1. Wi-fi enabled big screen TVs will hit the market by November and TV viewers will soon be able to change the channel with a hand wave.
2. Comcast to introduce remote DVR programming.
3. Starbucks debuts iPhone apps, including mobile payment system.
4. Internet ad spend to hit 15 percent, mobile 19 percent in 2010.
5. Facebook shuts down Beacon.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Whole Foods adds shopping lists
I've been following Whole Foods for awhile now. In my opinion they do a great job of reaching out to their consumers via numerous social channels and then tying them all together. Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and their own website work together to truly form a digital ecosystem. With more than a million followers on Twitter, they must be doing something right.
I've been waiting for them to tie their brand efforts into everyday customer tasks, so today I was delighted to see that they have added shopping list functionality to their site.
This new functionality allows users to either create a list from scratch or import items from a recipe on the site. The recipe functionality allows users to choose specific items or import every item form a specific recipe. A user can also type in any item they like.
Now pay attention, because here's where it gets good. The list is exportable, printable and sharable with another user who can then edit the list. My favorite export is direct to my phone. It is such a simple, basic, obvious feature, but one that makes my life just a little easier, and that's good UX.
I've been waiting for them to tie their brand efforts into everyday customer tasks, so today I was delighted to see that they have added shopping list functionality to their site.
This new functionality allows users to either create a list from scratch or import items from a recipe on the site. The recipe functionality allows users to choose specific items or import every item form a specific recipe. A user can also type in any item they like.
Now pay attention, because here's where it gets good. The list is exportable, printable and sharable with another user who can then edit the list. My favorite export is direct to my phone. It is such a simple, basic, obvious feature, but one that makes my life just a little easier, and that's good UX.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Top 5 in Digital | September 14, 2009
1. Adobe to acquire Omniture
2. Facebook hits 300 million users and is now cash-flow positive.
3. Cablevision rolling out service to enable subscribers to interact with commercials by clicking on remote controls.
4. Hulu will cost TV networks $920 per viewer in advertising.
5. Twitter will enable two-minute phone calls between users.
2. Facebook hits 300 million users and is now cash-flow positive.
3. Cablevision rolling out service to enable subscribers to interact with commercials by clicking on remote controls.
4. Hulu will cost TV networks $920 per viewer in advertising.
5. Twitter will enable two-minute phone calls between users.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Flash: now trackable!
Last night, Adobe acquired web tracking company Omniture for $1.8 billion. Interesting indeed.
Flash, one of Adobe's key products, is a tough sell for user experience and web development folks, since it's not trackable and it's often not searchable. But to creatives, especially traditional creatives, Flash is a darling because it offers a dynamic experience and is more like TV than the Web.
Adobe senior vice president for corporate development Paul Weiskopf was quoted on MercuryNews.com as saying, "companies like online marketers and advertising agencies, and Web publishers and e-commerce firms, will be able to streamline the process of creating and delivering content."
One could argue with that. Flash is still flawed in developing large scale sites and Flash devs usually completely ignore user experience issues. But for microsites and display ads the tracking abilities enabled via Omniture will certainly be a plus.
What's more, the acquisition positions Adobe even stronger against Microsoft and its Silverlight technology which has tried to take on Flash.
Remember those rumors a few years back about Microsoft buying Adobe? It will be interesting to see how this acquisition further fuels or quells that chatter. Interesting indeed.
Flash, one of Adobe's key products, is a tough sell for user experience and web development folks, since it's not trackable and it's often not searchable. But to creatives, especially traditional creatives, Flash is a darling because it offers a dynamic experience and is more like TV than the Web.
Adobe senior vice president for corporate development Paul Weiskopf was quoted on MercuryNews.com as saying, "companies like online marketers and advertising agencies, and Web publishers and e-commerce firms, will be able to streamline the process of creating and delivering content."
One could argue with that. Flash is still flawed in developing large scale sites and Flash devs usually completely ignore user experience issues. But for microsites and display ads the tracking abilities enabled via Omniture will certainly be a plus.
What's more, the acquisition positions Adobe even stronger against Microsoft and its Silverlight technology which has tried to take on Flash.
Remember those rumors a few years back about Microsoft buying Adobe? It will be interesting to see how this acquisition further fuels or quells that chatter. Interesting indeed.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Top 5 in Digital | September 11, 2009
1. 42 percent of U.S. online adults visited government sites in July and on that note, U.S. government started OpenID pilot.
2. Nearly a quarter of US households watch TV online, up from 20 percent last year.
3. In 8 years, online video consumption will be measured in exabytes!
4. Social networking sites accounted for more than 20 percent of all display ads viewed online, although more than half of media plans in 2010 will include social media.
5. Gmail users have highest email click through rate, near 31 percent, and speaking of click-through, the best day for Facebook branded content click through is Tuesday.
2. Nearly a quarter of US households watch TV online, up from 20 percent last year.
3. In 8 years, online video consumption will be measured in exabytes!
4. Social networking sites accounted for more than 20 percent of all display ads viewed online, although more than half of media plans in 2010 will include social media.
5. Gmail users have highest email click through rate, near 31 percent, and speaking of click-through, the best day for Facebook branded content click through is Tuesday.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Honda, and how not to use Facebook
Social media does not play by the same rules as old school advertising and marketing, namely, big corporation talks and everybody else listens. While time and again we have seen these old rules fail in the social media space, there always seems to be someone new who doesn't get it.
This time, it's Honda, with its Honda Accord Crosstour Facebook page.
Honda appeared to make two missteps.
First, they did not apparently know their user. While I can not confirm it, it seems as though they skipped user research. User research is a must when building any digital experience, but especially a social media one.
Second, they broke user trust. According to numerous reports, when Honda didn't like what people had to say, they selectively removed comments. In addition, it appears that at least one employee defended the new car, problem is, he did not reveal himself as an employee. This may have been an innocent mistake, but the damage was done none the less.
Ultimately, Honda broke the golden rule of transparency. And while it's not easy to always listen to what people have to say, it's vital (just look at the Chevy Tahoe Apprentice site via 2006; their sales actually went up, even though they left very negative comments on their site).
How can Honda fix this? Well at this point I would suggest they leave up everything that everyone has to say, and take good notes for next time.
This time, it's Honda, with its Honda Accord Crosstour Facebook page.
Honda appeared to make two missteps.
First, they did not apparently know their user. While I can not confirm it, it seems as though they skipped user research. User research is a must when building any digital experience, but especially a social media one.
Second, they broke user trust. According to numerous reports, when Honda didn't like what people had to say, they selectively removed comments. In addition, it appears that at least one employee defended the new car, problem is, he did not reveal himself as an employee. This may have been an innocent mistake, but the damage was done none the less.
Ultimately, Honda broke the golden rule of transparency. And while it's not easy to always listen to what people have to say, it's vital (just look at the Chevy Tahoe Apprentice site via 2006; their sales actually went up, even though they left very negative comments on their site).
How can Honda fix this? Well at this point I would suggest they leave up everything that everyone has to say, and take good notes for next time.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Digital Top 5 | August 31, 2009
1. The Guiding Light soap opera is going black after a 72-year run.
2. Hulu has more viewers than Time Warner Cable.
3. Twitter’s fastest growing audience is 12- to 24-years old and Twitter now gets more visitors than MySpace.
4. Two-thirds of Americans now own a video-enabled mobile device
5. 52 percent of social network users fan or follow brands
2. Hulu has more viewers than Time Warner Cable.
3. Twitter’s fastest growing audience is 12- to 24-years old and Twitter now gets more visitors than MySpace.
4. Two-thirds of Americans now own a video-enabled mobile device
5. 52 percent of social network users fan or follow brands
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