News and Analysis

Valentine’s Day Boosts Entertainment, Food, and Social Apps

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The data shows that Valentine’s Day marks a major uptick in app usage across verticals. Compared to an average February day last year, on Valentine’s Day, entertainment app usage was up 24%, food and drink apps 20%, and social 16%. Consumers also spent an unusual amount of time on transport (7%) and gaming (6%) apps.

Voice Tech Could Transform Loyalty Programs. Here’s How

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Within the hospitality industry, a growing number of hotels are using voice technology to improve personalization with experiences like virtual concierges. Virtual concierges use voice technology to personalize a guest’s stay by offering experiences based on past behavior. For example, virtual concierges can adjust thermostats or place room service orders based on a traveler’s previous preferences. When hotels and other hospitality brands take action based on the insights gathered about guests through their loyalty programs, they improve the overall guest experience.

But brands in a number of industries are exploring loyalty use cases for voice.

How Panera Uses AR to Heighten Cravings, Reaching Millions of Customers

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Following up on the success of its #YouMix2 AR campaign, which debuted at SXSW last year, Panera recently launched a follow-up initiative. Working with M7 Innovations, a technology-focused consultancy that specializes in artificial intelligence and immersive realities, Panera designed an AR campaign that involved animated breakfast wraps. Consumers were encouraged to experience Panera’s breakfast wraps through AR technology and share the assets to Facebook and Snapchat.

Commentary

Facebook Local: The Launch We’ve All Been Waiting For?

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Last week’s rebranding of its Events app as Facebook Local could be Facebook’s long-awaited foray into serious competition with the Googles and Yelps of the world for market share in local search. Meanwhile, another Facebook local product, Marketplace, has proved to be a sleeping giant.

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.

Latest Posts

Case Study: Portland Retailer Reaches New Customers with At-Home Try-On

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EcoVibe Apparel is working with a hyperlocal startup called Dorrbell and giving local shoppers a way to try on items from the comfort of their homes. Customers go online and choose products they would like to try on, they then schedule a time for them to be dropped off.

Street Fight Daily: Instacart Aims for Positive Cash Flow, Google Drives App Installs

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Instacart Looks to Build an Empire with Promoted Ad Business… Google’s App Ad Business Drivers Billion Installs in Last Four Months… Ads Help Businesses Stay Afloat, But Slows Load Times End Web Visits…

6 Click-to-Text Tools for Local Businesses

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Seventy-five percent of millennials prefer to text versus call on their mobile phones, according to a survey by the mobile engagement platform OpenMarket, and 76% prefer to receive texts from businesses because they say texting is more convenient and less disruptive.

Will the ‘Physical Web’ Help Retailers Reduce Annoying Ads?

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While still in its infancy, and not yet realized, the physical web will prove to be an asset to franchisees looking to connect, and engage with, potential customers from their surrounding neighborhood ­– without barraging them with untimely and irrelevant messaging.

Street Fight Daily: Inside the Self-Driving Uber Experience, Billy Penn’s Sister Site Launches

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Uber Starts Self-Driving Car Pickups in Pittsburgh: Here’s a Peek Into the Experience… The Incline, Billy Penn’s New Sister Site, Launches in Pittsburgh… Amazon’s Echo Is Finally Being Released in the UK and Germany…

HomeAdvisor CEO: The Marketplace for Home Services Is ‘Operationally Intense’

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“If you’re going to get into [the home services] space, you better be prepared to really invest and for the long haul,” says Chris Terrill. “There are no quick fixes or technology that’s suddenly going to turn this thing around.”

App Connects Travelers With Revelers, Parties Ensue

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Thanks to the recently refreshed Party With a Local app, this lonely planet of ours may become just a bit less so — or a least more social. “The idea … came from my own experiences of finding that a night out anywhere is better with a local, but it’s not always easy to meet locals,” CEO Dan Fennessy said of the service.

Street Fight Daily: Google Data Supports Mobile-First Ads, Brands Infiltrate iMessage

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Google’s Mobile User Data Shines Light on Consumer Purchasing Habits… As Apple Opens iMessage Store, Brands from Burger King to Betty Boop Want In… Verizon Buys Connected Lighting Company, Adding More Location Capability…

Join Top Thinkers — Get Your Ticket Now!

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Street Fight Summit explores the dynamic innovation taking place in the way businesses market to, transact with, and stay connected to consumers at the local level. Get your ticket now and join thousands of innovators and influencers in local who have experienced Street Fight Summit! Click for tickets, topics, speakers, sponsors, & more!

Street Fight Launches 2nd Annual ‘State of Hyperlocal’ Executive Survey

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In last year’s State of Hyperlocal report, over half of our survey respondents said they were investing in mobile. Respondents also deemed their own company’s brand awareness as their biggest challenge, even more than proving ROI to customers. What investments will make sense in 2017? With your help, we’ll find out, and present the results at our upcoming Street Fight Summit NYC next month…