News and Analysis

Plain Sight Pivots to Help Local Businesses Drive Foot Traffic

Founded by James Chapman and backed by Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert, Plain Sight originally started as a way for people to explore professional connections based on location.

With local businesses closing by the thousands, Chapman says he’s envisioning the Plain Sight app as a tool for businesses to promote themselves and increase foot traffic. Businesses can use the platform to develop stronger customer loyalty by engaging with consumers directly. In addition to sharing information about how they are keeping customers safe, restaurants and other businesses can also accept free and paid reservations through the platform.

How Political Campaigns Leverage Location Data in an Era of Virtual Events

Political ad spending is expected to reach record highs this cycle, topping $6.89 billion in the 2019/2020 election period. This cycle’s spending is 63% higher than spending in the 2015/2016 season. Tapping into location data to make that advertising more relevant has taken a bit more creativity than usual.

Ad Tech and Privacy

How Much Is Your Data Worth? A New Tool Will Help You Find Out

Facebook, Google, Amazon, Twitter, Pinterest, and countless other technology giants have expanded their collection of consumer identity data, even as privacy regulations like the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) have gone into effect. A new tool from Killi serves as an educational resource, giving people a way to calculate the value of their personal data based on the platforms they use every day.

Killi’s new tool asks consumers to enter their email addresses and select the platforms they currently use. The tool references public quarterly revenues and daily/monthly active users, as well as data aggregators like Statista, to arrive at the value amount of each consumer’s personal data.

Commentary

Your Voice-First Future is Here

Digital giants are forging a path to every consumer, looking to win a home automation arms race. You, too, should be considering how to connect in new ways with your customers because voice and speech recognition are ready for prime time.

The Bifurcation of the Local SEO Services Market

“The changing nature of search and the increasing localization are making “traditional SEO” harder, more expensive, and less productive of ROI, and that should lead every agency to assess what they are delivering and to whom,” Mike Blumenthal tells David Mihm in their latest biweekly column.

LBMA Podcast: RetailLoco, Adsquare, PlaceIQ, Bluedot

On this week’s podcast from the Location-Based Marketing Association: A RetailLoco Recap, Adsquare’s Footfall, PlaceIQ + IRI, Bluedot raises $5.5M from TransUrban, Waze + Carto, Amex ends Plenti, DAC Group launches ConvergenSEE.

Latest Posts

Why Mobile Payments Will Heat Up in 2017

Mobile payments have been inhibited by point-of-sale hardware upgrade requirements and the lack of a killer pitch for either users or merchants. But the movement to chip-based credit and debit cards in the U.S. could help.

Street Fight Daily: Here Helps Baidu Expand Mapping Service, Retailers Use Tech for Personalization

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Here Partners with Baidu to Expand Its Mapping Service to Europe and Beyond… How Retailers Use Personalization — If They Do At All… Facebook Measurement: The Walled Garden is Cracking a Window…

Surefire Social Rebrands, Acquires Franchise Marketing Firm in Hyperlocal Push

Surefire Social has announced this morning that it is rebranding as Surefire Local, as it looks to more strongly emphasize its hyperlocal focus. The new name is just one of many changes at the company, which recently purchased the local marketing automation vendor Promio.

Openings and New Hires at Search Influence, Urgent.ly, Kantar Media

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 Pandora, Branded Entertainment Network, and DialogTech.

Raise Report: New Funding for ezCater, Gravy Analytics, CloudCar

Every two weeks, we round up some of the biggest fundraises taking place in hyperlocal marketing, commerce, and tech. This edition includes funding for Flytrex, CloudCraze, NG Data, and Choozle.

Street Fight Daily: Google Launches Website Builder for SMBs, Amazon Go’s Potential Impact on Retail

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Google Testing Website Builder Within Google My Business… Amazon Go, Deep Learning, and a Better Retail Experience… Toyota Leverages Mobile Location Firm NinthDecimal’s Data to Establish Attribution for Dealer Visits…

Sponsored Content: Jewelers Battle for Holiday Retailers

While some shoppers went online to buy gems this holiday season, many went to their local jewelry stores. Winning brands this holiday season had their store location information readily available. But there’s more to reaching the local customer.

How Retailers Running Beacon Campaigns Fared This Holiday Season

As large retail chains start unpacking the effectiveness of their digital marketing efforts, mobile presence management vendor Swirl is releasing the results of its own beacon marketing campaigns run during the holiday shopping season.

Who Should Rate Communities: Experts, the Public — or Both?

One emerging group that might be able to help publishers answers tough questions is the nonprofit group STAR Communities, which “works to evaluate, improve, and certify sustainable communities.” The company helps cities and counties “achieve a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well being for their residents.”

Street Fight Daily: Spectacles Give Brands Location-Based, AR Marketing Tool; Indoor Location Tech to Rise

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Spectacles Offer Brands an Advertising Opportunity Combining AR and Location… Indoor Location Tech Predicted to Gain Widespread Usage in Coming Years… Case Study: Amazon Didn’t Kill Macy’s. Macy’s Did…