News and Analysis
BUST: When 99 Cents Goes to Zero
Making change takes on a whole new meaning, as 99 Cents Only stores, a MULO (multi-location) business with close to 400 stores in four Southwestern states, will close down all its locations and liquidate its inventory. The brand, founded in 1982, was known for pricing all its goods at under $1, a novelty at the […]
Free Food
As sophisticated as marketing and technology have become among MULO (multi-location) brands, one thing remains true and timeless: People love free stuff — especially free food … stuff to eat. That has been evidenced over the past months by the number of fast-casual restaurants that have incorporated “sampling” into their marketing and customer acquisition strategies. […]
Commentary
Getting Real About Augmented Reality’s Marketing Implications
At CES 2022, Microsoft announced a surprise partnership with chip manufacturer Qualcomm, indicating the potential for the software giant to develop smaller chips and better software for AR glasses or mobile AR applications. Add in the metaverse, and the possibility for further AR growth in advertising is extraordinary. AR experiences like these can move consumers closer to a purchase decision.
Programmatic Best Practices: Dynamic Creative Optimization
As dynamic advertising has become a standard tool for data-driven marketing, dynamic creative optimization (DCO) has become a critical capability to drive higher performance. DCO leverages machine learning for real-time media buying to deliver the best possible creative at the right time. Ads are customized and changed in relation to a user’s past behavior or current situation with individual components of an ad personalized in real-time.
Third-Party Delivery Apps Are Stealing Your Customers. Here’s How to Regain Control
Think grocery’s biggest problem is inflation? It used to be. These days, it’s third-party vendors like Instacart who impact your results in an already margin-thin business. Add in retail giants like Walmart, who are rolling out their own grocery delivery services as new services continue to pop up, and that impact becomes even greater.
Latest Posts
Cart Abandonment: How to Beat Online Shopping’s Hidden Enemy
While it’s unrealistic to expect that your cart abandonment rate will ever be zero, there are still many factors that are in your control — which means you can improve it. So, I’ve put together a list of tips you can implement to get more of your customers to follow through with their purchases, as well as to avoid some of the most common mistakes.
These Location Intelligence Solutions Are Optimizing Last-Mile Delivery
Advanced location intelligence software combines artificial intelligence and street-level mapping data to help startups predict customer buying patterns and stage inventories in the right locations — e.g. ghost kitchens — using prediction algorithms and real-time sales metrics. Location intelligence software firms are also taking advantage of traffic data, weather information, and consumer behavioral data to help last-mile delivery companies streamline operations in today’s tough business environment.
Location-Based Marketing Association: Walmart Partners with Roku on Shoppable TV Ads
In this episode of Location Weekly, the Location-Based Marketing Association covers the Waymap app helping the visually impaired navigate public transit in D.C., Kiwibot rolling out a fleet of advertising robots in Peru, and Walmart partnering with Roku to stream shoppable TV ads. Plus, there’s a auest Interview with Nick Patrick, co-founder and CEO of Radar.
The Challenge of Brand Alignment with Social Issues
Increasingly, brands with high public visibility must articulate their positions on issues the public cares about while avoiding the appearance of exploiting public sentiment for purposes of self-promotion. And whether or not a formal statement makes sense on every issue, companies should be prepared for the day when a consumer comes to them to ask a question or offer feedback about a brand’s actions or values, perhaps in the form of a social post that is there for all to see.
GumGum Helps Marketers Reach Gamers with Intrinsic In-Game Ads
A new partnership between the contextual-first digital ad platform GumGum and Frameplay, a company that enables intrinsic in-game advertising, could give multi-location brands a way to reach gamers in select markets while also enhancing the playing experience for those seeking more in-game rewards.
Three Best Practices to Reduce Acquisition Costs and Increase Lifetime Value
Retail media networks have a significant role to play in helping DTC brands engage with their audiences while bringing down customer acquisition costs. To reduce user acquisition costs while driving lifetime value, brands also need to figure out exactly what to measure and how to understand target customers.
Streets Ahead: ChatGPT, AI-Generated meta descriptions and AI Mode