News and Analysis

The Franchise of the Future Street Fight

The Franchise of the Future

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The franchise MULO (multi-location) business model has been around since 1731 and boomed in the U.S. in 1960, with the formation of the International Franchise Association (or IFA). The IFA now represents 1,300 franchisors, 10,000 franchisees, and more than 600 professionals and suppliers to the industry, according to its website (which also features a robust […]

This MULO Diner Chain is Roaring Street Fight

BOOM: This MULO Diner Chain is Roaring

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The diner as a concept seems to be timeless.  Back in 1913, the first stationary diner was established and ultimately grew to 6,000 privately owned locations nationally. That’s a giant MULO (multi-location) venture! Fast forward to today. Although foodies have a wide range of options for where to eat — from single-unit locations to specific […]

Retail Media According to Skai Street Fight

BOOM: Retail Media According to Skai

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We often use “BOOM” to identify a category or store brand that’s thriving. But BOOMing can also apply to trends in media buying and creative. So, for 2024 we’ve expanded the term to cover that as well, so MULO (multi-location) brands and the agencies that work with them can identify how to better reach consumers […]

Commentary

Location-Based Marketing Association: Pinterest’s AR Home Decor Tool

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In this episode of Location Weekly, the Location-Based Marketing Association discusses Cross River Bank and PayTile teaming up on location-based payments, GeoBroadcast Solutions targeting iHeart in radio, Pinterest releasing an AR home decor tool, and PAR Technology integrating Radius Network’s Flybuy SaaS platform.

Online Reviews and the Problem of Authenticity

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Recent developments from the FTC mark a significant moment in the history of online review management. Practices such as review gating have been relatively widespread in the industry for years, despite warnings such as this Help Center update published by Google in 2018: “Don’t discourage or prohibit negative reviews or selectively solicit positive reviews from customers.” 

How Data Provides a Two-Way Story to Drive Performance

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Data creates a two-way story with customers. In this exchange, you deliver value to customers and they, in turn, give you important information about who they are and how they feel. Within customer experience management, this value exchange allows you to heighten the experience. It is the quality of the data and what you do with it that matters most for performance.

Latest Posts

customer experience retail

Report: Brand Loyalty Declines as Consumers Push for Transparency

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Following two tumultuous years, consumers are returning to their pre-pandemic ways. Spending on experiences and activities is up, and shoppers are returning to stores in person. Consumers are looking for the best selection and the best prices. What they’re not concerned with is brand loyalty. Where has the love gone?

Ad Tech and Privacy

Why Everyone is Talking About First-Party Data and What You Need to Know

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Many brands are successfully deploying interactive experiences across channels, driving immediate ROI as well as lifetime value. The improvement to lifetime value doesn’t just happen, though. There is another challenge that brands must address — which is now that they’ve captured the data, what are they going to do with it?

How AI Will Transform Ad Operations over the Next 5 Years

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Ultimately, Burt Intelligence CEO Carl Leskinen sees his company’s technology as elevating the status and possibly the impact of ad ops professionals in their organizations. Ad ops is well positioned to provide close-up intelligence on what kind of business is coming in, what products clients need, and how media organizations can run more smoothly. For now, their time is occupied putting out fires. With the right technology, Leskinen argues, they might be able to build a bigger house.

Adtech Execs React to Apple’s WWDC Tracking Announcements

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Apple announced at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference that it would add some features to SKAdNetwork, its privacy-adjusted marketing measurement framework, to provide more marketing insights.

7 Audio Out-of-Home (AOOH) Solutions to Watch in 2022

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Audio out-of-home (AOOH) advertising has become an ad industry darling, offering brands a creative way to connect with consumers in real-time as they move toward the point of purchase. By inserting ads into audio content, like podcasts, streaming music, or the overhead speakers in a retail store, brands are reaching on-the-go consumers and driving conversions.

The Future of Targeting Relies on the Right Data

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Ad targeting is about to undergo a seismic shift. In the not so distant future, marketers won’t select who is targeted. Rather, machines–powered by ML/AI–will determine the ads consumers see.

Smartify Helps SMBs Generate Digital Ad Revenue from Window Inventory

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A new program from Smartify Media would help small business owners generate incremental revenue from what has traditionally been an under-utilized asset — the storefront window.

7 Shoppable Video Platforms

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With a number of shoppable video platforms preparing to launch or expand their offerings in 2022, and established companies like Firework finding interest from major investors like SoftBank, the phenomenon seems likely to gain popularity in the US.

6 Questions Brands Should Ask When Evaluating Performance CTV Providers

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With lots of opportunities to reach new audiences and so many options for targeting and optimization, some marketers are understandably intimidated and not sure where to start. To help brands who are new to the space, here are six questions to ask when considering dipping your toes into the performance CTV space.

6 Contextual Advertising Solutions for Brands

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Unlike most types of behavioral targeting, contextual targeting doesn’t rely on third-party cookies. That makes it an especially popular option in 2022, as more U.S. states pass stringent consumer data privacy regulations. Here are six contextual advertising solutions that brands are using right now.