees to the conclusion that all forms of digital marketing will fail to deliver a solid ROI if brands continue to use intrusive, old-school tactics. Marketing, Media, Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (1) | Monday, March 8, 2010
Video viewers at YouTube.com watched 93 videos on average during the month, representing an increase of 50% versus a year ago. Hulu ranked second with the rest of the content owners seeing increases in users but chasing market share. Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, March 8, 2010
Digital and social media measurements provided an interesting counterpoint to Hollywood’s big night. What the Academy says and what the people say are very far apart. Media, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, March 8, 2010
After earning its place on various social networks with virtual hugs, birthday cards and the like, with the launch of a new platform gives developers an opportunity to monetize up to 25 percent of their social gamers and increase average revenue per user (ARPU) by up to 20 percent. Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Rubicon Project announced a partnership with mOcean Mobile, an independent mobile advertising platform, to provide premium digital publishers with a unified view into monetization across their display and mobile platforms. It will be accomplished with a new product called REVV for mobile (RFM). Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Tameka Kee on Thursday, March 4, 2010
For the past ten years, David & Goliath has remained independent, churning out ad campaigns for brands like Kia, Zoo York, and even the Weingart Homeless Center. As the agency celebrates its 10th birthday, find out founder David Angelo's take on how the shift to digital has transformed the creative process, as well a sample of some of the most "brave" campaigns he's seen. Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, March 4, 2010
A new Forrester Research report finds historically conservative B2B marketers are not only investing in interactive marketing, but actually shifting budget towards online channels. The category is projected B2B to hit $4.8 billion in 2014, over double an estimated $2.3 billion in 2009. Read more | Comments (1) | by Annie Stamell on Thursday, March 4, 2010
OK Go teamed up with State Farm for a groundbreaking viral music video, but will its nearly two million views translate into a boost in State Farm's brand equity? And what does OK Go's digital premiere -- since it didn't roll out the first video from its new album on TV -- reveal about the power of online video for other music artists? Social Read more | Comments (2) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The urban retailer is in the middle of its first-of-its-kind campaign to create an interest in H&M’s fashion and drive store traffic through the location-based social game that enables players to unlock rewards and earn points by checking-in from real-world shops and locations. Marketing, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Does the iPad need a new content publishing platform? New ad executions? The debate is on after CondeNast voted early in the week with its pocketbook. Marketing, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, March 3, 2010
A new comScore study shows that 30.8 percent of smartphone users accessed social networking sites via their mobile browser in January 2010, up 8.3 points from 22.5 percent one year ago. Access to Facebook via mobile browser grew 112 percent in the past year, while Twitter experienced a 347-percent jump. Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, March 2, 2010
In an after business hours announcement yesterday, Comedy Central served Hulu notice that Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert would be pulled in favor of running exclusively on ComedyCentral.com. Viacom is not an equity partner in the Hulu venture, which may be the problem. Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (1) | Tuesday, March 2, 2010
New York has always been proud of its newspaper diversity, but until lately only one of those dailies had a mobile app. Today The New York Daily News changed that, with an emphasis on images and ease of use. Media, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by Matt Kapko on Tuesday, March 2, 2010
There are thousands of apps in the App Store, Android Market and BlackBerry App World -- but not all of them are worth your time or money. So how do you cut through the clutter? Every Tuesday, digiday:DAILY gives you the rundown on the app that should be on your radar. This week's app: Foursquare for BlackBerry. Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monetize, Customize, and Socialize. That's the mantra of a customer-based solution from Fan Appz that will allow businesses of all sizes some flexibility in addressing some of the key concerns in making social media work. Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, March 1, 2010
January was a big month for the 20 percent rule. Apple took a 20 percent bite out of the OS market and M-commerce took 20 percent of all campaigns run on the Millennial network, according to its new research snapshot. Marketing, Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, March 1, 2010
Almost all Americans are using a multi-platform approach to news consumption. The Internet is now the third most-popular news platform, behind local and national television news and ahead of national print newspapers, local print newspapers and radio. Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (1) | by Tameka Kee on Sunday, February 28, 2010
What makes some of the top execs at leading digital marketing and publishing companies tick? Want to learn from their past successes (and sometimes failures)? Then dig in to our Five Questions column. This week, we ask Sean Krankel, newly-appointed Creative Director, Digital, at Midnight Oil Creative, about setting clear goals for social media campaigns, as well as the components of a great ARG. Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, February 25, 2010
Placecast says ShopAlerts has already demonstrated promising results for retail marketers. Since September 2009, the ShopAlerts service has run pilot programs across the U.S. with several major retailers including SONIC, American Eagle Outfitters, and REI. Marketing, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Custom Publishing Council says total spending on branded content was over $1.8 million per company in 2009, with 51% spent on print publications, 27% on Internet media and 22% on categories such as video or audio, which were measured for the first time this year. Even allowing for the addition of new categories, 2009 spending was double that of 2008 and the highest amount since the CPC began conducting the survey in 2003. Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A new study by Eyeblaster says that cross-platform clients receive the overwhelming majority of their conversions as a result of search plus display advertising . Marketing, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by Matt Kapko on Tuesday, February 23, 2010
There are thousands of apps in the App Store, Android Market and BlackBerry App World -- but not all of them are worth your time or money. So how do you cut through the clutter? Every Tuesday, digiday:DAILY gives you the rundown on the app that should be on your radar. This week's app: Redfin Real Estate. Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, February 22, 2010
Digital media is expected to take a major share of business from traditional media as it recovers from 2009. Just don't expect this year to mean much according to BIA/Kelsey’s U.S. Local Media Annual Forecast. Marketing, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by Tameka Kee on Monday, February 22, 2010
While apparel brands like K-Swiss and Rocawear have launched successful campaigns in virtual worlds, the value proposition for consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands isn't as clear. For Hot Pockets though, offering virtual "snacks" to the teens in Meez turned into a distinctly digital way to increase brand awareness. Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Sunday, February 21, 2010
No Google won't make us stupid and it the Internet is not the end of the world as we know it. That is the resounding conclusion of Pew Internet's survey of 900 intellectual influencers and heavy-hitters. Marketing, Metrics Read more | Comments (1) | Friday, February 19, 2010
The good news for Facebook is they passed Yahoo in January to claim the number two spot in total audience. The really good news for Facebook is in its engagement metrics. Marketing Read more | Comments (1) | by Tameka Kee on Thursday, February 18, 2010
Facebook is now the second-most heavily trafficked website in the U.S., garnering more than 134 million unique visitors this past January. So how does a niche social network stay relevant--and in the black? While MySpace struggles to evolve into a content hub and Hi5 focuses on virtual goods, Classmates.com will pin its hopes on "premium" services like digitized yearbooks and reunion-planning. Social Read more | Comments (3) | by Tameka Kee on Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Today's bites: Netflix comes to Sony's "Dash," why retargeting has become the tactic of choice for many video ad networks, and the dangers of emails and online ads full of hyperbole. Media Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Saints still won, but the ads from the 2010 Super Bowl ads are still in play. A new survey from Visible Measures shows that have been viewed 90 million times in social video, led by Doritos, Megan Fox, and Tim Tebow. Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Using technology ripped right out of Bell Labs, Thomas Quinn, CEO of Real Time Content is bringing the promise of "real-time video" to life online. Using technology that allows content producers to iterate and personlize literally millions of permutations of video, RTC can engage each individual viewer in ways not possible before. View DM2PRO.com's exclusive video interview in the upper right viewer of digiday:DAILY, and read on. Media Read more | Comments (1) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, February 16, 2010
New online targeting capabilities will give MTV networks advertisers, "the ability to laser-focus their marketing messages while connecting our audiences with the brands and products that are most relevant to them," according to EVP Kevin Arrix. Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, February 15, 2010
Looks like online access is taking its place along with chips, dip, and beer as Super Bowl party must-haves. Nielsen says 14 percent of all viewers were online for at least a half hour. Now if they could just figure out how much of that chatter concerned how bad The Who performance was ... Marketing, Metrics Read more | Comments (2) | by Tameka Kee on Friday, February 12, 2010
Over 90,000 basketball fans will swarm the Dallas Cowboys Stadium for NBA All-Star Weekend 2010, and Phizzle will be the mobile marketing platform of choice. The startup is working in conjunction with Cisco to power all the mobile "fan engagement" for the weekend, including a mobile commerce campaign designed to drive traffic to NBA.com. We talked with Phizzle CEO Ben Davis about why this weekend could count as a "make-it or break-it" moment. Marketing, Mobile Read more | Comments (1) | Friday, February 12, 2010
Content searches can be early indicators of economic activity. That's the track record shown by Blue Kai, which released a report today based on its user data. It is very good news for the staggered travel industry. Marketing, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, February 11, 2010
The PC manufacturer has added a software partner to its educational initiative to provide an open platform for all grades from kindergarten through university level. It also fits with its new student notebook. Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Can't say Google takes a week off. After unsettling the social media world with Google Buzz, today it announced an initiative to launch ultra-high speed broadband networks, putting out a consumer request for test markets. Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, February 9, 2010
We were just starting to get our heads around terabytes when it came to measuring data. Now Cisco has announced results from its Global Mobile Data Forecast for 2009 to 2014 and we have a new data measurement to say "huge." Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, February 8, 2010
Those E*Trade babies will be back and all over your email, social media and online pages. Marketing, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Monday, February 8, 2010
If Joe Zawadski, CEO od MediaMath has his way, media buyers are going to say 'Bye-Bye' to the black box. Instead, his company is offering a dashboard data approach that is winning awards and clients and providing all the transparency buyers care to see. Watch our exclusive interview in the upper right-hand viewer on the digidaydaily.com site and read on to find out why you care. Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by Tameka Kee on Thursday, February 4, 2010
The jury's still out on whether the iPad will have as big an impact on online publishing as the iPhone has had on mobile content. After all, people can't even buy the device until the end of March. But a pair of online media vets is already banking on an iPad App boom--setting up a "multi-million dollar" AppFund designed to encourage development of new apps that will "support the long-term success" of the touch-screen device. Media, Mobile Read more | Comments (1) | Thursday, February 4, 2010
DM2 Media (digiday:DAILY's parent company) has jumped into the original content business. Well ... sort of. We've co-produced a new series with Big Fuel, the interactive marketing, content and commerce agency, called Friending. Each episode features Big Fuel CEO Avi Savar "getting friendly" with a different leader in the interactive content industry. Marketing, Media, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, February 4, 2010
Pew Internet clocks teen Twitter usage at eight percent of total audience, which makes it about as common among teens as visiting a virtual world, and far less common than sending or receiving text messages as 66% of teens do, Metrics, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (1) | by Tameka Kee on Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Pandora has partnered with online ad tech firm AdReady, in a push to capitalize on the millions of dollars that smaller advertisers like local restaurants, bars and even indie bands are ready and willing to spend. But this deal is about more than just self-serve advertising--it's about helping Pandora generate the maximum revenue possible from the inventory it can't sell directly. Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, February 2, 2010
At the AlwaysOn OnMedia Summit, Mark Cuban, HDNet and Mavericks owner, warned newspapers that if they continue to make their content available free to search engines et. al., they'll be sucked dry by the "vampires" stealing their content. Unless users are typing in your URL, "people just default to Google. You reinforce actions that hurt your brand and reinforce Google's brand." Media Read more | Comments (3) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, February 2, 2010
While 2009 was a tough year for some companies, “mobile marketing was on fire.” From 2008 to 2009, brand budgets for mobile marketing tripled, said Paul Palmieri, Millennial Media CEO, in accepting AlwaysOn’s “OnMedia” award for the top private company of 2009. Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by Tameka Kee on Monday, February 1, 2010
A pair of fundings in the online ad technology space: Local online and lead-generation firm Yodle has raised $10 million, while data targeting exchange BlueKai has added $21 million. The investments, which come on the heels of positive earnings reports from Google and Yahoo, are just the latest indications that the online ad market is in the midst of a rebound. Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, January 28, 2010
Despite what the lasting impression of yesterday's news and today's news is making, there are other companies in the digital content and marketing business, and some of them are even doing very well thank you very much. One of them is Bunchball, a marketing technology company that helps brands measure and drive consumer engagement leveraging game mechanics, which announced a 4.4-fold increase in 2009 revenues (compared to 2008) and a five-fold increase in its customer base, which includes NBC Universal, USA Network, Meredith, Hearst, Resource Interactive, Syfy, Comcast and many others. [...] Marketing, Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Nielsen analyzes more than 40,000 mobile bills every month to determine what consumers actually are spending their money on. The results are staggering: American teenagers are using 3,146 messages a month, which translates into more than 10 messages every hour of the month that they are not sleeping or in school. Even the under 12 segment are sending 1,146 messages per month, which is almost four text messages per waking hour that they are not at school.
While the 13-17 year old age bracket is already highly saturated, the last holiday season was good to the under 12 segment when it came to text messaging. [...] Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by Tameka Kee on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Apple launched its new touchscreen device--the iPad--amid a ton of hype. But by most accounts, it's just a bigger, sleeker, slightly more lust-inducing version of the iPhone. Still, we think the iPad has the potential to influence the way that digital content creators do business -- just like the iPhone has. Find out how, as well as some hardware stats, in the full article. Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, January 26, 2010
As more brands embrace social media, measurement companies are finding ways to quantify those efforts. Dynamic Logic announced today a new strategic partnership with Kantar sister-company Cymfony, that will integrate analysis of the millions of discussions occurring everyday on social media sites, blogs and message forums into their established suite of digital, media and marketing solutions. The partnership offers marketers research techniques for a more complete view of brand performance from the perspective of the consumer. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Tameka Kee on Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Is this the start of an influx of Asian investments into U.S. online advertising and marketing companies? Roughly two weeks after Chinese gaming giant Shanda Games acquired Flash-game distribution and monetization platform Mochi Media, comes news that Japanese ad holding company Dentsu has bought out Innovation Interactive, parent company of award-winning digital shop 360i. Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, January 25, 2010
According to Nielsen, global consumers spent more than five and half hours on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter in December 2009, an 82% increase from the same time last year when users were spending just over three hours on social networking sites.
Globally, social networks and blogs are the most popular online category when ranked by average time spent in December, followed by online games and instant messaging. With 206.9 million unique visitors, Facebook was the No. 1 global social networking destination in December 2009 and 67% of global social media users visited the site during the month. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, January 22, 2010
How much would Google give up if it bailed in China? A new comScore survey shows China has 13 percent of the search market and growing. The study revealed that the U.S. remains the largest search market worldwide, while Google Sites retains a commanding position in the global search market.The total worldwide search market boasted more than 131 billion searches conducted by people age 15 or older from home and work locations in December 2009, representing a 46-percent increase in the past year. This number represents more than 4 billion searches per day, 175 million per hour, and 29 million per minute. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (1) | Thursday, January 21, 2010
The New York Times brass continues to treat its paid content plan like a national security issue. A few more clues were made available today in an online Q&A between readers and Janet Robinson, president and chief executive of the company, and Martin Nisenholtz, senior vice president for digital operations. The session did yield information on pricing. It will be one flat fee for a monthly or annual subscription for access to the entire site, rather than micropayments. Web-only subscriptions are for individual computer addresses; while home delivery subscriptions allow for multiple online accounts in a household. [...] Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The only surprise was the timing. The New York Times says it will charge readers for full access to its Web site, but it won't start until 2011. The company is betting that it's metered appraoch will drive revenue from subscribers without hitting its audience.
Official information was still scarce. The Times did not disclose how many articles will be available for free and what it will charge to read more. Subscribers to the printed version of the Times would still have free access to the Web site. [...] Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 Media Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Twitter's rocket-like trajectory is fading. This morning HubSpot released its third State of the Twittersphere report, which shows a significant decline in the growth of Twitter users. In October 2009 the Twitter user base grew 3.5%, far below the 13% growth in users Twitter experienced in March 2009.The decline in Twitter user growth is happening as traffic on Twitter.com also declines; ComScore reported that unique visitors to Twitter.com grew only 3.5% from October to November, and both Compete. [...] Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 Social Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, January 18, 2010
The long-awaited announcement about a metered, Financial Time-style paid content style system is said to be upon us. Several sources are reporting today. The decision could be implemented in the spring, with the outside money on some kind of partnership with Apple's iSlate which is set for a Jan. 27 debut.
Says NYmag: “The decision to go paid is monumental for the Times, and culminates a yearlong debate that grew contentious, people close to the talks say. In favor of a paid model were Keller and managing editor Jill Abramson. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, January 15, 2010
Despite the occasional talk about social media putting in a dent in the usage of email as a marketing tool, it didn't happen during the past holiday season. Smith-Harmon, an arm of Responsys Inc., says that in 2009 the 100 largest online retailers sent out an average of 132 promotional messages to each subscriber, an increase of 12% over 2008 and 39% more than two years ago.
According to Internet Retailer, on a monthly basis, the biggest year-over-year gains came in June, July, August and November, the study says. [...] Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, January 14, 2010
Last week Apple's app store reached a milestone worth celebrating: in the 18 months it's been open for business, some 3 billion apps were downloaded. The 3 billion mark came and passed with surprisingly little fanfare. With nearly 130,000 apps available for purchase, and downloads increasingly exponentially, consumers' thirst for apps-- and developers’ interest in meeting that desire-- would seem nearly unquenchable. And device-specific apps, once a playground for only the truly geeky developer, have found their way into mainstream culture. [...] Media, Metrics, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (5) | Thursday, January 14, 2010
He has a lot of nicknames, like "The Shaqtus" and "The Big Aristotle." Now Shaquille O'Neil is the latest poster boy for augmented reality. Muscle Milk is using its local endorser with a campaign targeted to consumers in Ohio. On each bottle of the high-energy drink, there is a square with the number "33." Parent company CyloSport will make its Muscle Milk chocolate flavor available in a limited-edition 14-ounce bottle with a special code marker on the label in the form of "33"—O'Neal's game number with the Cavs. [...] Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The top of the org chart at appssavvy has a new addition. Industry veteran Todd Bowman has joined as senior vice president of sales. Bowman joins Chris Cunningham, CEO and Michael Burke, president, along with Calvin Wong, executive vice president of sales operations and product, as the most recent addition to appssavvy's senior management team.
Bowman arrives at appssavvy from Condé Nast Digital Media where he served as West Coast sales director since early 2007 working with a number of marquis brands including Apple, HP, Lexus, Microsoft and Sony. [...] Marketing, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, January 11, 2010
Das Auto is representing Deutschland at the Uber Bowl, but don't take its first appearance as a lack of online commitment. Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today it will premiere a 30-second spot during the 3rd quarter of Super Bowl XLIV. The spot will debut a new approach to the Das Auto tagline and positioning, and is the first step in a much larger multi-faceted campaign to increase model awareness and familiarity by reminding consumers of all the new Volkswagen products on the road.
Immediately following the Super Bowl, Volkswagen will kick off a two-month campaign that will run extensively throughout February and March to support its national sales event. [...] Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Friday, January 8, 2010 Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, January 8, 2010
To say mobile ads will grow this year is a gvien with the competition expected between Apple and Google for those dollars. But eMarketer is going out on a limb with their prediction. eMarketer predicts that mobile advertising across all principal formats -- display, search and messaging-based -- will reach $1.56 billion by 2013.
That's a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.3 percent between 2008 and 2013 -- considerably higher than online ad spending as a whole, but more in line with emerging online formats such as digital video. [...] Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, January 7, 2010
November was the biggest month ever for digital video content. comScore, it a report released today and culled from November 2009 showed that more than 170 million U.S. Internet users watched online video during the month. Online video viewing continued to reach record levels in November with nearly 31 billion videos viewed during the month, and Google Sites accounting for 39 % of all videos viewed online in the U.S.
Google Sites continued to rank as the top U.S. video property in November as it delivered 12. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, January 7, 2010
Apparently the marketing blitz surrounding youth-comedy Youth In Revolt is translating to social media. Fizziolo.gy, a new company measuring the positive and negative social buzz around entertainment products, has found that buzz for Youth in Revolt has grown more rapidly over the past week. Volume of chatter for Youth in Revolt increased by 41% this week over last week versus only 12% week-over-week growth for the " takes over the world movie" Daybreakers.
Positive sentiment for Youth in Revolt has grown over the past few weeks. [...] Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, January 6, 2010
As a traditional, innovative American Midwest manufacturer, 3M is known for being progressive in product development. After all, it invented the ultimately practical scotch tape, post-its, and protective cleaning products. But it is not exactly a marketing early adopter. So when 3M announced it would get into the once airy world of digital goods, the event was a sort of validation for the tactic.
“I think 3M getting into this was a big deal because it shows how smart they are as a company and also shows that digital goods can be a good reason to engage with a brand beyond what we would consider standard reasons,” says AdNectar marketing VP Paul Martecchini, whose company helped 3M design and execute a DG campaign around a product called Privacy Filters. [...] Marketing, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The challenge of 2010 could very well be getting paid for content. A sample from a new global Nielsen study on the topic shows it will be a complex but perhaps rewarding challenge. “The big question in the new Internet decade is whether consumers will pay for content online,” writes Nic Covey, Director of Cross-Platform Insights, The Nielsen Company. “It turns out that millions of global consumers are, in fact, willing to pay up… but not for everything. For example, consumers are three times as likely to pay for online music than for a blog. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (1) | Wednesday, January 6, 2010
You knew this would happen. Google is using yesterday's AppleQuattro deal as prrof that competition in the ad network space exists and they won't upset it with its planned acquisition of AdMob. Google's deal continues to draw scrutiny from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and according to FierceMobile, the web services giant was quick to seize on rival Apple's agreement to purchase mobile ad firm Quattro Wireless as proof of competition in the segment. "When we announced our planned acquisition of AdMob in November, we noted that the mobile advertising space is highly competitive--with more than a dozen mobile ad networks," writes Google group product manager Paul Feng on the Google Public Policy Blog. [...] Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, January 6, 2010
With an eye toward increasing response rates and brand engagement metrics for online video, Tremor Tremor Media has rolled out six new ad formats and features. With the video advertising network’s Acudeo video monetization platform already in place for more than 1,000 major video publishers, today’s announcement is aimed at making video more effective and scalable. “With our Acudeo technology tightly integrated within the player-environment across all of the sites in our in-stream network,Tremor Media is able to continually introduce new and innovative ad formats that can be reliably delivered at scale. [...] Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Cell phone ownership among children has increased 68% in the past five years, according to MRI’s recently-released American Kids Study. Twenty percent of U.S. children ages 6-11 currently own a cell phone, up from 11.9% of children in 2005. The most dramatic increase has been among 10-11 year-olds (80.5%). Boys have led the increase, checking in at 47.6% since 2007, compared with a 17.2% increase among girls. And yes, they are texting. Most use their cells for basic communication tasks, such as calling their parents (88. [...] Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The demographic profile and growth of the Internet may be slowing down according to a new survey conducted in December by the Pew Internet project. The survey found that overall internet use, broadband connection and even wireless access have not changed significantly over the past year.
The survey does include a specific effort to include more interviews with Spanish speaking internet users. In some cases, according to the Pew report, this may have flattened some year-to-year data. Among the specific findings:
• 74% of American adults (ages 18 and older) use the internet -- a slight drop from the survey conducted in April 2009, which did not include Spanish interviews. [...] Media, Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, January 4, 2010
Interesting piece in The New York Times today about the 82 percent of of cellphones in use that are not smart phones. Turns out that there's an app for those too. According to the Times, one such company, GetJar, offers about 60,000 applications for nearly 2,000 different mobile phones, including the Motorola Rokr. Feature phone users can find YouTube, Tetris, the restaurant locator Urbanspoon and a range of expense-tracking and calorie-counting apps. But just because consumers have simple cellphones doesn’t mean they don’t want Facebook, Wikipedia or a popular instant-messaging application like Nimbuzz on their phones, says Ilja Laurs, chief executive of GetJar, which is based in San Mateo, Calif. [...] Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The summary is 96 pages. That will give you some idea of the scale of the Morgan Stanley report on the mobile market. Only a few websites have received and ventured into the 900 page plus monster, and we give props to ArcticStartup who ventured a manageable summary.
1. Worldwide only 260 million of 4 billion mobile subscribers are on 3G in 2009. The 20-25% inflection point for 3G penetration in emerging markets will depend on falling equipment prices. Asia and Africa is better positioned than Eastern Europe & Middle East due to subscriber growth. [...] Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 Social Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, December 28, 2009
While the world is trying to figure out what happened over the past 12 months, we like what Nielsen is doing about the next 12. While it admits that the overall advertising environment in 2009 was a gloomy it expects some lessons from it will be applied in the year ahead. For example, accountability metrics beyond the simple “click-through” and on to campaign-specific performance will be critical. Advertisers will also to embrace burgeoning social networks and consumer generated media to bring consumers closer to a product or brand. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, December 23, 2009
It would be easy for the marketing team at Eight O’Clock Coffee to pine for the old days. It was first introduced 150 years ago when coffee shops were just diners and Starbucks didn’t exist. In fact when Eight O’Clock hit the scene, the entire population of Seattle barely topped 300. It was the home brewed brand of choice before coffee became a takeout obsession. But the team doesn’t pine for the 1950s. Now, Eight O’Clock is making a comeback in the home-brewed market with a unique Facebook promotion aimed at non-Facebookers. [...] Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (1) | Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Here's what we talk about when we talk about mobile. The line between phone handsets and other mobile devices such as netbooks is about to blur. ABI Research reports that mobile device shipments will grow from 1.2 billion in 2009 to 2.25 billion in 2014. For mobile marketers, says ABI, the trend indicates that mobile marketing opportunities as more than just those designed for smartphones and other mobile handsets.
“The next five years we will see a shift in the breakdown between types of mobile devices shipped,” said ABI analyst Michael Morgan in a statement. [...] Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, December 22, 2009
You know the Lyle Lovett song: "You can have my girl, but don't touch my hat." Now Stetson is bringing the hat and other products a little closer to its customers. Big Fuel has launched a new website for The Stetson Hat Company. Millions of consumers know the Stetson brand for its signature western hats and dress hats along with fragrance, apparel, footwear and eyewear. The new site (www.stetson.com) has been designed to highlight the brand's traditions, history, and social identity.
The site dynamically pulls content from popular social networks to showcase how the brand is woven into the fabric of American culture to create the Stetson "American Quilt. [...] Read more | Comments (1) | by John Gaffney on Monday, December 21, 2009
In what could signal a new wave of Internet technology and content acquisitions, Limelight Networks today announced it will acquire rich media solutions provider EyeWonder. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2010.
“Today, two best-in-class companies are combining to capitalize on the clear opportunity created by a macro shift of content consumption and advertising spend away from legacy channels and towards the growing world of Internet-connected devices. Limelight and EyeWonder bring together deep technical and operational skills for creating a brilliant online experience anywhere, on any device, and the ability to help advertisers and publishers monetize that experience,” said Jeff Lunsford, chairman and chief executive officer, Limelight Networks, Inc. [...] Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, December 21, 2009
To paraphrase Yogi Berra "it ain't a deal until it's a deal." So it goes with Google and Yelp. What was a done deal Friday afternoon, seemed to come apart over the weekend, and was still up in the air when we hit "send" today. However, the confirmed interest and $550 million price tag shows the unmistakable trend toward local advertising and content.
As David Carr wrote Monday in The New York Times: "How serious is Google about local, with or without Yelp? Well, consider that they’ve begun distributing stickers to local businesses that contain bar-codes that can be scanned into a smart phone to access information like reviews and coupons. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, December 18, 2009
The internet is helping to drive an international spike in sports viewership. According to a new report from Nielsen, U.S. sports television had a banner year in 2009. Viewership of major events hit record levels: Super Bowl XLIII was the most-viewed in history; the Stanley Cup was the most-viewed in seven years, followed by the World Series (most in five years).
Sports web sites provide fans with a virtual sports bar for online conversation and are among the trends driving the data. Sports sites and streaming events tend to complement sports viewing rather than cannibalize it. [...] Marketing, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Friday, December 18, 2009
Engagement and targeting metrics continued to show impressive month-to-month gains for consumer mobile usage. The November installment of Millennial Media’s SMART report showed that average monthly page views per user increased from 106 to 113 in November and average user session time increased from 4:46 to 5:02. The use of custom landing pages increased 8% in November - a potential indicator that advertisers were focusing on campaign specific microsites to promote end of year specials and promotions on products and services. [...] Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Friday, December 18, 2009 Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, December 17, 2009
Check that perception of Facebook as a white and Asian dominated network. A Facebook blog reported Wednesday that blacks and Latinos have joined the social networking giant at a rapid clip in the past several years. Facebook researchers found that about 11 percent of the social network's approximately 100 million U.S. members were African-American, about 9 percent were Latino and 6 percent were Asian, a much higher share for blacks and Latinos than four years ago. Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Real-time ad optimzer PubMatic signed a big client this week. Yesterday it announced that TVGuide.com, a one-stop entertainment destination for breaking news, online video and TV listings, has chosen PubMatic to manage multiple remnant networks across its site.
“PubMatic has significantly decreased the operational burden of managing multiple ad networks and simultaneously helped us eliminate inefficiencies in our remnant advertising pricing,” said Ian Wallin, Vice President, Online Ad Sales, TVGuide. [...] Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, December 16, 2009
As Internet marketing wisdom goes, if Google buys a technology it’s worth looking into. So when Google bought dynamic display ad optimizer Teracent in late November, suddenly a lukewarm ad platform got hot. Many companies have been the beneficiaries of this newfound attention, among them is San Francisco-based Dapper, which has made a name for itself integrating effective content into dynamic display ads.
“The Teracent acquisition definitely focused attention on the dynamic display space, for a lot of reasons,” says marketing director Paul Knegten. [...] Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Mobile ad agency and research stalwart Millenial Media published its 2010 predictions today, and decided that this upcoming year was not going to be the “year of mobile.” The year in questions I currently drawing to a close it says The proverbial “Year of Mobile” came and went. There was no “cataclysmic tipping point that shocked industry-watchers into acknowledging mobile as a highly effective and efficient advertising medium” it says, but the agency’s report does take some bold stabs (ten of them) at the look of maturity for mobile. [...] Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Teens and their mobile phone behavior continues its microscopic analysis. Today the Pew Internet Research project released a study that shows one in seven American teens with cellphones say they have received nude or nearly nude photos by text message, according to a new survey on the phenomenon known as "sexting."
Helping to define the little-understood trend in teen life, the poll found that 15 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 17 have received sexually suggestive photos or videos on their personal cellphones. [...] Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, December 15, 2009
As co-CEO of Innovation Interactive, Netmining’s Will Margiloff is part of an $8 billion universe. That’s how much Innovation's three properties (agency 360i, search optimization provider SearchIgnite, and behavioral targeting platform Netmining) have at stake in terms of internet transactions. His company has been able to tap into and observe a mass of data that taken together can show an effective snapshot of how Internet users are behaving. More importantly for his clients, the Netmining software can show the real-time behavior of its customers as they enter, explore, and exit their websites. [...] Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, December 14, 2009
Lotame has a new CMO. The data-driven audience marketing platform that has made its name focusing on integrating social data with audience insights today announced that Eric Porres has joined the fast growing company as Chief Marketing Officer.
“Eric will use his respected experience to explain, position, and demonstrate to brand marketers why social data revolutionizes their approach to online marketing,” says Andy Monfried, Lotame’s CEO to whom Mr. Porres will report. “He will be our leading voice to pioneer an evolutionary change in understanding the value of social data and its resulting return on marketing investment for brand marketers. [...] Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Monday, December 14, 2009 Social Read more | Comments (1) | Friday, December 11, 2009
No secret that social media usage among women is prevalent but a new study finds it close to unanimous. Social network marketing agency SheSpeaks has released its 2nd Annual Social Media Study. It surveyed members to understand their adoption and usage of social networks and their interactions with brands. It found that 86% of women now have a profile on a social network, up from 48% last year, a huge jump. Participation among women 50+ is now up to 71%. 95% of women with social network profile have one on facebook, while MySpace is down to 42%, from 63% last year. [...] Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Danny King on Thursday, December 10, 2009
Pizza Hut's new iPhone application is an example of how a company can use a visual, nearly tactile experience to boost sales and bring in repeat customers. Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Danny King on Thursday, December 10, 2009
Creating an application popular enough to boost the presence of a brand is still far more of an art than a science, judging from the conflicting opinions of panelists at the digiday:Apps conference in Los Angeles today.
How much to spend, how much to charge, and where to target applications were all points of contention among a group that included Weather Channel Vice President Cameron Clayton, Disney.com VP Jason Davis and appssavvy President Michael Burke.While Burke preached the value of laying out as specific an objective as possible, Clayton said the low cost off creating applications allows for more of a shotgun approach. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile Read more | Comments (1) | Thursday, December 10, 2009
Like the economy itself, that longed-for comeback keeps getting held up. According to Nielsen, spending on overall advertising fell 11.5 percent in the first three quarters of 2009, compared to the same time period in 2008. Preliminary figures show that expenditures fell $10.9 billion to a total spend of $83.4 billion in the first nine months of the year.
In other news:
Internet ads, expected by many analysts to show an appreciable increase, fell .5 percent. Increases were led by Cable TV (+ 9. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Social media hasn't bypassed email, yet. A Silverpop analysis of B2C email marketing campaigns leading up to the holiday selling season found more emails being sent to more people as open and click rates held steady. Silverpop reviewed the email marketing programs of 70 retail and consumer product companies, comparing last year's campaigns with those sent last month. Overall, the companies' list sizes grew by more than 124 percent, and they sent 25 percent more emails in November this year than they did in 2008. [...] Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (0) | by Tina Whitfield on Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Ad Targeting is no longer Revenue Science and Tacoda; they are so five years ago. Today the volume of data being horded, according to Alan Chapel, requires new technologies. Marketing, Media, Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, December 8, 2009
It’s a mad marketing world— how’s a marketer to wade through the insanity and find quality placement—and the right audience? How do brands find the right mix online, allowing their creative to run where its best placed but where brand integrity can be maintained? In this confusing setting is it every brand for itself? Who’s really protecting the brand?
The Brand Protectors addressed this and more when they assembled at the W at Union Square this morning to hash out brand safety. And who better to discuss the theme than Louis Giagrande, Senior Manager of Online Marketing at Samsung Electronics America and Griff Long, Senior Director of Global Carsharing at Connect by Hertz? Joining Hertz and Samsung were technologists Helene Monat, President of AdSafe Media and Kirby Winfield, Chief Revenue Officer, Mpire and Andrew Marc Goldman, SVP of Strategy and Integration at agency RAPP. [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Tina Whitfield on Tuesday, December 8, 2009
How should we organize ourselves as humans to work with machine-think? Or should we? Marketing, Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (2) | by Tina Whitfield on Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Are automated buying networks dumping your ad into inventory space that is neither relevant to the editorial or the subscribers to the editorial? Are you thrilled to see you ad for Toll House Cookies next to a display ad for Slim Fast? Can ROI be tracked with global fragmentation due to remnant ad inventory being passed along to the hundreds of ad networks?
Coming into their own are ad networks driving high-quality, controlled contextual content placements that can help protect brands. Marketing, Media, Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, December 7, 2009
AdMeld is going mobile. The ad network optimization company is adding to its online publishing solution by integrating support for mobile ad inventory. The solution applies AdMeld’s real time revenue maximization technology to the mobile space, offering premium publishers a single platform for optimizing their ad inventory across multiple channels and through dozens of demand sources. Currently undergoing beta testing, the combined product will be available to select AdMeld customers in Q1 of 2010. [...] Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Brandon Gutman on Friday, December 4, 2009
Digital Brand Management is becoming the critical new discipline for marketing in the digital age. Digital can no longer be looked upon as a “post-strategic’ channel or as a simple one-off, add-on or after-thought. It reflects the new paradigm of this transforming world of ours; that digital must be at the core of a brand’s strategic platform. Marketing companies that continue to think of digital only as a series of tactical channels or platforms will do so to their long-term detriment.
The discipline of Digital Brand Management applies the techniques of traditional brand management: analysis, planning, implementation and measurement, but with a much more rigorous, robust approach. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, December 4, 2009
Toyota, Pizza Hut, NBA, Fandango, and More Reveal Their Brand Success Secrets with Mobile and Social Apps! Please join us for digiday:APPS on December 10th, in Los Angeles. During this high-level event, Top Brand Marketers, Agency Executives, Publishers, and App Developers will come together to discuss and explore how brands can harness the power of the billion dollar app boom. The event will dive deeply into the challenges and success stories of the explosive mobile and social app market. This is an event you can't afford to miss!
"digiday:APPS is a one of a kind event. [...] Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, December 3, 2009
The DPAC AWARDS will honor the winners and finalists at The DPAC Awards Gala on 12/8 at The W Hotel Union Square, New York. The DPAC Awards judging committee has selected the finalists and winners for the awards in each category, as well as the Best in Show.
This is your chance to network and congratulate the winners and finalists like American Express * IBM * Walmart * Intel Corp * The Coca-Cola Company * Visa * Publicis Modem * Subway * New Balance * Initiative * 20th Century Fox * Cadbury/ Trident * Ogilvy * Kia Soul * Oakley * PGA Tour. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, December 3, 2009
Nearly one in four email marketing messages were not delivered to recipients’ inboxes on Cyber Monday, according to new deliverability data released today by Pivotal Veracity, an email deliverability and optimization solution company. Celebrated as the busiest day of the year for e-commerce transactions, this past Monday saw inbox delivery rates plummet to a 7-day low of just 76.2%.
Global web traffic peaked at more than 7.9 million visitors per minute to retail sites on Monday, according to Akamai Technologies, and the National Retail Federation said web visitation was up 8 percent compared to last year. [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Thursday, December 3, 2009 Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Thursday, December 3, 2009 Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Thursday, December 3, 2009 Media Read more | Comments (1) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 Media Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 Mobile Read more | Comments (1) | Tuesday, December 1, 2009
There aren't many of them, but they sure might look good to marketers. Meet the E-book customer. According to the most recent data from Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI), there are approximately 2.1 million U.S. adults who own electronic book readers, and they are likely to be well-educated, well-heeled, and use the Internet frequently.
At 56.3% of e-reader users, men outnumber women (43.7%). Adults ages 35-54 are the “sweet spot” for this product, as they are 20% more likely than the average adult to own an e-reader. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Monday, November 30, 2009 Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, November 30, 2009
DM2 Events is finishing 2009 with a triple-threat event package during the month of December. In addition to the company’s second digiday:TARGET event on December 8, with the DPAC Awards to follow, DM2 is holding its first-ever Los Angeles digiday:APPS conference on December 10.
“A lot of event companies treat LA as if it’s a secondary market for thought leaders and digital advertising activity,” says DM2 Founder Nick Friese. “We disagree strongly. We’ve had multiple DIGIDAY events in New York, but with digiday:APPS and we’re putting our money where our mouth is. [...] Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday was a good day to work at AdMeld. The Real-Time Bidding (RTB) advertising optimization technology company announced it has doubled the size of its client base since June, with key additions coming from AccuWeather.com, Answers.com, Billboard.com, Daily Kos, Hearst Television, New York Post and Time Out New York. The company has reached 130 publishers in its client list and access to more than 160 million unique users in the US and 275 million unique users worldwide, according to Quantcast. [...] Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, November 30, 2009
It might be time for a more aggressive mobile industry awareness campaign regarding teens and texting while in a car. A Pew Research Report released today shows that 48% of all teens ages 12-17 say they have been in a car when the driver was texting. 40% say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger.
The Pew report is also notable for the penetration rate of phones and texting among teens. It puts the American teen phone ownership rate at 75%, with 66% regularly using it for texting. [...] Marketing, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, November 25, 2009
My Favorite New iPhone App: An intuitive new iPhone application, developed by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Denenberg, allows you to view hundreds of before-and-after photos, turn your iPhone around to take your own photos, and with the touch of a button, email them to the doctor with your questions - like a free online consultation - all while sipping your latte. "The iPhone app is the next powerful communication tool," Dr. Denenberg said. "Just as most plastic surgeons now have Web sites, soon most will realize the value of using this new technology to describe their practices, display their skills, and give patients easy ways to contact them. [...] Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Mobile search has a long way to go. A new Xiam Tecnhologies survey of over 2,500 U.S. and U.K. mobile Internet users found that 8 out of 10 are frustrated by mobile search capabilities despite 68% of mobile users being dependent on mobile search engines to access content. Content most desired and used is weather-related, followed by maps, social networking, games, music and local/world news. Respondents said that 27% of the time they were unable to access mobile content, often as a result of poor mobile webpage design (too large/small). [...] Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sorry, it's Thanksgiving week, not Halloween, but you know what I mean. When you think about it, ad delivery platforms have been among the innovations primarily responsible for our ability to do our day jobs better and more efficiently. Can they accommodate the latest in rich media? Can they target? (No, I mean REALLY target?) Can they deliver metrics on an ever-refined list of criteria (opened, time spent, shared...)? Can they accommodate a just-in-time delivery marketplace based on demand? And -- perhaps most importantly -- can they simplify all these mind-blowing complexities? Yes, yes, yes, and of course, would be the responses of some or all of our DPAC Awards finalists. [...] Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, November 24, 2009
There's just one more thing you need to read about the Twilight/New Moon movies. One of the more interesting uses of social media and entertainment marketing comes from a company called Fizziolo.gy, which measures volume and sentiment of entertainment-related chatter on Twitter, Facebook, blogs and more. It has been tracking New Moon chatter for months, shared its "Team” results after 7 weeks of Twilight-related tracking with digiday. The first analysis is simple – Edward or Jacob? Which name is mentioned in social media more? And in this, Team Edward wins easily (58% to 42%). [...] Media, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, November 23, 2009
Apparently some e-commerce payers aren't feeling the need for speed when it comes to mobile marketing. In fact some are four seconds longer than others. This was the finding of a new benchmark published today by Gomez, the Web performance division of Compuware Corporation that compares and ranks the mobile Web performance of the nation's top retailers.
Between November 1 and November 15, Gomez monitored the mobile Web performance of the home pages of 14 top retailers, testing from different geographies and mobile carriers to measure their response times and availability when accessed from a popular cell phone. [...] Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Monday, November 23, 2009
Sometimes search is a pure numbers game. Sometimes it’s a more creative challenge that begs the question, how do you go about integrating search as the return path for your more immersive campaigns? We’ve got two finalists in the “Best Search Campaign” category of the DPAC awards that hit the search challenge from both sides of the coin. As always, DM2PRO.com members won’t be left searching for insights. Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Friday, November 20, 2009 Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, November 20, 2009
It's getting harder to spin the newspapers in any kind of positive fashion for newspapers. The latest Newspaper Association of America stats show newspaper websites’ ad revenue got progressively worse in Q3, as the declines reached nearly 17 percent to $623 million. In comparison, newspaper sites’ Q3 '08 decline was only 3 percent.
Total print and online plunged about 28 percent to $6.4 billion, worse than Q3 '08’s 18 percent decline.
In other news: Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, November 19, 2009
Social media is going from "friend me" to "see me." Time spent viewing video on social networking sites increased 98 percent this year, from 503.8 million minutes in October 2008 to 999.4 million minutes in October 2009, according to Nielsen. In conjunction, the number of online video streams viewed on social networking and blog sites increased 45 percent year-over-year, from 240.8 million streams in October 2008 to 349.5 million in October 2009.
“During the past year, online video viewing has become central to the Web experience. [...] Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Get used to the phrase "non-voice modalities." It describes the activities adult smartphone users have taken on now that talking on the phone seems to be a secondary for mobile. Mobile Market View, the latest consumer study of adult U.S. mobile phone users conducted by BIA/Kelsey with research partner ConStat, reveals a rapid rise in mobile device usage for non-voice communications--text messages, e-mail and Internet access--driven primarily by the proliferation of smartphones.
Among mobile consumers surveyed in October for Mobile Market View, 18. [...] Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | by Jaffer Ali on Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The notion that a significant portion of the population is willing to pay for news online is one born from intense, myopic self-interest. And as any Philosophy 101 student can tell you, that’s a long way away from enlightened self-interest.
Think of this. Rupert Murdoch recently said that the “fair use doctrine” should be challenged in court and be eliminated altogether. How idiotic is that statement for a news mogul to make when his very news organization utilizes countless hours of copyrighted materials for their broadcast without paying royalties?
Recognizing the contradiction, he did add (cautiously), “but we will take that slowly”. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Maybe the newspaper bleeding is stopping. New data from Scarborough Research (a joint partnership with The Nielsen Company and Arbitron, Inc.) finds nearly three in four adults, nearly 171 million, in the U.S. read a printed newspaper -- either online or in print -- on a weekly basis. “While our data does show that print newspaper readership is slowly declining, it also illustrates that reports about the pending death of the newspaper industry are greatly exaggerated,” said Gary Meo, Scarborough’s Senior Vice President of Print and Digital Media Services. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (1) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | by Vince Thompson on Monday, November 16, 2009
Seeing the same talking heads at every one of your industry events? Thinking a heightened profile could help your career? Ever wonder how they got there?
Brandon Gutman is an expert connector, business developer and a Founding Partner of FOCi Group, a digital brand management firm serving the Fortune 500 community.
He has also coined the term “Executive Celebrity” and helps many of his clients step up their own brand presence as they turbo-charge their business development efforts and expand their horizons. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, November 16, 2009
Last week's FDA hearings on pharmaceutical advertising and digital activity look like a tie game, but other companies are moving forward. Human Genome Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline said online communication will play a key role in the upcoming launch of lupus drug Benlysta. The companies are considering various web channels, from advocacy groups to social media.
With clinical trials over, executives from developing lab Human Genome said they intend to file with FDA early next year. The agency could grant priority review and approve in the second half of 2010, at the earliest. [...] Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, November 13, 2009
On some level, it's not enough to build a great social app anymore; or perhaps it's that only the existene of an underlying community can demonstrate success. Whatever the case, DPAC Awards Contenders for Best Branded Social Media Community include BusinessWeek, American Express OPEN, and Real Estate leader Coldwell Banker.
Coldwell Banker and FD kinesis conceived the first all-video destination for Real Estate by a national Real Estate brand. OnLocation was created to allow users to search and see video tours of properties in their area instead of the standard still images. [...] Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, November 13, 2009
While the pharmaceutical companies and others knocked heads in DC this week, a more patient-relevant data application was launched. The Advisory Council for the U.S. Healthcare Efficiency Index, founded by Emdeon, launched the National Data Collection Center for the primary research phase of the Index and the addition of new members.
The Index is an industry forum for monitoring business efficiency in healthcare and tracking the transition from a paper- and phone-based healthcare system to an electronic one. [...] Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Friday, November 13, 2009 Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, November 12, 2009
Emailed coupons work. That's the short version of today's benchmark data and analysis for email marketers from Experian Marketing Services. That report found that 80 percent of online coupon mailings garnered higher transaction-to-click rates and transaction rates than the non-coupon campaigns. Click rates trended higher for coupon emails, with average lifts of 17 percent for coupons redeemable online and 24 percent for coupons redeemable in-store.
The report also found that two-thirds of American households use coupons, with the vast majority of them (87 percent) used to save money and 30 percent used to try a
new product or service. [...] Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Thursday, November 12, 2009 Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, November 11, 2009
One of the promises of social media is to create communities of like interests. One of the more intriguing examples of this promise in action, and a solid example of maintaining social media integrity, can be seen at cinema content and social site The Auteurs.com. At Auteurs the motto is "Popular doesn’t always mean good." Its streaming content model allows it to make available the most obscure art films and classic masterpieces. As co-founder Efe Cakarel says "it's also about discussing and sharing these discoveries, which makes us like a small coffee shop—… a place where you can gather and talk about alternative endings, directors’ cuts, and whatever those frogs in Magnolia meant. [...] Marketing, Media, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Social Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Nielsen has seen the mobile future and the future is smartphones. It's new report out today shows that in Q3 2009, historically the slowest phone sales quarter, more than 25% of all phones sold were smartphones. It expects Q4 to have more than 40% of all new phones to be smart devices.
"This is important to watch as smartphones are on track to be the majority of phones in the U.S. by 2011," the report states. "Projecting Nielsen data out through 2010, we see smartphones crossing 50% of the market by the middle of 2011, roughly equal to 150 million users. [...] Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Yesterday did more than renew the industry’s hopes for M&A resurgence. And it did more than make a healthy handful of future millionaires. To be frank, Google’s $750 million purchase of mobile ad net AdMob and Electronic Arts' multi-million dollar acquisition ($275 million up front and $100 million in earn-out) of social gaming firm Playfish proved industry confidence in previously "emerging" or "unproven" markets. Plenty has been said about the Google / AdMob deal and what it means to mobile; what does EA’s big move tell us?
For one, EA's purchase of Playfish is a sign that social gaming is here to stay. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | Tuesday, November 10, 2009
If the goal of advertising is to create new customers, then Internet media is overachieving. The digital brand experiences does create new customers, according to the just-released FEED: The Razorfish Digital Brand Experience Report. Fully 64% of consumers surveyed made their first purchase from a brand because of a digital experience - either with a website, microsite, mobile coupon or email. The agency and publisher surveyed 1,000 "connected consumers" about how Internet technologies and services affect the way they engage with brands and make purchasing decisions. [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, November 9, 2009
I love trash talk. Love it when an athlete can be so confident that they can tell you what they’re going to do before they do it. It used to be an artform, now it has been lowered to copycatting like most everything else. For every Larry Bird who during a three point content shootaround said, "I'm just looking around to see who's gonna finish up second," there’s a Larry Johnson calling out teammates on Twitter. C’mon man. Step up your game, playa.
When I read this morning about The Week’s gauntlet-throwing on advertising contracts, I liked it like I like a good bit of trash talk. [...] Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Monday, November 9, 2009 Marketing Read more | Comments (1) | Monday, November 9, 2009
More detailed analytics about what different customer segments do with social media are being released today. A new study from Q Interactive and Social Media World Forum of more than 2,000 women finds them actively engaging with brands as they dabble in favorites like Farmville and Causes. Furthermore, women are passionate and competitive about (Lil) Green Patches and Happy Aquariums, stocking up on "virtual currency" perhaps more often than they hit the ATM.
One of the most dramatics metrics found in theb study is that 85 percent of those surveyed use five or less games and/or social media apps regularly, indicating an inclination to be loyal to a handful of favorites. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Friday, November 6, 2009
It’s not a full-out price war, but the makings of one are starting to hit the e-reader market. Before the category spends its first competitive Christmas in the retail world, Amazon has consistently dropped the price of the Kindle as Barnes & Noble and Sony try to find a price position. With the discount happy mentality of the retailers involved in selling these products (Best Buy, WalMart, Target) e-readers could move down the price scale quickly. More than a few analysts are predicting a quick to drop to $100 by Christmas 2010 for the mid-line e-reader product. [...] Marketing, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, November 6, 2009
The Open Book Alliance is a coalition of librarians, legal scholars, authors, publishers, and technology companies created to counter the proposed Google Book Settlement. With Google’s main argument expected on Nov. 9, the alliance is firing first, publishing a proposal today called "Settlement 2.0." The basic tenets of The Open Book Alliance proposal are that “the settlement must not grant Google an exclusive set of rights (defacto or otherwise) or result in any one entity gaining control over access to and distribution of the world's largest digital database of books. [...] Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, November 5, 2009
Apparently text messaging and social networking has found its way on to the radar of analysts that track activities called "entertainment." According to the latest update to the "Entertainment Trends in America" tracking study conducted by The NPD Group, many consumers expect to be spending the same amount on traditional entertainment categories during the coming holiday season, "even as their participation in newer forms of entertainment continues to rise." The most notable increases occurred in social networking and text messaging: More than a third (37 percent) of respondents reported visiting a social networking site over the prior six
months, which is an increase of 11 percentage points since last year; 63 percent
reported sending and receiving text messages, which is an increase of 7
percentage points over the prior year; while 9 percent used Twitter during the
same time period. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, November 5, 2009
Maybe you don’t have to worry about all that time employees spend on Facebook. A new research report from Business.com shows that businesses and business professionals people are using social media for profitable purposes.
Based on insights from 2,948 professionals across North America, the study recommends that “current trends to restrict access to social networks like Facebook or Twitter at work need to be re-thought in light of the business value in such activity.”
That activity shows that webinars and podcasts are the top social media resources for business professionals, used by 69 of respondents. [...] Media, Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (1) | by Melinda Gipson on Thursday, November 5, 2009
If you’ve read John Battelle’s “The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture,” the single concept that blew you away was the power Google could potentially wield with it’s access to what Battelle called “the database of intentions.” Across the Web, every search reflects a need, and Google search now captures 80 percent of those searches. What might someone DO who could interpret and quantify that data stream? Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, November 4, 2009
We won't tell you how this one ends. But MyRomanceStory, an imprint of Arrow Publications, reports a 40-percent increase in romance graphic novel App book sales from July to August, 2009, and a nearly 200- percent increase from August to October 2009, after Apple put into effect its parental controls ratings. Novels with mature romantic content have historically exhibited strong ebook sales. Now that they are portable this can only increase their reach to an audience that spends more
and more time reading on portable platforms. [...] Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Media, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Content monetization solutions are coming to ecommerce. Evidence can be seen in today's announcement that ShopWiki and DigiPowers will team up to provide a new vertical product search tool for web publishers of consumer interest content sites.
A statement from the two companies claims that the new tool will build on DigiPowers' technology and allow the ShopWiki product search engine to be embedded into third-party web sites, extending the consumer reach of ShopWiki's product database to highly targeted consumer audiences. [...] Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, November 2, 2009
The Atlantic has an excellent thread running on the future of newspapers. Megan McArdle stirred the pot last week after the Audit Bureau of Circulation published its numbers, and many readers have taken issue with her opinion that "the numbers seem to confirm something I've thought for a while: we're eventually going to end up with a few national papers, a la Britain, rather than local dailies. The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times (sorry, conservatives!) are weathering the downturn better than most, and it's not surprising: business, politics, and national upper-middlebrow culture. [...] Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Monday, November 2, 2009 Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, October 30, 2009
Lifetime Digital is ramping up it's social commitment to moms. Today the company announced the re-launch of MothersClick.com and the debut of LifetimeMoms.com, two major initiatives to "strengthen Lifetime Networks' bond with mothers by creating communities to connect with others like them."
MothersClick.com is the first digital acquisition by Lifetime Networks, and features a dynamic conversation engine that empowers women to easily find discussion topics by keywords and to engage with other moms across thousands of subjects. [...] Media, Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, October 29, 2009
Add another term to the digital content and advertising lexicon. “Real-time bidding” capabilities have been added by inventory platforms AdMeld and PubMatic via new partnerships announced today with Turn Inc.
The process and the players in real-time bidding can be complex, but represent a new monetization opportunity for publishers. Here’s how it works. If a publisher uses an ad platform such as PubMatic, which has the ability to offer display inventory that can be bid on, companies such as Turn can provide the technology to compress that bidding into real time instead of the irregular updates that bidding now works within. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Thursday, October 29, 2009 Media Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tweets are driving mobile usage. That's the conclusion of a new Pew Research study that shows 19% of all internet users now say they use Twitter or another service to share updates about themselves, or to see updates about others. This represents a significant increase over previous surveys in December 2008 and April 2009, when 11% of internet users said they use a status-update service.
Three groups of internet users are mainly responsible for driving the growth of this activity: social network website users, those who connect to the internet via mobile devices, and younger internet users – those under age 44. [...] Media, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, October 29, 2009
As a digidayDAILY reader, you are entitled to a copy of an exclusive whitepaper, data packed with insights from the leading research companies about what actually is going on in the online display sector.
Compete, comScore, DynamicLogic, The IAB, InsightExpress, Microsoft Advertising and The Nielsen Company have all contributed to this bigger picture of trends in spend, measurement and usage plus an update on ad networks and exchanges.
* Marketers and Agency execs will get ad spend info and an update on how to improve the efficiency of their buys and the impact of their creative. [...] Media, Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 Media Read more | Comments (3) | Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Facebook keeps running away with social media market share. Experian Hitwise announced today that Facebook accounted for 58.59 percent of all U.S. visits out of 155 social networking Web sites in September 2009. The 58 percent was the highest among all social networking sites sites, as U.S. visits to Facebook increased 194 percent in September 2009 compared with September 2008. MySpace received the second-highest market share of U.S. visits for the month, with 30 percent.
Tagged received 2.38 percent of visits in September 2009, the third-largest amount. [...] Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, October 27, 2009
In launching his conversation with Christy Tanner, VP of marketing and editor-in-chief of TVGuide.com at DPAC4 Tuesday, Sean ONeal, chief revenue officer for Datran Media stated the obvious: “Publishers are clearly sitting on more data than they realize.” While that’s certainly true, Tanner said, a common complaint is that these multiple data sources often present a conflicting picture of how the publisher is doing. That’s part of the reason why TVGuide.com created its own 10,000-person panel that it can survey regularly to derive demographic and behavioral data. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, October 27, 2009
We have extend the entry deadline for the DPAC Awards to Friday, October 30th. This will be the last and final date to enter. So please take this time to submit your campaigns or even add new work into the competition. The response to the DPAC awards has been amazing! Thank you!
Deadline to Enter The DPAC Awards Has Been Extended! Final Deadline is October 30th
Participating Brands Include: NBC Universal, Nissan, Showtime, P&G, Coca-Cola, Subway, 24 Hour Fitness, AT&T, Microsoft, Toyota, New Balance, Huggies, Oakley, Swatch, NBC Universal, Hearst, MTV, BusinessWeek, Zinio, Meredith, PGA Tour, 20th Century Fox, Quattro, Investor's Business Daily, Carl's Jr. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Stephanie Miller on Tuesday, October 27, 2009
In his keynote at DPAC4 today, Jim Taylor of Harrison Group challenged digital marketers to adjust our outreach to embrace the self sufficiency of American consumers. Marketing, Media, Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, October 26, 2009
Will Verizon need an iPhone? Or will it be satisfied by its new connection to the burgeoning Android platorm and handsets? Some tough questions are being asked today after Verizon reported some fixed financial results for Q3. In a business where new customers are everything, Verizon added 1.2 million net new subscribers in the quarter compared with rival AT&T added 2 million customers, as Apple’s iPhone helped it take market share from Verizon.
In other news: Media, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, October 22, 2009
News Corp is leading the bids for the Travel Channel. If successful, the acquisition would add to the cable holdings in Rupe’s empire-- and edge out earlier favorite, Scripps Network Interactive as well as private equity group Providence Equity Partners. Majority owner Cox Communications put the cable net up for auction this summer; Cox owns around 65% of Travel Channel.
Needless to say, the bids for Travel Channel surprised everyone, including Cox, turning out to be notably higher than initial projections. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, October 22, 2009
When times get tough retailers get social. That’s the main conclusion of Shop.org’s eHoliday Study, conducted by BIGresearch. It says continued economic uncertainty will bring changes in retail marketing and promotions this holiday season.
It says that “with an understanding that many of today’s shoppers use Facebook and Twitter regularly, and because these tools are more cost-effective than traditional advertising, 47.1 percent of retailers surveyed will be increasing their use of social media this holiday season. [...] Metrics Read more | Comments (1) | Thursday, October 22, 2009
Meet the professional blogger. Today's installment of Technorati's State of the Blogosphere report shows thata minority of professional bloggers are making more money than ever.
Bloggers can collect ad revenues related to their blogs. But they are also making money by parlaying the popularity of their blogs into speaking engagements, traditional media assignments, and running conferences. Among those who make money from blogging, 54 percent are part-timers, 32 percent are self-employed, and 14 percent work for corporations. [...] Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Beating other search engines to the punch, Microsoft has inked a deal to add Twitter and Facebook feed updates to Bing. The Twitter deal was in the works for over a month, but was just finalized; adding Facebook updates was a tasty last minute surprise. Kara Swisher scooped the story in her All Things D “Boom Town” column explaining the significance of the deals: “The pair represents the hugest trove of real-time and content-sharing information, generated from their massive data streams.”
This is a minor coup for Microsoft, and for Bing. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (2) | Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Barnes & Noble unveiled its new Nook digital reader yesterday, giving the public a peek at the new device. At first glance, Nook looks a lot like Amazon’s Kindle. So what’s special, new, or different about Nook? For one, it does have a cool color navigation screen below its main, black and white e-ink display. It sports WiFi connectivity, nice for on-the run downloads; Nook's wireless is from AT&T thanks to Barnes & Noble's deal with the telecom giant. But of course, Amazon has its own wireless deal with Sprint for its Kindle units. [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Amidst the layoffs and magazine closures, Condé Nast gets creative with its mobile application strategy. A very cool idea indeed. Condé Rethinks Apps As Digital Mags
Brand Management 3.0. What happens to your brand when you're not listening? Buddy Media has a client for that-- Buddy Media Rolls Out New Twitter and Facebook Client
Get real, says Morgan Stanley analyst Mary Meeker at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco this week. The Mobile Net is “Bigger Than You Think." Further more, mobile users "tend to pay," especially for services they construe as premium services. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Marking the first post-Bloomberg acquisition blood, BusinessWeek’s Editor in Chief Stephen J. Adler announced his pending resignation. Adler spent four years as Editor in Chief at the venerable business mag, and saw it weather major changes—and financial turmoil. He helped it navigate the integration of print and digital operations; challenging advertising declines; and once McGraw-Hill decided to sell BW earlier this summer, he steeled his staff through the stormy bid process this fall.
Adler, who joined BW from the Wall Street Journal, will stay on board until the Bloomberg purchase closes in December. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Welcome the book Nook. Barnes & Noble is officially debuting its new e-reader at a press conference today: a full-color, wireless, dual touchscreen device it plans to call “Nook.” The Wall Street Journal scooped the gadget’s name and $259 price point, thanks to a little detective work-- the WSJ spotted an upcoming full-page ad for the reader, which was scheduled to run in this weekend’s NYT Book Review. All this before B&N's big shindig in NYC today. Sorry to spoil your surprise, guys.
As crowded as the category is, I have to admit Barnes & Noble’s gadget looks like a dandy— a worthy competitor to Sony and Amazon’s existing models. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, October 20, 2009
What if Moore's Law applied to government? It turns out that the White House is using the Internet as a metaphor for creating "government 2.0." Andrew McLaughlin, in a speech last night to the AlwaysOn DC Summit, outlined a scenario that should make America more competitive -- but may also gore some oxes along the way. Media Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, October 20, 2009
More blog data from Technorati today. Today's installment deals with blog content, with bloggers now defined in a sense by the personal narrative, with 45% of all respondents (but only 12% of "Pros") reporting that they blog about their “personal musings.” The diversity of the blogosphere, and the passion for sometimes very niche topics, is also reflected in this question – even given 23 choices including most broad fields of inquiry, 30% of respondents say that their primary subject is “Other. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, October 19, 2009
Like the baseball playoffs it plays out over about a week on late October. This, however, is Technorati's State of the Blogoshere Report. In today's installment the company reported that 72 percent of bloggers call themselves hobbyists. About 9 percent of bloggers are self-employed, and of that group, about 22 percent say their business is their blog. Some 10 percent of the professional bloggers say that they blog more than 40 hours a week. And among professional bloggers, 40 percent said they worked in traditional media. [...] Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, October 19, 2009
As behavioral targeting continues to be a game-changer for digital content, the words themselves have found their own advertising momentum. Semantic targeting has attracted new add-on technologies, new clients, new suppliers and a new respect as content sites search for ways to monetize their inventory.
“No technology is going to change the fact that around 50 percent of all inventory is still remnant inventory,” says Amiad Solomon, CEO of semantic web platform Peer 39. “And if you have fundamental problems like weak content or poor market positioning, no technology will save your business. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Monday, October 19, 2009
Susan Mernit, a veteran of Advance Internet (NJ.com) and Parade Magazine online, as well as Netscape and BlogHer, has teamed with a small but potent news team to launch Oakland Local, a news and community site for Oakland, CA, focusing on social justice issues including climate change, air quality, food access, arts as activists, and identity, race & ethnicity. The team has seed funding from a Knight Foundation J-Lab "New Voices" grant, and may well serve as a model for what other local news entities need to become to impact democracy in a fractured media environment. [...] Media Read more | Comments (1) | by on Friday, October 16, 2009
Google is challenging Amazon on its home turf: the search giant confirmed its plans to roll out an e-book store which it plans to call “Google Editions.” If Jeff Bezos didn’t have indigestion yet, he will after reading the fine print— unlike Amazon or Barnes & Noble’s e-book stores, Google’s effort will not be device specific. That means digital titles purchased through Google Editions will be compatible with a much larger number of devices. That’s a very smart move on the part of Google, given the volume of e-readers reaching the market by next year. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | Friday, October 16, 2009
Michael Barrett, CEO of AdMeld and John Trimble, CRO of Pandora sat down to discuss strategy, their vision for the market, the challenges of the current economy, and more. digiday:DAILY is pleased to share highlights from their conversation.
Michael Barrett: Tell me about your experience at Pandora thus far. How has the revenue strategy evolved since you’ve come on board?
John Trimble: We have been on a very strong trajectory in the market this year with audience growth and revenue. Our position as the market leader in the internet radio space, with a compelling multi-platform offering (display/mobile/audio) has allowed us to leverage deep user engagement to create targeted value in a tough economy. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, October 16, 2009 Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Ken Horowitz on Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sergey Brin is trying to terrify us. If we don’t do exactly as his Google says, all the books in all our libraries will be gone forever! Only Google can save us!
The fear-mongering in Brin’s op-ed in last Friday’s New York Times was ratcheted up by the Times in the form of headline and graphic. The piece was titled “A Library to Last Forever”, and was accompanied by Holly Stevenson’s drawing of books boarding Noah’s ark, two-by-two, in the midst of a storm.
Brin begins and ends his piece with stories of libraries ravaged by flood, fire, and other disasters. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Thursday, October 15, 2009
With a name like "Factual," you've already set the bar pretty high, but attaching Esther Dyson's name to this new collaboration in the cloud does carry clout. In her Twitter post, Esther describes the new service, for which she'll serve as an adviser, as "an open cloud service for managing and combing structured data." The company's Oct. 13 introductory/welcome letter from CEO Gil Elbaz says, "Factual wants to bring true accountability to data. Accountability means anyone can easily contribute their opinion, substantiate the data or disagree with the data. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Thomson Reuters has committed itself to the financial commentary business; today it announced its acquisition of Breakingviews.com. Reuters is reportedly paying around $18 million for the company, which specializes in business commentary and launched in 2000. The $18 million is apparently mostly a cash deal; Reuters has been looking hard at Breakingviews since this summer, and has been close to inking something since July.
The acquisition makes sense for Reuters, which launched its own commentary resource a little over a year ago. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Big Fuel & DM2 original series invites you to "friend" some of the most stimulating people in marketing today. In each episode, host Avi Savar (Founder & CEO of Big Fuel Communications) will add a new "Friend" to his social network -- experts who have helped redefine the space and are ready to discuss how the changing economic landscape will mold a new way of marketing.
"Friending..." will bring you insights from today's marketing, advertising and entertainment leaders on the subject of consumer engagement, branded content, social media and communications in today's new media landscape. [...] Marketing, Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, October 14, 2009
A new study released today by King Fish Media has quantified a “structural change” in the world of media. The study says marketers are rethinking the business of reaching customers and prospects with custom content at the center. The King Fish Media 2009 Survey on Marketing, Media and Measurement, conducted in partnership with HubSpot, Junta42 and the Upshot Institute, reveals that companies are abandoning other's media platforms in favor of creating their own original channels and content.
"Marketers have been aware of the effectiveness of building relationships and trust with content since long before the Internet," said Gordon Plutsky, Director of Marketing and Research, King Fish. [...] Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Excellent piece in paidContent.com today about paid vs. free business models for publishing. As written by David Kaplan, a recent confierence on the topic included Buzzmachine’s Jeff Jarvis and media consultant Shelly Palmer— who argued that formal pay walls will only drive consumers away. In defense of the pay model, Stephen Brill, who is also speaking at the DPAC conference on Oct. 27, contended that businesses need to run on direct money, and advertising and promotions won’t keep the lights on. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Target is taking its newsstand digital. In addition to traditional print magazines sold in its brick and mortar stores, the retail giant is launching a new effort which will allow shoppers to buy electronic versions of their favorite magazines. Now you can throw a digital version of US Weekly or Elle in that virtual shopping cart along with TP and Windex. The new digital newsstand, built into Target.com, allows customers to snap up single copies of current or back issues, or order subscriptions from the convenience of their laptops or home computers. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, October 13, 2009
On one count with the FTC, Google looks to be in the clear. Responding to this morning’s announcement that Arthur Levinson—who served on both the Apple and Google boards—was resigning from his Google post, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz applauded the parties in a statement “for their willingness to resolve our concerns without the need for litigation.” That strongly suggests that a six-month-old inquiry into the overlap of directors on the Google and Apple boards—is over, although we have e-mailed the FTC to get confirmation. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, October 12, 2009
Today, more evidence that Facebook and Twitter might be then social media equivalent of a runaway train. Facebook accounted for nearly 60 percent of all U.S. visits to a social network in September, nearly tripling over the same month last year, according to the latest stats from web traffic intelligence company Hitwise. By comparison, MySpace, which took the No. 2 slot, saw U.S. visits to the site plunge to 30.3 percent from 66.8 percent in September of 2008. Meanwhile Twitter’s percentage of visitors spiked to 1. [...] Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, October 12, 2009
Don’t ever tell Peter Daboll that it’s just a game. The CEO of marketing technology innovator Bunchball has taken gaming to a new level for brands and content owners, counting a big win last week with the SyFy Channel to add to a list of clients that have made 2009 a very good year.
“We are having a direct effect on viewer’s behavior and giving them a reason to return to the website that they might not have revisited,” says Daboll. “We’re seeing ad responses for our solution that I have never seen before. [...] Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Stephanie Miller on Monday, October 12, 2009
Too much of email marketing is on auto pilot. It's inexpensive and high ROI, so it gets sent with abandon, and way too often. This broadcast mentality and high frequency have a price: Churn, spiked complaint rates, lower deliverability and exasperated subscribers.
There is a better alternative. Using good data to nurture relationships with the highest value subscribers will return the highest engagement, loyalty and revenue.
In my kickoff column, I outlined eight strategies for earning higher revenue from the email channel. [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by on Monday, October 12, 2009
After three years on the MTV Networks team, EVP of Digital Advertising Nada Stirratt is departing for MySpace. Ms. Stirratt joined Viacom-owned MTVN after a stint as SVP and GM of advertising sales at AOL-owned Advertising.com. In her new role she will fill former MySpace ad boss Jeff Berman’s shoes; Berman exited the social network around two months ago, around the same time MySpace retained MediaLink consultants to shake things up within its sales and management teams. So far MediaLink’s work at MySpace has been headed up by Yahoo veteran Wenda Millard. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, October 9, 2009
A new chapter from the trenches of the e-reader wars. Barnes & Noble has upped the ante: having recently debuted its e-book store it’s now getting in the e-reader game. The bookselling giant announced plans to unveil a digital reader and market it under the Barnes and Noble name. The new device is expected to sport a 6 inch E-Ink screen, touch input, wifi capability (thanks to an agreement in the works with AT&T) and a virtual keyboard (think iPhone). B&N’s e-reader will run on Google’s Android mobile operating system. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by John Gaffney on Friday, October 9, 2009
Publishers have a new tool for managing the data that leads to monetizing content. Online data targeting solution provider eXelate announced today that they have launched teXi:DM, which it calls the “first toolset that empowers publishers to take back control of their audience data management and monetization efforts.”
teXi:DM enables publishers to manage third-party data cookies in the same manner they would manage their media. Publishers can use the tool to create and price "data campaigns," traffic the data pixels and report on delivery in a simple to use interface. [...] Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, October 9, 2009
Hyperlocalized content has been a bright spot for digital content, now comes evidence that ads are as well. ComScore says its study of locally targeted online display advertising across four major U.S. markets: Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington D.C., indicate that approximately 10 percent of all display ads in these markets were locally targeted.
The study is based on a new capability from comScore of identifying local advertisers in a particular market. This enables publishers to identify potential ad sales opportunities with advertisers focused on a particular market likely to be willing to pay higher CPMs for locally targeted placements and can be used by advertisers to understand the competitive advertising landscape across local markets and determine the most valuable placements for their ads. [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, October 8, 2009
Showtime Networks unveiled its iPhone application this week, available to customers for free download through the Apple app store. Showtime partnered with mobile ad network and mobile video optimization firm Transpera on the effort. The app, unsurprisingly, is video-focused—allowing viewers to sample full episodes or clips of their favorite Showtime programs from Dexter to Weeds; Nurse Jackie to The United States of Tara. It also offers marketers an opportunity for targeted, dynamic mobile advertising—and a way of reaching Showtime’s lucrative viewing audience on a new platform. [...] Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, October 8, 2009
Mark Nov. 9 on the calendar. It has all the makings of a watershed day for digital content, copyright, and the monetization of intellectual capital. On that day the parties to a Google book settlement that would allow the creation of a vast digital library outlined on Wednesday an aggressive timeline for modifying the agreement to satisfy objections from the Justice Department and others.
According to The New York Times, after a hearing in Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York on Wednesday morning, Judge Denny Chin set Nov. [...] Media, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The bidding for BusinessWeek just got a little more complicated. Thomson Reuters declined interest in the McGraw-Hill title when it first went up for sale. Now it appears Thomson Reuters is a strategic partner of private equity firm Zelnick Media, which is making a bid. Why the change of heart?
Thomson Reuters’ interest is fueled by multiple motivations. First, this could be a strong move towards the strategic diversification it has long sought— Business Week is an award-winning, consumer-oriented media product; an 80-year old, respected brand. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Living so close to the Nation’s Capital, it’s a constant frustration to me that I can’t find public sector image-makers online. I had a long discussion with a local recreation official yesterday, and got an earful about how this sad situation is replicated in state and local government as well – despite the outward support of the Commander in Tweet. But don't expect corporate leadership. A recent survey shows the majority of U.S. CIO's in league with the blackout. Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Even music executives are turning to mobile apps as a way to pay for content. Fierce Wireless, reporting from San Diego’s Mobile Entertainment Live! Conference, quotes several executives as still frustrated with overall business, but remain high on the possibilities of next-generation mobile applications. "Mobile creates a connection between artists and fans like never before," said Ted Mico, EVP of digital with Interscope Records. TicketMaster VP of marketing and music, Adam Flick, agreed: "Connectivity has never been higher. [...] Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, October 6, 2009
As ChaCha founder Scott Jones remembers it, his original thinking about the mobile answers service he started included the capacity for people to text for questions such as “what is the best price on digital cameras?” Now ChaCha is better equipped to answer that question with today’s launch of ChaCha coupons.
The coupon site represents several departures for a company that has defined text-based marketing and carved a reliable niche in the teen marketing space. First, ChaChaCoupons.com is a complete online and mobile coupon site that allows users to search for companies and offers by business type, neighborhood, newest offers, and more. [...] Marketing, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Blogger or Flogger? was the way WSJ.com reported the FTC ruling, which mandates that bloggers who endorse a product reveal whether they've been paid in cash or promotions for their testimonial. The government won't go after consumers who've bought a product and raved about it to their friends. But if it's a business, which probably means if your blog profits from advertising or paid placement, you're subject to the rules banning undisclosed payola or payroll. Social Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Today the game is officially on between AT&T and Verizon. Google announced that Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest carrier, will offer handsets with the Android operating system. That leaves AT&T as the only carrier without an Android commitment, which is probably a key element of its commitment to that other wireless product.
The New York Times reports that Verizon expects to introduce two Android phones this year. It didn’t name the manufacturers, but one is expected to be made by Motorola. [...] Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The rise of social media has given way to a new type of content discovery, notes Nielsen VP Media of Analytics Jon Gibs. Nielsen recently questioned over 1,800 consumers in an attempt to better understand their online behavior including their search behavior, use of portals, and social media habits. Search engines and portals are still consumers’ research tools of first resort, with 37% and 34% of respondents looking first to engines and portals respectively. However, Nielsen’s results confirmed what many of us might have guessed: something is changing in content discovery. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, October 5, 2009
The axe dropped swiftly and savagely today at Condé Nast as the publisher announced it was shuttering not one, not two, not three, but four magazines. The news came as a shock to many who expected perhaps one magazine closure in the wake of the company’s review by McKinsey & Company’s consultants. Few predicted this sort of mass bloodletting. Among the affected titles are several of Condé’s most famous luxury magazines: Gourmet and Modern Bride, along with Elegant Bride and Cookie. All four magazines will cease publishing, effective immediately. [...] Media Read more | Comments (1) | Monday, October 5, 2009
Not a big shock, but a big development for mobile content today as Google releases AdSense for high-end mobile phones. Just as it does via online search, AdSense mobile enables advertisers to places ads beside content that is browsed on smartphones. VentureBeat calls it “a move that further highlights the search engine giant’s strategy for mobile: It wants to target high-end mobile users.It’s also significant in that it makes development of applications and content for smartphones so much more appealing. [...] Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Brandon Gutman on Friday, October 2, 2009
Social media is the hottest trend in digital marketing at the moment and brands are quickly recognizing that they need a presence on sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to better interact with consumers. However, most are struggling with how to measure and communicate the impact of programs on these social networking platforms. What's the value of a tweet by someone with 100,000 followers? Does your brand's 45,000 Facebook friends translate into anything meaningful? How many of the people watching a promotional YouTube video will actually purchase the product? [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | Friday, October 2, 2009
The big news today is about Time Inc’s attempt to provide a Hulu for the magazine business. Several sources have reported that Time’s digital problem solving exec John Squires has reached out to several partners about a joint venture that would generate a business model for putting magazine content on new devices such as the Kindle and Apple’s upcoming tablet. Rafat Ali at PaidContent reports that “the mag industry needs to take advantage of the touch screen, full browser, video capability, interactivity and portability in a better way. [...] Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (1) | by Melinda Gipson on Friday, October 2, 2009
It wasn't all a bed of roses for Forbes.com. In part two of DM2PRO.com's exclusive "exit interview," Jim Spanfeller, the exiting CEO of this leading online financial brand shares lessons from early mistakes and explores current obstacles to the Web's success. He also chides newspapers for what he sees as their "shortsighted" partnership with Yahoo! And, with his "industry hat" on (he's been a leader in OPA, MPA and the IAB), he calls for a resolution to the "fair use" issue "once and for all." Watch the candid video. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Thursday, October 1, 2009
October 1 is the first day of the rest of Jim Spanfeller's life. In his 9-year tenure at the helm of Forbes.com, he's made the company very profitable and helped grow the audience to more than 40 million people, counting fans of all Forbes' extended digital content. Now, he's got a plan to help traditional media companies succeed online. From the extensibility of great brands, to the advisability of paid content models, not to mention what kind of talent the Spanfeller Group will need to hire to pull it off, DM2PRO. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, October 1, 2009
Another mobile hyperlocal ad campaign will be launched later this month as mobile agency Mella Media has announced an innovative effort with B.R. Guest and Loopt.
Guest owns 13 locations in Manhattan from the upscale Union Square eatery BlueWater Grill to Broadway’s RubyFoos. It is their first venture into mobile marketing and Mella Media partner Jordan Greene claims it is the industry’s first hyperlocal restaurant mobile campaign.
“The problem with a lot of mobile campaigns is that they exist for the uniqueness of being on the mobile platform,” says Greene. [...] Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, October 1, 2009
Numbers, numbers, numbers. Online marketers are always awash in them, online content owners rarely see good ones anymore. But a recent batch of numbers about online ads may have some good news at their core. Marketing Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, October 1, 2009
Don’t bury print yet—at least that’s the takeaway from the New York Times’ newest endeavor, the debut of hyperlocal print editions in several major U.S. markets. Several weeks ago the NYT announced its plans to roll out a San Francisco bay edition this fall. Now it’s tackling a local edition in the Windy City. Local editions in other metro markets, as yet unnamed, will follow.
Diane C. McNulty, a NYT spokeswoman explains, “We’re in conversations with potential news providers in Chicago about adding local content to The Times. [...] Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, October 1, 2009
Google Mobile made a subtle announcement today about its “redesigned local search experience” that integrates with Google Maps on your computer and includes browseable categories that let you search without typing. It was announced by Joshua Siegel, Product Manager, Mobile Local Search Team on his blog. In it he described a recent vacation to Hawaii. “Before I left, I researched places to visit on Google Maps. I signed in to my Google account and starred the places I wanted to go,” he writes. [...] Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Step right up. For today’s magic trick Jon Miller will transform Fox Interactive Media into a completely new entity: News Corp Digital Media. Most astoundingly, this new entity looks…exactly the same as it did before! Well, not exactly. It sports a new name and a new management team. It includes the same digital businesses it did as FIM, but reportedly, it's shifted priorities and has more “efficient” methods in place under Miller’s strategic lead.
Jon Miller is indeed the magician at the helm of Rupe’s newest spinoff; now defunct Fox Interactive has been replaced by News Corp Digital, which includes media properties MySpace, Fox Mobile Group, Fox Audience Network, IGN Entertainment, Photobucket, and Beliefnet. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Business Week drama continues today with several sources reporting that Bloomberg appears to be in the lead, according to pieces from Reuters and BW. By this time next week we should know who the new owner is, and most likely we’ll know more abut staffing and content plans. A decision could come as early as next week. Reports also say that even a winning bid might not represent a done deal, because of the volatility still inherent in the financial markets and the possibility that a late entry might steal the deal. [...] Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Since Bob Huseby joined Wikia Inc. as SVP/Publisher in January, the site has seen triple digit growth in usage, from 2.8 million to 6.5 million unique visitors. Perhaps more importantly to site founders, the site also is now profitable with the help of contextual, rich-media take-overs targeted to entertainment brands. (As a how-to bonus for brands, Pro premium members may download the slides pitching Wikia's windowshade unit and more to Warner Brothers to promote the movie Sherlock Holmes.) Huseby and his sales team also are talking to brands in beverage and consumer product goods about how to take advantage of the fan base they may already have on Wikia. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Mobile video network Transpera has a new president and COO. Jason Weisberger was appointed to the newly created spot today, coming from agency Federated Media where he was Chief Operating Officer.
He brings more than 15 years of technology experience to Transpera ranging from early-stage venture-backed start-ups to multinational telecommunications giants. Prior to Federated Media, Weisberger held leadership positions at Cable & Wireless, Digital Island and SoftAware Networks.
“Transpera has become the clear leader in mobile video,” said Weisberger. [...] Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The world’s most famous mouse is making a big move: Mickey and his friends are going digital. Disney’s online entertainment sites already boast significant traffic— in its newest digital endeavor Disney Publishing is leaping into the e-book market with a subscription based web destination. The New York Times reported on new website, DisneyDigitalBooks.com, which launches this Tuesday. The site has been beta-tested with around 1,000 kids and families so far. Disney is promoting the site with an advertising blitz that combines print distribution at upcoming screenings of Disney movies, traditional, online advertising, social media outreach, and even demos at Apple retail locations. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, September 29, 2009
CNN Breaks iPhone App … Madonna Comes Back to YouTube … Mobile Phone Apps Improve Overseas Healthcare … Obama Warns Kids On Facebook … Experian Predicts Online Holiday Trends … Marketing, Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, September 28, 2009
In Praise of Zune … Two Billion Served at Apple Apps … Buy The Game; See The Movie … Working Moms Look Good to Mobile Marketers … The Worth Of Friends Marketing, Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Friday, September 25, 2009
Signs of the App Apocalypse (or is that appocalypse?): LifeInsuranceAgency.com, an online insurance broker, introduced its new iPhone app this week called LifeValue. LifeValue is a free iPhone application that helps people answer the at-times confusing question: What is the value of their life? LifeValue calculates the financial value of one's life and leaves the philosophical questions to be answered by philosophers. And of course, LifeValue also serves as a quote finder that can be used right on the iPhone. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, September 25, 2009
Microsoft wants to prove its versatility: it does more than sell customers advertising, it provides smart solutions to business challenges. To illustrate its point, the software giant is trying its hand a new type of product: a social media monitoring tool called LookingGlass. The web-based platform will allow clients to track conversations and mentions across social media sites from Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and more. Like other social media monitoring products, LookingGlass aims to follow consumers’ uncensored feedback to their core products or brands and identify trends. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, September 25, 2009
The Buzz on Twitter and Crowdsourcing…How Mobile Phones Can Change the World…Smartphone Social Use Triples…WSJ Confirms Paid Mobile Plan…Positive Vibes For Web Ads Metrics, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, September 25, 2009
How do you "play" community if your real goal is to forge cohesion among a group of digital professionals with a stake in learning together and improving the industry as a whole? To build a knowledge base of 'the good stuff"? You take risks.
That's what DM2PRO.com is doing today with the launch of an open community that can share video, audio and blogs, and partake of all our video from our digiday summits. (Come to DM2PRO.com, then click the "Community" tab to join.) There's a kludgy double-log-in process for now, so just use the sign-on you'd prefer if you plan to join Premium Pro eventually. [...] Social Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, September 24, 2009
The FTC announced yesterday that it will hold public hearings that will move the agency toward issuing guidelines for pharmaceutical companies that have so far shied away from social media. Pharmaceuticals, in their defense, have had every reason to shy away from social media, and that needs to change.
It needs to change not for the pharmacos, and not for the sake of social media as a marketing platform, although that will dominate a lot of the coverage on this issue. It must change for the sake of the customers of these companies that currently have minimal access to the people who make the drugs that affect their lives. [...] Marketing, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (3) | by on Thursday, September 24, 2009
Twitter is closing in on another $100 million in funding, the Wall Street Journal reports. This new, robust round of funding—nearly twice the expected raise-- will include an array of around seven investors: new groups like Insight Venture Partners and T. Rowe Price as well as early twitter investors Institutional Venture Partners and Spark Capital. This marks Twitter’s third VC raise. The WSJ notes the deal should close sometime today.
Despite Twitter’s lack of a tangible monetization strategy, the investors value the service at around $1 billion. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (2) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, September 24, 2009
Mobile video may not follow the now standard exponential growth pattern toward consumer adoption. Nielsen’s latest mobile video report shows that the medium will achieve expected success, but at a rate more in-line with DVRs that smartphones.
“What outlook should we have when contemplating the future of mobile video? For content providers, carriers, advertisers and consumers, mobile video is often a glass-half-full / glass-half-empty scenario,” says Nic Covey, Director of Insights for Nielsen. [...] Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Brandon Gutman on Thursday, September 24, 2009
Last week John Gaffney wrote about the sheer amount of people on the panels and the amount of ideas flowing through the rooms during digiday:MOBILE/SOCIAL. It was especially interesting when John shared how a social media expert emailed him during the event to say, “my head is spinning.” Some of the panels and presentations during the Ad Week festivities might not have been as advanced as the content from digiday last week; however, it seems to take a lot less to spin the heads of most marketers. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, September 24, 2009
Curated links from around the web reflecting some of today's big stories:
More Bad News For Newspapers...
Social Media Steps Up Ad Profile...
Nokia May Buy Dopplr...
Microsoft Debuts Social Monitoring...
Writers Weigh E-book Formats... Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Jenny Cizney is the chief blogger and social media manager at Kodak. What the title doesn’t tell you is that she has been a driving force is establishing Kodak as a presence in the social media space for three years now, on the case before Facebook and Twitter were phenoms. It recently launched a new Facebook app called the Kodak Konga Line. As the brand celebrated three years of photo and content sharing we caught up with her:
digiday:DAILY: Did Kodak start with a specific brand goal when it decided to have a social media presence?
Cizney: We wanted to be prepared to participate wherever the customer was. [...] Read more | Comments (2) | by on Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Watch out Kindle; move over, Sony. Here comes a new kid to the e-reader game. Verizon announced it is teaming with iRex technologies on a new digital reader. The device should hit stores including Best Buy sometime next month and retail for $399. Considering the device is collaboration with Verizon, one of its features should come as little surprise: the iRex DR800SG (let’s hope they come up with a catchier name) will feature 3G access over Verizon’s network. Sprint currently provides Amazon’s Kindle with wifi; AT&T signed deals with Sony and Plastic Logic for its forthcoming device. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Curated links from around the web reflecting some of today's big stories:
Best and Verizon Enter E-Book Market
Is Google Starting a Social Network?
Starbucks Finally Launches Apps
BofA Claims Huge Mobile Success
Content Providers Want More Time to Fight Google Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Very, very smart these Facebook people. Sly, too. I never realized how sly they are. Sly like Apple and Google can play sly. Facebook’s just announced deal with Nielsen is sly and brilliant not for the measurement possibilities, but for its competitive fence.
First, let’s give props to Facebook on the surface of this deal. By inviting Nielsen as a measurement partner it is taking the mystery out of its audience and its advertising. It has nothing to hide. Its audience keeps growing, it is highly engaged with content, and any kind of affirmation from a third party will only cement its place as the most vital social media vehicle. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, September 22, 2009
With a category as fluid as social media it’s tough enough to craft an overall strategy. But finding specific customer segments and understanding their behavior may be a discipline whose time has come. One new research study, for example, has found that Hispanics are a complex and frequent user group that will require a closer look when it comes to social media.
“Marketers tend to be short-sighted when marketing to Hispanics, especially when social media is concerned,” says Katherine O'Hara co-founded S3, a New Jersey-based marketing agency. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, September 22, 2009
It’s Advertising Week, and we’re spending some money! How'd you like to see what you can buy with $100 million big ones?
As part of a press blitz Yahoo unveiled its new $100 million re-branding campaign as part of the Ad Week festivities. CMO Elisa Steele kicked off the press conference by introducing the new “Yahoo, It’s Y!ou” effort, which combines print, online, video, out-of-home ads which will roll out in 10 countries. No, that was not a typo. Yahoo paid a couple million for that awkwardly placed exclamation point, thank you very much. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Curated links reflecting today's stories in the digital content space:
Inside Yahoo's $100 million ad campaign
AOL, Yahoo, and Microsoft Battle for Agency Eyeballs during Advertising Week
Rubicon Project Nabs $9 Funding Round; NBCU's Peacock Fund Leads
Why Newspapers Shouldn't Go for a Bailout
From MIXX: Del Monte Foods Needs Mobile In its Marketing Plan Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Facebook was expected unveil a new ad product today at Advertising Week in New York, and unveil it did. Just days after shuttering its controversial Beacon ad program, COO Sheryl Sandberg keynoted at Advertising Week and publicly introduced the social net's newest ad product. The effort includes a multi-year collaboration with Nielsen, “aimed," as Paid Content’s Tameka Kee notes, "at shedding light on how campaigns running across the network impact metrics like purchase intent and brand affinity. [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | Tuesday, September 22, 2009 Metrics, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, September 21, 2009
Before the Advertising Week deluge starts let’s not let the anniversary of the financial precipice and Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy pass without drawing a few lessons for the digital content and advertising business. Because there are lessons to be drawn.
It may not seem to be obvious on the surface, but the more I read about the events of that week in September 2008. The more it became clear to me that smart people were clueless. The people in command of the boardroom had no command of the information. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, September 21, 2009
As expected, Bloomberg has cast its bid for BusinessWeek; Mayor Mike’s financial media empire is a late addition to race for BW, but is now seen by most as the front-runner since Bruce Wasserstein exited the bidding last week. Bloomberg LP missed last Tuesday’s bidding deadline but BW publishers McGraw-Hill let that slide, granting Bloomberg bit of extra time to get its bid together.
At least this buyer has the dough. As Paid Content’s Staci Kramer notes, “Bloomberg, founded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, certainly has the money and, if the bid is comparable to that of PE firm OpenGate Capital or any non-journalism bidder, would seem to be the likely choice for parent company McGraw-Hill. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, September 21, 2009
Facebook’s Beacon nightmare is coming to a close. On Friday the social net settled a year-long class action lawsuit related to the Beacon ad system, which launched in fall of 2007. The suit alleged that Facebook and its Beacon affiliates were in violation of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and other cyber privacy laws.
PC World's Juan Carlos Perez notes, “Intended as a key piece of Facebook's "social ads" strategy, Beacon was designed to broadcast back to their friends the actions that Facebook members took on participating Web sites… The idea was that these notifications would act as a new form of "social" advertising, because they amount to endorsements of products made by trusted friends. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, September 21, 2009
Listening to various brands and agencies at last week’s digiday:SOCIAL conference it became apparent that some brands are still struggling with how they should live in the new social order. But while they are trying to find their perfect ecosystem, the prevailing thought seems to line up behind peaceful co-existence in the social world rather than brand domination.
“Social apps create opportunity for brands,” said Michael Burke president and co-founder for appssavvy. “It allows them to create a social presence, which is great, and most of the time they have to sit in the social and mobile world. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Friday, September 18, 2009
I’m biased, I know. But the coolest thing about the digiday event structure is the sheer amount of people on the panels and the amount of ideas flowing through the rooms. One attendee emailed me Thursday afternoon to say, “my head is spinning.” And this is an expert in social media who has worked with several major brands. I had to play a little catch up with myself after it was all over, so forgive the somewhat random observations here:
• There is a huge gulf of creativity and effectiveness in the mobile space between campaigns that work and campaigns that don’t. [...] Marketing, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, September 18, 2009
A slew of mobile commerce experiments are popping up across mobile networks and devices. From Papa Johns’ mobile site which allows consumers to place pizza orders to Barnes & Noble’s e-commerce ready application; to P&G’s microsite which allows customers to purchase products through Drugstore.com’s mobile site; to Fandango’s mobile app and ticket purchase platform. Branded direct response campaigns seem to be picking up steam fueled by mobile commerce applications. But consumers have not yet adapted to mobile purchasing in overwhelming numbers. [...] Marketing, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Friday, September 18, 2009
The Travel Channel, along with its agency Rapp “kidnapped” the Sammy Awards last night as the digiday two-day mobile and social marketing conference came to a close.
The channel’s Kidnap Facebook app took home the Best In Show award for the Sammy’s as well as Best Social App, and Best Engagement Campaign. All three awards recognized Kidnap!, a Facebook application that challenges users to “kidnap” their friends to their favorite hideout city using a variety of methods. To escape from the hideout city and begin kidnapping their own friends, kidnapped players must answer a trivia question related to that city. [...] Marketing, Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Stephanie Miller on Thursday, September 17, 2009
We are awash in social marketing data. So why is measurement so hard?! Here are Digiday SOCIAL only about a third of the audience say they are actually measuring their social programs. Marketing, Media, Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, September 17, 2009
There is a sense of caution surrounding mobile marketing that mystifies me. It is the most exciting and direct method of marketing in the tool kit. It is uncluttered at this point, unlike most every other media. Yet brands still treat it like it might blow up like one of those defective iPhones. They toe the water when mobile is involved and they should be diving in.
This caution and balancing sense of possibility was on display at the digiday:MOBILE event in New York on Thursday. The sense of possibility, which should dominate any mobile conversation, is made possible by innovation. [...] Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Thursday, September 17, 2009
“How is Apple going to screw up in the next two years?” asked Dan Frommer of a panel largely of Apple competitors. Regardless of their obvious loyalties, there was plenty of food for thought on whether Apple could hit a wall in its quest for smartphone dominance. Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Does social media cannibalize or fortify email? Email marketers have been apprehensively awaiting the answer as social media continue its explosive growth. A new report "Emails Gone Viral: Measuring 'Share-to-Social' Performance, says “social sharing” of emails is becoming a promising trend.
The study, published by email marketing provider Silverpop, found that “social sharing” is already achieving click-through and reach rates several times that of the long use forward-to-a-friend functionality. [...] Marketing, Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Bruce Wasserstein has jumped out of the race for McGraw-Hill’s BusinessWeek, opting to not bid on the magazine. Wasserstein, CEO and chairman of financial firm Lazard, holds a sizable media portfolio including New York magazine; business weekly, The Deal; and a sizable chunk of Penton Media. Through much of the sales process he was seen as the frontrunner in the bid for BusinessWeek. Folio’s Jason Fell notes, “It was not immediately clear why Wasserstein exited the bidding process,” though he may have deemed other bidders willing to pay more than he currently values BW or “possibly, he can’t figure out how to turn the business around. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Retailers are being advised to reach their most influential customer group through social media. According to a new Retail Advertising and Marketing Association survey conducted by BIGresearch, Women with children at home are more likely to use Facebook (60.3%), MySpace (42.4%) and Twitter (16.5%) than average adults (50.2%, 34.4%, 15.0%, respectively), according to the survey. Additionally, 15.3 percent maintain their own blog.
“Retailers who aren’t engaging customers through social media could be missing the boat,” said Mike Gatti, Executive Director for RAMA. [...] Marketing, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Huffington Post has named former Platform-A head and Yahoo global sales exec Greg Coleman as President and Chief Revenue Officer. Kara Swisher shared news of the hire in her Boom Town column, and attributes the move to new Huff Po CEO Eric Hippeau, who is familiar with Coleman from his tenure directing sales at Yahoo. Hippeau, who recently replaced former Huff Po CEO Betsy Morgan, has held a Yahoo board role for years.
Coleman’s extensive experience in growing revenue is the sure reason for his hire. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Redbeacon, a new competitor to YellowPages, local online publishers and Angie's List, won the tech industry's version of the Palm D'or at TechCrunch 50 yesterday. Today San Francisco, next month your backyard? Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Google’s new content browsing experiment Fast Flip is up and running. Fast Flip, which Google designed as a new way to access and visually browse content, debuts with around three dozen featured publishers including the New York Times, Newsweek, Salon, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and National Geographic. In return for a revenue share and resulting research insights, the publishers have allowed Google use of their web images, content, and logos. Krishna Bharat, the Google engineer behind Google News, calls Fast Flip, “a new reading experience that combines the best elements of print and online articles. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, September 15, 2009
It has always been very trendy for columnists to predict the demise of something that can never really die. But it’s convenient and provocative. God is dead. The website is dead. Conservatism is dead. In light of the bizarre and often graceless events of the past week, it’s tempting to say that buzz marketing is dead. But let’s stay closer to reality. Buzz marketing has been severely wounded.
First we had Joe Wilson screaming “you lie.” Did he really act spontaneously? Or did he know he was about to tweet his way from local yokel to the most blogged about house member in memory? I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Join Us for digiday:SOCIAL on September 17th, 2009 in New York City as top marketers from Coca-Cola, LiveStrong.org, Tyson, and more will share their Social Media Marketing success strategies!
At digiday:SOCIAL You'll Learn -
Can Social Media Scale For a Mass Market Brand?
Entertainment Marketing's Success with Social
How to Make Sense of Social Data
Eye Popping Social Media Marketing Case Studies
How Brands Become Connectors on the Social Web
And so much more! Register Today - www. [...] Marketing, Media, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, September 15, 2009
This one can be filed under “unsurprising news.” Consultants McKinsey & Company completed their review of Condé Nast—and have recommended cuts across all titles. McKinsey & Company began reviewing the publisher’s cost structure mid-summer. In light of plunging ad revenue, McKinsey’s recommendation comes as little surprise—where to begin the cuts is the next question.
Last week Condé Nast’s Chief Operating Officer John Bellando directed a memo to the publishers and editors of the company’s 21 print titles, a list that includes Vanity Fair, Gourmet, Vogue, and the New Yorker. [...] Media Read more | Comments (2) | Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Semantic advertising firm Peer39 has released an upgrade to its platform interface for client publishers. The update includes a dashboard for tracking ad performance at every level. The new dashboard offers statistics, graphs, and “predictive functions related to content categories to which ads can be matched.” It was designed with the diverse needs of publishing execs, ad ops and sales teams in mind.
For instance, “In the 'Executives' tab, an overview of content categories and ad placement is presented in the form of pie charts. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, September 14, 2009
When BusinessWeek first went on the block this summer, Michael Bloomberg's Bloomberg LP was dismissed as an uninterested party, mainly because he deemed BW overpriced. Bruce Wasserstein was long considered the most likely buyer. However, plenty of other bidders were in line to look: private equity firm Platinum Equity; OpenGate Capital; Morningstar founder Joe Mansueto; Warburg Pincus; and ZelnickMedia. It appears Bloomberg is back in the running. The New York Post’s Keith Kelly reported late last week that Bloomberg is back in the mix and could even be a “frontrunner. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, September 14, 2009
At some point over the past year, Target has dropped out of the Target vs. WalMart competition. The plain reason is that Target simply does not aspire to be the ultimate discounter. In this economy, that strategy will cost you market share, and analysts will sell you shorter than Serena Williams’ temper.
I would like to put Target back in the game. From a marketing perspective I think it has always been a step ahead of WalMart, with more innovative creative approaches and a more effective plan for using social and mobile media. [...] Marketing, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, September 14, 2009
DoubleClick’s Ad Exchange jefe Michael Rubenstein exited Google to pursue an undisclosed opportunity last week. While it might look like an ordinary executive departure, Rubenstein’s former boss David Rosenblatt just left Google in May, joining a number of other high-profile Google execs who have jumped ship this year. As Business Insider’s Nicholas Carlson points out, “it's always shocking to hear that a company so successful and so famously pleasant to work for has lost top-tier employees. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, September 14, 2009
The world of three screens may be big enough for everyone. A new study from Nielsen has found that among consumers that use TV, Internet and mobile frequently, media consumption has actually increased. One screen has not cannibalized the time of the other.
“Each of the three screens has its benefits and people are using them as complements, not as substitutes, for one another,” says Jim O’Hara, President, Media Product Leadership, The Nielsen Company, author of Multitasking at Home. “With respect to TV and Internet usage, we found that a fair number of people are doing both simultaneously, though in relatively small increments per day – an average of ten minutes per day per person. [...] Media, Metrics, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, September 14, 2009
Apple’s App Store gets the lion’s share of press coverage in the mobile applications space. But don’t fall asleep, Steve. The Android Market is gaining momentum. Last week the Android Market quietly passed the 10,000 applications mark, a milestone that shows Android is definitely on the upswing. As Mobile Crunch’s Robin Wauters notes, “In the mobile OS world, Google’s Android is still a challenger but with the amount of devices that will be running the system that are due to come out in the coming months alone in combination with its open approach it is definitely a contestant to watch closely. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Anne Mai Bertelsen on Friday, September 11, 2009
Digiday contributor shares her personal story of 9/11. Read more | Comments (7) | by John Gaffney on Friday, September 11, 2009
I have never been able to get over the absolute personification of a company the way that Steve Jobs has come to personify Apple. This week’s “Steve was great, the products were not” type of press coverage proved it to me again. Steve Jobs is not Apple. There’s a glory in being that strong a brand within a brand, but there’s a danger too. If I had anything to do with IR, HR, or PR at Apple, I’d get some other people out in front of the press as well as the analyst/investor community.
Sept. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, September 11, 2009
Nokia has acquired social networking service Plum— bolstering its publicly-stated goal to purchase small tech firms rolling out innovative services. Plum is platform that develops private, small-scale social networks. The core product allows clients, including brands, to plug the Plum social platform onto third-party websites under their own corporate names. Paid Content noted that Plum’s current clients include travel site ViaMichelin, travel search engine Mobissimo, and i-Concerts.
For now Plum will continue to develop its services without major disruption. [...] Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Friday, September 11, 2009
You quit work for the day, kick back, shake a martini, check in with the kids, and check in with Facebook. Social media is apparently part of a trend of using the Internet as a diversion like music or TV, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.
The center created what it calls a segment of online economic users. This represents 88 of the entire Internet user population who use the Internet to keep up with news about the economic recession or their own personal finances. [...] Media, Metrics, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, September 11, 2009
Facebook took another step towards out Twitter-ing Twitter Thurdsay when it began letting users link to other members’ profiles using the @ symbol. It offers users a new way to link to friends’ profiles and pages, while also informing tagged friends when they've been tagged. While it’s not a revolutionary change, adding status-tagging is another way Facebook is taking on its smaller rival. Facebook may have failed to purchase Twitter, but it's not above stealing-- ahem, borrowing-- Twitter tools and features that work. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Brandon Gutman on Thursday, September 10, 2009
Many large brands have begun questioning the ability of their agencies of record to handle the rampant emergence of technology and new media resources. This reaction is causing huge concern with marketers about what type of relationship they should have with their agencies going forward in the digital age. Marketers are realizing that digital is a technologically driven sector and they need an alternative support group to help them achieve success in this new world.
Advertising agencies and marketing services companies provide critical roles from generating the next big ideas, developing creative and executing across traditional programming areas. [...] Marketing, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | Thursday, September 10, 2009
Federated Media is rolling out new premium ad formats across its member sites. FM has dubbed the new line of products “Ad Stamp.” The social-centric ad net’s new offerings were influenced by the Online Publishers Association’s recently unveiled new formats. The new ads, which include expandable units and “pushdowns” that fill portions of the screen, will debut on 10 of FM’s tech-focused publisher sites, including Mashable, Business Insider, BoingBoing, and VentureBeat. FM is also rolling out a unit it calls the “Conversationalist” which gives advertisers reach across social platforms including Twitter, RSS feeds, Facebook fan pages, and socially-focused content sites. [...] Marketing, Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, September 10, 2009
If only Joe Wilson would have behaved, if he could have been professional, if he could have kept “you lie” for his Twitter account rather than his verbal assault rifle, last night’s speech on health care it would have been a perfect opportunity to gauge social media’s metamorphosis. As it happened, I think it’s a reasonable conclusion to day that the ability to blog, share, tweet, retweet and Facebook this issue raised the level of debate considerably. But Wilson’s comment made it tough to see. [...] Marketing, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, September 10, 2009
Steve Jobs' return to the spotlight at yesterday’s Apple music innovation event brought down the house: the legendary CEO received a standing ovation from his crowd. While thin and slightly hoarse, he seemed energized to be back. Jobs got right down to brass tacks and told his audience about his recent liver transplant, much-discussed in the tech tabloids and media as a whole. Said Jobs, “I had a liver transplant five months ago and now I have a liver from a mid-20s person, who died in a car crash and was generous enough to donate their organs. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, September 10, 2009
While they struggle with the finances of current healthcare premiums and the uncertainty of pending reforms, several regional insurers are taking to social media. For example, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin is using Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to connect with patients, answer complaints about customer service and distribute information on healthy lifestyles. It’s even working with one of the stars of the TV show The Biggest Loser.
"Tools such as Twitter and Facebook provide an additional means of communicating with our members and all consumers in the communities we serve in a way that's convenient and of interest for them," said Anthem president Larry Schreiber. [...] Marketing, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, September 10, 2009
When social gaming companies go to war is it a virtual war? Social gaming giant Zynga has filed suit against rival platform Playdom in California state court. This is Zynga’s second suit against Playdom, and a more significant case, involving multiple defendants including numerous ex-Zynga staffers who have since joined Playdom. Did I mention these folks may have stolen secret documents when they left Zynga? It's all very sordid, and given the big business social gaming has become, it's likely to result in a protracted legal battle. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, September 9, 2009
It was another one of those numbers that stands out in a world of numbers. 15.4 percent. US ad spending dropped 15.4 percent in the first half of this year according to Nielsen. The decimals are all in the right place.
Business Insider called it right when they labeled it the “advertising apocalypse.” Let me suggest something a little deeper and darker. It’s not just an advertising apocalypse. This is a content apocalypse.
I’ve always felt that content attracts the audience and the audience attracts advertisers. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by on Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The mobile application space is a little like Earth: it's getting hotter and more crowded by the day. How does a publisher or developer stand out in the throng? And once you’ve built a terrific application-- with high quality content and a streamlined interface-- the next challenge is pricing it right. Do you go for volume and slap it with a rock-bottom price to encourage mass downloads? Or is it smarter to ask a higher number for your product? Read Write Web's Dan Oshiro addresses the pricing conundrum in a short but well-written post. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, September 9, 2009
You won’t find much social consistency among some of the biggest spenders in the packaged goods business, which is the energy drinks category. Vitaminwater has called new attention to the category by recently announcing a three phase social program that taps users to help decide the next flavor or new bottle design. According to AllFacebook, the program is being rolled out in three phases. The first phase is the “flavor buzzmeter” which is tracking conversations from around the web to determine which flavors people are talking about. [...] Marketing, Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Facebook has debuted its much-anticipated Facebook for Android application. Google engineers offered Facebook developers a hand in the creation of the client— the collaboration seemed to suggest a thaw in the frosty relations between Zuckerberg’s social net and Big G. The app is available for free in the Android Market and offers many but not all of the features of Facebook’s iPhone client. AndroidGuys covered the app's debut, admitting: “We’ve haven’t had a chance to play with it just yet, but one of our tipsters tells us users can shake to refresh. [...] Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The Economist may soon move its website to an all-paid model. For the past two years the site has only charged for archived articles over a year in age; however, the publisher is closely considering charging for all its online content. While MediaWeek deemed the news a near certainty, The Economist has not yet finalized its position in the paid vs. free online debate. The magazine is reputedly considering multiple paid models, including an iTunes-like micropayment model; the site may shift to paid within the next six months. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, September 8, 2009
digiday:MOBILE - SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 at the W Hotel, New York City (www.digidaymobile.com). Discover the what the future holds for you and this game changing media platform at digiday:MOBILE on September 17th, 2009 in New York City. During this high-level half day event - top Publishers, Agency Executives and Brand Marketers will come together to discuss and debate if Mobile is all hype or the biggest revolution we'll see in our lifetime. DIGIDAY gives media leaders a chance to converge and discuss high level strategies and the future of Mobile Marketing. [...] Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, September 8, 2009
It was early April when the Weinstein Brothers shocked the entertainment world and NBC Universal when it took Project Runway from Bravo to Lifetime. But while it might have been celebration time at some offices, for Lifetime Digital it was time to work.
“We already knew that Lifetime had a strong and vibrant community, but we knew that Project Runway was bringing a vibrant community of its own,” says Christian Martin, Lifetime Digital’s VP of Broadband Strategy and Development. “We wanted that audience to come to us for a social media-centric experience. [...] Marketing, Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by on Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Local: it’s the new buzzword in media of late. Major media companies have snapped up hyperlocal startups. Now the Wall Street Journal and New York Times are putting their toe into the hyperlocal space. As paid Content’s Staci Kramer explains, both papers already “localize some advertising.” Now both are considering localized editions in new markets. The Wall Street Journal is closest to rolling out a specialized local edition. The first market where the WSJ is testing its local touch will be the San Francisco Bay Area. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, September 8, 2009
This will be a big week for social media content. In fact, if Michael Jackson didn’t die, it would be the biggest week ever. It will not be the biggest week because every one that took a stroll by the beach will need to report what they did on the last week of their summer vacation. It will be the biggest week because there is a very thick issue on the table-- and a social media superstar is weighing in on it.
Barack Obama, at 6.6 million friends, is in fact the highest-ranking live person on Facebook, still beating out Vin Diesel and Megan Fox. [...] Marketing, Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | Tuesday, September 8, 2009
General Mills is tapping the power of mobile as part of its cross-channel campaign surrounding the launch of its new Wheaties Fuel cereal. The multi-million dollar effort includes an SMS call to-action running in Men's Health magazine, print advertising, online ads, direct mail, and will ultimately include TV advertising as well. As Mobile Marketer’s Dan Butcher notes, “General Mills saw SMS as a perfect channel to help reinvigorate and modernize the Wheaties brand” and reach the young, active male audience it is targeting with this new product. [...] Marketing, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by on Tuesday, September 8, 2009
It’s confirmed: an SEC filing verifies that Union Square Ventures has funded Foursquare, a location-based mobile social application. Union Square’s Fred Wilson also confirmed the funding in his blog, A VC. The popularity of Foursquare's iPhone application has helped rapidly expand the company's user base to over 40,000 since its March debut.
Wilson riffed about the app on his blog quite a lot this summer, hinting that he “was playing Foursquare” and that he had a “crush on the service. [...] Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, September 4, 2009
Join us as we celebrate the finalists and the winners at The MOBI Awards Gala (www.themobiawards.com) on 9/16 at The W Hotel Union Square, New York. The MOBI Awards judging committee has selected the nominees and winners for the awards in each category, as well as the Best in Show. Congratulate the finalists which include: * MasterCard * Benjamin Moore * Bank of America * Pizza Hut Inc. * Comedy Central * Disney * The Coca-Cola Company/Fanta/Millennial Media * Jack in the Box / Cha Cha * Zippo/Moderati Urban Daddy/Big Spaceship * And Many More!!
Buy Your Tickets Today! www. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Friday, September 4, 2009
As summer hangs on and the working world starts to pick up the pace again, I saw a convenient number (three) things that brought the season to an interesting close:
One: I thought Time.com’s co-branded strategy for social media was more innovation than I’ve seen from that company in a long time. To summarize, Siemens will be is the first advertiser to participate in the experimental “Stay Connected” program, which includes placement on the company’s social media outposts on those sites. [...] Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, September 3, 2009
Bo Sacks is a blogger, editor, and publishing vet who has been covering the magazine and publishing industry for decades with honesty and a liberal dose of humor. In his BoSacks Speaks Out newsletter-- one of the longest-running e-publications focused on publishing-- Sacks was one of the earliest experts willing to admit the emperor was wearing no clothes; he’s been predicting a major shakeup in media long before it became reality.
Sacks sat down with Editor Unleashed’s Maria Schneider to talk shop. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, September 3, 2009
Nearly a quarter billion Facebook users have been "Kidnapped" by the Travel Channel. Seats in the premium-priced Yankee Stadium have been filled. McDonald's Southern-style Chicken sandwiches made their social debut during the Olympics, as did less storied athletes from around the world using Lenovo's social channels.
In short, it's been a landmark year for the social marketing professionals who will be honored at this year's inaugural SAMMY Awards, Sept. 17 at the W Hotel in New York City. (Tickets to the gala are available here http://www. [...] Marketing, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, September 3, 2009
The social gaming trend is white hot—and the tech players leading the space are seeing their business explode. Social gaming developer Zynga leaped past the 100 million active monthly users mark; All Facebook scooped the story, explaining that Zynga saw its user base jump 25% in mere weeks. Zynga's success is driven largely by its wildly popular Facebook games. FarmVille, Zynga’s biggest game is also the most popular gaming app on Facebook. Zynga currently boasts 12 million daily users.
All Facebook’s Nick O’Neill explains, “The game continues to grow by leaps and bounds resulting in 25 percent overall growth in Zynga’s monthly traffic just in the past two weeks. [...] Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Finalists Selected; Winners to be crowned Sept. 16 in NYC
Hundreds of top brands and content producers vied to be the best of breed in mobile content and advertising in the first annual MOBI Awards, to be held Sept. 16 at the W Hotel in New York City, hosted by DM2Events.com, producer of the digiday:MOBILE conference. The judges, who are listed below all the finalists, focused on innovation, creativity, usability and the results or distribution that distinguished the winners. All came away impressed that these masters of the medium grasped the unique nature of both the mobile audience and how to engage them in the brand or the utility of their application. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by on Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Twitter is bringing former Google executive and Feedburner founder Dick Costolo onto the nest to serve as Chief Operating Officer. Costolo departed Team Google in July for an undisclosed opportunity. When he left Google, most mused the serial entrepreneur would launch his own venture but as TechCrunch Michael Arrington points out, that was before “Twitter swooped in and grabbed him.”
The move is definitely a case of six degrees no longer separated. Union Square Ventures, a key investor in Twitter, also originally funded Feedburner before it was acquired by Google in 2007. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Anne Mai Bertelsen on Wednesday, September 2, 2009
That’s what almost 400 attendees learned at social media blog Mashable’s first Social Good Conference at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan last Friday. The conference closed out Mashable’s Summer of Social Good initiative to raise $35,000 via social media for the Humane Society of the United States, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Oxfam, and LIVESTRONG.
Instead, presenters from these four organizations, along with Facebook’s Randi Zuckerberg, non-profit blogger and social media coach, Beth Kanter, MediaSauce Cause Marketing Director Scott Henderson, Case Foundation Kari Saratovsky and many others stressed using social media to build social connections that ultimately lead to social activism. [...] Marketing, Social Read more | Comments (9) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Reading press reports and the blogosphere during the past 24 hours you might think that Disney has inked a deal with the Devil. Like maybe it bought some kind of X-rated video purveyor. Will Iron Man hurt Tinkerbell? Will SpiderMan scare Mickey?
C’mon guys. It’s just a comic book. Disney buying Marvel is as logical as kids buying candy. Way before there was an internet there was a Hollywood business model that goes like this: Companies that have big money and big distribution buy companies that have a lot of content and minimal distribution. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Robert Scoble is a big fan of Twitter, make no mistake about it. The Web personality and technology guru blogged over the weekend, sharing his thoughts about Twitter, which can be summed up with his post’s title: “why Twitter is underhyped and is probably worth five to 10 billion dollars.” His attention-grabbing (and traffic-driving) headline hammers his POV home, but the full post is worth a look-see. His points include this bold (if unsupported) statement: “Twitter has taken over the business world and this should be very worrying for other companies like Google, Yelp, Facebook, Microsoft, Yahoo and others. [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by on Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Not all publishers are thrilled with the rise of e-books. Hachette Livre CEO Arnaud Nourry, cautions that electronic books-- whether read on e-readers like Amazon's Kindle or through Google’s online library project-- pose a real risk to publishers’ livelihood. Nourry’s main problem is not with the idea of e-books themselves, but with Amazon’s pricing and Google’s plan to offer a slew of out-of-copyright books online for free.
Said Nourry, “On the one hand, you have millions of books for free where there is no longer an author to pay and, on the other hand, there are very recent books, bestsellers at $9. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, August 31, 2009
Can Time.com monetize its social media popularity? Engineering firm Siemens is banking on it. Siemens is running a co-branded campaign on Time’s social properties. With Time.com’s Twitter page boasting over 1.4 million followers and its Facebook page numbering 72,000 fans, it makes sense why Siemens might be interested. But how are those campaign being integrated into Time's social profiles? Paid Content’s David Kaplan explains, “On Twitter, the words “Sponsored by Siemens” are integrated all over the background on Time. [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, August 31, 2009
It’s the end of an era, says Piper Jaffrey mobile analyst Gene Munster: the era of iPhone exclusivity. AT&T’s CEO Randall Stephenson is scrambling to extend ithe carrier's exclusive deal with Apple until at least 2011. However, Munster predicts the effort may be wasted: despite negotiations, their cozy courtship will end across the globe by next summer—if not before. Things are already moving that direction abroad: Apple has rolled out non-exclusive iPhone distribution in both China and France. [...] Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, August 31, 2009
When it comes to social media content, grownups are playing in the kids’ sandbox, according to a report released last week by Burst Media.
Even though baby boomers (ages 49-66) make up more than 25 % of all US Internet users, and even though the majority of this group spends over five hour per week online, Burst found that only 14 % of boomers feel that the content on the Internet is focused on people their age. An even smaller number of boomers (9.9%) think that Internet advertising is focused on their demographic. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, August 28, 2009
For all baseball fanatics—or us suffering fools living with baseball fanatics—this update should come as some relief. You’ll no longer be forced to wander in search of a sports bar willing to tune into your hometown team’s game while traveling; a bit of a problem if you’re a Saint Louis fan vacationing in Florida, for instance. Die-hard MLB fans, your salvation has arrived-- that is if you own an iPhone.
Major League Baseball fans will soon be able to watch games streamed live to their iPhone or iPod touch: all for just . [...] Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Friday, August 28, 2009
High-Octane Insults: I’m wondering if I can get one of those emoticons, you know like the smiley face things, that represents a middle finger. Or better yet, one that represents an oil-soaked bird. I would send a few to ExxonMobil. After pillaging the average customer for two or three years, and clocking the most excessive profits in the history of profits, now they want to know how we can save gas?
Here are the details: The company is running a video contest inviting consumers to submit a two-minute video illustrating one or more gas- and money-saving tips. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, August 28, 2009
Time Inc’s Sport Illustrated Group shared a bit of news this week that should encourage publishers. The SI group noted that its advertising pages have actually increased (gasp!) over this time last year. Folio’s Jason Fell filled in the details, which included a 45% increase in ad pages for SI’s NFL Preview issue and a 15% jump for the College Football Preview issue over 2008’s numbers. Golf Magazine, another title in the Sport Illustrated Group’s stable, also reported a bump in ad pages. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, August 27, 2009
After they’ve texted, apped, called, and emailed their way through mobile devices, will consumers watch live TV? A new report from Mediamark Research & Intelligence. MRI says they will. Close to 21% of U.S. adults who have cell phones or personal digital assistants (PDA’s) are currently interested in watching live television on these mobile devices, according to data released Thursday.
Several companies are in the live mobile TV, including MobiTV, which claims to have north of seven million paying subscribers. [...] Media, Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, August 27, 2009
The quest to monetize is heating up for publishers—and the New York Times is looking to its journalists to sniff out a fresh revenue stream. This fall, the NYT is kicking off new, weeklong classes in its Knowledge Network continuing education series that will be taught by some of the paper’s best known writers including Eric Asimov, Nicholas Kristof, and Gail Collins. The Knowledge Network has been around for three years, but this marks the first time NYT columnists have instructed. The Times offered around 50 courses through the Knowledge Network last year; this year it’s doubled that number. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, August 27, 2009 Marketing Read more | Comments (1) | Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Long form journalism is “not thriving” and does not work on the Web, says Josh Tyrangiel, Managing Editor of Time.com. Tyrangiel spoke with Beet.TV in an interesting multi-part video interview that addresses the challenges of creating and editing content for the Web.
While long form works well for magazines, including Time’s paper and ink magazine, Tyrangiel explains why that same content does not translate well to the Net. As Tyrangiel says, much of that high quality content is "just too long," and doesn’t take into mind what readers need and want from online content. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (2) | by on Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Are social networks like Twitter and Facebook making RSS “irrelevant?” ZDNet tech columnist Sam Diaz wonders if they haven’t pushed RSS in that direction. Riffing on a Google Reader blog post about Power Readers, Diaz notes that while he was “Once a big advocate for Google Reader” he hasn’t “logged in weeks, maybe months.” It's not that Diaz has stopped reading or keeping tabs on industry trends. Instead he trolls breaking news through a collection of browser tabs and favorite sites (Techmeme is one of his favorites). [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (3) | by on Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sony is taking aim at Amazon's e-reader business, unveiling not one, not two, but three digital readers at a press conference at the New York Public Library. Sony's newest model, called the Daily Edition, takes Amazon’s Kindle to task, offering 3G wireless through a new partnership with AT&T. Sony’s other models, including the two other readers it plugged at the press conference (the Sony Pocket and Reader Touch editions), lack wireless capability.
The New York Public Library was more than a symbolic setting for the readers' debut. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The New York Times has launched a new series of interactive interstitial ads inside its popular iPhone app. VISA and Siemens AG are among the first brands to give the new units a try; the expandable, rich media ads were created by Medialets, the New York-based mobile advertising firm behind innovative campaigns for Dockers and other brands. As Mobile Marketer’s Dan Butcher explains, the ads “encourage users to interact with the brands by taking advantage of functionality such as tilting, which is unique to the iPhone. [...] Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by John Gaffney on Monday, August 24, 2009
Am I the only one that sees total irony in the original aggregator of content, Reader’s Digest, filing for bankruptcy? It would be easy to write that one off at an inability to migrate readers to the Internet, but its website is well-executed. I would have moved Reader’s Digest more to the political right, and I would have shamelessly gone after the 65-plus demo. The Internet didn’t kill RD. AARP might have.
Let’s go easy on Wenda Harris Millard as the savior of MySpace. There are a lot of very capable people at Fox/News Corp that you don’t read about every day. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, August 24, 2009
The Federal Communication Commission is currently probing Apple’s recent rejection of Google’s Voice application for iPhone. Why does the FCC even care about this? Apple sells 65,000+ applications through the app store-- why the big stink over the rejection of one? Reuters explains, “The issue could have far reaching implications for the U.S. telecom industry.” The FCC’s response to “could either pave the way for new entrants or hinder their ability to use large carriers' phones to offer discount services. [...] Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, August 24, 2009
Twitter may not have raised much (any?) revenue yet, but the company has plans to generate as much as $140 million in rev this year. That’s a big nut to crack, but Twitter has plans in the works for various paid services that should help chip away at that number. One way Twitter plans to generate cash: premium, paid accounts.
So now for the $140 million question: why would anyone pay for a premium account when the basic Twitter service works just fine, for free? Paid Content’s Tameka Kee explains, “The accounts will include detailed analytics and ID verification (so that businesses don’t have to worry about having their brands hijacked by impostors). [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, August 24, 2009
Affiliate marketing is a billion dollar business that extends far beyond the paid publishing referral market. MarketingSherpa estimated that, in 2006, affiliates worldwide earned $6.5 billion in commissions from retail, personal finance, gaming and gambling, travel, telecom, education, publishing, and lead generation other than contextual advertising, but experts tell us the market has grown substantially in just the last two years. In fact, recent studies indicate that a very large number of search affiliate marketers have been in business only for the last year and a half! What do you need to know to understand this marketing technique that -- according to leading paid site publishers we interviewed -- can generate from 30 percent to 50 percent of your total profits? DM2PRO takes an in-depth, three-part look at what the pros are doing to maximize their returns. [...] Marketing Read more | Comments (3) | by on Thursday, August 20, 2009
Steve Jobs may be a marketing genius, and one of the brightest CEOs in technology, but he’s left the Department of Justice a trail of crumbs a mile wide. What sort of trouble has good Apple/ bad Apple made for itself? It's starting to get messy. First the FTC began evaluating overly cozy ties between Apple and Google’s boards of directors. Separately, the DOJ is probing what could be a secret anti-poaching agreement between Apple and Google. Now it turns out Apple may have tried the same trick with Palm. [...] Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, August 20, 2009
The ink is dry: MySpace has formalized its purchase of music recommendation service iLike. MySpace CEO Owen Van Natta made the official announcement. Said Van Natta, “The iLike acquisition advances our relentless pursuit of innovation and the need to create new distributed social experiences in music and beyond.”
iLike has established itself as the top music application across social networks, with 55 registered million users. It has also built out MP3 sales and a ticket sale business— something MySpace Music has just begun to experiment with. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Time Warner’s AOL is filing suit against Advertise.com. Why? Apparently Advertise.com is too close to AOL's Ad.com and Advertising.com for comfort. Business Insider’s Nicholas Carlson says, “In the lawsuit, AOL alleges that Advertise.com is "virtually identical and confusingly similar" to Advertising.com and Ad.com.”
AOL claims that Advertise.com “competes with AOL's ad business,” and the close similarity in domains could cause confusion among users—leading some to even think that Advertise. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, August 19, 2009
MSNBC and AOL may have just snapped up hyperlocal sites—EveryBlock and Patch respectively—but newspapers are dumping them left and right. This week the Washington Post announced it would close its hyperlocal “standalone” site, LoudounExtra. WaPo launched the site only two years ago; LoudounExtra was the publisher’s only foray into the hyperlocal space. It had planned to launch another local hub Fairfaxextra.com, but never pulled the trigger.
Paid Content’s Rafat Ali explains, “The site will be turned off in September and all the content will be migrated to the main WaPo site. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Customers are on social media; marketers aren’t allowed. Marketers are still seeking a foot in the door to gain that potentially profitable connection and now Acxiom is taking the connection a step further with a recently launched a new direct marketing/social networking platform called Relevance X - Social.
The platform claims to create the capability to execute “direct social media marketing” according to Tim Suther, Acxiom SVP of multichannel marketing services. It works by first using an automated program to comb the available customer database of a company to recognize influencers and social media frequenters. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Since the Apple app store's debut just over a year ago the mobile applications space has exploded. By the close of 2008 the store's inventory passed the 10,000 app mark; by this June, that number had surged to 50,000 apps. Now, just two months later, some 60,000 applications are available for iPhone and iPod touch. With the apps-madness showing no signs of slowing, Alex Ahlund, founder of AppVee, asks an astute question in his TechCrunch guest column: “We are looking at a staggering 300 new applications being released every single day. [...] Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The best thing I read about the deal of the week is this: “I think this is about social aggregation. Facebook bought FriendFeed so it could become the Huffington Post of your social life.”
It came from Washington Post columnist Chadwick Matlin, and it was a dead-on insightful point. I think Facebook made a smart move in buying FriendFeed, mostly because it is a technology defense shield against and current and future challengers. And if a company can’t focus on content, or depends on others for content, it dang sure better have better technology than the rest. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Another one of America’s venerable magazine publishers fell victim to the economy this week: the Readers Digest Association has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The RDA also reveals it has negotiated to restructure its debt from approximately $2.2 billion to just under $550 million. The publisher announced it was not making a $27 million interest payment on one of its subordinated notes—saying it would be attempting to renegotiate with its lenders over the next month.
Amidst the financial turmoil, nearly all members of the RDA’s board have stepped down; only the CEO Mary Berner remains. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, August 17, 2009
MySpace is closing in on a deal to purchase social music service iLike. TechCrunch scooped the story—and reports the acquisition will cost MySpace $20 million. Haven’t heard of iLike? TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington explains, “It is the top music application on Facebook, Bebo, Hi5 and just about every other social network other than MySpace, which has MySpace Music.”
iLike boasts around 10 million monthly downloads on Facebook alone— and around 50 million total users. In addition to its highly popular music recommendation service, iLike offers a band pages similar to those hosted on MySpace Music. [...] Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, August 17, 2009
Twitter has a growing spam problem. While it’s not yet paralyzing the microblogging service, spam on Twitter is definitely on the rise. Research firm Pear Analytics took a closer look-- and found that some 3.75% of all tweets are outright spam.
That number doesn’t exactly make Twitter Spamalot. For instance, that's nowhere near email’s spam-load (Pear found 90% of all email messages sent in May were spam). But consider how new Twitter is, and then ponder some of the other data Pear provided: the firm found 6% of tweets are overtly promotional; another 40% "pointless babble; 37% “conversational;” and only around 8. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Friday, August 14, 2009
It is arguably the ultimate summer song. "Dancin’ In the Streets" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. “Callin’ out around the world…..” And now in the summer of appmania, the megacompanies vying for Apple’s crown are callin’ out for apps. Worldwide development contests, a technological casting call, are all the rage this week.
First up is Verizon. Starting today, it is inviting mobile applications developers to enter their most innovative applications in the Apply Your Ideas contest. [...] Marketing, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, August 14, 2009
The tablets are coming. And all of us who love our shiny, pretty Apple devices may not have to wait long to get our hands on one. Apple’s forthcoming tablet device has been this summer’s most discussed tech gadget. The gossip has been flying; the foreshadowing heavy. First it’s a Kindle killer. Next the tablet is going to revolutionize music. Whatever this device ends up doing, there’s no disputing that Apple fanboys (and girls) are drooling to get a look at it.
It’s been widely assumed that Apple would unveil the tablet sometime next year. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | Friday, August 14, 2009
Social and mobile gaming is exploding-- and investors' interest in the space is heating up as well, despite the challenging economy. Z2Live, a Seattle-based mobile social gaming firm, has nabbed another round of funding. This $3 million round is led by Madrona Investor Group, which also funded Z2Live’s initial $1 million raise in 2008.
TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington describes what investors saw in Z2Live: “the company describes itself as “the first mobile multiplayer game platform,” and has created a multiplayer platform for the iPhone/iPod Touch products. [...] Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, August 14, 2009
VC Fred Wilson is a fan of Foursquare and he’s not afraid to admit it. Rumors have been flying that the notable venture capitalist is eying the application company. Now Fred seems to be backing those rumors up by commenting about the app across the web: on his blog, A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC and quipping on Foursquare's founder’s Flickr account.
Okay. So, Fred Wilson likes Foursquare—what exactly is it? Business Insider’s Nicholas Carlson describes it as an “iPhone app that lets users "check-in" to restaurants and bars and let all their friends know where they're hanging out. [...] Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, August 14, 2009
NEW YORK—July 22, 2009—DM2, the publishers of Digiday:DAILY and a leading organizer of conferences and exhibitions for the digital content and advertising community, is making a final call for entries for its MOBI (Mobile Advertising) and SAMMY (Social Advertising, Media and Marketing) Awards. The deadline for entries for both awards has been extended to Friday, August 14, 2009.
The MOBI Awards honors overall excellence and breakthrough achievement in mobile media, marketing and advertising and The SAMMY Awards recognizes outstanding efforts in the area of social media and advertising. [...] Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Anne Mai Bertelsen on Thursday, August 13, 2009
While marketers may still be skeptical about mobile apps, research by GravityTank suggests marketers should reconsider given consumers' engagement with mobile apps. Marketing, Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, August 13, 2009 Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, August 13, 2009
By Steve Ellwanger
When asked to write this article about apps, my initial thoughts were a) this editor has lost it, and b) she likes to frustrate the elderly (I’ll be 55 next month). I agreed to do it because I am in the PR biz and therefore supposed to be hip to the latest ways to communicate and commercialize via mobile devices and social networks. Or at least appear to be. One of my clients recently informed me of its desire to go on Twitter. My mental response: Good luck with that. My verbal reply: “That might be a very wise strategic and tactical move. [...] Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (3) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, August 13, 2009
Hit “print” on the insertion orders. That seemed to be the operative advice for companies that want their mobile applications to rise above inert levels in the cluttered consumer marketplace. Attendees at Wednesday’s digiday:APPS conference were told that paid advertising and promotion were the keys to bringing content to the mobile audience.
“We have pushed a couple of hundred apps successfully into the marketplace,” said AdMob sales VP Tony Nethercutt. “We need for more mobile apps to be advertised on our network not just because we don’t see it happening fast enough for us, but because it’s the best way for apps to get distributed. [...] Marketing, Media, Metrics, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Tina Whitfield on Wednesday, August 12, 2009
How can every marketer can reach and engage the desirable audience that is using applications across platforms, including iPhone/iTouch, Android, BlackBerry and Palm Pre? Marketing, Media, Metrics, Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Google's opinion aside, apps won't be displaced any time soon by the mobile Web, speakers at digiday:APPS argued. Social Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A recent survey of several hundred digital media and marketing professionals by our sister publication DM2PRO.com reveals some angst among those who haven’t tried social applications, but growing enthusiasm among those who have. Marketing, Media, Metrics, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, August 12, 2009
“Apple has taken a very bad turn,” complained Jason Calacanis in a luncheon talk at digiday:APPS. “In the name of making the operation of the iPhone seamless, they’ve made us all slaves.” Calacanis took Apple – and by extension and by name, Steve Jobs – to task for becoming “dictators and tastemakers” on the mobile Internet, urging developers to lobby Apple for more open standards. Mobile, Social Read more | Comments (1) | by Tina Whitfield on Wednesday, August 12, 2009
How will being 'open' allows for community driven applications? Marketing, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Tuesday, August 11, 2009
I used to work in the home entertainment business back in the days when a movie like Home Alone could actually sell somewhere around 10 million copies. And I worked for a CEO of one of these home entertainment companies who was a master at managing expectations. When we had a blockbuster film on our hands he would take all the sales projections, run the P&L and then say to the sales VP. “Nice job. Ship 10 percent less than your projection, and we’ll hit the right profits.”
The lesson being that irrational exuberance often comes back to bite, and rational exuberance can be the best attitude for actually making “the right number. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Facebook has acquired rival social net FriendFeed for around $50 million, including at least $15 million in cash, according to the Wall Street Journal. FriendFeed’s social sharing system allows users to share links and their web-wide activity updates on one centralized page: think Facebook’s feed updates, but with a much wider net. While FriendFeed never enjoyed the stratospheric growth of Facebook, it gained a following with tech users and found quite a few of its features emulated by its more popular rival. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, August 11, 2009
digiday:APPS has the leaders in the APPS space coming together on August 12th in New York to share their expertise, vision and insights on the now, and the future of advertising on APPS! We have the creators of the #1 Facebook, #1 Mobile, #1 Women's Social App, #1 Branded App, and more who will share their secrets of APPS success with you...and your colleagues too!
Plus, you'll hear from industry visionary Jason McCabe Calacanis during his keynote presentation titled - The 10 Best Apps That Haven't Been Built Yet (and assorted observations and insights into the APPconomy) [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Think mobile gaming is a fly-by-night fad? Think again. Pyramid Research studied the market’s prospects and forecasts a sunny future for mobile gaming: it should hit $18 billion by 2014, growing at an annual pace of 16.6%. Those are bullish numbers for these gloomy days. However, Pyramid makes these predictions based on increased mobile service and handset penetration globally. Better service, better phones = more mobile gaming customers.
One of the more interesting points of Pyramid’s study, called "Mobile Gaming in Emerging Markets: Five Year Forecast and Impact Analysis," is that it takes a close look not at established mobile markets, but at eight emerging markets including Mexico, China, India, Mexico, and Russia. [...] Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, August 10, 2009
After a month of perusing Microsoft’s digital shop, Razorfish, ad holding company Publicis Groupe has made the deal official-- beating out competition from other ad giants including WPP, Dentsu, Omnicom, and others. The cash and stock purchase comes to roughly $530 million. Under the terms of the deal, Razorfish will continue to operate as its own brand under the umbrella of Publicis’ VivaKi division.
In addition to bolstering Publicis’ digital clout—AdAge’s Abbey Klassen and Matthew Creamer estimate the purchase should “generate 25% of Publicis Groupe's revenue from digital,” it also strengthens Razorish’s position as a global agency. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, August 10, 2009
Before this week gets off to its logical “what will Microsoft buy or sell next” start, let’s consider a story from last week. Specifically the drop in traffic at Wikipedia, because it is a lesson in the impermanence of Internet content.
Granted, Wikipedia has been teetering under a barrage of criticism for quite some time for presenting user generated content as expert generated facts. It has recently dodged a couple of defamation lawsuits, and is going to need some funding to fight off the suddenly awakened giant of Britannica. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, August 10, 2009
Early digital media pioneer Alan Meckler is selling off the Internet.com division of his WebMediaBrands empire. Meckler is selling the unit for roughly $18 million; the buyer is Bay Area-based media and marketing firm QuinStreet. $18 million in cash will buy QuinStreet Meckler’s iconic Internet.com, as well as assorted brands including InternetNews.com, DevX, InternetNews.com, Linux Today, and others. This leaves Meckler’s business primarily focused on MediaBistro (which includes a wide array of on and offline educational courses) and its Graphics. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, August 7, 2009
Now that the Boston Globe is officially on the market, who's looking? And for that matter, what kind of buyer can stomach the money-losing realities of purchasing an ailing newspaper these days? An opportunistic buyer with experience buying distressed media companies, that’s who.
While Boston businessmen Stephen Pagliuca and Steve Taylor are still perusing the Globe, CA-based private equity firm Platinum Equity is the newest buyer to make a bid. Platinum is definitely a buyer with the chops to take on a beleaguered daily: it recently snapped up the San Diego Union-Tribune for $50 million big ones. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, August 7, 2009
Google’s Android operating system could make the leap from your phone to your television by next year. And your refrigerator is not soon behind. Yes, you read that right. Google designed the Android OS to be “device agnostic,” allowing it to not only run on smartphones but on many other products including home electronics and entertainment devices. Paid Content’s Joseph Tartakoff explains, “MIPS Technologies, a company which designs processors for various home entertainment devices, says it is working with partners to design Android-based platforms for set-top boxes, digital TVs, mobile internet devices, and home media players. [...] Marketing, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Thursday, August 6, 2009
Few people in this business blend vision, innovation, and practicality like CBS’ David Poltrack. He is very simply a man that uses data as both history and a clue to the future. So when he talks about pricing content online , listen up.
His recent presentation on online video has been picked up by several sources, including the PaidContent site that includes a long to his PPT deck. As usual Poltrack cuts through the blue-sky high-end theory and shows how different demographic groups will or will not adopt it. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Associated Press has been drawing a lot of lines in the sand lately. Its stiff stance in regards to content re-use and linking has been the source of much debate and in some circles, derision. Then, as Mashable’s Pete Cashmore notes, the AP upped the ante last week-- announcing “a plan to charge $12.50 for quoting 5 words of an AP story.” Under the plan, a writer or blogger excerpting more than 5 words of an AP story would be billed $2.50 a word for that privilege. Chris Ahearn, President of Media at AP competitor Thomson Reuters has been listening to the chatter—and responded in an intelligent, succinct blog post entitled “I Believe In the Link Economy. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, August 6, 2009
News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch believes in paid content. As paid Content’s (the pub, not the business model) Staci Kramer explains, “the steep decline in advertising has converted him into a pay evangelist, a pragmatic one with a belief in multiple revenue streams.” To that end, Murdoch intends to move the bulk of his digital properties towards a paid model.
On a recent earnings call Murdoch declared, “We intend to charge for our news websites. The Wall Street Journal‘s WSJ.com is the world’s most successful paid news site and we will be using our profitable experience there and the resulting unique skills throughout News Corp to increase our revenues from all our content. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Wednesday, August 5, 2009
The F in FT doesn’t stand for “free.” That welcome stand for gettin’ paid came through loud and clear in a PaidContent interview today in which Financial Times editor Lionel Barber says that there is now “an inexorable momentum behind charging for content” and he urges other national papers only considering introducing paywalls—essentially all of them—to act now: “What I would say to the competition and to the rest of the world is that it’s getting late. If we move now we can assure ourselves of a prosperous future. [...] Media, Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by on Wednesday, August 5, 2009
As the e-reader wars wage on, Sony unveils not one, but two digital readers this week: the PRS-300 and PRS-600. Sony’s larger reader features a 6-inch touch-screen and will be priced at $299; the smaller, more basic version will be marketed for a mere $199. Both readers will be available to consumers later this month and will be sold at retailers including WalMart and BestBuy.
This marks an aggressive price reduction on Sony’s part. Sony's previous e-reader sold for $399, while the new touch-screen model is now priced to compete directly with Amazon’s Kindle 2 (which doesn’t sport a touch-screen). [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Social application and games developer Zynga is on fire. The company behind popular Facebook apps like Texas Hold‘Em Poker and FarmVille— is blazing towards $100 million dollar revenues in 2009 according to a recent article by Business Insider's Nicholas Carlson. Just weeks ago, Inside Facebook reported Zynga surpassed 60 million active monthly users. Now, Inside Facebook’s Nick O’Neill is back with another update: Zynga has added over 12 million new users in just two weeks. Yes, you read that right: 12 million in two weeks-- feel free to insert your expletive of choice. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Video ad network Tremor Media is in the throes of an internal reorganization, and as part of the shuffling and editing, two of the company’s key executives are departing. Co-founder and COO Andrew Reis and Chief Strategy Officer Jesse Chenard are leaving Tremor for unnamed startups. For now, Chenard and Reis’ replacements have not been named. In the interim, Tremor’s tech and product teams will look to Tremor CEO Jason Glickman for direction.
It appears the reorg and executive shuffling is not tied to financial pressures; Tremor nabbed a $19 million round of funding this winter and reportedly doubled revenue in the last 12 months. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, August 4, 2009
“Sorry guys, that’s not going to cut it.” Google CEO Eric Schmidt may have stepped down from the Apple board of directors, but the Federal Trade Commission is not pulling back the big dogs just yet. The FTC has been probing ties between the Apple and Google boards-- ties it deems inappropriately cozy, even in light of Schmidt's resignation. As All Things D’s John Paczkowski explains, “The FTC applauded the move, but said the two companies are foolish if they think it will simply abandon its inquiry as a result. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday was a big day for executive shuffling. While Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s exit from the Apple board was somewhat expected, Catherine Mathis’ resignation from the New York Times Co. was largely a surprise. Mathis, who served as the chief spokeswoman for the NYT Co., is departing after 12 years at the publisher.
NYT Co CEO Janet Robinson announced Mathis’ resignation in a memo to staff Monday; The Awl picked the news up promptly, sharing the memo. Of Mathis’ role at the NYT, Robinson said, “She served as the chief communications strategist and spokesperson through some of the most challenging chapters in our history…she was always on duty, actively involved in managing the reputation of The Times brand, a major accomplishment, given the massive
amount of coverage The Times Company generates on a daily basis. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, August 3, 2009
Recently it’s felt like everyone is jumping into the e-reader business, hoping to take a chunk of Amazon’s business. Apple, with its mysterious, much-anticipated tablet device; Plastic Logic with its forthcoming digital reader; even Hearst and News Corp have sniffed out the category. Who isn't interested in getting into digital readers? Microsoft, for one.
Microsoft Entertainment and Devices division president Robbie Bach spoke out on the topic of e-readers last week. Said Bach, “For Microsoft producing a device, we’re actually pretty selective about which ones we want to get into, in part because we know what it takes to scale hardware businesses like that. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, August 3, 2009
Microsoft’s Bing is steaming up slowly—gaining an extra percent of search market share in July. Significantly, it took much of that gain from the competition it aims to beat: Google. Web analytics outfit StatCounter shared the numbers, saying: “Bing again slightly increased the Microsoft share of the US search market in July to 9.41% from 8.23% in June.”
Google’s shares dipped to 77.54% from 78.48%. StatCounter CEO and founder Aodhan Cullen said of the findings, "Bing continues to make slow but steady progress but the combined Yahoo! Figures suggests that the deal announced last week will have to demonstrate major future synergies if it is to make any dent in Google`s dominance. [...] Media, Metrics, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by John Gaffney on Monday, August 3, 2009
Eric Schmidt bails on Steve Jobs. Google skulks away from Apple. That was certainly the big news today as Schmidt officially resigned from Apple’s board of directors in a storm of speculation about amped-up competition that would cause a kid on the playground to say “man, it is so on.”
It is on, and the winner in the battle between Google and Apple will be consumers and the weapons that will be used in the fight will center around content. Mobile applications will just be one area of competition between Apple and Google now, and apparently it is a big reason why Schmidt decided he couldn’t continue on the board. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, July 31, 2009
The Wall Street Journal’s first attempt at social, WSJ Community, never gained traction—but that hasn’t scared it away from the social space. In fact, WSJ is getting ready to roll out a new professionally-focused social network it’s tentatively calling WSJ Connect. TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington shared details on the network, which WSJ is reportedly referring to as “The LinkedIn Killer.”
With over 15 million visitors each month, LinkedIn may be a tough social net to kill. However, WSJ is clearly using LinkedIn as its inspiration for the new effort; and with all those potential revenue streams-- job listings, ads, etc. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | Friday, July 31, 2009
The Washington Post Company shed a spot of sun on the newspaper biz this week: the company reported a Q2 net income of $11.4 million, compared to a net loss of $2.7 million in the same quarter of 2008. Revenue was up, but a mere 2%.
In other words, as Paid content’s David Kaplan warns, it's a bit premature to consider this a rally for newspapers. Kaplan, who offers details on WaPo’s Q2 reports, attributes the revenue gains to the company’s “education and cable TV holdings.” He adds, “At the newspaper, magazine broadcasting segments, revenues were all down. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, July 31, 2009
Despite an “intense rivalry” with Google, and much insistence that it would never build out an application to service Android, Facebook is indeed working on an application for Android phones. The new app will include some-- but not all-- of the features of Facebook’s highly popular iPhone app. While it lacks a few of the bells and whistles of the iPhone app, it will offer Facebook stream and status updates, which as TechCrunch’s Erik Schonfeld puts it, are “really all you need.”
What motivated this change of heart for Facebook? Why an Android app now? Schonfeld explains, “for one thing, Android is now on the verge of becoming a serious competitor to the iPhone, with nearly two dozen new phones set to launch this year. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, July 30, 2009
Apple’s forthcoming tablet may be one of more anticipated innovations to hit the tech world—and the publishing industry—in a while. Though it’s not solely designed to be a digital reader, the device must strike a bit of fear in Jeff Bezos’ heart. As an article in the Financial Times over the weekend notes, “Book publishers have been in talks with Apple and are optimistic about their services being offered with the new computer, which could provide an alternative to Amazon’s Kindle. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (2) | by on Thursday, July 30, 2009
Now that the dust is settling and the details of the Yahoo-Microsoft deal emerge, it’s worth asking: it is a good deal for both parties? Henry Blodget of Business Insider takes a close look. He admits that on paper, the “idea of Microsoft and Yahoo combining forces is smart. Neither alone has enough share of the search market to be a "must buy," and search relevance and pricing improves with scale.” However, as it was worked, the deal isn’t so hot for Yahoo; it received no upfront cash, which it could definitely use, and had long been mentioned as an imperative to the deal's structure. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, July 30, 2009
Rodale Chief Executive Officer and President Steven Pleshette Murphy announced today that he would be departing the publisher after almost 10 years. Folio’s Jason Fell shared the scoop, explaining that Murphy will be replaced by current Chairman— and granddaughter to the company’s founder, J.I. Rodale— Maria Rodale.
In a statement Murphy explained his choice: “After a wonderful decade at Rodale, I have decided not to renew my contract and to take time off to pursue my own creative interests. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Thursday, July 30, 2009 Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Sprint Nextel is snapping up Virgin Mobile USA for around $483 million in equity and other concessions. It’s a bold step for Sprint, which has been aggressively going after prepaid mobile business amidst steep competition in the premium market. Sprint intends to begin marketing Virgin Mobile USA’s prepaid product along with its own Boost Mobile offering; Virgin Mobile CEO Dan Schulman will step in to lead the prepaid unit, directly under Sprint CEO Dan Hesse.
Fierce Mobile Content’s Jason Ankenky notes, “According to Sprint, the acquisition bolsters its position in the position in the prepaid segment, enhances cross-selling of a full suite of products and services across a larger target audience, and promises to yield general and administrative reductions, operational efficiencies and streamlined distribution. [...] Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Mobile Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (1) | by on Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Since McGraw-Hill officially put BusinessWeek up for sale earlier this month few serious buyers have emerged. The magazine is a particularly tough sell to traditional publishers. Jon Fine, BusinessWeek’s own media columnist pointed out part of the problem—namely, all that darn money the magazine is burning. Said Fine, “BusinessWeek lost around $20 million on revenues of $147 million in 2008, and that slightly smaller losses are projected in 2009 on revenue of around $135 million.” Fine added that number does not, “however, include key corporate overhead items, such as rent and certain infrastructure-related costs. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The deal we’ve all been waiting from is inches from happening. After the many months of haggling, back-pedaling, and public feather fluffing, Yahoo and Microsoft are closing in on a search deal. Things nearly fell apart last week when Yahoo demanded upfront payment— which could have added up to “several hundred million.” Search-ad revenue split was another contested item. However, discussions between execs started back up on Thursday and the official announcement could come as soon as this week. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, July 28, 2009
ChaCha, the mobile search firm that offers human-filtered answers, has pulled in another venture round. According to a recent SEC filling, the company has raised $4 million in venture funds—a big chunk of which it will put to work repaying an earlier loan from Citigroup.
This $4 million follows a $12 million raise ChaCha announced this March. As paid Content’s Joseph Tartakoff explained, ChaCha had earmarked those funds for sales expansion and the opening of a New York office. However, the $12 million fell short of the $30 million ChaCha sought for that spring round—not exactly a surprise in this conservative investment climate. [...] Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, July 27, 2009
In a surprising move, Ben Silverman announced this morning he is departing NBC Universal for Barry Diller’s IAC. Silverman served as co-chairman of NBCU for the last two years. He joined NBCU after a highly successful run at his own production outfit, Reveille, known for such hits as Ugly Betty and The Office. Silverman failed to hit the same stride at NBCU and some called his future there uncertain-- particularly in light of the network’s flagging ratings.
In his new role Silverman will head a new multi-platform production company for IAC. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, July 27, 2009
The death of one brand, the birth of another. As Tim Armstrong’s 100 Days wrapped and his new team gathered for a company-wide meeting to hear his discoveries, the AOL CEO announced the demise of the Platform-A, MediaGlow and People Networks brands. The first two brands will “be absorbed” into other AOL units: Platform-A will be renamed AOL Advertising and MediaGlow will be AOL Media.
Jeff Levick, who joined AOL from Google to head up AOL’s global ad business, will direct traffic at AOL Advertising. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, July 24, 2009 Social Read more | Comments (1) | Friday, July 24, 2009 Media Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, July 23, 2009 Metrics, Social Read more | Comments (0) | by Melinda Gipson on Wednesday, July 22, 2009
With Zappos, Amazon buys $847M worth of customer-centric culture as well as a shoe emporium. Could Zappos' "expert economy" also light a fire under Kindle? Media Read more | Comments (11) | by on Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Google introduced Google Wave to a crowd gathered at the Google I/O Conference at the end of May. While not widely available to the general public (it is available to be previewed), tech circles ooh-hed and ahh-ed at the online communication platform’s possibilities. Wave’s introduction raised questions, namely: could Wave someday replace email? Mashable’s Ben Parr answers that question succinctly: “while our experiments with Wave have brought us to the conclusion that this platform may indeed be a game changer, it won’t happen if there isn’t widespread adoption. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Plastic Logic is linking up with AT&T on its upcoming digital reader project. The telecom heavy will provide wireless connectivity for Plastic Logic’s forthcoming device, which it aims to introduce to markets in 2010. The touch-screen reader will be larger than Amazon's rival e-reader Kindle. And thanks to the AT&T deal, it will be able to “access wi-fi hotspots,” something Kindle can’t. Further Plastic Logic's device will be designed to work with GSM wireless technology, allowing it to work abroad; Amazon’s Kindle, working on Sprint’s network, sports “an EVDO connection that does not work overseas. [...] Media Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Yahoo unveiled its newly redesigned, much-anticipated home page this week. The new design is more attractive and easy to navigate than the old Yahoo.com— and it’s relatively clutter-free. But will it achieve the company’s goal? Or will the retool, as paid Content’s Joseph Tartakoff predicts, “fall short of its lofty goal of being the ‘center of people’s online lives?’”
With the redesign, Yahoo brought apps front and center on the homepage. But a closer examination reveals these apps are light on content. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sometimes you have to spend money to save money. Condé Nast is subscribing to that theory and buckling down to cutting costs within its properties. To that end, the publisher has hired consultants McKinsey and Company to help create a workable strategy moving forward.
While Condé sliced expenses with several rounds of layoffs and by shuttering business mag Portfolio, an unnamed Condé Nast publisher said to the NY Observer, “We half-assed the cuts last year.” I imagine McKinsey’s recommendations will be more expansive. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by Tina Whitfield on Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Microsoft and Apple television ads maybe directed for the living rooms – and their viral online video versions for home, office, and mobile – but who is really answering the Call2Action?
The space where digital technologies and advertising commerce collide is where the buzz is hot today. Microsoft exec Kevin Turner says Apple asked them to stop airing Laptop Hunters ads.
Who is Kevin Turner? Turner came to Microsoft from Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart in 2005. During his reign, Sam’s Club was known for, “We are in business for small business. [...] Marketing, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Meredith joins the ranks of publishers thinking beyond print-- and going mobile. While print women’s magazines are a continued mainstay for Meredith, the Better Homes and Gardens publisher seems to be thinking “digital diversification,” if its investment in mobile marketing firm The Hyperfactory is any indication. Paid Content’s David Kaplan reveals Meredith Corp has acquired a 19.9% interest in the New Zealand and New York-based mobile marketing firm. Said Kaplan, “The Hyperfactory will work with Meredith’s Integrated Marketing unit, a b2b division that creates custom online and print products. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, July 20, 2009
App portal GetJar predicts that by the close of 2009, mobile users will have over 100,000 applications to choose from. At the MobileBeat conference in San Francisco GetJar CEO Ilja Laurs went so far as to say, "Apps will be as big if not bigger than the Internet…They will peak at around 100,000 by the end of the year."
100,000 may not be an over-reaching number. Apple’s app store now boasts around 65,000 applications, according to a company release last week. Now for the inevitable question: with all those apps exploding onto the scene, how do the economics of an app eco-system work?
Laurs conceded, “The reality is that this space is only so big and only able to support so many people. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, July 20, 2009
The media’s infatuation with Twitter helped catapult it from niche microblogging service to overnight sensation. Just how much was that free buzz worth? News monitoring firm VMS put a price on it, and estimates it was worth $48 million. That’s just for the last month’s worth of free exposure-- and last month was not one of the particularly crazy months when Ashton Kutcher took on CNN for followers or Oprah interviewed Twitter co-founder Biz Stone on her show.
Ad Age’s Abbey Klaassen shared her take on the VMS data. [...] Media, Metrics, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (2) | Monday, July 20, 2009
AOL’s new ad boss Jeff Levick sees there’s still work to do integrating and editing the company’s divisions. Levick, on the job for several months since arriving from Google, chatted with paid Content’s David Kaplan about all things advertising with AOL. Levick said that Platform-A isn’t going anywhere for now— but admitted strategic shuffling within AOL’s ad units is not yet complete. Levick also talked about the broader goal of “cohesion” within AOL’s units, how AOL is coping with the downturn in display, and hinted at new types of inventory the company is rolling out. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Friday, July 17, 2009
McGraw-Hill is laying off around 550 staffers in a move to cut costs. Most of the cuts will affect the publisher’s education division, where it is slashing 350 jobs and consolidating units. However, 125 staffers within McGraw-Hill’s media and information unit will also be eliminated. Aviation Week and BusinessWeek are just two of the titles published by that unit. McGraw-Hill made headlines earlier this week when it announced it looking to sell the well-respected business magazine and had retained investment banking firm Evercore Partners to explore “strategic options” for Business Week. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Friday, July 17, 2009
Quadrangle Group is turning its interest in Alpha Media Group over to its investors, including Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm. Alpha Media Group is best known as the publisher of men’s magazine, Maxim. The news is not a surprise given the rash of bad luck Alpha Media Group has endured since Quadrangle acquired it from British “publishing maverick” Felix Dennis for $250 million in 2007. Quadrangle put up around $100 million of the purchase price.
A snapshot of what Alpha's tumultuous last two years: the shuttering of the group’s print music title Blender (it’s gone wholly digital); Maxim’s plummeting ad revenues; Quadrangle defaulting on the original purchase debt it used to acquire Alpha; primary investor Steve Rattner stepping down to take a gig with the Obama Administration; and now, Quadrangle handing Alpha over to investors. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, July 16, 2009
I’m not sure if I would call this idea hair-brained or genius, but it’s definitely thought provoking. A think tank called the Democratic Leadership Council believes the US government should fork over and provide every U.S. school-aged student a Kindle. The DLC even shares a proposal to that effect written by Thomas Z. Freedman, called “A Kindle in Every Backpack.” The goal: to replace paper textbooks with digital ones by 2012 and in the process, improve education since e-textbooks are more flexible, interactive learning tools. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Thursday, July 16, 2009
Forbes.com CEO Jim Spanfeller has stepped down from his post after nine years on the Forbes team. News of his resignation emerged Wednesday evening and Spanfeller himself confirmed it. While his replacement has not yet been named, Spanfeller told paid Content he plans “to launch a new business that would manage startups and turnaround businesses for traditional media companies.” He will stay on board until Labor Day to facilitate a smooth transition within Forbes' digital unit.
He called his decision neither “sudden” nor “surprising” to Forbes ownership. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Thursday, July 16, 2009
J.C. Penney is targeting teens with a new multi-channel back-to-school campaign “Schooled in Style: Smart Looks for Less.” The effort looks to reach teens where they are most active: on television, and across mobile and social channels. Saatchi & Saatchi New York, Razorfish, and T3 collaborated with Penney’s on the “Schooled in Style” campaign. Mobile Marketer’s Giselle Tsirulnik explains, “The mobile aspect lets teens sign-up to receive text messages on their mobile phones about back-to-school sales and special offers at JCPenney. [...] Marketing, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Wednesday, July 15, 2009
With bad news splashing headlines every day, it almost comes as a surprise to report something good. However, while consumer magazines as a whole have plummeted in the face of the faltering economy—Publisher’s Information Bureau reported a 29.5% drop across categories last quarter— 10 magazines PIB tracks reported gains. One of the ten was Meredith’s Fitness. With a circulation of 1.5 million, Folio’s Jason Fell reports that “Fitness actually reported the biggest gain through the period, with ad pages rising 18. [...] Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Microsoft has taken up the Twitter torch early, by integrating real-time Twitter feeds several weeks ago and now, with BingTweets. Federated Media is collaborating on the site, which blends Bing and Twitter search results. TechCrunch’s Jason Kincaid explains, “The hybrid allows users to browse through Bing while they see a stream of real-time results fly by, which could be particularly useful for researching a current event, or perhaps a new movie. The hybrid allows users to browse through Bing while they see a stream of real-time results fly by, which could be particularly useful for researching a current event, or perhaps a new movie. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, July 14, 2009
That didn’t take long. Apple’s app store has crossed the 1.5 billion mark in its first year of business. The company shared the numbers in a public release Tuesday. With over 65,000 apps available in 77 countries, Apple calls its app store “the largest applications store in the world.” That’s probably accurate, at least for now.
In the release, ever-mysterious Apple CEO Steve Jobs said, “The App Store is like nothing the industry has ever seen before in both scale and quality…With 1. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Microsoft’s digital agency Razorfish is on the block-- and five top agencies are taking a close look. Several weeks ago Microsoft retained Morgan Stanley to help sell Razorfish. Now, the Wall Street Journal reveals that Microsoft is in touch with Publicis Groupe, WPP, Interpublic, Omnicom, and Dentsu regarding a possible sale. Of the five, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, and WPP are most interested-- and according to the WSJ’s Emily Steel, “are considering a more extensive commercial relationship with Microsoft” in addition to acquiring the agency. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Tuesday, July 14, 2009
McGraw-Hill has responded to the rumors and confirmed it is seeking a sale for BusinessWeek. Paid Content shared the official memo, which while veiled behind corporate fuzz, lays it out: “The McGraw-Hill Companies today announced that it is exploring strategic options for BusinessWeek. BusinessWeek is a globally respected brand and one of the world’s leading sources of essential and trusted content that informs and inspires business leaders to make smarter decisions in their professional and personal lives. [...] Marketing, Media, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Mobile handset developer LG Electronics has joined the app party. The South Korea based company unveils its application store Tuesday, which will launch with 1,400 apps in international markets. The apps are available in an array of 15 languages; for now, it is holding off on a U.S. app store opening, though it should be available domestically down the road. Fierce Mobile Content’s Jason Ankeny explains: “The beta storefront, which will first launch in markets including Singapore, Malaysia and Australia, will expand to Europe and South America before the end of 2009, by which time LG expects to offer more than 2,000 applications. [...] Marketing, Mobile, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, July 13, 2009
Peter Kafka never fails to make me think. In his “Media Memo,” he offers a piece that takes a hard look at the exploding popularity of applications—and the implications that apps could have on the media business. Kafka shares data from a survey Chicago-based consultancy Gravity Tank conducted with what is calls “app phone users.” For all us at home watching the unfolding apps-losion, that means iPhone or G1 smartphone users.
The basic gist of the survey is that people like their apps-- they really like them. [...] Marketing, Media, Mobile, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | by on Monday, July 13, 2009
McGraw-Hill is reportedly looking to sell BusinessWeek. The scoop is McGraw-Hill has charged investment bank Evercore Partners with the task of marketing BusinessWeek. Evercore, founded by Clinton Administration deputy Treasurer Roger Altman, has experience guiding publishers with sales: it has consulted Copley Press with the sale of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Bloomberg broke the story, though the “close to the situation” source declined to be named because the news has not yet been made public. [...] Marketing, Media Read more | Comments (0) | Monday, July 13, 2009
TweetDeck, the popular Twitter application that helps users organize their Twitter conversations, has pulled in “several million” in funding. Among the investors participating in this round: Betaworks, PRO Founders Capital, TAG Ventures, and others. TweetDeck has been downloaded over a million times—making it one of the most popular third-party Twitter clients. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux—and debuted an iPhone app just a week ago.
This funding rounds out a $300,000 seed raise earlier this year, which Betaworks led. [...] Media, Social, Technology Read more | Comments (0) | |
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