News and Analysis
How Are Brands Preparing for Native Ratings in Apple Maps?
A foundational element of local marketing strategy could be changing. Rumors began circulating last week that Apple would be giving users the ability to add ratings and photos to local business listings on Apple Maps when iOS 14 releases this fall. That could mean big changes are in store for brand marketers who’ve grown accustomed to monitoring reviews and ratings on a core group of third-party platforms.
Apple’s move into the ratings and review space isn’t totally unexpected, but it’s still causing the local marketing community to question how the update will impact local search and discovery.
Meliá Hotels Uses Local Influencers to Drive Covid-19 Awareness
Brochures and signage are easy to overlook, but social media influencers are harder to miss. As they work to bring back guests during the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of hotel chains are relying on partnerships with social media influencers to educate guests on the new safety protocols they’ve put in place.
Street Fight’s September Theme: Mapping the Future
What does “Mapping the Future” entail? As a primary tool for consumer local search and discovery, mapping continues to undergo UX innovations and structural changes. We’ll examine these areas as well as mapping’s interplay with local search and SEO strategies.
Though mapping is more of a Street Fight staple than a trending topic, market signals indicate that the timing is right. In fact, we already got started last month with a look at Snapchat’s moves into local mapping — not just UX upgrades to Snap Map but also self-serve advertising for local businesses.
Commentary
Square’s Acquisition of Weebly and The Battle for the Modern Merchant
Square’s acquisition of Weebly, its largest to date, signals the beginning of a consolidation wave that we have been expecting at SurePath for some time. It also suggests the beginning of a competition to see which tech company can become the first all-in-one small-business solution.
Report: Smartphones, Developer Kits Drive Local AR and Visual Search
A new white paper from Street Fight examines how developer kits from Google and Apple have jumpstarted approaches to AR and visual search and sketches strategies for developers, marketers, and media companies hoping to tap into an exciting new trend.
Top Experts Hold Conclave in Major Effort to Save Local News Industry
“The news industry now has to be very much focused on understanding users and delivering to them a very powerful, useful experience so they will be happy to pay for it,” says veteran journalist Bill Densmore.
Latest Posts
3 Mobile Changes That Will Affect Marketers in 2017
In 2017, the total number of worldwide mobile users is expected to surpass 6 billion across 11 billion mobile devices. So, what does the future of mobile look like for marketers? More specifically, what data-related trends will dominate in the coming year?
Street Fight Daily: Voice Assistant-Enabled Cars Steal Show at CES, AR’s Retail Potential
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Auto Makers Showcase Cars Equipped with Virtual Assistants… Can Augmented Reality Bolster Retail Sales?… Chefs+Tech: The Restaurant Bubble Inches Closer to Bursting…
USA Technologies Links With Apple Pay to Offer Rewards on the Go
USA Technologies, which serves cashless and mobile transactions in self-serve retail, announced this morning that it has integrated its rewards program with Apple Pay. Now when consumers use Apple Pay at a self-serve vending machine, they will be able to instantly enroll in USAT’s MORE loyalty program.
Jersey’s New Brunswick Today Punches Its Way to a New Model for Local News
Does Central New Jersey’s New Brunswick Today represent the future of local news? The local site has made inroads in its community, supporting itself with a “three-legged stool” combining reader memberships, foundation support and site advertising.
Street Fight Daily: Alexa Enables Voice-Ordered Meals, Boston Globe’s Digital Revamp
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Amazon Prime Members Can Now Voice-Order Meals Through Alexa-Enabled Devices… Boston Globe Undergoes Major Overhaul to Compete in Digital Age… Lyft More Than Doubles Fourth Quarter Ridership Year Over Year…
Pingup Extends Reach With New Bing Integration
Consumers searching for local businesses on Bing will now be able to seamlessly schedule appointments, book services, and place restaurant orders online via Pingup’s local services transaction platform.
5 Ways Brands Are Using Voice-Controlled Systems for Consumer Marketing
For brand marketers, voice-based personal assistants represent a major opportunity in a largely-untapped space. Consumers are forming intimate relationships with these new technologies, providing major brands with the opportunity to interact with and learn about consumers in a way that hasn’t been possible before.
Street Fight Daily: Brands Cash in on Mobile Search Ads, Amazon Aims to Put Alexa Everywhere
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Brands See Big YoY Jumps In Revenue on Mobile Search Ads During 2016 Holidays… At CES 2017, Amazon Revs Alexa Everywhere Strategy… Marketing Automation is Powerful, But It Can Limit Internal Visibility for Brands…
Sponsored Post: 5 Digital Marketing Trends for the New Year
If 2016 was any indication of the fast-paced world of digital marketing, 2017 is sure to be another wild ride. To help businesses of all sizes keep up with the constantly changing technology, Vivial has put together our top five digital marketing trends and predictions for the new year.
inMarket Launches Ambient Intelligence Platform for Brands
Beacon proximity and location intelligence company inMarket announced this morning that it’s launching an ambient intelligence platform designed to change the way brands engage with consumers inside entertainment venues across the U.S.
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Meta Is Automating Ads, But Brands Still Face a Bigger Problem