News and Analysis
Why Purpose-Built Marketplaces Matter for Marketers
Today’s digital landscape is brimming with buzzwords like “full-funnel campaigns,” “omnichannel,” “data-driven,” “personalization,” and more. These concepts promote the idea that marketers can achieve all their goals with a single, unified approach. However, while these ideas sound appealing, the reality is that one-size-fits-all solutions often fall short, especially when it comes to achieving distinct objectives […]
Wings, Breasts, and Betting: The Evolution of the Sports Bar
Technology is having an impact on ALL types of MULO (multi-location) businesses. With football season upon us, thousands of people are flocking to the ubiquitous sports bar to watch their favorite teams, interact with fellow fans, drink beer, spiked seltzer, and Bloody Marys (in the case of early games), and cheer and boo (all while posting on […]
Shots & Snacks: New Placer.ai Study Reveals How Health Clinics Help Grocers
The concept of stores within stores is nothing new. Sephora has a deal with Kohls. Athleisure stores now often feature workout classes. And Tommy Bahama is both a retailer and an island bar and restaurant. Now, a new study by Placer.ai reveals that placing health clinics within a grocers store can significantly impact traffic and […]
Commentary
The Influence of Reviews on Conversion
Can the influence of reviews be quantified? This is one of the questions addressed by SOCi’s new State of Google Reviews report. The report examines the Google profiles of approximately 31,000 chain and franchise businesses, who together earned 4.9 million reviews from January 2015 to July 2022.
Latest Posts
Holiday Cheer: 7 Predictions for MULO Retailers
Although we’re still sporting flip-flops and lounging on the beach, the winter holidays will soon be upon us. Multi-location (MULO) retailers have already bought their merchandise for their physical and digital shelves, and agencies have pitched and sold ad campaigns. So, we’re skipping back-to-school shopping, Halloween trends, and Thanksgiving meal specials and heading into the […]
In the Age of AI, 3 Must-Have Skills for Digital Marketers
Everything changed in November 2022. That’s when OpenAI’s ChatGPT launched to the public, and having a clear understanding of how to harness generative AI instantly became a requirement for digital marketers around the globe. In the eight months since generative AI went mainstream, the field of digital marketing has undergone a metamorphosis. Marketers today find […]
BOOM: Hear This! An Interview with Dean Pappous, President of HearingLife
We are probably all familiar with MULO (multi-location) eyewear businesses like LensCrafters (900+ locations), Sunglass Hut (1,500 U.S. stores), and Warby Parker (200 locations and a booming online business). But people like Dean Pappous, believe our ears are every bit as critical as our eyes, especially as we age. Hearing loss doesn’t just impact older […]
Innovid Launches Cookieless Solution to Increase Conversion Rate Accuracy
As marketers prepare for the loss of third-party cookies, digital advertising vendors are rolling out alternative solutions at a faster clip. The latest product release comes from Innovid, the independent advertising and analytics platform, which just announced a new cookieless cross-device product that can match multiple devices to user interactions, with the goal of increasing […]
From Google to Social to Generative AI: The Evolution of Search Journeys
Remember when search ads were just a bunch of blue links? Believe it or not, that wasn’t that long ago – when a mention of search conjured a near-identical image in everyone’s minds. If you asked 100 people to describe their search journeys today, you might get 100 different answers. Those answers would almost certainly […]
Cost of Ad Buys Rises Ahead of ‘24 Presidential Race
Advertising wars are already heating up in the 2024 presidential race, but increasing costs for ad buys on television and social media are leading some marketing strategists to reevaluate their approach. According to a new analysis by Keen Decision Systems, a marketing insights firm, that approach — to change course, and pull back from channels […]
Fan Frenzy: The Rise of Merch in MULO Restaurants
Merchandise (merch) has long been part of the music scene. You love the band…you see the live show…you buy the music, tee shirt, and hat on the way out of the venue. But now, multi-location (MULO) brands are picking up on the beat and incorporating creative and varied branded merchandise into their offerings. Whether consumers […]
Snack Brands Lean Into Nostalgia this Back-to-School Season
The dog days of summer have arrived, and all around the country, parents are preparing kids for back-to-school in just a few short weeks. For snack and specialty food brands like General Mills, Conagra, and Nestlé, it’s go time. Despite often being overlooked during the back-to-school rush, when attention is generally focused on backpacks and […]
Snoop Dogg’s Munchie Meal and Celebrity-Inspired MULO Brands
We live in a world of stars — big, small, and on the rise. From singers and actors we watch on stage and screen to reality TV celebrity to previously-unknown consumers who make a name for themselves on TikTok, we exist in a world where everyone can be perceived as “talent.” Celebrity endorsements are certainly […]
6 Influencer Relationship Management Platforms for Brands
Just about anyone can call themselves a creator these days, and that makes it harder than ever for brand marketers to cut through the noise when putting together their influencer campaigns. With the creator economy on track to become a $100 billion industry, more brands and agencies are searching for tools to source potential brand […]
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