Site review: Virgin Trains revamp
Virgin Trains relaunched its website yesterday with an updated look and feel for the site, which apparently aims to 'convey the brand's new positioning of train travel as superior to other modes of transport'.
I'm not sure whether it does that, but it does look a lot better than the previous version. I've been comparing the site with the old version...
App review: thetrainline for iPhone
Rail ticket retailer thetrainline has just released a new free iPhone app, which allows users to check UK train timetables and plan journeys.
With the only competition being the Rail Enquiries iPhone app, which retails at £4.99, then it could be a popular app. I've been taking a closer look...
Travelocity brings search into its display ads — and increases ROI
Display ad campaigns have proven to boost brand searches online and even increase sales. But finding the right mix of search and display advertising can be tricky for advertisers. In the case of Travelocity, the popular travel website has moved towards using real-time search data in its display ads.
It seems like a simple enough strategy. The result? A 203% increase in bookings online. How'd they do it?
Volkswagen goes all in on the iPhone for the new GTI launch
The iPhone's App Store has made a lot of people a good deal of money during its short existence. But can a new car launch on the iPhone alone? Volkswagen is betting it can. The automaker is launching an app to announce its newest vehicle.
The car maker is betting that the highly targeted app will reach the caliber of customers interested in purchasing the vehicle.
AdAge calculates that the new app will reach more of that demographic than a much costlier television purchase. But does the math add up?
Google launches DoubleClick Ad Exchange
Yahoo may be getting out of the search business, but now Google is gunning for the company's stronghold: display advertising.
The search giant announced the DoubleClick Ad Exchange Friday, which will function like a stock exchange for display advertising online. Google is hoping that this auction market will help automate the process of buying display ads and break the code for display the way that Google tapped into the search market.
Google may have 70% of the search market, but in display it has a paltry 1.3% of ad views. Will the DoubleClick Ad Exchange change all that?
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This article covers what I've learned from working with hundreds of customers on improving the results that they get from email marketing by optimising the subject line.
Whatever software you use for your email campaigns, these tips are worth reading...
The workaround: technology strikes back
People have been finding workarounds for poorly designed systems for many years. Although both the technology and the workarounds have become more sophisticated, the problem, and its solution, remains the same.
Many years ago, before web-based interfaces, we were asked to investigate why an online ordering system wasn’t delivering the promised productivity benefits. Our research, which involved videoing staff dealing with telephone orders and then interviewing them about the process, soon revealed the problem.
JetBlue figures out how to get people flying during a recession
September is a particularly slow month for airline travel. Situated between the summer rush and the holiday season, consumers usually take September off from traveling the friendly skies. And incentives to move around during the back to school season are further inhibited by economic constraints happening right now. But JetBlue has found a way to get people into their airline seats: they're offering unlimited Jet Blue flights for the month of September.
Between September 8 and October 8, travelers can take to JetBlue's planes as often as they'd like. For only $599. The airline, which is known for its social media savvy, sent out a press release about their offer and tweeted about the deal yesterday. Since then, they've sold out 1/3 of their inventory.
Thinking outside the box and other bad advice
Earlier this month I opened CREATE 2009, a forum for academics and practitioners to share creative and innovative ideas for human computer interaction (HCI).
The conference's theme was ‘Creative inventions and innovations for everyday HCI’ so to start things off I outlined my four step approach to help designers find more creative solutions to their problems.
Facebook Fan Box and what it means for brands
Facebook has just launched Fan Box, a new widget. This is great news for brands wanting to grow a Facebook fan page. But it's probably going to drive traffic in the wrong direction for most brands.
Social media: the best and worst of 2009
Email marketing: six steps to improving customer engagement in 2010
Web 2.0
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
