Super Bowl ads still work for brands that care about digital
The internet was a major star in the Super Bowl commercials last night, with websites, social media links and digital campaigns taking up valuable seconds in the game's ads. But more than a few companies threw away their chance to grow their fan base with these $3 million spots last night.
What's more? One of the most popular Super Bowl ads wasn't even new. Google's "Parisian Love" ad has been on the web for over three months. What does that say about big TV buys? They still have plenty of value. But only when used in a smart way.
Could email fatigue give social media the upper hand with marketers?
Americans are suffering from "email fatigue." At least that's the take away from a new study from marketing service provider Implix, which found that Americans are one of the least likely groups to open emails worldwide.
Due to its newness, social media is fast gaining ground with marketers as a way to reach out and build relationships with consumers. But a turn away from email messages could also make social media the go to for marketers trying to reach customers and grow revenue.
The FBI wants in on behavioral targeting
It's funny how the federal government's position on behavioral targeting changes when it wants to use the information gathered. According to CNET:
"The FBI is pressing Internet service providers to record which Web sites customers visit and retain those logs for two years, a requirement that law enforcement believes could help it in investigations of child pornography and other serious crimes."
Pepsi Refresh: Will the social media halo extend to soda sales?
PepsiCo. is putting social media to the test with its new charity initiative Refresh Everything. The soft-drink giant has notably refrained from SuperBowl ads this year, choosing instead to spread the word for its new campaign through digital and social means.
But will those efforts work when rival brands continue big TV buys and have the same ability to add digital aspects to their campaigns?
Q&A: Jon Steinberg and Peter Flint on local and the digital fringe
There has been a lot of talk lately about how massively the NY tech business has grown over the past year. And DogPatch Labs is evidence of the trend. The tech incubator opened just a month ago and the space is already at capacity.
Dogpatch Labs was created by Polaris Venture Partners to connect entrepreneurs and help founders conceive and launch startups. The group has offices in San Francisco and Boston and just opened a New York office that provides free office space, web access, coffee, and snacks for a small group of early-stage startups and entrepreneurs.
It's been called a "Frat House for Geeks," and there are already many geeks lining up to get in. Fourteen companies (including AssuredLabor, Collecta, ekoVentures, Good Crush, Group Commerce, KidMango,Scoop St., and Postling) now share DogPatch office space south of Union Square.
I caught up with Jon Steinberg, the executive in residence at DogPatch, and Polaris Partner Peter Flint to talk about Dogpatch's move to New York, why they're so obsessed with local and how do get digital tools past the "lunatic tech fringe."
Real time bidding: What's it good for?
It's hard to imagine that real-time content can actually live up to the hype surrounding it these days. But when it comes to the display ad market, many think that real-time bidding can do a lot to help resolve some of the inequities of buying and selling advertising online.
With a study released today, consulting firm Forrester Research is arguing for a switch to bidding for display advertising. And at AdMeld's Annual Partner Forum in New York, real-time bidding was looking more like a reality than a future hope for the industry.
There's a case to be made for Hulu Premium. But can News Corp. deliver?
Video portal Hulu is quickly trying to make good on its promise to charge for content, but as of yet no one is talking about what a premium Hulu product will look like.
After rumors surfaced about a two tiered subscription model earlier this week, Disney EVP Kevin Mayer came out to say that “no decisions have been made” on Hulu Premium. That's too bad, because there are plenty of ways the Hulu could successfully charge for money. It's just not clear that News Corp. will go ahead with them.
Golden Grahams delivers cereal to the unemployed
Nobody likes being out of a job. But Golden Grahams is hoping to make the process of job searching a little less painful with the launch of a new program — The Golden Grant Stimulus Package — to help cheer up job searchers with a litle humor (and free cereal).
It certainly can't hurt.
Ann Taylor barters for blog posts: Will the FTC take note?
This summer the Federal Trade Commission amended its disclosure guidelines to give it authority to fine any blogger that accepts gifts without disclosing the relationship to readers. As of yet, the commission hasn't doled out any fines to violators. Which means that many brands are still carrying on with the practice of rewarding bloggers for posts.
Last month, Ann Taylor LOFT extended an invitation to bloggers to preview the stores new collection in return for gift cards to the LOFT. The trouble is, a few bloggers didn't accept the offer.
SMWNY: When will location-based services stop being fads and start getting real?
Twitter is over three years old and many people still don't get it. Just last week, The NewYorker's George Packer called it “crack for media addicts.” But will real-time oversharing services make it into the mainstream?
At The Future of Space and Time talk during Social Media Week in New York on Wednesday, panelists from the tech world noted that conditioning larger audiences to share their real-time info and location will be necessary for such technologies to truly take off.
And for advertisers, this could be the key to actually serving those relevant ads everyone's always talking about.
20+ mind-blowing social media statistics revisited
Gleecommerce: 10 ways to improve job satisfaction
Google
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
