BizReport : August 2008 Archive

August 2008 Archive

Research | August 29, 2008

DMA: Catalogs are still solid publications

With all of the talk about magazines and newspapers losing readership and ad dollars, it seems that one publication type - the catalog - is still going strong. According to a recent report from the Direct Marketers Association (DMA), paper catalogs are still the top remote sales channel. >>

Research | August 29, 2008

Tight budgets push Americans online for travel information

Now may be the time to push those bargain basement deals by advertising on travel websites. That, according to a recent comScore report which shows that consumers are increasing their trafficking of online travel and information sites as the search for the best travel deals. >>

Advertising | August 29, 2008

Broadband video: It's all about content

When it comes to online advertising, no two ads are alike and no two ad campaigns are. This leads to a lot of insecurity in the market, especially with new platforms popping up each year. For broadband video, there are definite rules to be followed. >>

Trends & Ideas | August 28, 2008

U.S. business-to-business marketers boosting overseas budgets

Over half of U.S. business-to-business marketers are anticipating increases in their overseas marketing budgets, according to a recent online survey conducted by BtoB. >>

Research | August 28, 2008

CheckFree: Security no longer main barrier to online banking

Security concerns among online Americans are fading and more are willing to go online to perform everyday banking and bill payment activities. In fact, three-quarters of online Americans now do so online, according to a new survey from bill payments technology provider, Checkfree. >>

Research | August 28, 2008

ANA: Marketers being asked to reduce marketing costs

Marketers across a wide range of industries believe their overall marketing budgets will be cut, and many are already being asked to identify cost savings, according to a new survey from the Association of National Advertisers. >>

Email Marketing | August 28, 2008

How to get more from email list generation

Every email marketer wants more list subscribers, but the fact is that a huge email list doesn't necessarily mean a huge ROI from any email campaign. Most recipients skim over email marketing messages or delete them without a read. Knowing that, marketers are still trying to find ways to reach more subscribers when they should be trying to reach their existing subscriber base in a better way. Here are a few tips. >>

E-commerce | August 28, 2008

Study: Advertising networks can accelerate online sales

Online advertising networks could become a boost to etailers heading in to the busy holiday shopping season. According to a recent case study from Channel Intelligence, advertising networks can help to accelerate online sales; sometimes by as much as 50%. >>

Research | August 28, 2008

Russia's online audience is growing the fastest

If you're thinking of targeting a foreign audience, you may want to check on the Russians. According to the latest ComScore research, Russia has the fastest growing online audience in Europe. Of the more than 240 million European consumers online about 17.4 million are Russian; that is an increase of 27% year over year (YoY). >>

E-commerce | August 27, 2008

Online leisure travel market grows, bookings drop

While eMarketer forecasts the U.S. online leisure travel market is set to grow over the next four years, the research firm also notes that the number of travelers booking online is dropping. Is this a result of the current economic climate or are online travel agents’ sites to blame? >>

Research | August 27, 2008

Pew identifies 4 news audience groups

Pew has named four news audience groups, based on their use of traditional and digital media to keep up to date with the news. Which one are you? >>

Trends & Ideas | August 27, 2008

MuseWorx: Virtual OS for marketers launched

The launch of a new virtual operating system for marketers, that leverages the power of cloud computing, will see millions of professionals joining up over the next six months, according to reports. >>

Research | August 27, 2008

Report: '08 ad outlook dims, search outlook brightens

There is good news and bad news for online marketers. The bad? Another analytics firm has lowered their online advertising expectations for the year. The good? The outlook for the immediate future, meaning 2009, is brightening. Today, Carat, lowered their expectations for 2008 both globally and in the US; they now expect global ad spending to increase by about 5% and in the US to rise by only about 2%. >>

Research | August 27, 2008

Report: Consumers trust businesses less

A recent survey from Gallup and the Better Business Bureau should cause most businesses to take a second look at their policies - and their advertising - because consumers are losing trust very quickly. According to the report, in a seven month period trust in thirteen of fifteen industries dropped by nearly 15%. Even more disturbing is that 47% of consumers say they have "very little or no" trust in business. >>

Search Marketing | August 27, 2008

Google's search lead extends

Of the almost 12 billion searches performed by Americans in July, Google accounted for just over 7 billion, cementing their lead - if there was ever any doubt - in the search wars. According to comScore's monthly report, Google's search lead bounced up only a few-hundredths of a percentage point. >>

Research | August 26, 2008

Olympic site most visited from within China

China takes gold for the greatest number of visitors to the official Beijing Olympics website during the first few days of the event, according to recent research from comScore. >>

Internet | August 26, 2008

Will IE8 disrupt online advertising?

A new version of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is soon to be released, and some advertisers fear a new privacy feature has the potential to be an ad blocker. What does the new feature do, and might it affect Internet advertising? >>

Viral Marketing | August 26, 2008

Why marketers should consider cause marketing

Everybody wants a write off and charitable contributions top the list for most consumers - and businesses. But, did you know those philanthropic contributions and activities could also give a brand boost? According to a recent report, charitable actions can lead consumers to action. >>

Social Marketing | August 26, 2008

Interpublic backs SocialVibe to link social nets with brand

Think the social realm is too large to harness for your brand? Consider a new offering from SocialVibe which allows social network users to endorse different brands. SocialVibe has partnered with Interpublic's Emerging Media Lab for the platform. >>

Research | August 26, 2008

Report: Games aren't just for boys any more

Forget about testosterone, it's all about estrogen. Or at least partially. According to a new report from the Casual Games Association, online gamers are increasingly women over the age of 30, which means a new marketing strategy is in need. >>

Email Marketing | August 25, 2008

E-consultancy: UK email marketing spend to rise

The credit crunch and marketing budget restrictions can’t crush the popularity of email marketing among British marketers, in fact it positively fuels it. A new report forecasts that spending on email marketing in the UK is set to rise over the next year. >>

Blogs & Content | August 25, 2008

The Pros and Cons of a Corporate Blog

Today it seems everyone has one. Every day, keyboards clatter as personal and commercial bloggers around the globe add the next installment to their online journals. But are blogs really worth the time and upkeep, and can they do more harm than good? >>

Search Marketing | August 25, 2008

Covario's new algorithm sheds light on paid versus organic search ads

Is your paid search campaign performing high without hurting your organic search campaign? Many marketers aren't sure but a new algorithm from Covario could help to determine how paid and organic search results are performing - or non-performing. >>

E-commerce | August 25, 2008

Are you getting the most from product reviews?

Product reviews are an increasingly important form of online advertising. From manufacturers offering product reviews to actual peer-to-peer review websites, consumers are talking about what they like and dislike about products. If you've launched product reviews on your ecommerce or manufacturing site, good for you. But, are you getting the most from those reviews? >>

Advertising | August 25, 2008

Newsgator, National Geographic create co-branded widgets

A new puzzle widget has consumers logging on to play and marketers logging on to co-brad. The widgets, created by a partnership with Newsgator and National Geographic, feature a puzzle that consumers are going wild for; marketers have seen the amount of time consumers are spending and are co-branding the widgets to place on their own sites. >>

Research | August 25, 2008

Women go online to research new homes

Women lead the way when it comes to researching property to buy online, according to a recent U.S. survey conducted by the National Polling Service on behalf of Obeo.com, and they desire as much visual input from real estate websites as they can get. >>

Research | August 22, 2008

Online job searchers young, educated and African-American

Those most likely to be searching for jobs online are young, educated and 47% more likely to be African-American, according to new findings from Scarborough Research. >>

Social Marketing | August 22, 2008

Facebook tests 3 new social ad formats

Has Facebook cracked it? Will their new suite of “Engagement Ads” be the answer to social marketer’s prayers? Eight major advertisers, including Adidas, General Mills-owned Betty Crocker, and DreamWorks Pictures will be testing the first three new Facebook ad formats starting next month. >>

Search Marketing | August 22, 2008

AdWords to change Quality Score calculation

Changes are afoot to the way in which Google Adwords calculates Quality Score, according to a recent announcement on the AdWords blog. >>

E-commerce | August 22, 2008

Study: Consumers still spending less

To get the most out of this strange economic year in the US, marketers are going to have to beef up their strategy. That may as well be the tagline of a recent Deloitte study, which indicates that consumers continue to spend less even as marketers are hoping the back-to-school rush will brighten their bottom lines. >>

Research | August 22, 2008

ComScore: Germans are becoming gamers

If you're looking for a hot new video segment, look no further than the country of Germany. According to a recent comScore report about 30% of German consumers visited gaming websites in June and 22% played games via their mobiles. >>

Advertising | August 22, 2008

Report: IP Blacklisting doesn't stop click fraud

Blacklisting may be a good solution when it comes to email marking but the same cannot be said for paid search or display ad campaigns. A new report indicates that IP blacklisting isn't a good solution for click fraud. >>

E-commerce | August 21, 2008

Multi-channel retailers holding back online

Multi-channel retailers are holding back on investing in online technology, finds a new report from Retail Systems Research (RSR). “Playing well with others: E-commerce’s evolving role in the customer experience” found that store-based retailers have little understanding of how consumers use e-commerce. >>

Research | August 21, 2008

Online consumer magazines experience rise in traffic

Consumer magazine websites have experienced a rise in traffic for the second quarter in a row, according to the most recent figures released by the Magazine Publishers of America. >>

Search Marketing | August 21, 2008

comScore: Indian search market study released

comScore has released findings from its latest study into the online search market in India. Three guesses who has the major market share. >>

Search Marketing | August 21, 2008

AdBrite, Kenshoo Search pairing gives search marketers more options

Search marketers wanting a little bit more than simple keyword ads should take a look at the recent pairing of AdBrite's online advertising network to Kenshoo's Search platform. The duality of the pairing gives search marketers to add display ads to their campaigns with the click of a button. >>

Viral Marketing | August 21, 2008

Tremor: Content is the key for pre-roll video ROI

Content could be the reason your most recent video ad campaign didn't pull in the kind of return you were hoping for. According to a recent report from Tremor Media, when pre-roll ads are used content can either make or break the campaign. >>

Social Marketing | August 21, 2008

MeetingWave makes social networking social

If you're one of the thousands of people who believe that online social networking just isn't social enough, you've got a new outlet. MeetingWave is a new social application that helps users connect - offline. >>

Research | August 20, 2008

Most popular young adult sites in UK finance focused

Apparently, it's not all about having fun online. Research among young, British adults reveals that financial management is front of mind when it comes to their reasons for going online. >>

Advertising | August 20, 2008

OPA: Consumers act on local media ads

An Online Publishers Association study has revealed that consumers are more likely to respond to ads on local media websites compared to other local online sites. >>

Email Marketing | August 20, 2008

Marshal: Spam sells

Ever wondered why the volume of spam continues to rise? Because, it seems, people are actually buying from them. Security company Marshal asked consumers what purchases they’d made from spam and a surprising number of people confessed. >>

| August 20, 2008

ContextWeb takes contextual advertising to the next generation

When it comes to contextual advertising it seems that marketers can never have enough keywords. Upgraded algorithms from ContextWeb's ADSDAQ Exchange could change that. The company reports that after implementing their next generation algorithms, the offerings could actually discover appropriate keywords according to the content served on a website. >>

Advertising | August 20, 2008

Exelate launches optimization lab for publishers

Targeting ads is absolutely necessary for online marketers; without targeting, studies have shown that ads can fall on deaf ears or blind eyes. The problem? Some marketers still aren't sure how to target their client base or how to best use the information provided by consumers to increase the ROI of campaigns. Enter eXelate's optimization lab, touted to help publishers and advertising networks optimize their targeting abilities. >>

Search Marketing | August 20, 2008

Krillion broadens local search, in-store pick up platform

If you think your local store can't harness the power of the Internet, think again. Local search engine Krillion is taking local search to the next level by allowing consumers to shop for goods online yet pick them up locally. Since opening with service to electronics, the company has broadened its reach by adding 96 new product categories - and giving local merchants another online avenue. >>

E-commerce | August 19, 2008

A picture is worth many search terms

Sometimes words are not enough and online consumers want to shop with their eyes, much as they do offline. A virtual search and browse company is harnessing the power of images and becoming popular with major media brands across the globe. >>

Social Marketing | August 19, 2008

To engage Hispanics, think bi-lingual

The number of Hispanic Internet users in the U.S. is expected to rise to around 21 million in the next couple of years. A recent study has discovered that a bi-lingual approach to social media is something marketers shouldn’t ignore. >>

Research | August 19, 2008

IAB video ad standards success

New research has revealed the positive impact that recently introduced Interactive Advertising Bureau video ad format standards have had on click-through rates, at least when it comes to male-oriented communities. >>

Search Marketing | August 19, 2008

Study: Paid search benefits CPG brands

Paid search may not be the newest advertising area but it still has strength, especially in the Consumer Package Goods (CPG) segment. According to a recent study from Yahoo and MediaVest, paid search ads help to increase brand awareness and purchasing intent even if consumers aren't clicking the ads. >>

E-commerce | August 19, 2008

Study: To increase sales, target teachers

As kids head back to school and parents heave a sigh of relief, teachers are in a different state. The shopping state. According to a recent report from MDR, teachers are likely to be well-traveled, to purchase the latest high-tech gadgets and are brand loyal. All of these make teachers a good target for most marketers. >>

Advertising | August 19, 2008

Online video, ad spend forecasts lowered by eMarketer

Don't start counting all of those revenue numbers just yet. Eight months into a year that was supposed to show huge boosts by online advertisers, one firm has lowered their forecast expectations. Late last week, eMarketer revised both their online advertising and online video spend numbers. >>

Domain Names | August 18, 2008

Is a micro-site good for business?

A website is a website is a website, right? Not really. The best websites out there do two basic things: provide content surrounding the product while enhancing the brand. A new offering from MerchantCircle allows businesses of all sizes to create an online presence virtually in an instant. >>

Mobile Marketing | August 18, 2008

Limbo: Indian mobile phone subscribers get most ads

The number of advertising messages that a subscriber receives varies significantly depending on which country they live in. However, there is one constant and that is that text messaging is the most common mobile advertising format in use. >>

Search Marketing | August 18, 2008

WebTrends' Ad Director to improve search results

WebTrends is launching a new tool that, it says, will improve search ad results. >>

Search Marketing | August 18, 2008

Microsoft Live Search Maps add 3 ad programs

Did you know that local search ads can be placed within Microsoft’s Live Search Maps? Two ad programs currently exist and one is in development, according to a recent post on the Virtual Earth blog. >>

Social Marketing | August 18, 2008

B2B marketing increases on social nets

As a business marketing to a business, is there a better place to be than a social network, even if that social network is a niche area? According to a recent eMarketer report, social networks are increasing their profile among B2B marketers. The report finds that in 2008 nearly $40 million will be spent on social network advertising by B2B marketers. >>

Email Marketing | August 18, 2008

Are your transactional emails experience filled?

If your answer is "no" or "I don't know", you could be missing out on future purchases by repeat consumers. Transactional emails are one of the biggest disappointments for most email marketers because they are ignored by consumers. The reason? Most transactional emails are purely functional when they could easily be an experience. >>

Research | August 15, 2008

comScore amends reporting of ad network reach

Starting with August 2008 data, comScore will make changes to the way in which it reports an ad network’s reach. The new data will reflect both “potential reach” and “actual reach”. >>

Advertising | August 15, 2008

UK: TV ad spend static, online soars

In the U.K., online advertising spending overtook that spent on mainstream television advertising last year. The finding is among many revealed in a recently released report from Britain’s Office of Communications (OfCom). >>

Mobile Marketing | August 15, 2008

Forecast: Mobile messaging will increase 15% over four years

New mobile handsets are introduced every day with new features and better abilities but still the most popular feature is mobile messaging. According to a new report from Strategy Analytics, mobile messaging will increase from $65 billion (2007) to $88 billion (2012); that is an increase of 15%. >>

Research | August 15, 2008

Study: Your voice could enhance your brand

Despite the fact that US consumers are spending less, there is a way to keep your brand from stumbling during this short recession. According to a new report from Aegis Group's Carat Insight, an identifiable voice can help to enhance your brand while an indistinguishable voice can do just the opposite. >>

Social Marketing | August 15, 2008

Report: Social marketing is still a good investment

Although a recent comScore reports indicates that social network adoption is tapering off in North America, the social platform is still a good investment for marketers. Once social networking became mainstream, it was inevitable that the consumer base would eventually reach the tipping point and new user sign-ups would taper off. >>

Research | August 14, 2008

Global online video revenues to rocket

Global online video revenues are expected to almost quadruple from a projected $1.2bn this year, to $4.5bn by 2012, according to recent figures released by media research company In-Stat. Yet, a surprising number still prefer physical discs when purchasing movies or TV shows. >>

Viral Marketing | August 14, 2008

Marketers to get ‘unrivaled insights’ into WOM

Wouldn’t you love to know what consumers are saying about your brands, whether they were discussing in forums, via email, surveys or on blogs? BzzAgent and Attensity are joining forces to offer marketers this type of monitoring. >>

Social Marketing | August 14, 2008

Facebook rules the social networking world

The Middle East and Africa experienced the biggest rise in the use of online social networking sites over the past year while the U.S. experienced the lowest, according to new data released by comScore. >>

Research | August 14, 2008

Why marketers shouldn't ignore the widget craze

Once thought of as a cool way to share online content with friends, the widget is quickly coming into its own and advertisers are taking note. However, advertiser adoption is still behind the adoption rate of consumers, which makes widgets even more important for marketers. Because so many consumers are using widgets, it makes sense to place ads or sponsor content in widgets. >>

Viral Marketing | August 14, 2008

ScanScout, PointRoll partner for in-stream video solution

If you're interested in video advertising but aren't sure where to begin, check out the new partnership between PointRoll and ScanScout which gives marketers a suite of tools to use in distributing video ad content. PointRoll offers streaming video ads; ScanScout's video network allows marketers to target, optimize and deliver ads to consumers. >>

Search Marketing | August 14, 2008

Why SEO and PPC should have separate focus

As most marketers know, running different paid search campaigns to attract different demographics and geographies is standard practice; what many marketers don't realize is that paid search campaigns should also be changed for search engine optimization and pay per click campaigns. By optimizing different keywords for the two areas, marketers can get more bang for their buck. >>

Advertising | August 13, 2008

Olympics help boost Chinese ad budgets

Over the next year, online and mobile will drive rapid growth in China’s advertising budgets, according to recent forecasts from GroupM. >>

Advertising | August 13, 2008

Ad network use increases six-fold

A new report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau and Bain & Co. has found a six-fold increase in the use of ad networks in 2007, compared to the previous year. >>

Research | August 13, 2008

DMA report reveals direct mail remains popular

Nearly half of British companies surveyed by the Direct Marketing Association used direct mail as their primary advertising channel, and most include it in their marketing plans. >>

Email Marketing | August 13, 2008

Lyris revamps ListManager

Online marketing experts Lyris have revamped and relaunched their ListManager platform, which now gives marketers to digest and diagnose email deliverability issues. Marketers can now send email messages over multiple IP addresses to improve inbox delivery rates. >>

Advertising | August 13, 2008

Forecast: Look for online advertising to jump

Although the big four advertising categories - automotive, travel, finance and telecom - have all decreased their overall advertising spends, a recent forecast from Bernstein Research indicates that online advertising is about to hit an uptick. The report finds several signs pointing to a resurgence for online advertising throughout the remainder of 2008. >>

Research | August 12, 2008

Search engine use on the up

The number of Internet users currently using search engines is at a new high, according to recent research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, and starting to catch up with email as the most popular online activity. >>

Email Marketing | August 12, 2008

Johnson Box a useful email marketing tactic

The Johnson Box may be a relic of the good old days of direct mail, but it’s just as effective today for use in email marketing campaigns. >>

Advertising | August 12, 2008

AOL.com super-sizes ad units

Advertising on AOL.com just got bigger. The Internet portal has become the first to offer skyscraper units that are almost double the size of the next largest ad unit being sold on the site. >>

Viral Marketing | August 12, 2008

Why Content Is Key For Video Ads

It is no secret that marketers are still trying to figure out exactly how to appeal to the new online video viewer. Are these entities just like television viewers? Do they want the same types of ads that blog readers want? Is there really a difference between how users engage site to site? Although there are no hard and fast rules - at least not yet - studies show that video viewers are different from television viewers. Which means marketers need to rethink their online video plans. >>

Search Marketing | August 12, 2008

How to boost landing page response

Ask any experienced marketer and they will tell you - a landing page can make or break an online business. However, even though marketers know how important the landing page is, many still aren't sure how to optimize their landing pages and are therefore missing out on conversions. >>

Email Marketing | August 12, 2008

How to renew lapsed email subscribers' interest

Every email marketer and every email list has them: subscribers who haven't responded to or clicked through an email for so long that they are basically a dead contact. But before you cull that name from your list, is there any way to renew that particular subscriber's interest? Should you make just one more effort to appeal to the consumer before writing them off? >>

Research | August 11, 2008

Report: Online health site usage tapers off

The number of so-called cyber-chondriacs - those consumers consumed with needing medical information to self-diagnose or research ailments - is beginning to taper off. This according to a recent Harris Interactive Poll. What does this mean for advertisers? Perhaps just a simple warning that investing more and more of the ad budget to content sites geared toward health information should also reach it's maximum. >>

Advertising | August 11, 2008

Are You Serving Ads In the Right Online Places?

A new report from Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) sheds light on how ads are being served across America - and in turn how Americans are responding to those ads. Are your online ads being shown in the right places? >>

Advertising | August 11, 2008

New display ads increase user engagement

All of that information stating the display ad is a dead advertising space? Don't believe all the hype. Display ads aren't dead so much as in need of a revamp; something that a new display ad offering from RAMP Digital is helping to do. Their flash-based display ads have helped at least one brand increase clicks and conversion rates - straight from the ad. >>

Research | August 11, 2008

Should advertisers consider cookie-less ads?

It seems each week, another headline touts the demise of online advertisers because of privacy concerns. Recently in the United State, the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce has taken up the flag and is considering more changes to acceptable and unacceptable online advertising practices. >>

Advertising | August 08, 2008

Are consumers really engaging with your site?

Consumer engagement is crucial whether your site is an ecommerce hub or the product page from a manufacturer website. How can you better engage the audience? Simply by improving the quality of the content delivered to the consumer base. However, you may not know how well the content on your site is engaging the audience if you don't have the correct metrics in place. A recent report from Forrester research shows how to better engage the audience. >>

Research | August 08, 2008

Report: Online campaigns, research influence in-store sales

Here is one more reason to advertise online: kids getting ready for the back-to-school rush are shopping online. Although this doesn't translate to online sales, it does translate to in-store sales. According to a new report from Performics, teens are shopping online and influencing their parents' in-store purchases. >>

Viral Marketing | August 08, 2008

What do mobile users really want from video?

Any time a new content choice is given to consumers, marketers are going to rush to figure out exactly what users really want from the new offering. Mobile video is the latest opportunity that has at least a few marketers scratching their heads. Do consumers want user-generated content or to watch a favorite TV show? Will the consumer watch a pre- or post-roll ad? >>

Search Marketing | August 07, 2008

Google continues to dominate U.K. search

Google continues to reign supreme in the U.K., nudging its share of search up 0.5% to take it over the three-quarter mark. The gap between the search engine giant and its nearest rivals is now as big as it’s ever been. >>

Research | August 07, 2008

Russia's online ad spend rising

Online advertising in Russia is growing at a rate of knots, reports The Moscow Times, a fact that is not surprising given the rising number of Internet users in the country. >>

Trends & Ideas | August 07, 2008

College students study brands for social responsibility

College students are wealthier than in previous years, representing $53 billion in discretionary buying power, and there are more of them, which is great news for retailers. But there’s a catch. To pique their interest in your brand you’ll need to exhibit a commitment to being “socially responsible”. >>

Advertising | August 07, 2008

Will the Olympics help online advertisers?

That question cannot be fully answered until after the 2-week competition is over and all of the revenue - advertising and otherwise - is officially tallied. But the early answer can only be, "We hope so." To that end, online marketers have already begun to push a large portion of their budgets toward the 2008 Beijing Olympics, whose opening ceremonies begin August 8. >>

Advertising | August 06, 2008

American Apparel tops display ad use rankings

Some of the major online clothing retailers are using display ads, some with views in the hundreds of millions. However, comScore suggests that most major online clothing retailers could do more to make the most of their Internet ad campaigns. >>

Search Marketing | August 06, 2008

Are you integrating SEM with offline channels?

Over half of search marketers are integrating their search efforts with offline marketing, according to a new study by iProspect and JupiterResearch. Lack of budgets and staff are stopping many from making the move. >>

Email Marketing | August 06, 2008

Social media ousting email?

The growing popularity of social media is being seen as responsible for the falling use of email. Such are the findings of a recent JupiterResearch survey. >>

E-commerce | August 06, 2008

How to get the most from comparison shopping engines

Comparison shopping engines (CSE's) have become a huge buzzword for etailers across the globe. These engines take the most economical price points from merchants in their networks so that consumers can easily find the best deals. However, some merchants within the networks aren't seeing great results; they need to optimize their CSE profiles. >>

Email Marketing | August 06, 2008

AOL: Consumers are addicted to email

Here is one more reason to authenticate your email marketing messages: an AOL study reports that consumers are addicted to - and overwhelmed by - their inboxes. According to the study more than 51% of email users check their inboxes at least 4 times each day. However, this addiction doesn't seem to be making a difference for legitimate email marketers. Is there anything you can do to change that? >>

Mobile Marketing | August 06, 2008

How to better engage the mobile audience

For the past several months, a lot has been written about optimizing content for specific users' tastes. By doing this, publishers and marketers have a better chance at engaging the audience, thereby enhancing the ROI of campaigns. For mobile marketers and publishers, optimizing or personalizing the content offers to user interests is even more important. Enter a new service from ChangingWorlds which tracks users' habits and offers content based on their prior choices. >>

Research | August 05, 2008

Gartner: Marketers must acknowledge Gen V

Marketers have another demographic to monitor and target thanks to the Internet. The new group defies all other traditional demographics with a unique blending of attitudes, interests and general behavior. >>

Mobile Marketing | August 05, 2008

Demand for mobile payments to rise

Over 38% of respondents to a global IDC survey said they would rather leave their house for a day without their wallet and keys than their mobile phones. >>

Advertising | August 05, 2008

Changing scenery cures newsletter banner blindness

Banner blindness has been around since, well, the invention of banner ads. Ever since, experts have been discussing the ins and outs of banner blindness and ways in which advertisers can lessen the effect. >>

Advertising | August 05, 2008

Right Media, LucidMedia partner for contextual targeting

Yahoo's Right Media Advertising Exchange is adding another layer of targeting to the ads within by partnering with LucidMedia to offer contextual targeting to the ads offered through the ad exchange. LucidMedia is a contextual online advertising platform. With the new offering, marketers can contextually target the display ads placed in the exchange. >>

Search Marketing | August 05, 2008

Cobalt adds search tools to auto ad platform

Automotive advertisers have a few new tools with which to tweak their online advertising campaigns. Just in time for the fall buying season, Cobalt has rolled out a new set of tools for their PowerSearch platform to help auto marketers better reach the consumer base. Marketers can now choose from new keywords, change the way they bid on keywords for campaigns and increase consumer conversion rates in the parts/services categories. >>

Research | August 05, 2008

OPA: Consumers will engage with ads on content sites

Although utilizing the reach and strength of an advertising network or ad exchange is a good option for more advertisers, these one-stop-shops aren't a cure-all for declining advertising revenues. According to a recent study from the Online Publishers Association, content is a driving force for many brand metrics including recognition, awareness and loyalty. >>

Research | August 04, 2008

PRWeek: 1 in 5 marketers 'pay-for-play'

Around a fifth of marketers surveyed for PRWeek and Manning Selvage & Lee’s annual Marketing Management Survey said they had purchased advertising in return for the promise of press coverage. >>

Advertising | August 04, 2008

IAB proposes video ad serving template

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (USA) has put forward a proposal that it says will standardize video ad serving communications to enable digital ad servers and digital video players to speak the same language. >>

Search Marketing | August 04, 2008

Tweens use search to navigate 'Net

Search is an integral part of a tween’s online toolbox, according to a new study commissioned by DoubleClick Performics, and an online channel much overlooked by many marketing to youngsters. >>

Research | August 04, 2008

ComScore: Ecommerce begins to soften

Changes are coming to the ecommerce landscape, primarily because of an overall weakening in the American economy. With gas prices soaring, more and more consumers are cutting back on extra spending and the majority of consumers, it seems, chose to save their IRS stimulus checks. According to a new report from comScore, online shopping is also taking a hit from the soft economy. >>

Research | August 04, 2008

Google tests in-game ad platform

If you had any questions about in-game advertising being truly viable, a new offering being tested by Google will likely ease those fears. The search and advertising giant is test-launching an in-game advertising platform: AdSense for Games. >>

E-commerce | August 01, 2008

Channel Intelligence, buySafe partner for retailing opportunity

Retailers taking part in the Channel Intelligence SellCast program will get a bit more of a boost with consumers thanks to a partnership with the buySafe network. The partnership gives retailers the ability to list their products within buySafe's Bonded Shopping Network, an online advertising network that connects online shoppers with merchants. >>

E-commerce | August 01, 2008

ShopLocal: In-store sales up thanks to online efforts

At the fourth annual ShopLocal Summit, the company along with PointRoll pointed out a few trends that ecommerce providers should take heed off. The biggest trend is that in-store sales are still being largely impacted by online campaigns. Whether in the form of an online store giving item availability, discounts and coupons or product information, it seems that consumers are looking online before heading to their favorite stores. >>

Advertising | August 01, 2008

Marchex launches local ad platform

Another agency is entering the local online advertising fray. This week Marchex announced the launch of their new local advertising platform which links online and call-based ads with local business pages. The business profile pages are branded micro sites which immediately give local merchants an online presence. >>