Where Online Advertising is Headed…
Posted by Patrick Lynch
I am sure you have seen/used the social sign-in feature on many things lately. Whether it is an app or a website, you are often given the option to sign-in via Facebook or Twitter. Using technologies like Facebook Connect and OAuth are helping to redefine the concept of permission marketing. Instead of just opting in on an email, you are building a permission based relationship with your consumers on your site. This also allows sites to be transparent to the audience, informing the consumer how their data will be used and how it can help the company and the consumer.
There is a new generation that is comfortable using mobile apps and are quite willing to divulge personal information with companies and brands in exchange for valued relationship. This type of authorization-based relationship between brand and user is likely to become the norm.
And rightly so, instead of filling out forms showing your interests/age/location the consumer only has to connect via Facebook and instantly give the brand all of that data with just one click. 
The Evolution of the Check-In
Posted by Patrick Lynch
Location-based services have been popping up everywhere over the last few years. And while it all started as a way to find your friends, it has evolved into much, much more than that.
When Twitter first arrived on the scene, the status box was empty, with a grayed out question asking, "What are you doing?". Now, we have services like Gowalla and Foursquare asking, "Where are you?" and "Who are you with?" While GetGlue and ShopKick ask "What are you watching/reading?" or "What are you buying?"
While some might say that the age of overshare is upon us, I feel that this is a perfect way for brands to connect with their consumers. I don't necessarily mean checking in to everything we do, but a more subtle approach where programs and services integrate with one another, and then give feedback to the company. Allowing them to build a better product, or deliver a better service. Or even making new product recommendations based on the way a consumer interacts with their service.
I might be getting ahead of myself, since location-based tech has yet to be adopted by the masses. But if/when it does, look for a more integrated relationship between consumer and brand.
The Best of 2010 – Email Marketing Campaigns
Posted by Michael Herman
Every year I see hundreds of great email campaigns sent from clients, and one of my favorite things about being an Account Manager is seeing how our clients utilize Digital Street's email marketing platform to it's fullest potential.
Below are five of my favorite email campaigns that were sent out through Digital Street. All of these email campaigns have a very clean feel to them, not too much clutter! It is also important for companies to maintain their brand identity by staying consistent. Sending out entirely new looking emails every other week is only going to distract your contacts from remembering your brand!
Digital Marketing in 2011
Posted by Michael Herman
With the rise of digital marketing, it can leave you wondering how you can improve your web presence and where to start! Let us give you some quick tips....
The Obvious Social Network Route
As the movie The Social Network hit screens, the time came to reflect on the phenomenal success of Facebook and other social media sites. Facebook has an estimated 500 million users and this is likely to increase even further. Twitter now has well over 100 million users and is attracting an average of 300,000 new users a day. This makes it plainly obvious as to your main 2011 social media strategy. Facebook seems to attract users in the ‘right’ age group for marketing purposes, so dedicate a considerable amount of your budget towards setting up campaigns both on Twitter and Facebook.
Video Kills The Behind The Times Company
Yet it is important to push yourself to the front of the queue when it comes to jumping on the video marketing bandwagon. A recent whitepaper by Cisco suggested that more than half of all web traffic will be video-related by 2014. The days of the 30 second advert are dying out with more and more consumers skipping these dull and unimaginative productions. Sites like YouTube need to used more frequently with thought provoking and lengthier adverts the key to success. If you want someone to buy your cereal, don’t depict a happy family with 2.4 children eating the product by the kitchen. Edgy, new and deep will sell in future where fast, predictable and cheesy once ruled.
Email And Mobiles
As one might expect, email marketing is moving with the times. An extraordinary 97% of American households use email so a well constructed email campaign will reap dividends. It is a fact that social networks such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are being integrated with email. The smartphone, Android and iPhone are linking even more users to their mail. The challenge facing digital marketers is to find a way to tailor their campaign for customers who view their email on a mobile device. The best strategy is to use a tool such as Litmus to find out more about your audience and tailor your campaign to them. This is necessary because it is difficult to find a current strategy that will work well for all mobile users.
SEO Is Still King
Believe it or not however, despite the huge budgets set aside for the all of the above, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is still top of the list when it comes to 2011 digital marketing tactics according to a poll carried out by Top Rank. Yet in order to get your content to the top of the search engine ladder, you still have to know your targets and audience. If you know your audience but not their triggers, start surveying. If you know what you want to market but have no idea to who, check out sites like eMarketer for market statistics. It should be remembered that no amount of marketing will work if your content is poor, sort it out. Oh, and avoid those nasty “please stay on my page and click on cancel for something special” pop-ups, these REALLY annoy consumers!
So where will this leave your marketing strategy for 2011? All four of these pieces will make your marketing plan come together and keep up with the ever-changing trends for digital marketing.
Digital Street Featured in Nike Women Video
Posted by Michael Herman
Stephanie, our Director of Social Media, was one of 20 women chosen to participate in the Nike Women Make Yourself Movement. As her first assignment, she was asked to post a blog on "What Makes Me" - and with typical "Stephanie fashion", she chose to do a video instead! Check it out below! More videos will be coming, so be sure to check out the Nike Women Facebook page as well as our own!
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