News and Analysis

Centro Teams with CannaVu to Bring Geo-Targeting to Cannabis and Normalize the Sector

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Centro develops enterprise-class software for digital advertising organizations. CannaVu operates an ad exchange for cannabis and CBD marketers. Together, these two companies are working to change the way cannabis brands advertise online and break down the barriers that have slowed industry growth.

Companies Are Struggling to Manage IoT Data. Here’s Why

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The devices around us are getting smarter. From the consumer’s perspective, that means refrigerators are sending notifications when the milk is running low, and thermostats are turning down the temperature when there’s no movement in the house. Businesses are relying on the data generated by connected devices to improve algorithms and make their existing products even smarter, but collecting and managing large volumes of data is creating a new set of challenges.

Globally, the IoT market is expected to reach $212 billion by the end of this year. With the worldwide number of IoT-connected devices projected to top 43 billion by 2023, the challenges associated with managing large amounts of data in real-time are growing at a rapid pace.

Apps Dominate Mobile Holiday Shopping

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App fatigue, the feeling that a consumer simply cannot add yet another corporate app to her phone at a time when all enterprises seem to be competing for a place on mobile displays, is a major roadblock to successful app-based mobile strategies for retailers. But data from this holiday shopping season suggests that consumers are willing to download apps for the right incentives.

Commentary

Google Local Service Ads: Ready for Primetime

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“While I do think this is about a new revenue stream in new categories and cleaning up spammy industries the rebranding might just also be an effort (unusual for Google) brand clarity around their Google Home product,” Mike Blumenthal tells David Mihm in their bi-weekly column..

Why DNAinfo’s Shuttering Isn’t a Reflection on the Hyperlocal Digital Opportunity

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The shuttering of these sites was a failure of a business, not a failure of opportunity. The opportunity is there. A multi-billion dollar opportunity. It just needs the right model and good execution to grasp it.

Local Marketing on Alexa? The Real Estate Industry Gives It a Shot

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There are almost 40 real estate “skills” currently listed in Alexa’s directory. This is greater than those related to lawyers/attorneys, doctors/dentists, and a host of other SMB categories, and overall there doesn’t yet appear to be much adoption of voice technology at the local business level.

Latest Posts

Street Culture: Rebuilt After Layoffs, Extole Keeps Culture at the Fore

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“When you have a transition where there’s a new CEO and the company is basically in crisis, it seems like, ‘Oh, this is a perfect time for values,’” said Extole’s Matt Roche. “But it’s unbelievably hard to implement new core values when everyone’s afraid.”

xAd Foot Traffic Data Reveals QSR Trends, Maps Audience Segmentation Opportunities

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At a high level, the report, based on 37 million visits xAd observed on its platform from April 1 to June 30, gives us the inside track on which brands have been the most successful in driving foot traffic to their premises — and which brands have a way to go.

LBMA Podcast: TripAdvisor Buys CityMaps, Google SMB, Placed.

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This Week in Location Based Marketing is a weekly video podcast from the Location Based Marketing Association with Asif Khan and Aubriana Lopez. On the show: Yik Yak, Cintas, Drawbridge + WeatherAlpha, Wayfair going VR, Hey Area, Shelfbucks + Great Northern Instore, and Retale.

Street Fight Daily: Reassessing Ride-Sharing’s Hold on Consumers, Facebook’s Publishing Disruption

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Reassessing Ride-Sharing’s Relationship with Consumers… Facebook, Header Bidding, and the Fight for Control of the Publisher Ecosystem… These 11 Brands Are Already Using Instagram’s Latest Feature…

Should Publishers Panic Over Facebook’s 98 Ad-Targeting Data Points?

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Businesses are rushing to Facebook with their advertising – that’s reality. But another reality is that an international survey of users found that local news was their favorite among eight categories of news.

For Local Companies Focused on Specific Verticals, a Sharp Focus Can Be Key for Growth

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Bloated technology platforms designed to serve the entire SMB market have slowly been replaced with more targeted vertical plays, but industry veterans still caution that every vertical requires a unique approach.

Street Fight Daily: How Instacart Is Changing Grocery, Beacon Use on the Rise

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Instacart’s App Has Changed Grocery Stores for Good… Proximity Tech, Beacon Usage on the Rise Among Marketers… Should Citations Define the Success of SMBs’ Local SEO Strategies?…

Ibotta Announces In-App Purchasing Capability, Partnerships with Button, Jet, DoorDash

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Ibotta announced new partnerships and technological capabilities on Wednesday, powered by a partnership with deep-linking software-producer Button, that its co-founder and CEO, Bryan Leach, hopes will make it the “front door” for in-app mobile commerce. Up until now, Ibotta, based in Denver and launched in 2012, has offered its users cash back on offline purchases […]

Maps.me Offers Open Source Alternative to Google and Apple Maps

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I’m impressed by the level of detail and by some key differentiators that make Maps.me seem like a fresh approach to mobile navigation. Indeed, I can see the app eventually finding favor in the U.S. marketplace. Even before that happens, local marketers should take note.

Street Fight Daily: Waze Ride-Share to Hit SF Soon, Facebook Creates Coupon Drawer

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Google Takes on Uber With New Ride-Share Service… Facebook Has Created the Digital Equivalent of a Coupon Drawer for Users… Jeff Jones Drives Uber as New President…