Browser Wars!
Posted by Ryan Johnson
Chrome has just overtaken Firefox to become the 2nd most used browser in the UK. The browser has been on a global climb for a while, and in the UK it just captured 22.12% market share in July. Firefox currently is at 21.65% market share.
And while IE still holds the crown, though it has been steadily falling for over a year now.
Firefox has been losing marketshare all over the world in 2011, even though their developers have increased their upgrade process. Firefox 4 and Firefox 5, two major versions of the browser, were released within 3 months of each other.
Which browser do you use and why do you prefer it?
Information Overload: Sifting Through it All
Posted by Ryan Johnson
In this age of social media and news aggregators, it has become almost impossible not to be bombarded by information daily. So how can we as marketers sift through it all to make a better consumer experience? Listen and organize.
The advent of social media and other services has allowed marketers to listen and respond to data being created by consumers like never before. A few years back most companies would kill to have this avenue of communication with their consumers. Now that the connection is built, we must make sure to use it correctly, because it is a very powerful channel. While you can gain knowledge about your audience in a way previously impossible, you can also barge into the conversation blindly and destroy your image. This information combined with site analytics from your webpage can help define the personas that are interested in your brand.
What can you do with this data? You must first stop thinking that everyone views your brands message the same. Things like your homepage and website should be tailor made for a variety of market segments. Whether they get different navigation, different search data or look is up to you and your designers. One thing is for sure though, the days of mass impersonal messaging in advertising and marketing are long gone.
The Evolution of the Check-In
Posted by Ryan Johnson
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.
What is a QR Code?
Posted by Michael Herman
I am still hoping for the day that QR codes, "Quick Response Codes", become a regular on the advertising scene. QR codes put an end to the "I hope you remember the website in our magazine ad so you will go home later and type it in off the top of your head" issue. These codes create a direct channel to your website right then and there. Let me paint a picture...
You are waiting at a bus stop. Nothing is around you but strangers and a giant advertisement wrap around the bus stop station. The advertisement is a poster for a new movie out with, *gasp*, your favorite actor! Well, hopefully you remember the name of the movie so you can go home and look it up. BUT WAIT! You have the QR Reader App on your smart phone. You hold your phone up to the little digital square and your phone immediately opens up your browser and takes you to the movie's website. BUT WAIT! Not only does it take you to the website, but a video pops up. It's the trailer to the movie! Now you scroll below and enter your zip code to see when the movie is playing in your area and can directly buy tickets from your phone! BAM. Conversion goal met.
Here is an example of how Blockbuster used QR codes:
The great thing about a QR Code is that you can make one for ANY landing page. It is entirely too simple. All you have to do is go to Kaywa.com and enter your URL. Once you get your QR code, you can pretty much place it on anything. I even had one on my resume that led to my own personal website. I've seen people add them to business cards as well.
What's the catch? In order for the camera on your smart phone to read these little digital squares, QR codes, you need to download the application for it. Just do a search for QR in your app store and download the QR app.
If you are a fan of the popular HBO show, "True Blood", you would be happy to know they've actually designed a very branded QR code. From what I've researched, this is the first designer QR code to appear on TV. Imagine what you can do with this. Since QR codes can go pretty much anywhere, they can use this image in a magazine ad, a giant poster, or even in their commercials (which they did, and you can read about it and watch the commercial here):
True Blood QR Code
Keeping you updated and downloaded - Megan @ Digital Street, Inc.
Video: MIT Students Develop ‘Minority Report’ Style Wireless Mouse Gloves
Posted by Michael Herman
This is pretty amazing. I can imagine something like this coming to market soon.
(hat tip Mashable)
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