News and Analysis
Consumers Willing to Forgo Privacy, For a Price
New research indicates that consumers are actually more aware of how their personal information is being used today than they were last year, with those ages 55 and above showing the greatest level of awareness. These consumers are increasingly willing to share their personally identifiable information with brand marketers—with one caveat. They want a reward for doing it.
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.
Commentary
Is Uber Paving the Way Toward Verified Consumer Reviews?
In an atmosphere where fake reviews are all too easy to create, we need tools that help distinguish real opinions from garbage. Moving beyond the limitations of data algorithms, fact-based approaches hold out the promise of grounding review services in observable truth.
For Brick and Mortar to Beat Ecommerce, It Takes Mind, Body, and Spirit
While many onlookers think that increased comparison shopping, faster and cheaper delivery options like drones, and the convenience of shopping at home equal doom for physical stores, the reality is that the economy (like the people behind it) is largely driven by the irrational.
As Local Search Behavior Evolves, Marketing Spending Will Follow
Merchants and marketers have to be findable and present useful information regardless of the searcher’s context. And that’s where the mechanics of local search marketing get messy. It feels like a great opportunity for tools and managed services that help break down those silos, and measure effectiveness across or between them.
Latest Posts
LBMA Podcast: Sensewhere Partners With Tencent, DoubleDutch Raises $45M
On the show: Wrapify wants to pay you when you drive your car; Latis works on smarter notifications; Intellibins locates recycling for New Yorkers; Ahlens of Sweden uses Instagram in a unique way; and ClearChannel promotes Humans TV show in airports.
Street Fight Daily: Square Introduces Mobile Appointments, SF Wants Uber’s Data
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Here’s Why Square Appointments for Mobile is a Big Deal (The Next Web)… SF Seeks Uber Data as Company Touts Commitment to Urban Transit (Recode)… Blink and You Miss It: How Brands Can Capture an Audience in Seconds (Linkedin Pulse)…
How Hospitality Brands Balance Global and Local in Their Marketing
Hotel brands face a marketing conundrum: Though they may be national or global brands, the average consumer experiences them on a local basis. So how should global hospitality brands manage this split?
LION’s DeRienzo: Programmatic Ads Will Be Part of ‘Indie’ Future
Matt DeRienzo, the interim executive director of the Local Independent Online News publishers ‘ association, is getting ready for what looks like a strong annual conference in Chicago this fall. We caught up with him to talk a bit about the state of “indie” local publishing.
Street Fight Daily: Android Pay Launch Date Still Unknown, PlaceIQ Bridging Online-Offline
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Contrary To Reports, Android Pay Not Launching This Week (TechCrunch)… Let’s Get Physical: PlaceIQ Chips Away At Online/Offline Attribution (AdExchanger)… Succeeding In Mobile Advertising: The Journey Begins (Marketing Land)…
Street Culture: SweetIQ Empowers Employees to Drive Independent Progress
Non-structured employee bonding opportunities help provide a new perspective on topics that have often already been discussed at length in meetings and via email. Sometimes the best results happen naturally as employees form relationships with each other outside of work.
Why Mobile Could Make or Break Your Back-to-School Campaign
The school year is right around the corner, which means that back-to-school shopping is already in full swing. Aside from the holidays, back-to-school is the second-largest selling season, so if retailers are not participating, they’re missing out. To be successful this school year, you need to know what trends are affecting how consumers are finding […]
Street Fight Daily: Amazon Tests Restaurant Deliveries, Etsy Highlights Local SMBs
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Amazon Is Quietly Testing a Plan to Take On GrubHub (Business Insider)… Etsy’s Updated Mobile App Lets You Locate Local Artisans (The Next Web)… Lyft Kills Off HotSpots as Uber Launches Copycat ‘Smart Routes’ Service (Recode)…
Moasis Debuts New Ad Platform, Seeks to Connect With Consumers’ Context
Today the company is debuting Moasis for Advertisers, which promises a one-stop shop for collecting and predictively analyzing valuable location-related data like weather, nearby events, and traffic. “Programmatic and mobile are virtually synonymous today,” said Moasis CMO Eric Nielsen.
Facebook’s Ad Platform for SMBs Has Come a Long Way, But Still Has Room to Grow
More and more local businesses are turning to Facebook to launch hyperlocal ad campaigns. And for good reason — the company has greatly enhanced its SMB ad offerings in the past year. As a relatively young ad medium, though, Facebook hasn’t really mastered the game yet.
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