News and Analysis

Adtech Firms Test New Concept with Autonomous Bot Delivery Campaign

Share this:

While food delivery platforms like Postmates, DoorDash, and GrubHub have all launched no-contact options, they generally rely on human drivers leaving food on the ground outside people’s front doors. With the health risks and potential for mix-ups, it’s less than ideal.

A better solution might be the one being rolled out by Wrapify. Just this morning, the company announched the launch of a first-of-its-kind campaign that could take autonomous bot delivery to the next level.

Street Fight’s December Theme: Leaving 2020

Share this:

What will the “next normal” look like in the post-Covid era of local commerce? Will things go back to the old normal or be a hybrid reality that cherry-picks components and new perspectives from the past nine months? Will e-commerce dip back down to pre-Covid levels or keep surging?

We’ll be answering these questions and others throughout the month, along with 2021 predictions (’tis the season) for our theme, Leaving 2020.

Qualifying and Quantifying 2020’s E-commerce Surge

Share this:

Spending hasn’t declined — it’s just shifted. One of the themes we’re seeing is that the standouts of 2020 are those who have shifted with it. We’re talking here about a broad definition of e-commerce — not just ordering things online, but any digital or mobile purchase.

For example, in local commerce, these digital fulfillment models include mobile order-ahead functions in QSR and coffee. They also include curbside pickup for physical goods. And in an even broader sense (and looking forward), they will include touchless or cashier-less retail in a post-Covid era of physical retail.

Commentary

DexYP (and Other Publishers) Transition to Digital, But Limited Revenue Suggests Bleak Long-Term Prospects

Share this:

“DexYP seems to be doing as many things right as one can expect from a huge Yellow Pages entity. But somehow they, and other publishers, need to transition to a more consultative higher-price point position,” David Mihm tells Mike Blumenthal in this edition of their biweekly column.

LBMA Podcast: Ninth Decimal and Branded Cities, Swrve, Burger King

Share this:

On this week’s Location-Based Marketing Association podcast: Swrve’s Payload, UnDigital, Branded Cities + NinthDecimal, Tommy Hilfiger, Singapore Airlines, and Burger King France.

Local News Publishers Still Mired in Ad Fraud, New Pixalate Data Shows

Share this:

According to new research from Pixalate, a cross-channel fraud intelligence company that works with brands and platforms to prevent ad fraud and improve ad inventory quality, about a quarter of all smartphone app video and smartphone app display activity is “invalid traffic” (the technical term for what is largely fraud).

Latest Posts

Street Fight Daily: Uber Tracked Devices After App Was Deleted, Amazon Launches ‘Subscribe with Amazon’

Share this:

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Uber’s CEO Plays with Fire… Amazon Launches ‘Subscribe with Amazon,’ a Marketplace for Digital Subscriptions… Loyalty Programs: The Best Way to Connect Users is Every Way…

Openings and New Hires at Balihoo, Fika Ventures, Placed, Acquisio

Share this:

Every two weeks, Geoff Michener covers some of the latest job changes taking place in this dynamic industry. This week’s edition includes moves and new openings at EQ Works, Yext, Uber, and AdTaxi.

Raise Report: Getaround, Marble, Qualtrics Secure New Funding

Share this:

Every two weeks, we round up some of the biggest fundraises taking place in hyperlocal marketing, commerce, and tech. This week’s edition includes funding for otonomo, Virtualitics, Factom, and Reltio.

Street Fight Daily: Google Boosts Ads with Machine Learning, Gannett Acquires SweetIQ

Share this:

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Google Leans on Machine Learning and Scale for Smarter Display Ads… Amazon’s Alexa Voice Tech is Now Available to Build Chatbots… Twitter is Testing a New Way to Show You News Articles…

Gannett Acquires SweetIQ, Building Out ReachLocal’s Suite of Digital Products

Share this:

Gannett announced on Thursday afternoon that it has acquired Montreal-based listings management company SweetIQ, which will be rolled into its ReachLocal suite of software for small businesses and brands. SweetIQ’s products provide local businesses with tools to manage their listings and reputation, and measure consumer engagement.

The Usability Gap: Designing the Right Products for SMBs

Share this:

Surely small business owners belong to the class of ordinary users. Expecting them to invest the time and energy to become power users is a good way to guarantee that your user base will remain small. This realization could lead to a very different and more fruitful approach to product design for SMBs.

Location Data About Legal Cannabis Reveals Shifts in Consumer Behavior

Share this:

Another 4/20 is upon us and as cannabis patrons prepare to celebrate, the marketing world is still trying to figure out how best to reach legal consumers of marijuana. Foursquare released data earlier this week that illustrates a few trends among legal cannabis consumers.

Street Fight Daily: Marketers Eye Apple’s Snap Clone, Retail and VR

Share this:

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Marketers Have Begun Eyeing Clips, Apple’s New Camera App… The Realities of Virtual Reality and Retail… Facebook Messenger Bots Work in Groups Now — Just Don’t Expect Them to Chat…

Could Chipotle Have Saved Millions of Dollars By Taking Online Reviews More Seriously?

Share this:

If done right, online reputation management can act as an early warning system for multi-location businesses, and can ultimately prevent long-term brand damage and reduce the risk of decreasing profits.

7 Startups Decamp to the ‘Smartest Place in the World’ to Rethink Mobility

Share this:

When machines around us communicate asynchronously in a meaningful way — in the service of the consumer — we’re likely to see some astounding outcomes. While the machines might not be chit-chatting with one another about the weather too soon, in Singapore it’s all being tried.