Street Fight Daily: Google Invests In Reviews, Foursquare’s Co-Founder Opens Up
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal content, commerce, and technology
Google Launches City Experts Program To Encourage Higher Quality Google+ Local Reviews (TechCrunch)
Google has quietly launched a new program called Google City Experts to encourage more high-quality local business ratings and reviews on Google+. Those who meet these guidelines will be provided with perks, like exclusive access to local events, “custom swag” (meaning free, Google-branded items), and “special online recognition.”
The Ecommerce Killer Is the Logistics Layer of the Local Stack (Street Fight)
Steven Jacobs: The shakeup in food delivery is just a first tremor amid a tectonic shift in local. The adoption of payment, point-of-sale and other commerce-related software by local retailers opens the door to a rethinking of the local logistics model, and the way we transport goods locally.
Foursquare Cofounder Naveen Selvaduri Opens Up About His Exit: “I Wanted To Stay” (Fast Company)
Selvadurai departed Foursquare in early 2012, foreshadowing a tumultuous year for the company, as it dealt with funding woes, growing public skepticism, and increasingly hostile media attention. The reason for Selvadurai’s departure has been the subject of much public debate. But now, in his first on-the-record conversation about the exit, Selvadurai finally tells his story.
Dongle Domination: 40% of SMBs Use Mobile Card Readers (Street Fight)
A new report from BIA/Kelsey finds that 40% of small and medium-sized businesses already accept payments with a mobile credit card reader, and another 16% of the businesses plan to add capability within the next year. The numbers come amid an across-the-board increase in small business engagement with the digital tools, with social media and mobile advertising also taking a larger chunk of business owners time and money.
The Newsonomics of John Henry Buying The Boston Globe (Nieman Lab)
Will John Henry do right by the Globe legacy of quality and public service? He has the deep pockets to do that — and that may be one of the best early indicators here.
Investors May Yet Cry For Yelp (Wall Street Journal)
Rolfe Winkler: Will slow and steady win the local race? That is Yelp’s approach and, in some respects, it is paying off. But investors focused on solid financial gains may be missing a more worrisome indicator: slowing mobile growth.
Monster Media Buys LocaModa (MediaPost)
Digital out-of-home network Monster Media has acquired LocaModa, which helps DOOH networks and advertisers integrate social media content into their campaigns, including mobile and online channels. LocaModa has its own network of DOOH affiliates and clients, so the acquisition will also increase Monster Media’s reach.
GM’s Plan To Turn The Car Into A Smartphone On Wheels (GigaOm)
GM’s not just talking about letting audio streaming and simple location-based services apps into the dashboard, it’s planning to expose engine and vehicle data and even its OnStar telematics features to its developer community. That means app builders can get access to the inner workings and technologies on an unprecedented scale, much like a smartphone or developer can delve into the core features of an Android or iOS device.
Square Poaches Another Facebook Ads Team Member for Data Science Post (AllThingsD)
Rong Yan, a Facebook engineering manager on the ads team for the past four years, has joined commerce company Square to become the startup’s data science Lead. In his new position, Yan will be responsible for handling large-scale data analysis at Square, making sense and gleaning insights from the information the company takes in.
Will Marketers Pay $24k A Year For Customizable Neighborhood Maps? InstaGIS Hopes So (Paid Content)
The map analytics company offer a free product that lets users explore their neighborhoods. But a new paid service is aimed at marketers trying to figure out where to put their next store.
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