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

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.

Why Carrier Data Is the Key to Unlocking Mobile Verification

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Brands like P&G are placing new demands on agencies and media providers for increased transparency and accountability, which in turn has led to significant advances in areas like viewability. The next battleground is clearly verifying the data accuracy of the underlying ingredients – namely the quality of data used for targeting and measurement.

Latest Posts

As Google Pushes for Users to Stay on Its Platform, What Are the Effects for Local Search

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“Obviously Google still controls a fair bit of the searcher’s pre-purchase mindshare, and they obviously want to retain that role,” writes Mike Blumenthal. “They are also fighting like crazy to be relevant in a world where 50% (and growing) of users’ total digital media time is spent in Apps.”

Street Fight Daily: E-Commerce’s Toll on SMB Retail and Delivery, Digitizing Local Marketing

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… How E-Commerce Disrupts Small-Town Delivery Services and Retailers… Digitizing Traditional Marketing Methods to Compete in Local Search… Sulky New Media Still Clings to Old Media for Cash…

Openings and New Hires at Acquisio, Cuebiq, Freckle IoT, SpinGo

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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 Yext, Zift, SproutLoud and Kantar Media.

Raise Report: SessionM, Behalf, Postmates Secure Fresh Funding

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Every two weeks, we round up some of the biggest fundraises taking place in hyperlocal marketing, commerce, and tech. This week’s edition includes new rounds for Divido, Abodo, Petnet, and Boku.

LBMA Podcast: Uber, Geoscape, Sensewhere and Parking Ginza

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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: Canada’s CN Tower + Aruba, Ping app for AirBnB, Lowe’s with more Robots, Here Maps, Kontakt.io, JCDecaux + Amatil.

Street Fight Daily: Amazon Warehouses Spreading Rapidly, Google Adds More Ride Services to Maps

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… New Amazon Data From Wall Street Should Terrify All Retail Stores in the US… Google Adds Lyft and Gett to Taxi Options on Maps… How Publishers Can Help Brands Navigate the Content Marketing Crossroads…

Making Sense of the Mobile Marketing Spending Disparity

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Consumers’ relationships with media and mobile devices have changed. Advertising needs to change as well. The responsibility is with advertisers and their agencies and service providers to demand the granularity and specificity that you can only achieve with the targeted data you get from mobile advertising.

As 10-Year Mark Approaches, West Seattle Blog Sticks to Profitable Basics

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In December 2005, West Seattle Blog was a “personal project” with no news or advertising. A major windstorm that struck West Seattle and King County in December 2006 changed all that, and in the nearly 10 years since, WSB has become a highly regarded inspiration for independent digital community sites.

Street Fight Daily: Washington Post’s Digital Rise, Snapchat Ends Local Stories

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Leaked Memo Supplies Details on the Washington Post’s Digital, Financial Success… Snapchat Ends Local Stories to Focus on Live Events… Amazon Adds Food Delivery in London…

XPlenty CEO: Pokemon Go Data’s Usefulness Depends on Integration and Visualization Strategies

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“It’s pretty difficult to get access to location data,” says Yaniv Mor. “There are quite a few companies today that are starting to provide products for smaller businesses that will help them take advantage of location data, but at this scale — hundreds of millions of users — that’s something that we haven’t seen yet.”