News and Analysis

Local Businesses Face Negative Reviews Due to Coronavirus Safety Requirements

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Google has taken several important measures to assist businesses during the pandemic, but none so far can prevent customers angry about coronavirus-related restrictions from lashing out at businesses attempting to follow public health best practices or the letter of the local law. “The review space has never been harder than right now,” wrote GatherUp co-founder and reputation management expert Mike Blumenthal.

But there are also possible strategies for survival.

With Walmart+, Retailer Combines Digital Subscription Service and Physical Stores

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Regardless of which retailer comes out on top, there’s no doubt that many will see Walmart’s decision to launch a digital-first membership program as a turning point in brick-and-mortar retail and a concession on Walmart’s part that e-commerce is the way of the future, displacing rather than complementing old-school retail.

Marcel Hollerbach contends that Walmart’s decision to launch a membership program points to just how well positioned retailers with physical locations are in the current climate, with the ability to quickly facilitate things like in-store returns and same-day deliveries of items that take much longer to ship by mail.

5 Localized Ad Platforms for SMBs

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Localized ad platforms could also see an increase in use in the coming months among SMBs that want to cut down on unnecessary costs. Many of the localized ad platforms aimed at the SMB market take a self-serve approach, allowing business owners to adjust their budgets and adapt their strategies as conditions evolve.

Here are five localized ad platforms that are focused on helping merchants get back on their feet.

Commentary

With Rover, David Arkin Takes a Mobile-First, Enjoyable Approach to Local News

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American Hometown Publishing details how the company’s brand-new publication Rover—launched two weeks ago in suburban Nashville—aims to present news to its readers as an “enjoyable experience.”

Google Maps Is Becoming More Personal and Useful, and Businesses Can Reap the Benefits

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In recent months, Google has launched a number of changes to Maps. Users will win with the more personalized and intuitive future of the app. Businesses will win, too—so long as you manage your location data, content, and reputation.

LBMA Podcast: Thinknear, Facebook & Nike, Groupon Buys Vouchercloud

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On this week’s edition of the Location-Based Marketing Association podcast: Thinknear, Facebook + Nike, Groupon buys Vouchercloud, Clear Channel launches RADARView, Oscar Meyer’s Bacoin, Coca-Cola teams up with Cargo.

Latest Posts

Street Fight Daily: Amazon Invests in Shipping and Delivery, Inside Millennial Marketing

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Amazon Plans First Air Cargo Hub… Millenial Shoppers Have an Affinity for Mobile and In-Store Digital Shopping… Uber Partners with Daimler in a Step Toward a Driverless Future…

6 Platforms Merchants Can Use to Capture After-Hours Leads

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More and more consumers expect the small businesses in their own communities to be open when they’re ready to book appointments or ask questions, regardless of the time of day. Here are six examples of platforms local merchants can use to increase conversion rates outside of traditional business hours.

Should Local News Open Its Heart to Emojis?

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Six billion emojis are shared every day, but few of them appear on local news sites. Dana Loberg, founder and CEO of MojiLaLa, thinks emojis could help local news sites not only make better connections with their present users but also attract new and younger audiences.

Street Fight Daily: Walmart Ups Delivery Game, Small Businesses Rely on Antiquated Tech

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Walmart Launches Free 2-Day Shipping on Purchases of $35 or More… Survey: Small Businesses Have a Long Way to Go on Digital Strategies… Marketers’ Data Priorities Shift from ‘Collection’ to ‘Value’…

Apple Gets Into Position for the Voice Search Revolution

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As voice search becomes more prevalent, Apple will “retain an advantage over Amazon in ‘on-the-go’ searches, since our phones are always with us,” David Mihm tells Mike Blumenthal. “Unfortunately for Apple, people overwhelmingly conduct voice searches at home. “

Three Ways Location Marketing Is Changing in 2017

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People are searching differently. They’re using emoji, voice commands, and social media to find what they want on demand through a variety of channels and devices. As a result, businesses need to be more nimble and imaginative in the way they convert online searches into offline sales.

Street Fight Daily: Signpost Brings AI-Driven Ads to Facebook, Snap to File Publicly for IPO This Week

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Signpost Integrates AI Tech with Facebook for More Effective Advertising… Snap Plans to File Publicly for Its Much-Awaited IPO This Week… How Automakers Are Cashing in on Connected Cars…

TAPinto’s 60 Franchises Launch Mobile App to Reach Young Users More Directly

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Hyperlocal news network TAPinto has launched a mobile app to give users a platform that’s free of Facebook’s filters and is the preferred choice of younger readers. While many local newspapers and TV broadcasters offer apps, few independent news “pure-plays” like TAPinto have done so.

Raise Report: Button, Flirtey, AppsFlyer Score New Rounds

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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 Vestiaire Collective, Dalia, Zeotap, and Shiftgig.

Street Fight Daily: MarTech Space Headed for Consolidation, Snap’s Advertising Potential

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Marketing Technology Likely to See Widespread Consolidation in 2017… Snapchat’s Ad Platform is Growing Quickly, But Will It Ever Reach Facebook’s Heights?… Google Parent Alphabet Finds New Growth Beyond Search…