News and Analysis
GMB App Adds Support for Service-Area Businesses
As of late last week, Google is offering an update to the Google My Business app that adds support for service-area businesses. Earlier in November, a Local Search Forum blog post indicated that Google would be adding features to help such businesses with local customers.
Starbucks Partners with Uber to Launch On-Demand Delivery at 2,000 Locations
Starbucks announced on Friday that it’s partnering with Uber to launch on-demand delivery at 2,000 locations. The partnership is a sign of the “near me” local search era for retail, one in which proximity and convenience have become paramount, outweighing even loyalty.
Efficacy of Google Posts Drops Following Relegation to Bottom of Knowledge Panel
Following a seemingly arbitrary choice on Google’s part to move Posts to the bottom of the Knowledge Panel, their efficacy in boosting businesses’ local search presence seems to be dropping.
Commentary
Editor’s Take: The Apps vs. Browser Debate Is a Distraction
The venerable apps vs. mobile web debate continues to rage on but it is largely a distraction for local merchants. Business owners do need to understand the changing media landscape to make the most effective possible use of their limited marketing budgets, but their time and their dollars are better spent on marketing fundamentals rather than investing in the increasingly difficult and crowded race to acquire, retain, and monetize app users.
Same-Day Delivery: The Linchpin in the Battle for the Last Mile of Commerce
Consumers are more impatient and time-starved than ever. At least that’s the impression one could derive from the seemingly unending string of same-day delivery announcements from major retailers, restaurants, convenience-store chains, startup enablers, and technology companies. The driving force behind their renewed focus on ever-shorter delivery windows: conquering the elusive last mile of commerce.
Better Use of Data Could Dramatically Alter Local Digital Sales
Data is a core principle of digital marketing today, yet when it comes to local, big data has not penetrated very deeply where the sales process is concerned. All of that is about to change with the appearance of multiple companies trying to put data at the center of the way digital marketing is presented and sold to local businesses.
Latest Posts
INFOGRAPHIC: How Digital Coupons Are Driving In-Store Conversions
Digital coupons have existed in one form or another for the last couple of decades, but according to a new infographic from SIM Partners, the category has really begun to take off — and are driving more and more in-store conversions.
Street Fight Daily: AOL Takes Over Microsoft Display Ads, Uber Acquires Bing Mapping Assets
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… AOL in Deal With Microsoft to Take Over Display Ad Business (New York Times)… Uber Acquires Part Of Bing’s Mapping Assets, Will Absorb Around 100 Microsoft Employees (TechCrunch)… Toyota Gets Local, Uses Geo-Targeted Snapchat Ads (Ad Age)…
Report: What Local Merchants Are Missing With Social Media
Two-thirds of small local businesses are using social media for marketing. Yet despite this broad adoption, and an overall good perception of digital marketing effectiveness, results with social have been disappointing.
Is the On-Demand Economy a Local Media Growth Engine — Or Its Death Knell?
Local on-demand services continue to dominate press and investor attention. But the elephant in the room is the degree to which on-demand could displace local marketing as we know it.
6 Strategies for Forging Strategic Partnerships
We asked a few industry veterans to tell us everything they know about forming successful partnerships — from locating and reaching out to potential partners, to evaluating the benefits and ensuring that partnerships align for everyone involved.
Street Fight Daily: Report Slams Google Search, Airbnb Raises $1.5 Billion
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Study Suggests Google Harms Consumers by Skewing Search Results (Wall Street Journal)… Airbnb Worth $25.5 Billion After Raising a Massive $1.5 Billion Round (Business Insider)… Lyft Acqui-Hires The Team From Messaging App Leo To Improve Location And Other Features (TechCrunch)
Ground Signal Looks to Help Brands Understand Location — And Influence Consumers
We caught up with Ground Signal’s co-founder and CEO Tony Longo to talk about what companies can do to take advantage of location data to target influencers and engage with customers.in real time.
7 Platforms Offering On-Demand Beauty Services
With 28% of hairdressers, stylists and cosmetologists already working as independent contractors, the beauty industry is an ideal environment for on-demand platforms to gain traction. Here are some platforms currently vying for a share of the pie.
LBMA Podcast: Groupon Acquires VenueLabs, Snapchat’s Geofilter Ads
On the show: Parkour Method; Roku & Innovid team up; Amazon tests delivery service; Reachi uses a mesh network to help the Red Cross; Snapchat’s Geofilters become ads; AdTile launches the Motion Store…
Street Fight Daily: Apple Preps Geofencing, Postmates Raises $80M
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Apple Inventions Hint at Next-Level iOS Geofencing Features (Apple Insider)… Yahoo’s New Mobile Browser Search Results Are Better Than Its App (Search Engine Land)… Postmates Raises $80 Million in Push Toward $1 Deliveries (Wall Street Journal)…
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AI Won’t Fix Advertising – It May Scale Its Chaotic Nature