Digital Marketing Blog

Hey, NBC! Apple already does variable pricing…

NBC’s dispute with Apple over the company’s fixed pricing policy for downloads of its TV shows from iTunes is well worth tuning into.

The conflict is based on NBC’s demands for more control over the pricing of its content in iTunes, while Apple is insisting that variable pricing simply isn’t an option.

Well, here’s the kicker: Apple has already rolled out variable pricing in iTunes. It just depends on where you live. And, it’s frankly a bit of an outrage...

by Chris Lake 03 September 2007 17:06pm 5 comments

Google settles Adwords lawsuit

Google has settled a lawsuit with American Blind & Wallpaper Factory over its search ads, bringing a four-year long dispute to an end.

The retailer had claimed that Google’s Adwords programme allowed other firms to infringe its trademarks when bidding on keywords, but pretty much looks to have climbed down as the trial approached.

by Richard Maven 03 September 2007 13:30pm 1 comment

Online verification schemes see increased adoption

Payment association Apacs has released figures showing 'around 10m' UK shoppers have registered their credit and debit cards with MasterCard and Visa’s online verification schemes.

The group says more retailers have also adopted the Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode systems, which remove their liability if fraudulent transactions take place and are reported to help increase average order values.

by Richard Maven 03 September 2007 11:37am 1 comment

List turnover is 'main challenge' for email marketers

List turnover has climbed to the top of email marketers’ list of problems, according to a new survey.

Almost four out of 10 practitioners (39%) cited list turnover as their biggest difficulty in the poll, conducted by JupiterResearch.

by Richard Maven 31 August 2007 12:00pm 0 comments

Another victory for social network campaigners

HSBC has responded to a Facebook-based campaign against its charges for graduates – another sign that social networking sites have become a hotbed of consumer activity and that big brands are listening.

Following the protests, the bank said it would reverse its decision to abolish interest-free overdrafts for students leaving university this summer and would refund charges they have already paid.

by Richard Maven 31 August 2007 10:28am 1 comment

Pure-play etailers top satisfaction poll

Pure-play web retailers are ahead of their multi-channel competitors when it comes to customer satisfaction, according to a new study.

Etail solution provider Pangora surveyed hundreds of UK online customers about their experiences of delivery, site quality and customer service, and firms with no high street presence came top in most categories.

by Richard Maven 31 August 2007 10:00am 0 comments

Yahoo! tests new social network

Yahoo! is reportedly testing a new professional social networking service that connects students with prospective employers.

Called Yahoo! Kickstart but still merely a concept, the site focuses around users’ CVs in the style of LinkedIn. It also offers companies the opportunity to create groups that students can join.

Yahoo! Kickstart (via CNET)

by Richard Maven 31 August 2007 09:33am 0 comments

Regional press websites top 1,000 mark

The number of regional press websites in the UK grew by 33% last year as more publishers embraced digital platforms, according to the Newspaper Society.

Its annual survey showed the number of websites rose from 828 to 1102, while online ad revenues increased 18.3% to £71m.

by Richard Maven 31 August 2007 07:30am 0 comments

Where is the best practice in the IAB/DMA charter?

I can’t work out this IAB / DMA Search Marketing Best Practice Charter, which was released to the masses last week “to reinforce advertiser and agency confidence in the medium”.

I’m not sure whether to file it under ‘heart in the right place’ or not, but I do know that it is sorely lacking in any best practice guidelines.

Also, I’m not convinced that advertisers particularly need their confidence restoring (we recently estimated that in the UK more than £2bn will be spent on search marketing in 2007 – not a sign of a crisis of confidence).

by Chris Lake 30 August 2007 14:06pm 1 comment

Farecast extends service to hotels

Farecast, the start-up that helps travellers predict the best time to buy flight tickets, has turned its attention to the often-confusing world of hotel rates.

The company has launched a beta service that allows consumers to search the web for hotel rooms and guesstimate whether the prices being offered are a good deal.

by Richard Maven 30 August 2007 08:55am 0 comments