Three additions to simplify online, mobile commerce

Forget messy captchas, Solve Media has launched Brand Tags, which take off where captchas left many scratching their heads. The Brand Tags replace captchas - consumers type in the words they most closely associate with the brand logo shown in the security text box. Those typed in tags can then be aggregated to give the brand insight into how their products or services are viewed.

"We recognize there is a place for scholarly, multi-faceted market research reports, and there always will be. Brand Tags is designed to provide our brand and agency partners with an alternative that offers useful insights into consumers' stated identification with a brand, in real time," said Ari Jacoby, Solve Media CEO.

Added bonus, only 'real people' are shown the logos and prompted to enter the tag; malicious users or bots are weeded out through a security process.

And, from HipSwap, a new way for local and small businesses to buy and sell online. Similar to forums like Craigslist but more intimate than huge auction hubs like eBay, HipSwap 'stylizes' new and used, unique goods to help guide the buying process. Consumers can use the site to find goods from specific sellers - even celebrities - while businesses can become part of the Featured Sales area where items from a specific category are gridded for easy finding.

The site can be personalized so shoppers are shown only deals/goods they are interested in and can share items directly on the home page, potentially growing the number of shoppers who will see local merchandise. Goods can also be shared through the social space.

Meanwhile an update to the dealBoard app from nFluence should give shoppers more control of the types of brand content they'll see. Through the update users of the dealBoard app can sort or aggregate brands into an 'interest graph' so that the deals they want are within easy reach at the click of a button.

"We want to see users retake control of their digital presence and leverage their interests for themselves rather than being served what the black box says should be right for them. Far too many marketing messages today fall on deaf ears; just take a look at Facebook needing to send 2,000 messages to get a single response," said Henry Lawson, nFluence Media CEO.

The updated app is available through the iTunes store.

Tags: ecommerce, HipSwap, mobile commerce, mobile marketing, mobile shopping trends, nFluence, Solve Media