News and Analysis

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 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.

Commentary

Capitalizing on the Big Game Buzz on a Shoestring Budget

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Iconic moments in Super Bowl history like Oreo’s ‘Dunk in the Dark’ Tweet prove that ads are no longer the only path for creating noise. Smart businesses can capitalize on the game with strategic social content but should not over-rely on it. Instagram and Facebook are notorious for outages during big moments such as Thanksgiving Day in 2019. Twitter has also experienced its fair share of downtime, with outages across platforms lasting as long as 24 hours. 

Instead of zeroing in exclusively on social channels, why not deliver a one-two punch by also serving up relevant content on your business’ blog and website? Here are a few tips to maximize content across marketing channels.

Turn Your Side Hustle into a Booming Startup

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Finding success in a side hustle is exciting, and turning it into a profitable startup is even more so. You’ll hit a few roadblocks when starting out — everyone does! Figuring out where to target your audience and recognizing the appropriate time to hire help are crucial to overcoming them.

Though you may see burnout as an inevitable side effect to side hustling, it doesn’t have to be. Protect your energy and maintain perspective on the overarching goals you want to accomplish. It may require more than a typical nine-to-five, but entrepreneurs who remain digitally active and seek inspiration and support from their industry peers will find a rewarding career.

VR is the Next Commerce Frontier. Strap on Your Headset

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An unfamiliar sight has emerged among the familiar photos of family gatherings posted to social media this holiday season: people wearing next-generation virtual reality devices. Between the turkey and pie courses, grandma strapped on a headset and jumped into a futuristic reality. 

Thanks to rapidly evolving technology, lower prices, and the support of 5G networks, this uncommon sight may soon become a common experience. While just 11% of Americans reported owning VR technology in 2018, VR hardware and software sales are expected to skyrocket 587% to $5.5 billion by 2023, up from an estimated $800 million last year.

The move from tethered to standalone VR stands to change the way users connect with every aspect of the world — including e-commerce. 

Latest Posts

ThriveHive Launches Solution to Audit Google My Business Profiles

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The sheer volume of features that Google has added to Google My Business in the past year has made the platform overwhelming for many small business owners. It’s also opening up new opportunities for digital marketing vendors like ThriveHive.

Nucleus Claims It Now Has Throw Weight to Outperform Platforms on Ads

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Google and Facebook have dominated digital advertising in this decade. But now, two-year-old Nucleus Marketing Solutions says it has the throw weight to tip the balance against the big search and social platforms.

Heard on the Street, Episode 12: How Important Are Online Reviews?

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Considering the level of influence that online reviews can have on any given business, it’s become increasingly important to optimize them in various ways. How is that done? There are lots of tactical ins and outs we highlight on this episode of the Heard on the Street Podcast.

Data is Technology’s Currency: Increase Its Value by Maintaining Accuracy

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By defining their organizations’ definition of “accuracy,” allocating marketing resources to external solution providers that can provide unique data sets pulled from mobile phones, and ensuring all data is as up to date as possible via location-based approaches, marketers will begin to see an improvement in the quality and transparency of the data they purchase.

Street Fight Daily: Google Cedes Some Control of AMP, How Important Are Online Reviews?

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TODAY IN LOCAL & DIGITAL MARKETING AND MEDIA… Google Is Giving Up Some Control of the AMP Format… Heard on the Street, Episode 12: How Important Are Online Reviews?… After Amazon Storefronts, A Self-Service Suite of Ad Tools…

Annie Selke Uses Offline Tactics to Drive Online Buyers

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The high-end furnishings brand Annie Selke uses direct mail catalogs and flyers to tell the company’s story, before ultimately driving most shoppers online to complete their transactions, explains Cindy Marshall, chief marketing officer for the Massachusetts-based brand. It’s also working with 4Cite’s cart-abandonment program and the vendor’s other tools.

Street Fight Daily: Amazon Gets into SMB Goods, Leading Travel Reviews Site Pivots to Social

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TODAY IN LOCAL & DIGITAL MARKETING AND MEDIA… Amazon Wants to Take Over Every Aspect of Shopping. Next Up? Small Businesses… TripAdvisor Wants to Become Your Social Media Network for Travel… Shoppable Billboards: Retailers Say Physical Stores are Driving Online Sales…

TripAdvisor Wants to Become Your Social Media Network for Travel

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What started as a site for travel reviews is pivoting to become a social media hub for travelers, providing a personalized travel planning experience that combines reviews and recommendations from friends, publishers, and influencers, the company announced Monday.

Sprinklr, Snaps Launch Solution to Blend Efficiency of Chatbots & Care of Human Reps

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Primarily a customer experience management solution, Sprinklr believes its new integration will help brands more easily manage the transition between automated chatbots and human agents when dealing with complex customer care questions on Facebook Messenger, Twitter, and SMS.

GetFiveStars Expands Its Capabilities, Rebrands as GatherUp

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GetFiveStars, which helps businesses generate feedback from customers and capitalize on that feedback to better serve them, is rebranding as GatherUp. The name change intends to convey an increasingly holistic approach to customer engagement.