MediaPost | Online Media Daily

Entertainment, Travel Bet On Mobile Banners

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:16:55 -0400

Banner ads have long been the whipping boy of online advertising, and the same is now true for mobile. But in the entertainment, travel, and auto categories, advertisers have seen results.

Marketers Should Tailor Specific Pitches To Tablet, Smartphone

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:51:00 -0400

Tablets are used mainly in lean-back mode at home, for two-screen viewing, consuming media and as e-commerce tools. Smartphones, by contrast, are used both on the go and at home, for communication and content-snacking, and apps. Brands and businesses should use search marketing on tablets to drive higher conversion rates.

Good TV Content Trumps On, Whether Trad TV Or Streaming

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:42:15 -0400

While consumers continue to perceive TV programming as superior in quality to that of online fare, their viewing habits are becoming harder to differentiate between channels. However, consumers were actually less likely to recall ads that accompanied what they thought was TV content.

Google Releases Self-Serve Display Benchmark Tool

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:02:00 -0400

Google introduced a tool Wednesday that lets brand marketers and agencies pull up-to-date industry benchmarks to help plan and measure the success of display campaigns. In the past, DoubleClick published a yearly report of these benchmarks, but now the self-serve tool enables marketers and agencies to run their own, any time.

Twitter Brings Lead Generation To Tweets

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:14:00 -0400

Twitter began testing a lead generation tool Wednesday in its tweet stream that resembles a cross between a daily deal alert and call-to-action ad in search engine query result pages. It serves up in one of Twitter's Cards, the expandable display unit that allows brands to attach photos or other media.

DigitasLBi, Razorfish Tap Execs For Global Ops

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:26:00 -0400

Publicis Groupe digital agencies DigitasLBi and Razorfish have installed new executives to run their respective international operations, the shops confirmed Wednesday. The moves come in the wake of the DigitasLBi merger that was put in place a few months ago after Publicis completed the acquisition of LBi for approximately $540 million.

More Consumers Turn To Mobile To Research, Book Travel

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:53:03 -0400

The majority of consumers used a mobile device to book travel in the last 90 days, per a new study. What's more, 44% said they are willing to spend more than $500 when purchasing travel via mobile.

Showrooming Overhyped, Mobile Key To Shopping Purchases

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:53:00 -0400

Given consumers' mobile in-store shopping trends, some consider the showrooming hoopla overblown. The research process still begins at home on search engines and comparison sites. While just 6% of smartphone users conduct their most recent mobile retail search in a store while shopping, 77% make their purchases in the store they visit.

Shopping App Swirl Adds In-Store Capability

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:53:00 -0400

Swirl entered the mobile shopping fray last year with an iPhone app allowing users to learn about fashion deals near them. Now it is adding an in-store feature to its app that delivers exclusive content and offers while users are shopping at participating stores. The initial group of retail partners includes Alex and Ani, Timberland, Kenneth Cole, The Blues Jean Bar, Scott James, and Exhale Spa

Tablets Gain Popularity With Shoppers

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:53:00 -0400

Internet-connected devices are exploding in the United States. There are 31.8 million Internet-accessible tablets, according to The NPD group, and IDC estimates with global tablet shipments rising 142% in the first quarter of 2013, the post-PC era shows no signs of slowing.

DataXu Opens Black Boxes, Launches Marketplace For Ad Algorithms

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:48:00 -0400

In a push to demystify the black box world of programmatic trading, a major ad technology developer is creating a marketplace where advertisers, agencies and trading desks can shop for algorithms. The so-called Algorithm Marketplace, which is being launched today by demand-side platform DataXu, will start with a couple of dozen off-the-shelf algorithms developed either for DataXu's internal operations or for specific clients, but will add new ones -- about a dozen a year -- over time, CEO Mike Baker tells RTM Daily.

FTC's Ohlhausen Questions Privacy Recommendations

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:05:00 -0400

The Federal Trade Commission's 2012 privacy recommendations could unintentionally disadvantage smaller online ad companies, Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen suggested on Tuesday. "A policy that limits the ability of advertisers to access new information, to reach consumers, can have unintended effects in the marketplace," she said.

Subway's Comedy Promotes Brand, Content Strategy

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:43:00 -0400

Setting a new bar for brands and their programming aspirations, Subway's scripted comedy series, "The 4 to 9ers," appears to be performing better than anyone expected. The series is nearing 10 million views on Hulu.

Future of Social, Digital Shops In Doubt

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:48:00 -0400

Amidst all the discussion of fully integrated marketing strategies, some are predicting the demise of stand-alone specialist shops, such as social media and digital agencies. According to a new study from European business school Mediaschool Group, 80% of marketing students polled across Europe believe that stand-alone social media and digital marketing agencies will disappear within 10 years.

Google+ Needs Android To Climb Out Of Experimental Phase

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:24:00 -0400

Marketers continue to view Google+ as a fledgling network requiring experimentation, although the company released a revamped social application for Android that integrates with Google Play, along with features improving support for photos, location, and streams.

AOL, Support.Com Settle Scareware Lawsuit For $8.5 Million

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:20:39 -0400

Web company AOL and software vendor Support.com will pay $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by consumers who say they were duped into purchasing software that promised to repair problems with their computers.

Gmail Hangouts Disable Google Voice

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:23:00 -0400

Google's new version of Hangouts for Gmail eliminates Google Voice features. The move is frustrating heavy users, many of whom disconnected landline phones in exchange for Internet calling. The disconnect follows Google's recent rollout of Hangouts for mobile and Google+, although the change brings Google's video chat in line with Microsoft Skype.

Digital Boost: Ziff Davis Acquires NetShelter

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:19:00 -0400

Ziff Davis on Monday announced the acquisition of content network NetShelter from ad platform inPowered. The NetShelter community includes more than 150 consumer and business tech sites, including AndroidCentral.com, MacRumors.com, Neoseeker.com, SlashGear.com and TechSpot.com.

LikeableAds.com Launches, With Focus On Social Media Ads

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:04:00 -0400

To keep up with growing demand from Madison Avenue, the social marketing consultants at Likeable Media have debuted a media and planning department. Dubbed LikeableAds.com. The unit will specialize in crafting, placing, optimizing, and analyzing social ads for clients. Tim Bosch, former strategy director at Likeable, was named director of the media and planning business.

Yahoo To Ramp 'Native' Ads On Tumblr

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:37:00 -0400

With its $1.1 billion acquisition of Tumblr, Yahoo on Monday made clear that it plans to allow the blogging service to continue to operate as a separate business and brand. That includes no Yahoo branding on Tumblr. At the same time, the Web portal will look for ways to integrate advertising, search and content management on the back-end to bolster growth across both companies.

Channel One Names Kettler CEO

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:16:00 -0400

Channel One, educational digital content provider and producer of Channel One News, named CJ Kettler as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman.

Ad Council Launches Digital Platform

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:57:00 -0400

The Ad Council is launching its new digital platform for delivery of PSAs today, providing one-stop shopping for spots across a range of media

Gigya Improves Marketing, Adds 21 Social, Tech Partners

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:15:03 -0400

Social services startup Gigya on Monday is expected to announce the addition of 21 social and marketing tech partners to its NEXUS Partner Ecosystem. Gigya is hoping to give businesses more ways to market their products and services with social network data from Facebook, Google's G+ and LinkedIn.

Experience Trumps Device: Adaptive Engagement In An Omnichannel World

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:15:03 -0400

Many organizations struggle to establish a seamless mobile experience. Relying solely on native apps does not deliver the fully connected sequential screen experience customers now expect. It is all about context when designing for mobile.

Health/Wellness Shop Diversifies Into Happiness, Launches Platform To Fuel It

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:06:00 -0400

The CementBloc, a spunky New York-based agency specializing in health and wellness marketing, is diversifying into happiness. The spinoff, which will be unveiled Wednesday evening during the agency's Internet Week event in New York's Union Square, will launch a new platform for people to track, manage and boost what makes them happy.

Yahoo To Buy Tumblr For $1.1 Billion

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:26:00 -0400

The Yahoo board has agreed to acquire popular blogging site Tumblr for $1.1 billion in cash, according to reports Sunday. The deal, first reported by tech blog AllThingsD, is expected to be announced as soon as Monday. The acquisition would mark Yahoo's most ambitious move yet to revitalize the aging Web portal under CEO Marissa Mayer, and would immediately give Yahoo a credible presence in social media through its audience of 117 million unique users worldwide.

Weather.com Develops Real-Time Data Ad Targeting

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:12:00 -0400

Weather.com has begun using audience segmentation data from Lotame to develop real-time targeting services based on weather conditions, time and interests for companies like Home Depot, Toyota, Disney and others. The platform relies on the potential of weather data as a powerful predictor of consumer purchase intent.

MetroPCS Drops Challenge To Neutrality Rules

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:44:00 -0400

T-Mobile's newly acquired MetroPCS withdrew its challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules on Friday. But Verizon, which also challenged the rules, is continuing with its appeal.

'Geo-Conquesting' Drives Higher Mobile Click Rates

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:56:00 -0400

The practice of conquesting -- running advertising for a brand or product near editorial content about a competitor's offerings online or in print -- is nothing new in the world of marketing. A more recent twist is the extension of the tactic to mobile location targeting by advertising around the physical premises of competing businesses.

Cox-Backed, Skyword Raises $6.7 Million To Enhance Content Creation

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:34:00 -0400

Skyword, a Boston-based provider of online social marketing content, has raised $6.7 million in venture capital funding led by existing backer Cox Media Group. The Skyword platform automates critical steps in the content creation and publishing process. It assesses search engine optimization services using a scorecard to ensure that content earns high search rankings.