Street Fight Daily: 01.31.12
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal media, technology, advertising and startups.
Groupon’s ‘Weird’ CEO Takes on Critics (Wall Street Journal)
Groupon Inc. Chief Executive Andrew Mason wants to prove his company is worth the fuss after its roller-coaster ride to an initial public offering last year. The 31-year-old founder took his Chicago-based daily deals site public in November at a valuation of $13 billion, well below the $15 billion to $20 billion price tag Groupon once thought it could command. The IPO also brought on questions about another bubble in the Internet sector and the viability of the daily-deals business model.
Pew: More Than Half Of Adults Used Cell Phones In Stores For Purchasing Decisions During The Holidays (TechCrunch)
Mobile is becoming a significant part of the in-store and online shopping experience, and the Pew report’s data only emphasizes this trend. And although consumers tend to shop at increased levels during the holiday season, there’s no doubt that mobile is going to be an important engagement platform for both online and brick and mortar retailers throughout the year.
Will Groupon Get Lampooned in New CBS Sitcom? (Forbes)
Jeff Bercovici: How established has Groupon become as a cultural touchstone? So much so that the digital discounts dealer is the setting for a new CBS sitcom. The network just ordered a pilot for a show called “Friend Me,” about “twenty-something best friends Evan and Rob, [who] move from their hometown of Bloomington, Indiana to Los Angeles to begin their exciting new lives working at Groupon.”
5 Privacy Tips for Location-Based Services (Mashable)
LBS-based businesses that want to avoid becoming future legal or media targets need to take stock of existing business practices and identify where updates may be appropriate. Take a look at the following privacy LBS do’s and don’ts.
Alt Media Adapt to Digital Challenges (NetNewsCheck)
Alternative newsweeklies have taken their hits over the past few years, but now they are taking advantage of their flexibility and experimenting with social media, video and blogs in an effort to catch up in the digital world — and in some markets, challenge the local daily for dominance.
Arrivals for Foursquare Displays Check-ins on Old-Style Airport Board (Mashable)
Tired of Foursquare‘s busy roll of check-ins? A new app cuts out all the clutter and shows you exactly where your friends have arrived. Arrivals for Foursquare is an app based on a concept developed by Toby Barnes for his eight-year-old son to keep track of him while on business trips.
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