News and Analysis

Why Insurance Giant State Farm Approaches Digital Marketing Like a Small Company

At a time when customers are accustomed to looking up insurance quotes on the Web or through an app, Edward Gold, advertising director at State Farm, says his company thrives off of its local interactions. He spoke with Street Fight about the approach the insurer takes with marketing at the local level.

How Local News Publishers Can Score With Proximity Marketing

Proximity marketing is becoming increasingly popular as brands and local merchants try to reach consumers on the go. In this Q & A, James Ewen, marketing manager at UK-based proximity-marketer Tamoco talks about how local news publishers can benefit from this trend.

Street Fight Daily: Facebook Thrives While Twitter Dives, Snap Monetizes Placed Acquisition

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Facebook Defies Expectations, Posting Big Growth Despite Warnings That Revenue Will Slow… Twitter User Growth Stalls, and Investors Respond in Kind… Here’s How Snap’s Placed-Assisted Attribution Abilities Will Garner Revenue…

Latest Posts

Street Fight Daily: SnipSnap, Geoloqi, Yell Becomes ‘Hibu’

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal content, commerce, and technology...

Geoloqi’s Location Tracking Now Available to Appcelerator Devs (GigaOm)…

For AOL, a Costly Gamble On Local News Draws Trouble (Wall Street Journal)…

Sense Networks Makes Location-based Advertising Relevant (GigaOm)…

In Wake of Layoffs, a 4-Step Plan for Patch Success

The Patch layoffs today are actually a very good thing. This is an indication that the management at Patch is getting a better handle on what hyperlocal must look like in order to succeed. While I am not bullish on hyperlocal networks and national chains, I am even less bullish on hyperlocal networks with significant management layers. Here’s my map for the highest chance of success for a national hyperlocal network — and my quick turnaround program for Patch.

6 Platforms Hyperlocal Publishers Can Use to Fill Unsold Ad Inventory

Ad inventory sold by networks typically doesn’t command the high CPM (cost per thousand impressions) that individual publishers can charge when they work with local businesses directly. However, these ads do give publishers a chance broaden their advertiser base and earn revenue for space that would have otherwise gone unused…

Study: Brands Expect More ROI From Local Ads Than From National Campaigns

A new study from Balihoo backs up the claims that brands anticipate more return on investment when they go local. “The closer you get to the customer, the more ready the customer is to buy and the more targeted you can get with your message,” Balihoo director of marketing, Susan Tormollen, says…

Street Fight Daily: $1M for GroSocial, VendAsta/Media Deal

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal content, commerce, and technology...

GroSocial Nabs $1M to Become ‘Buddy Media For SMBs’ (TechCrunch)…

Local Newspapers’ Crisis: What Hyperlocal Means — And Why It Works (Guardian)…

How Groupon Used Cloud Computing to Speed Growth (Business Insider)…

$16 Billion Later, Facebook Eyes Local

If we take Facebook Offers as indication of the company’s forthcoming plan of attack in the local space, self-serve, in one form or another, will be at the core of its strategy. The company will likely invest heavily in educating merchants about self-serve advertising, and, with Offers, help teach merchants about the fundamentals of commerce-based marketing…

Client Relationships Gained at Street Fight Summit

In a post-event poll, attendees said they made at least one new prospective client or partner contact, with the majority making five to 10 and a handful came away with 10 or more. Sponsor Blank Slate, which set up a table at the event, developed several new client relationships — and made a video about their positive experience.

Hyperlocal News Coverage of Classroom Violence Requires Caution

News videos of classroom brawls and bullying in local schools are newsworthy, but the hyperlocal coverage may draw threats from some who don’t want the information published. This year, legal claims emerged in New York and Philadelphia that provide some guidance on what hyperlocals may expect if they cover such sensitive types of local stories…

Street Fight Daily: Foursquare Hires CRO, Groupon Stock Probed

A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal content, commerce, and technology...

Foursquare Hires Former iAd Exec as Revenue Chief (AdAge)…

Groupon Stock Spike Probed (Wall Street Journal)…

Does Facebook Have a ‘Yelp Problem’? (ScreenWerk)…

Street Fight Summit West: Capturing the Local Consumer

The local consumer is at the heart of everything we all do in hyperlocal. Whether you’re working with a client to develop repeat customers or trying to get more end users to your app or website, you’re thinking constantly about the local consumer. At Street Fight Summit West, the discussion will focus on this very essential topic…