News and Analysis
Local Businesses Lean Heavily on Digital Tools During Covid-19
Digital platforms like Facebook, Google, Instagram, Yelp, and Twitter have never been more important for local businesses. With 80% of customers saying they are scaling down their restaurant visits now, restaurants are in uncharted territory. Local businesses in every industry are being forced to adapt their marketing strategies on the fly and use digital channels like Google and Yelp to keep people updated on their status.
Restaurants that were previously hesitant to use delivery services are now jumping on the bandwagon, and apps like DoorDash, Instacart, and UberEats are seeing a surge in businesses using their platforms. Smaller restaurants, retailers, and other local businesses are also beginning to accept more orders through messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Larger organizations are managing an influx of customer service calls using chatbots on these same platforms.
Coronavirus and Mobile Advertising: CPMs, Sensitivity, Geographic Comparisons
The Covid-19 crisis is a challenging time for all industries, but for mobile marketers it poses a paradoxical challenge. On the one hand, people are on their phones and engaging with media as much as ever. On the other hand, the economic downturn is putting a strain on marketing budgets, employees are working from home, and messaging during a public health crisis requires unusual sensitivity.
Brian Bowman, CEO of social marketing and user acquisition firm Customer Acquisition, provided Street Fight his takes on the current state of the mobile ad market, where it’s headed in the coming weeks, and how advertisers can approach their work with consideration for the difficulty of these times.
Street Fight’s April Theme: Local Commerce in the Time of Coronavirus
We’ll devote coverage this month to the virus’ continued outbreak and its effect on local business. Of course, the airwaves and ether are already filled with pandemic coverage, and we won’t look to compete with that. Rather, we’ll be writing specifically about the crisis’ impact on local commerce, marketing, and related subjects.
In fact, we’ve already gotten started. Our March theme of reputation management barely got off the ground before we and many of our contributors came to the realization that it didn’t really feel right to talk about anything other than Covid-19. Don’t worry, we’ll give reputation management an encore performance later in the year.
Commentary
Google My Business Looks to the Future
Aditya Tendulkar is about as close to the source as you can get when it comes to the strategic direction of Maps and Google My Business. We asked him a few questions about the quick pace of feature releases in recent months and the new openness Google seems to be showing toward listing management companies and crowdsourcing.
Street Fight Launches Third Annual “State of Hyperlocal” Survey
We’re kicking off our third annual executive survey about the state of the local marketing ecosystem. We welcome readers to share their thoughts on the state of the industry by filling out a short survey on what their companies are prioritizing and what challenges they’re facing. As a thank-you, we’re offering a free report or a discount on Summit tickets.
How Much Should We Still Care About Duplicate Content?
There has been a belief that duplicate content — although it is not cause for a penalty, unless it appears deceptive — hurts the overall quality of the website. Therefore, for years, duplicate content has been on a website audit checklist as an item to fix. But is that still the case?
Latest Posts
HomeAdvisor CEO: The Marketplace for Home Services Is ‘Operationally Intense’
“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
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
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 Launches 2nd Annual ‘State of Hyperlocal’ Executive Survey
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…
As Google Pushes for Users to Stay on Its Platform, What Are the Effects for Local Search
“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
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
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
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
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.
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Meta Is Automating Ads, But Brands Still Face a Bigger Problem