News and Analysis
Deft CEO: the State of SEO and Search Advertising
The team at Deft has some controversial takes on the state of SEO and search advertising. From the beginning, the company was founded on the belief that e-commerce is the most over-SEO’d and over-advertised search category — and the problem is only getting worse, as both Amazon and Google continue to make money by keeping […]
Hail Caesars Republic: Talking to Ryan Kirby about MULO Hotel Expansion
Many hotel companies now have different brands within their brand, offering various price points and experiences underneath their multi-location (MULO) umbrella. You may have thought of Caesars as just a casino experience in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, with giant statues and endless slots and tables. But Caesars is about to open its second non-gaming resort […]
The Cookie Is Crumbling: Americans Demand Better Privacy, Transparency, and Control
The ongoing debate surrounding the death of the cookie has prompted leaders in ad tech to reevaluate modern advertising practices and search for more privacy-conscious and user-friendly alternatives. Users are demanding greater privacy — including transparency, choice, and control over how their data is used. In addition, Apple has diminished the retargeting connection through IDFA, […]
Commentary
Are Brand Ambassadors Replacing Influencers Post-Pandemic?
The everyday consumer tends to first seek out friends/family and niche influencers (or brand ambassadors) for recommendations rather than celebrity influencers. An ambassador is product-oriented, commission-driven, and incentivized to sell products, rather than being paid per post conditional upon the number of followers they have like an influencer. Being commission-driven, ambassadors will usually get into the nitty-gritty about the product, spelling out why they love it, tips on styling, etc.
Apple’s Long View of Data Privacy: Revisiting Jobs in 2010
But what is the source of Apple’s self-interest, which drives its approach to privacy? I want to suggest that it’s not just a short-sighted opportunity to one-up Facebook and rival smartphone maker Google. Unlike the vast majority of tech companies recently touting new approaches to privacy, Apple isn’t new to this party.
Marketers, We Need More Accurate Attribution Modeling
In order to produce accurate attribution models, data must be combined, centralized, clean, valid, and recent. Brands that compile customer data from all channels and assemble the tech that produces multi-faceted views of customer journeys will have a competitive advantage. AI-driven modeling is possible with the right data tools in place.
Latest Posts
Fostering a Cybersecurity Culture to Avoid Retail Apocalypse
Reports indicate that local commerce is picking up. Consumers have shown pent-up demand, according to the National Retail Federation, after being locked down for many months with stimulus funds burning holes in their pockets. Retailers are noticing, but so are cybercriminals.
Think You’re Ready for AI? You Might Not Be
Despite its great promise, AI is not for everyone, and integrating AI into your existing functions isn’t something that happens overnight. If you’re not ready – and you don’t have the right kind of data to make AI productive and the insights actionable – it can be more of a hindrance than a help. AI-based campaigns should be approached carefully and methodically, but if done right, the payoff can be substantial.
6 AI-Based Mapping Systems for Efficient Logistics
Already, businesses are using AI-based mapping systems to find the most efficient routes, which saves valuable time and fuel costs. AI-based mapping systems could also be useful for companies that want to create more optimized truckload plans based on market situations and cargo specifications.
Innovation Brief: Google, Facebook & Netflix
On a semi-weekly basis, Street Fight’s Innovation Brief series aggregates and analyzes happenings from across the technology and media spheres. This week, we look at Google’s latest machine learning, Facebook’s Watch play, and Netflix getting into e-commerce.
How E-Commerce Apps Can Win Prime Day
Advice abounds about how to prepare for Prime Day 2021 (June 21 and 22) — from perfecting your social strategy to how to score the best deals. Here are a few tips, backed by data, to help your brand come out of online retail’s biggest day with an even bigger win.
LBMA: NextNav Merging with Spartacus
In this episode of Location Weekly, the Location-Based Marketing Association covers a free laundry service for the homeless, Rockbot teaming with Clear Channel on the airport market, NextNav merging with Spartacus to go public, and solar-powered e-paper bringing real-time signs to the Bavarian ski resort.
Our Industry’s Efforts to Solve the Identity Crisis Are Grossly Misdirected
Today’s industry trades are clogged with speculation and solutions addressing the forthcoming upheaval of the digital identity landscape. Unfortunately, little of the discussion and proposed paths forward are focused on mobile apps, the environment in which the loss of consumer targeting capabilities is going to be most devastating.
7 Things to Know About Cannabis Marketing
Legal cannabis sales skyrocketed 46% last year, and the industry’s marketing sector is growing alongside it. But marketing a substance that is only recreationally legal in 14 states and medicinally permitted in 36 requires a more targeted approach than ads for soft drinks or toilet paper. Here are seven things to know about cannabis marketing.
Expert Roundup: How is Mapping Innovation Playing Out? Part I
Mapping is one of those foundational “meat and potatoes” topics in Street Fight’s repertoire that buttresses local commerce. But despite its longstanding positioning at the center of that world, and its mature status, it still somehow continues to show rapid transformation and innovation cycles. Experts from HERE Technologies, GroundTruth, and SafeGraph expound on the state of mapping tech.
Executives Should Support Vaccinations. They Are Just Good Business
Encouraging vaccination simply makes better strategic sense for any business facing system-wide unknowns, especially in the online/tech space. This is a moment for all e-commerce professionals to lead.
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