News and Analysis
As Retail Reopens, Voice Tech Takes Center Stage
Voice technology has been on the verge of going mainstream for nearly a decade. Despite big players like Amazon and Google launching their own smart speakers, and millions of consumers using the devices in their homes, investors in the voice technology space have been patiently waiting for the spark that would set off a new touchless world.
That spark is Covid-19.
Rakuten Ready Gives Merchants Access to Advanced Pickup Technology
Industry-wide curbside pickup has surged 208%, but statistics alone do not tell the complete story. Although large retailers were quick to pivot to a pickup-only strategy, small and mid-size retailers were largely boxed out. That’s because the ordering technology used by many large retailers comes with a price tag that small retailers cannot afford, and implementing the most sophisticated programs requires a level of technological sophistication that SMBs don’t usually have.
Rakuten Ready believes it has the answer to this problem.
Social Conversion Rates Climb During Covid-19
Covid-19 has changed the social media playbook, but brands who’ve been quick to adjust are seeing social conversion rates continuing to climb.
In an analysis of data pulled from more than 120 retail websites, the digital experience solutions company Episerver found that social conversion rates have increased steadily during Covid-19 shutdowns, from 1% in April 2019 to 1.2% in April 2020.
Commentary
How Marketers Must Prepare for the Voice-Connected Consumer
As digital media surpasses traditional, marketers must prepare for the changes that will result from connected devices becoming a common source of customer experience. Local search will be of paramount importance as consumers turn to their voice devices, and eventually their connected cars and appliances
State of Hyperlocal: Location Data Is Key R&D Priority Now and Longer-Term — AI and Voice on Horizon
Location data and analytics are a key R&D priority both now and in the longer term for companies supplying technologies and services to the connected local economy, according to Street Fight’s latest reader survey. Those companies deem AI and voice technology as two areas that require investment now, with an eye on a later payoff.
Follow-Up Thoughts on the SMB Marketing/Operations Universe
“Regardless of the right package, the key for both agencies and small businesses is to choose best-of-breed components in each galaxy that integrate with each other so that you can add relevant and profitable services over time,” David Mihm says to Mike Blumenthal in their bi-weekly column.
Latest Posts
Brand Battles in Depth: Looking at Starbucks vs. Dunkin’ Donuts
The series demonstrates the real complexity of cross-platform digital marketing and the importance of a data-driven strategy in identifying meaningful objectives and tracking performance. This commentary explains how Brand Battles are constructed and how their subject areas fits into the bigger picture of local marketing for national brands.
The Importance of Location in Today’s Innovation Dialogue
It’s hard to overstate the importance of location in today’s business innovation dialogue. While consumers are online more than ever before, they continue to live their lives in the physical world. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, while Americans spent $97 billion online in Q2 of this year, offline retail sales amounted to more than $1 trillion. The vast majority of transactions still occur in-store, and that makes location targeting an immensely powerful tool for brands.
Street Fight Daily: AT&T to Acquire Time Warner, Mobile Moves to Majority of Google Ad Rev
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… AT&T To Acquire Time Warner, Becoming Latest Media Giant with Cross-Device Mojo… Mobile Moves to Majority Share of Google’s Worldwide Ad Revenues… How Quartz Sculpts a Global, Mobile-First Brand…
With Launch of The Incline in Pittsburgh, Sprited Media’s Brady Says ‘We Want to Be a Connector’
Having recently launched his second “asymmetrical” local news outlet and taken an investment from Gannett, Brady and The Incline’s editor, Lexi Belculfine, spoke to Street Fight recently about how new revenue models are building a future for community news.
Openings and New Hires at Invoca, StructuredWeb, NeighborhoodX
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 Cars.com, Comcast Ventures, Factual, and NASCAR.
Raise Report: New Funding for mParticle, Zumper, ActiveCampaign
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 FlyPay, HomeMe, Everwise, Metamarkets, and PlaceIQ.
LBMA Podcast: Yahoo’s Smart Billboards, Weather Company, Nordstrom
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: Baidu, Toyota’s Kirobi, Sionic Mobile + OnStar, Verizon, Westfield, Better Ad + Gravy, Alibaba + PlaceIQ.
Street Fight Daily: Google Introduces Location Affiliate Extensions, Didi ‘Definitely Going Global’
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Google Drives In-Store Foot Traffic Through Online Affiliate Location Extensions… Didi’s President Says China’s Ride-Hailing Giant ‘Definitely Going Global’… The Where Factor: How Location Data Offers a New Marketing Edge…
How Location Data Influences Consumer Buying Decisions
According to a new report from YP, 37% of consumers won’t consider local businesses with inconsistent information online, and 32% won’t consider a business with the wrong information listed on its website. Even inconsistent messaging and website content is enough to dissuade multi-channel shoppers.
Study Highlights Location Data Uses in Real Estate, Retail Analysis, Smart Cities
For a month, Cuebiq tracked geo-behavioral patterns of anonymous consumers in the Westfield World Trade Center (WTC) shopping mall, right after the mall’s grand opening in August. The study differentiated between tourist and local visitors, and tracked consumers’ favorite brands.
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AI Won’t Fix Advertising – It May Scale Its Chaotic Nature