Is it Time You Made an App?
Written by Sean Enright - Marketing Intern
From someone who takes the train every day, you see lots of different people. But most of these people are doing the same thing, using their iPhones and iPads. And as an iPhone owner, I can’t help but want an iPad too. As a direct marketer, I think about how a company can market apps to these people using these devices.
When I was reading an article on this subject, I saw a mistake that many people make when creating a mobile app. People tend to overlook ways to market the app successfully.
There are a lot of ways that a person can market their new app. Marketing in creative ways is very important when coming up with a new idea. In the article they discussed 12 ways to market the app. I thought three were most important and interesting.
How to Market on Instagram
Written by Alexa Frank - Marketing Intern
You may have heard of it, or maybe you’ve seen the pictures. Instagram is the latest trend in photo applications. Recently, Facebook bought Instagram for $1 Billion and it has now become the fastest growing social media trend hosting over 40 million users. Impressive right? So, what’s all the buzz about?
It’s an easy way to feel like you’re creating something artful and meaningful. Instagram is a free photo sharing program that allows users to take a photo, apply a digital filter, and share it on a variety of social networking services including on Instagram. Instagram’s built in community enables users to leave “likes” and comments giving off the sense of appreciation. Who doesn’t admire a beautiful picture or a good laugh? People like to visualize things. They want to see what you’re doing or where you’ve been. Instagram allows just that. Previous social networking sites, like Facebook, have made photos a huge part of our life; Instagram is just taking the next step. Below are some pictures you might come across using the hashtag #Chicago.
So how can this help you market? Instagram can help to highlight new uses for your products. It enables product owners to take creative pictures using different products and show their friends. This increases awareness and engages prospects and leads… or potential buyers. Another way companies can use Instagram is by challenging its followers to a contest. This could entail taking photos with your favorite product or a unique way to use a product. The possibilities are endless. Then, encourage the participants to add a certain hash tag that you provide to allow your product to ‘trend’, and encourage people to vote on their favorite photos. You could even provide a prize incentive to participate.
What the Heck is DNT?
Written by Chris Czachor - Account Executive
Last month, my colleague Julie Determann, wrote about online behavioral targeting and how websites and advertisers are leveraging the information gathered online and "following" you around with banner ads and reminders about that shirt or pair of shoes you left in a shopping cart and didn't buy. This type of targeted advertising is playing a big part of a larger movement that is steadily gaining steam and it is simply called "Do Not Track."
So, what the heck is Do Not Track (DNT) anyway? Do Not Track is a technology standard intended to allow individual web users to decide whether or not they consent to having their online activities monitored, mostly for the purpose of being served targeted advertising. Now, to some web users, this sounds amazing, right? No longer will third-party advertisers and "big brother" be allowed to follow them around the web, right? Well, not really and before you jump on the Do Not Track bandwagon take a second to think through what it actually will mean.
What Would Don Draper Do?
Written by Kim Chapman - Account Executive
Stop It Facebook!
Written by Account Supervisor - Janelle Schenher
I am just like everyone else…I check Facebook a few times a day to get the latest. I tend to be more of an “inactive” Facebook user. I want to see and read what’s going on, but I don’t necessarily “like” or “comment” on anything.
I have two particular Facebook fan pages that I love to read everyday—Anne Rice and George Takei. But a couple of months ago it dawned on me that I hadn’t seen their postings in my new feed. I know they regularly post 1 – 2 times a day, but I didn’t know what was happening.
So what did I do? Googled it…