News and Analysis
Alphabet Plays the Long Game, Expanding and Investing in R&D, with Focus on Video
Alphabet is investing in its future, spending record funds on R&D and pouring money into non-core businesses such as self-driving cars (Waymo) and its video platform (YouTube). While the company exceeded analyst expectations on the back of ever-strong growth from its core search business, it was actually trading down on Monday, reflecting investor anxiety over the cost and ultimately profitability of its many secondary businesses.
Google’s Soft-Power Approach to Super Bowl Ads
When it came to the Super Bowl, Google opted not to put the spotlight on flashy new products but rather to emphasize the good it can do for the world at a time when it’s “don’t be evil” slogan of yore has become prime material for parody. During the big game, ads for products as seemingly disparate as Pringles, tax software, and beer pointed to a present haunted by tech’s infiltration of domestic life and machines’ superiority to humans.
Brandify, PlaceIQ, Simpli.fi Among 2019 LSA Ad-to-Action Award Finalists
The Local Search Association announced this week a slate of 20 finalists for its annual awards celebrating the best in local and online-to-offline marketing. Among more than 80 submissions, the finalists have been recognized for their outstanding work in such categories as reputation management, SMB software, and local search.
Commentary
Is Apple Quietly Assembling an SMB Trojan Horse?
Apple is co-promoting Square’s NFC reader for SMBs. and selling the readers in Apple Stores. The $49 reader accepts Apple Pay, which significantly lowers the barrier for SMBs to get in the game. The move should boost Apple Pay, but there also may be much bigger ambitions to lock in market share in new areas.
How the SMB/Local Advertising Community Can Avoid ‘Bad Ads’
Google’s recent “Better Ads” report demonstrates that while digital is a great channel for reaching consumers, a positive experience is perhaps the most crucial component of a successful ad campaign, especially for advertisers using programmatic to buy and serve their ads.
Understanding the Context of Local Advertising’s Supply and Demand
The current election cycle, if nothing else, has demonstrated the importance of context in the supply and demand of local media. In this type of market, the early bird gets the worm. Consumer brands are learning this lesson the hard way and getting shut out of local opportunities that otherwise might have been available.
Latest Posts
5 On-Demand Platforms for Medical Marijuana Delivery
Up until now, one of the major pain points in medical marijuana consumption has been access. But on-demand platforms can keep delivery times down and safety up. Here are five examples of companies offering on-demand medical marijuana delivery.
Street Fight Daily: DoorDash Partners With 7-Eleven, How Instagram’s Latest Update Affects Advertising
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Delivery Startup DoorDash Is Promising to Send 7-Eleven Food and Drinks to Your Home in 45 Minutes or Less (Business Insider)… New, Stretched-Out Instagram Means More Ads (Mashable)… As Giant Platforms Rise, Local News is Getting Crushed (Nieman Lab)…
Will Mobile Search Dethrone Google?
Why would Google’s market leadership be vulnerable to mobile search incursion? Innovation in search can occur at the user experience level, the core indexing and ranking algorithms, and the business model and ecosystem that supports search. Each of these faces potential mobile disruption.
6 Ways Local Merchants Can Compete in Organic Search Results
Type in a generic search term for nearly any local service and you’re likely to see listings for national brands and retail chains. Local businesses have largely been pushed out of the first page. So local merchants have to make a change in their SEO strategies.
Street Fight Daily: Yahoo’s ReachLocal Partnership, Amazon Wants to Deliver From Farmers Markets
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Yahoo Follows Google in Building Out Local Search Marketing Reseller Program (Search Engine Land)… Amazon Is Testing Farmers Market Produce Delivery (Los Angeles Times)… Google Reportedly Kills Plan to Let Retailers Send Notifications in Maps (The Verge)…
Will Social Media Give TV a Run for Its Money in the 2016 Election?
“Politicians already know that an election can hinge on specific regions and using social media to listen and engage in those areas can have a significant impact on the voting outcome,” says Phil Harris, CEO of Geofeedia.
Where Do My Friends Fit Into My Local Search?
The social graph alone won’t be a silver bullet for local. It’s just not big enough. And its value to local is overstated. My friends are great for party pics and snappy news feed dialogue — they don’t yet excel at plumber reviews.
Street Fight Daily: Google’s Home Services Features Are Live, How Effective Are Digital Coupons?
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Google Plunges Into Home Services Market (Wall Street Journal)… Pitt Study Finds Location-Based Marketing a Mixed Bag (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)… Our Marketplace Obsession and Bubble (TechCrunch)…
Case Study: Georgia Candy Shop Manages Off-Site Sales with Mobile Tools
Having a product as small and portable as chocolate candy gives M Chocolat’s owners the freedom to sell outside their brick-and-mortar store. The sisters often use food festivals, local races, wine shops, and gourmet specialty stores to find new customers.
Openings and New Hires at LivingSocial, GrubHub, and RetailNext
Every two weeks, Geoff Michener covers some of the latest job changes taking place in this dynamic industry. In this week’s column, Borrell Associates ups its research director, eBay names a new CMO, and RevMob appoints a co-CEO.
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