BizReport : May 2008 Archive

May 2008 Archive

E-commerce | May 30, 2008

PriceUniverse.com: Future of price comparison

A new website lets consumers decide the price they are prepared to pay for a product while helping online retailers to realize increased sales. >>

Research | May 30, 2008

BtoB Magazine: Lead-gen budgets set to rise

Business-to-business marketers plan to increase spending on lead-generation programs in the second half of this year, according to the results of an email survey carried out this month. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 30, 2008

Teens want incentivized mobile ads

It’s a game of give and take when it comes to mobile advertising to teens. They don’t mind having ads sent to their handsets, just as long as there is something in it for them. >>

Advertising | May 30, 2008

IAB: Internet ad revenue increase 26%

2007 may not have been a banner year for advertisers but it wasn't a loss, either. According to the IAB's recent Internet Advertising Report, online ad revenues in the US reached $21.2 billion in 2007. This is an increase of 26% for the year. >>

Advertising | May 30, 2008

Report: How local websites are making money

Local websites are becoming more and more popular with consumers; local media websites are even more popular. According to a recent report from Borrell Associates, local media websites earned just under $9 billion in 2007. >>

Research | May 30, 2008

BIGresearch: Minorities use more new media

In the US, minorities are leading the way to new media. According to BIGresearch's recent Simultaneous Media Survey, African Americans, Hispanics and Asians are using more new media; they also use new media differently than their Caucasian counterparts. >>

Advertising | May 29, 2008

Privacy concerns may stunt online ad growth

Anxiety about privacy could stunt the growth of Internet advertising as consumers and regulators continue to learn more about behavioral tracking. >>

Advertising | May 29, 2008

URLs in print ads drive traffic online

It’s not like you haven’t heard it before – put your URL on print ads and drive visitors to your website. New figures shortly to be released by the Magazine Publishers of America add more weight to that advice. >>

E-commerce | May 29, 2008

Site bounces, shopping cart abandonments rise

More consumers abandoned shopping carts and clicked off e-commerce sites after just one click during the first quarter of this year than the same period a year ago, according to MarketLive’s recent Performance Index. >>

E-commerce | May 29, 2008

comScore: Etailing rebounds in April

After a slowing in sales in March, ecommerce rebounded in April according to a recent comScore report. Year over year, ecommerce growth rebounded to 15%; this follows an increase of only 9% in March. >>

Email Marketing | May 29, 2008

Alchemy Worx: shorter is better for email subject lines

If you think the length of your subject line doesn't matter, think again. Recently, Dela Quist of Alchemy Worx, revealed information from a survey about email open rates. The survey revealed that shorter is better when it comes to email marketing. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 29, 2008

itsmy.com gains traction worldwide

If you're thinking of entering the mobile space, mobile social network itsmy.com could be a good place to begin. According to the recent Opera Software Mobile Web report, itsmy.com is in the top 10 most visited mobile spaces. >>

Advertising | May 28, 2008

Massive global expansion expected for online video

Online video is already attracting ad dollars, but some advertisers continue to believe that it’s a passing fad. However, a new forecast by ABI Research shows that online video is set to experience massive global expansion over the next few years. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 28, 2008

Web browsing on smartphones increases

Can consumers using smartphones find, view and purchase from your website? If not, then perhaps data recently released by M:Metrics will persuade you to make this so. >>

Social Marketing | May 28, 2008

In-Stat: Millenials are socially mobile

Mobile-social marketers take note: according to a recent In-Stat report, the millenial generation is increasingly mobile. The report indicates that millenials are increasingly logging on to mobile social platforms. >>

E-commerce | May 28, 2008

Are ecommerce marketers taking full advantage of metrics?

According to one report, the answer to that question is a resounding no. A recent report from Marketing Sherpa indicates that ecommerce marketers are not taking full advantage of tools that would give them a clearer picture of their target consumers. By not taking advantage of that information marketers are doing their business a disservice. >>

Email Marketing | May 28, 2008

JangoMail launches new email tool

A new email marketing application which touts the ability of on-demand application-sharing services has been launched from JangoMail. The application has been certified for Salesforce.com; marketers can import their sales contacts to Salesforce. >>

E-commerce | May 27, 2008

Online retailers approach globalization with caution

Global expansion is the aim of most online retailers, but only a few have achieved it, according to a new report from JupiterResearch. >>

Research | May 27, 2008

Top executives turning to Internet

An in-depth study of America’s business elite has revealed they are increasingly turning to the Internet for news and information, especially on blogs and in podcasts or video. >>

E-commerce | May 27, 2008

Revenue Science reveals summer segments

Marketers can now target seasonal audiences thanks to Revenue Science’s recently announced behavioral targeting technology. >>

Research | May 27, 2008

Charities lackadaisical online

Research carried out by British firms nfpSynergy and MissionFish has found that U.K. charities aren’t keeping up with 21st century donors. >>

Research | May 27, 2008

The Digitally Savvy: Well heeled, well wheeled

According to new analysis from Scarborough Research, the “Digitally Savvy” across America dress well, drive luxury motors and have an above average household income. In a nutshell, they make great consumers. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 27, 2008

IBM: Consumers want mobile choices

Mobile may not be at the tipping point yet, but that point is getting closer. The difference could be made in the applications offered and the mobile choices consumers are given according to a recent IBM report. Researchers found that 80% of consumers want more choices in their mobile devices and connections. >>

Advertising | May 27, 2008

Unicast to provide rich media for Google's content network

Mark down a new advertising provider for Google's content network. Unicast, a leader in rich media advertising, has signed on to provide rich media, display ads for the network. Google's content network is a leader for advertising networks around the world. >>

Research | May 26, 2008

Study reveals gay-friendly brands

The 2008 Prime Access / Planet Out Gay and Lesbian Consumer Study shows that the gay and lesbian community are fiercely loyal consumers and prefer to purchase products and services from companies they perceive to be “gay-friendly”. >>

Advertising | May 26, 2008

Marketers anticipate print ad spend decrease

More than half of marketers expect their print ad spending to decrease three years from now, as online advertising continues to grow at a rapid rate. >>

E-commerce | May 26, 2008

TrialPay: Shoppers want payment alternatives

Cash, check or charge isn't enough for today's shopper. According to a recent survey from TrialPay, about three-quarters (75%) of online shoppers have used an alternative payment method when shopping online. >>

Research | May 26, 2008

Study: Webcasting could be the answer for B2B marketers

If you need more sales leads but simply cannot soak up the costs of more travel time, webcasting could be the answer. According to a recent white paper sponsored by ON24, webcasting is a good way to interest your marketing prospects without investing in a lot of time and money in more traveling. >>

E-commerce | May 26, 2008

NearbyNow, The Find partner for inventory search

Online shoppers may have a new way of finding out which etailers have the items they most want to buy. And etailers should take note. By allowing users to learn if an item is available in real-time, etailers have a better chance of creating a loyal buyer. >>

Search Marketing | May 23, 2008

Google widens search lead

Google is the only one of the large search engines to have increased its share of market over the last few months, despite a slight drop in searches by Americans, finds comScore. >>

Search Marketing | May 23, 2008

Google plans Image Search display ads

Google plans to place display ads alongside their Image Search results as part of a suite of image-related experiments currently underway. >>

Social Marketing | May 23, 2008

TravelShout: Socialization of online travel

It appears that it isn't just Internet behemoths that have been working on a way to socialize the web. An application, similar in concept to Google’s Friend Connect, has been launched today. Called TravelShout, it allows Internet users to talk in real-time across websites containing similar content. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 22, 2008

Brits not overly enthusiastic about shopping via mobile phone

Mobile phone penetration is higher than that of personal computers, so what do users think about the role of the mobile phone in their day to day shopping? Lightspeed Research’s new survey in the U.K. sheds some light on the matter. >>

Research | May 22, 2008

Almost one-fifth of U.S. population disconnected

Email and Internet access are both important in the daily lives of many of us, but a new report from Parks Associates reveals that many U.S. citizens don’t even have Internet access. >>

Research | May 22, 2008

Online consumer magazines attract more readers

Online consumer magazines have seen a rise of over 10% in unique visitors during the first three months of 2008, when compared to last year’s data. >>

Research | May 21, 2008

Shift in tax rebate check spending

Various reports released in the last few weeks have come to the same conclusion regarding what U.S. consumers will be doing with their tax rebate checks this year, and it’s not great news for some retailers. >>

Email Marketing | May 21, 2008

Consumers prefer email communication with businesses

The demand for email remains strong and will continue to do so for the next few years, according to new data released by Habeas. >>

Research | May 21, 2008

Safety of personal data still concerns Internet users

The U.K.’s communications industry watchdog, Ofcom, has released a new report which shows many Britons remain concerned about the amount of personal data being held about them by businesses. >>

Viral Marketing | May 16, 2008

Jivox sees strong growth in video for small businesses

Small businesses may not have the deep pockets that large Madison Avenue advertising companies require, but they aren't letting that stop them from entering the online video fray. Many are turning to self-serve video options like the one offered by Jivox. >>

Social Marketing | May 16, 2008

How to target the affluent through social media

Whether through a company blog or message board, more marketers are turning to social platforms to increase consumers' comfort level on the web. These social solutions can give customers a better feel for the company, increase brand awareness and create a feeling of brand loyalty. But what are the best ways to target consumers via social media? >>

Advertising | May 16, 2008

UpSellIt's Chatty Ads Could Increase ROI

New technology could allow your targeted consumer base to interact on a personal level with ads placed online. UpSellIt's SmartAgent equips online ad campaigns with a live chat feature which can answer consumer's questions about the product. >>

Social Marketing | May 15, 2008

Report: Worldwide UGV revenue to surpass $1.1 billion

It seems more consumers create a blog or a social networking profile every day, still a new report from In-Stat indicates that ad revenue from user-generated content will grow at a surprising rate. Specifically, user-generated video content will lead the way. >>

Research | May 15, 2008

Online newspaper readers consume politics, jobs information

Marketers may receive a bigger boost from online newspaper ads by placing their ads on the right pages. Though this isn't a novel concept, many marketers aren't following the simple rule. How can you determine which pages get the most traffic? By doing your research. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 15, 2008

Survey: Rich Media Ads to reach $2.7 billion Euros

Online marketers can expect the rich media ad space on mobiles to continue growing over the next four years. According to a recent survey, rich media ads are expected to account for Euro $2.7 billion of the mobile ad spend by 2012. >>

Viral Marketing | May 14, 2008

YouTube introduces buzz targeting

Wouldn’t it be great if you could identify the next big viral videos to come out of YouTube and place your ads on them? Now you can. >>

Advertising | May 14, 2008

Online advertising CPMs falling

It seems that online advertising isn’t as immune to the effects of the economic slowdown as first thought, according to recent analysis from PubMatic. >>

Viral Marketing | May 14, 2008

comScore: Online video grows 60% year over year

As consumers become more familiar with video platforms, more and more are logging on. According to a recent comScore report, video views grew more than 60% from March 2007 to March 2008. Roughly 11.5 billion videos were viewed during the reporting period. >>

Advertising | May 14, 2008

Clear Channel relaunch offers more to consumers, advertisers

If Clear Channel has anything to say about it, online radio isn't going to go softly into the night. With a relaunch of it's station websites, the radio giant offers more to consumers and to advertisers. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 14, 2008

Is free the key to mobile video adoption?

The mobile web is still a developing entity for both consumers and marketers, which is one reason that some marketers are slow to adopt the medium. However, many reports indicate that ignoring mobile could be a huge faux pas for advertisers. So, how should marketers approach? >>

Search Marketing | May 13, 2008

Will Yahoo Glue Pages stick?

Yahoo has launched a beta test of its latest search concept called Glue Pages, a more visually attractive presentation of search results. >>

Research | May 13, 2008

Coupon, comparison sites experience traffic growth

Coupon websites and comparison shopping engines are seeing increased traffic compared to this time last year, according to Hitwise Intelligence. >>

Social Marketing | May 13, 2008

Google Friend Connect: Socialising the web

The web is set to become one enormous social network with the launch of Google Friend Connect, a free common social networking feature that can be incorporated effortlessly into any website. >>

E-commerce | May 13, 2008

Tjoos launches recommendation platform

Consumers who are looking for a little more from their favorite shopping hub may like a new offering from Tjoos. The company recently launched a new personal style recommendation platform. The platform does for clothes and accessories what comparison shopping engines do for electronics and health supplies. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 13, 2008

Nielsen: Social networkers are going mobile

Social networkers aren't content in going online with their friends; they want to take their friends mobile. According to a recent Nielsen Company report, just over 4 million US consumers access their favorite social sites via their mobiles. >>

Social Marketing | May 13, 2008

Hitwise: MySpace takes 3/4 of the social networking pie

It may be the granddaddy of all social networks, but MySpace isn't losing any steam. According to a recent Hitwise report, MySpace still leads the social atmosphere, attracting more than 70% of social networkers in April. >>

Research | May 12, 2008

Time-shifting technology threatens commercials

Time-shifting technologies are increasingly popular, none more so than DVRs. One in four U.S. families uses a DVR to time-shift shows, so what effect does this have on the amount of attention paid to commercials? >>

Research | May 12, 2008

Will consumers unplug TV services for online video?

Video content will soon be available to watch on a variety of devices other than a television set, so will this push consumers to disconnect their satellite or cable services? >>

E-commerce | May 12, 2008

Krillion: Shoppers spend 30% of time researching buys

As most e-tailers have discovered, having simple product descriptions on-site is not enough. Today's online shoppers need price comparisons, consumer reviews and product information, which is why many are turning to comparison shopping engines. >>

Blogs & Content | May 12, 2008

New blinkx offering matches text to video

Video advertisers could get a boost from the new blinkx Content Correlation Engine. The platform allows media companies to match text from websites to video on each of their pages, possibly turning more consumers into online video watchers. >>

Advertising | May 12, 2008

Format Dynamics Prints Up Online Ads

A new type of ad is coming to the online space. Start-up Format Dynamics has created a print based ad format. The advertising and publishing platform inserts ads to the printed versions of a webpage. >>

Blogs & Content | May 09, 2008

Take my PDA but leave me the chocolate

One in five female bloggers in the U.S. is officially bonkers according to a recent study from BlogHer/Compass Partners. >>

Research | May 09, 2008

Quantcast: Demographic search tool beta launch

Media planners looking for websites that match their demographic requirements have another tool at their disposal, thanks to Quantcast’s newly launched free demographic search service. >>

Advertising | May 09, 2008

Trendsetters targeted by new ad network

Burst Media adds yet another targeted vertical ad network to its already growing stable of offerings. >>

Social Marketing | May 09, 2008

PopularMedia launches a management platform for social media

Managing social media campaigns may get much easier for marketers with the launch of a new platform from PopularMedia. The Social Media Marketing Suite allows advertisers to create branded campaigns and social sites and to track how consumers interact with them. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 09, 2008

GoldSpot Media, Denuo partnering for mobile targeting

Targeting consumer behavior through the behavior of marketers in the mobile space could become the next hot marketing trend. GoldSpot Media, a mobile marketing firm, and Denuo, the mobile metrics arm of Publicis Groupe, have formed a partnership to study advertisers' behaviors so they can better relate to consumers. The partnership will ultimately enhance mobile video ad options for GoldSpot. >>

Advertising | May 08, 2008

The rise of DIY display advertising

Could do-it-yourself display advertising do for the online advertising industry what online travel booking did to the travel agent industry? >>

E-commerce | May 08, 2008

Consumers still find online shopping frustrating

Failing to meet customers’ expectations online can have an adverse impact on both the brand and the store, finds a survey from Opinion Research Corporation. >>

Research | May 08, 2008

Consumers go online for Mother's Day gifts

Mother’s Day is round the corner and Brand Keys is on the case when it comes to who’s buying what and where. >>

Research | May 08, 2008

Nielsen: Experience pushes consumers to post online

Consumer generated media (CGM) is more important than ever for marketers, however, if you think a good product is all you need to generate buzz amongst consumers, think again. A recent survey from Nielsen CGM/Homescan Buzzfacts indicates that the experience a consumer has is more likely to cause them to post a review than the product itself. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 08, 2008

JupiterResearch: Why you should go mobile now

According to a recent report from JupiterResearch marketers are taking too long in their addition of mobile platforms. The report indicates that only about 20% of marketers are currently in the mobile space. According to Jupiter, the other 80% of marketers are missing the boat. >>

Trends & Ideas | May 08, 2008

Platform to target Hispanics through content, ads

A new solution from Directory M could make it simpler for local advertisers to appeal to the growing Hispanic marketplace in the US. Through the platform, content publishers and advertisers can target the Hispanic population in a format different from the typical local classified space. >>

Research | May 07, 2008

Increase in Internet radio listening among workers

A growing number of workers are listening to radio online at work and abandoning AM/FM receivers, according to a recent study. >>

Advertising | May 07, 2008

IAB releases online video ad format compliance seal

The Interactive Advertising Bureau has released a “compliance seal” to be displayed by those businesses that are compliant with their recently published “Digital Video In-Stream Ad Format Guidelines”. >>

Research | May 07, 2008

MarketingSherpa: How widgets turn subscribers into affiliates

Word of mouth marketing is increasing in popularity but do you really know how good the return on investment is? Many marketers don't; they also don't realize that even though word-of-mouth can be a benefit, WOM efforts can be much better. A recent study showed that using email and widgets helped improve the WOM efforts for one company. >>

Advertising | May 07, 2008

Google opens television ad program to all marketers

Marketers who want to enter the television space but aren't sure where to start may get a helping hand from online giant Google. The company has opened the Google TV ad-buying service to all marketers. >>

Social Marketing | May 07, 2008

How to optimize your site socially

Having a current, professional and easily navigable website is the first step for any business these days. But traditional websites aren't enough. Today's businesses must include social aspects. At the same time, bad social capabilities can hurt more than they would help. >>

Research | May 06, 2008

More consumers buying big ticket items online

Consumers are more likely to purchase large and expensive items online these days compared to a couple of years ago, according to a recent survey from PriceGrabber.com. >>

Advertising | May 06, 2008

ABC.com crams more ads into online videos

Not content with slipping in one ad per long-form online video, ABC.com are going to insert more to test the reaction of viewers. >>

Advertising | May 06, 2008

No-frills online ad search engine launched

A simple-to-use online advertising search engine has been launched. The site is aimed at small to medium sized businesses wishing to manage their own ad placements. >>

Trends & Ideas | May 06, 2008

New Nielsen tools help marketers manage brand

Do you know how your brand is faring online? If not, a new set of tools from Nielsen Online could change that. The Digital Strategic Services Group of tools helps marketers manage their reputations in online environment. >>

E-commerce | May 06, 2008

New tool could make web development simpler

Having a web presence is a must these days but developing that presence is not easy, especially if you are starting from square one. A new tool from Fresh Tilled Soil could make the process simpler. Rapid Web Prototyping gives developers guides to use while developing HTML/CSS web pages, speeding up the process. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 06, 2008

Nielsen: Mobile increases online audience by 13%

Don't forget about mobile when trying to improve the ROI of your campaigns and brand recognition. According to a recent Nielsen Company report, mobile helped online marketers increase their reach by about 13%. >>

Internet | May 05, 2008

Microsoft, Yahoo deal dead - what next?

The big news over the weekend was that Microsoft has pulled out of its offer to buy Yahoo. After months of wrangling and public negotiations Microsoft has finally determined not to raise their bid. >>

Social Marketing | May 05, 2008

Radius: UGC meets display advertising

User-generated content is often found on feedback pages and product review pages, there for those who care to find it, but a new service could see user reviews and comments getting their share of the limelight. >>

Social Marketing | May 05, 2008

RapLeaf: More men are Uber Connectors

When it comes to social networking, women are far more likely to be at it than men according to recent findings published by Rapleaf. >>

Research | May 05, 2008

Gartner: Email, Search still tops for consumers

Despite increases in online shopping options, content sites and social networks, a recent report from Gartner indicates that email and online search continue to rank at the top of consumers' lists of things to do online. >>

Mobile Marketing | May 05, 2008

Marchex to provide in-call mobile ad solutions

Mobile marketers could obtain a little help from local advertising company Marchex. The advertising solution will begin offering in-call advertising for mobile marketers. AdMob, Ringleader Digital and 4INFO have all signed on for the platform. >>

Research | May 05, 2008

Survey: Marketers prefer own custom content

According to a recent survey from Junta42 Match and BtoB Magazine, marketers prefer to use in-house talent to create in-house copy. From company newsletters to intra-office information, the survey found that marketers are keeping this type of content creation in-house. >>

Research | May 02, 2008

Gas prices drive consumers online

It would seem that even high gas prices can’t deter Americans from shopping. If they can’t afford the gas to get to the stores, they go online. >>

Research | May 02, 2008

DMA: Web 2.0 links brand and direct marketing

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has released a new report that looks at how Web 2.0 is the link between direct marketing and brand. >>

Advertising | May 02, 2008

ADSDAQ Exchange could help publishers increase their reach

Content publishing is just the beginning of a successful online business. In order to reach more consumers, there has to be a buzz about the content and a reach into the consumer base. Enter a new offering from ContextWeb's ADSDAQ Exchange which purports to help publishers extend their reach for campaigns. >>

Viral Marketing | May 02, 2008

ScanScout, ClearSpring partner for viral video

ClearSpring Technologies, a widget company, and ScanScout, a leader in contextual in-video capabilities, have entered into a partnership that will make online video and video ad distribution much simpler. The partnership will give ScanScout network advertisers access to viral video distribution across social platforms like MySpace, Google, Yahoo and Facebook. >>

Advertising | May 02, 2008

Is in-call the next big thing?

Catching consumers' attention during a phone call could be easier than you think, and it could increase the ROI of ad campaigns. In-call advertising is nothing new in the marketing sector but advanced targeting and mobile options are making in-call a better call for most advertisers. >>

Blogs & Content | May 01, 2008

LGBTs more receptive to blogs than heterosexuals

Gay and lesbian Internet users read more blogs than their heterosexual counterparts, according to a survey by Harris Interactive and Witeck-Combs Communications. >>

Research | May 01, 2008

Matures online an overlooked audience

It’s not all knitting and tartan rugs after the age of 62, according Focalyst and Dynamic Logic’s recently released report, the Matures are online in force. >>

Email Marketing | May 01, 2008

Survey: Opt-in and opt-out procedures need improvement

Email marketers could do better when it comes to opting-in and opting out processes, and are missing golden opportunities for retention and data collection. >>

Advertising | May 01, 2008

eDrugSearch combines comparison shopping with social networking

Move over comparison shopping engines which only list different prices for products. eDrugSearch has combined comparison shopping with social networking - and in the process has generated more than $2 million for it's member pharmacies. >>

Trends & Ideas | May 01, 2008

Marketers can barter stuff for ads

Have an extra fax machine sitting in a closet? How about excess inventory taking up valuable space? If you could trade those old things in on advertising, would you? KSL Media, a New York media operation, is betting you - or some of your counterparts - will. They've opened an auction-type system which allows businesses to trade off their excess in exchange for media buys. >>

Advertising | May 01, 2008

24/7 Real Media, Mindset Media target for personality

A new targeting technology is coming on strong for online marketers and could result in better consumer engagement. Called psychographic targeting, the method is said to appeal to users' personalities. Marketers can buy and place ads targeted to specific personality traits like creativity, assertiveness and self-esteem. >>