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Radio Powered By Sweat Hints At What Future Wearables Can Achieve http://ift.tt/2sUimZ0 Radio Powered By Sweat Hints At What Future Wearables Can AchieveA new wearable patch absorbed the energy from a person's sweat to use in a biofuel battery that then powered a radio for several days Researchers from the University of California have created a wearable patch that can convert human sweat into energy that can power a radio for several days. This was done by filling the patch with enzymes rather than metals normally found in a battery. These enzymes extract the sweat and convert the lactic acid found in sweat into fuel for biofuel cells, which is then put in the radio. While the success of the patch demonstrates promise for wearables in the future that contain biofuel power cells, this research also shows how a person can learn about their health through their sweat. How? Because a person’s sweat contains vast amounts of information from their muscle health to the amount of glucose in their bloodstream. An application could theoretically track a person’s health through a sweat-powered wearable while also providing accurate health statistics following the individual’s workout route. The biofuel cell used in this study retained the largest amount of energy of any biofuel cell to date. Mobile Marketing via PSFK http://www.psfk.com/ June 29, 2017 at 05:46AM
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Study Show 37% of Independence Day Shoppers Seek Deals on Social Media http://ift.tt/2t41UDN Fireworks lie ahead for social media marketers. ChargeItSpot, a leading provider of cell phone charging stations for major retailers, events, and other indoor public venues, has just announced the results of its “2017 Independence Day Sales Report.” The study asked consumers if they will be taking advantage of 4th of July sales this year, where they primarily looked for the best deals, and what they would be buying. ChargeItSpot collected responses from over 600 shoppers at malls across the country, using its integrated survey capability, QuickPoll. Below are the key takeaways from the study.
“The 4th of July is a key sale time for retailers,” said Douglas Baldasare, CEO and founder of ChargeItSpot. “The long holiday weekend gives stores more time to run their sales and provides flexibility for shoppers. It’s encouraging that nearly half of shoppers will be taking advantage of these sales.” Of those shoppers who are taking advantage of 4th of July sales, 22% said they would most likely be purchasing sporting goods. Other categorical responses included respondent interest in sales for BBQ supplies (12%), consumer electronics (9%), outdoor gear (4%), and automotive (3%). “4th of July shoppers were also asked what resource they use to hunt down deals and sales this year. For all shoppers, the top three resources were social media (37%), online deal sites (17%), and mobile coupon apps (17%) – meaning in-store shoppers are finding their deals online,” the report summary concludes. For more insight, check out ChargeItSpot online. The post Study Show 37% of Independence Day Shoppers Seek Deals on Social Media appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch. Mobile Marketing via Mobile Marketing Watch http://ift.tt/HGJCKG June 29, 2017 at 05:37AM
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You Know Influencers: 5 Tips to Unlock Powerful Employee Advocacy http://ift.tt/2spjRek [Editor’s Note: I am pleased to introduce you to Will Peterson, another new contributor on TopRankBlog.com. Will is an Account Manager that services many of our B2B Enterprise clients. Welcome Will!] Don’t look now, but you’re surrounded by influencers. You may not realize it, and they may not realize it themselves, but you and everyone you work with carry an immense amount of potential influence. Read on to discover how to uncover a powerful hidden force that can add significant value to everything from your company’s social media presence all the way down to its bottom line. Everyone is influential about something. @leeodden Are you in a book club? Do you share recipes with friends? Are you an avid reader and contributor of motorcycle racing forums? Anytime you’re discussing your interests with someone else, be it online or in person, you are exerting your influence on that discussion. The same goes for your employees, team members, and coworkers. Without going too much into the weeds about how to exactly define an influencer, we can safely say that your co-workers, team members, and employees each have their own sphere of influence. A look at some recent research shows that 88% of employees are personally active on at least one social media site. That means your people have people, and they are talking to them, tweeting at them, and sharing with them. So how do you encourage all that potential social influence to work for your team? Influence the InfluencersYour employees or fellow employees are also consumers, and consumers in this day and age know how to sniff out a salesy marketing pitch. That being said, consumers trust other consumers, and according to multiple studies on trust, we know employees are seen as more credible than executives. Employee advocacy is a powerful marketing tool and encouraging your employees to speak as influencers about your company is a wonderful way to increase brand engagement. Follow these steps to capitalize on that trust and help your employees tap into their influencer power. #1. Teamwork Makes the Dream WorkEveryone wants to be part of a winning team. Remind your employees that their positive comments about your company on social media make life better for everyone. With an improved online profile, your company will have an easier time recruiting top talent, earning top clients, and keeping top customers. Once your team realizes that they are only helping themselves, they will be more motivated to share! One benefit of employees sharing their high opinions of our company has been TopRank Marketing being named one of the Top 100 Places to Work in Minnesota two years running. This has helped tremendously with hiring great people! #2. All Social is Good SocialNot everyone has social media accounts on every channel. I barely touched my twitter account until I joined the team at TopRank Marketing. Now I regularly post about clients, company mentions in the news, and other marketing-related topics there and on my LinkedIn page as well. I don’t do much on Facebook however, because I’d rather keep it more personal and less professional. Don’t force your employees to use one channel over the other. If they’d rather sing your praises on Google Plus than Pinterest, encourage them to do so! #3. The Right Tool for the Right JobMy dad always says you can do anything if you have the right tool for the right job. Make your employees lives easier and introduce them to Buffer, Hootsuite, or some other social media management tool. These can be incredible time savers and will increase the likelihood of your influencers getting the word out there more regularly. In just a few minutes each week, they can appear to be full-time social media mavens. #4. Prevent Writers’ Block Before It StrikesSome employees may fret that they “just wouldn’t know what to say” about their company. Not to fear, the Weekly Social Messaging Email is here! Send one email per week with some content ideas for your team to share. This could be anything from recent mentions in the news, client updates, relevant news stories for your industry, or even personal victories for your team members. The point is to get them comfortable with the process and help them build their voice on social channels so their spheres of influence hear it more often. #5. To the Victors Go the SpoilsTrack engagement of your company’s social mentions and let the team know who the biggest sharers (aka influencers) have been for the past week. Using a tool like Hootsuite Amplify, LinkedIn Elevate, or Dynamic Signal can create ease of use and make tracking a snap. Make it a challenge they want to win! Offer an extra drink at the company happy hour or a piece of company swag for the top dog each week! This kind of gamification is a great way to encourage participation among employees. Practice Makes PerfectNow that you know the benefits of tapping into the marketing influencers around you at work, and some of the ways to encourage them to get active on social media, get out there and make it happen. Your employees will feel good about this easy way to contribute to the success of their company. What else can you do to influence your influencers? *Disclosure: LinkedIn is a TopRank Marketing client. Gain a competitive advantage by subscribing to the © Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®, 2017. | You Know Influencers: 5 Tips to Unlock Powerful Employee Advocacy | http://ift.tt/faSbAI The post You Know Influencers: 5 Tips to Unlock Powerful Employee Advocacy appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®. Mobile Marketing via Online Marketing Blog – TopRank® http://ift.tt/faSbAI June 29, 2017 at 05:30AM
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This Robot Was Made To Be A Poet By The Sea http://ift.tt/2tsAzhH Created by designer Yuxi Liu, this is an AI-powered bot that wanders alone on the beach and draws poems in the sand based on the elements around it Poets throughout history that have always had an affinity with the sea. With the advent of AI and machine learning, we ponder whether such an emotional form of expression could be produced by robots. Poet on the Shore, a project by Yuxi Liu, turns the query into a reality, as a robot that writes poetry directly on the sand. This battery-powered author is shaped like an ottoman with an anemometer (a device that measures wind speed) that acts as an antenna. On four wheels, it strolls the shores and on its tracks, it scribbles lines of poetic prose. A network of sensors for sound, wind and other factors “look” around at the surroundings and the Poet on the Shore converts this into a data stream. With artificial intelligence, the device is able to piece together words to create interesting verses. Even more poetic is the way the waves will eventually devour these lines. Unlike other robots being developed, this project by Yuxi Liu has no immediate purpose. It’s not utilitarian, is free from human expectations and is not meant to automate a certain task governed by rules. While the robot abides by grammar and spelling conventions, it’s “free” to print whatever it pleases with the data fed by the sensors. The Poet on the Shore project is part of the creator’s MFA in Design Informatics thesis at the University of Edinburgh. It is a section of her series entitled “I, Machine” which explores the relationship between man and machine, especially in today’s day and age where the capabilities of non-human entities seem to advance by the hour. Poet on the Shore, along with Yuxi Liu’s other ideas, explore the “sensibility, sociability and morality of machines”. Mobile Marketing via PSFK http://www.psfk.com/ June 29, 2017 at 05:17AM
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MTV Uses Sex Toys To Encourage Recycling http://ift.tt/2u1CMhj MTV Uses Sex Toys To Encourage RecyclingThe media company teamed up with Brazilian agency Africa to create a series of toys using plastic found discarded in the ocean Recycling plastics may be time consuming, but it is integral to keeping the oceans safe and clean. MTV sought to make that point absolutely clear by collecting plastic found in the ocean and melting it down into plastic dildos. In April of 2017, the company worked with Brazilian agency Africa to create a campaign around these specially crafted sex toys, sending several to social media influencers and celebrities to encourage discussion. According to MTV’s press release, the idea was to find a way to make people, especially of the younger generation, take notice of what’s happening: “Despite this common knowledge, the problem is only a concern for an increasingly smaller audience. To change this reality, the campaign uses a provocative, new, and impacting tone that conveys the message to MTV’s young audience in a way that doesn’t become ‘wallpaper’. ” See how these recycled sex toys are made in the video below: Mobile Marketing via PSFK http://www.psfk.com/ June 29, 2017 at 05:17AM
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Cheetah Mobile Explores Which Food Apps Really Deliver the Goods http://ift.tt/2t4j0kY MMW was privy this week to the findings of a new report commissioned by Cheetah Mobile, the 4th largest app developer in the world, on food delivery apps. The report in question analyzes the U.S., Indian, and Chinese food delivery markets. So what did we learn? In the U.S., UberEATS has made bold moves into the US and Indian food delivery markets with impressive results and market share. Where do Postmates and Amazon Prime Now fit into the mix? Individual apps such as Domino’s Pizza and Pizza Hut maintain a strong hold on market share. UberEATS has claimed a high market share in a short period of time, which has generated new thinking about moving forward in the wide-open market: Uber’s logistics model and algorithms may make it the logistics platform with the most potential. Key takeaways:
For more insights and access to other reports, click here. The post Cheetah Mobile Explores Which Food Apps Really Deliver the Goods appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch. Mobile Marketing via Mobile Marketing Watch http://ift.tt/HGJCKG June 29, 2017 at 05:17AM
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SpotX Releases Support for DigiTrust to ‘Level the Playing Field’ Between Independent Publishers and the Facebook / Google Ad Duopoly http://ift.tt/2tnbbcS MMW learned today that video ad serving platform SpotX has released support for DigiTrust in its Direct AdOS, used by leading broadcasters and digital media owners. “By providing publishers with a means of selling their inventory with similar audience recognition capability as Facebook and Google, SpotX publishers will increase yield and decrease data leakage from their browser-based properties,” a emailed statement reads. The company will be rolling out support across the rest of its direct integration suite in the coming months. DigiTrust is a non-profit industry consortium designed to improve the digital experience for consumers, publishers and advertisers. Through the creation of a standardized and universal ID, DigiTrust aims to eliminate problems associated with cookie syncing and cookie-based targeting. This standardized ID will be shared by participating publishers and technology companies, including SSPs and DSPs, to eliminate the problem of poor audience recognition, ultimately increasing the number of high-value impressions publishers are able to sell. Through its implementation, SpotX will begin driving the growth of DigiTrust’s standardized ID pool, which is the first step to unlocking the benefits outlined above. “DigiTrust represents a broad industry commitment from all corners of ad tech in providing audiences with a better experience and beginning to reign in tracking. It is an important first step by our industry to provide transparency and control to audiences,” said J. Allen Dove, Chief Technology Officer at SpotX. The post SpotX Releases Support for DigiTrust to ‘Level the Playing Field’ Between Independent Publishers and the Facebook / Google Ad Duopoly appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch. Mobile Marketing via Mobile Marketing Watch http://ift.tt/HGJCKG June 29, 2017 at 05:01AM Boost Uses 'Thunder Pony' Power To Defeat 'Evil Mobile Mega Corps' http://ift.tt/2s4TI57 The battle for wireless customers is heading into the fantastical intergalactic realm. Via a new mobile interactive game, Galactic Thunder Pony, Boost Mobile encourages consumers to defeat the “evil mobile mega corps” and free intergalactic customers from their “devious contracts, throttled data and life-sucking fees.” A throwback to the 8-bit era, the game is much like “Space Invaders” or “Galaga,” involving shooting spaceships and other obstacles, defeating enemies to “bring mobile freedom back to the universe,” according to the game’s intro. “Gaming and more specifically E-Sports is a huge opportunity for many brands to insert themselves,” Nick Holt, senior manager of advertising and creative at Sprint’s Pre-Paid Group (which includes Boost and Virgin Mobile), tells Marketing Daily. “With smartphones becoming consumers main source of entertainment and connectivity it only seemed fitting to have a Mobile game to help tell our brand story.” advertisement advertisement The 8-bit aesthetic is a way for Boost to keep the game entertaining while keeping things simple for fast loading and game play, Holt says. “We feel the engagement and tinker time will be extremely solid due to the game's retro aesthetic, [and its] simple and irreverent approach,” he says. “It's time to defeat the Evil Mobile Mega Corps and make the mobile galaxy a better place.” The game is available on laptops and mobile devices throughout the country via a website but will experience a push in New York and Philadelphia via an out-of-home campaign which will involve SnapCodes for consumers to use for direct access to the game. “What better way to pass time on the train than fighting the battle against [game characters] 'Mawro the Data Crusher,' 'The Dead Zone Dementor,' and the 'Parasitic Planzer,'” Holt says. The game is an extension of Boost’s “Project Switch” campaign, which shows consumers how easy it is to switch mobile carriers. After the push in the two initial markets, the company will undertake additional digital advertising, geo-fencing campaigns and SnapChat ads beginning next month. Mobile Marketing via MediaPost.com: mobile http://ift.tt/2oB2PsH June 29, 2017 at 04:36AM
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Trolling for a Match isn’t the Way to Generate Influence http://ift.tt/2togY1j The following is a guest contributed post from Steve Ellis, CEO of WHOSAY. Recently, Dove was caught up in an issue that happens far too often in influencer marketing. The firm it was working with was anxious to sign up talent for an upcoming Father’s Day promotion. But like many in today’s influencer marketing game, it was all about the “spray and pray model.” A brand and the firms it partners with are simply reaching out to any and all potential influencers, without examining the impact of a potential partnership (or even simple contact with the third-party). Who are they? Where are they from? Do they have any pre-existing conflicts that could harm the brand? Are their public opinions reflective of values your brand would like to be associated with? In Dove’s case, its firm’s search came upon Coltrane Curtis, who is an “influential” dad… that also runs his own influencer marketing firm. Understandably, Curtis had some issues with the repeated, tone-deaf overtures, and through Digiday, he discussed the underlying issues this interaction exposed The largest issue of all? The transactional nature of the brand-influencer model that’s set in around the industry. Brands are being sold on the idea of influencers as an bullhorn for their message; a paid placement that lacks the sort of personal relationship needed to form a working partnership. As Curtis said himself: “Influencers are real people, but many look at them as media outlets. They are bigger than their followers.” That quote lies at the core of influencer marketing’s potential, but not its current state. Embracing that sort of approach can allow the industry to rise above the ugly, “spray and pray” tactics Curtis fell victim to. And then, influencer marketing can realize its $5 billion potential. It starts with building a casting process that’s centered around professionalism and respect for talent — and the people behind those public faces. Avoid desperation tactics just like you would in a normal person-to-person interaction. Whether you’re looking for a first date or a first interview, begging rarely works. So why would it set the stage for a successful brand-influencer relationship? Talent outreach should be in the best interest of both the agency and brand, with influencers thoughtfully (and fully) vetted and approved before engaging the market. Conflicts of interest are the baseline for what to avoid. But the best influencers for a brand aren’t just the ones with the largest follower account. They’re the influencers with the best followers for the brand or campaign, and the one that’s going to generate the most meaningful engagement. For the burgeoning trend of working with micro-influencers, this can be even more challenging to reach them and start an organic relationship. However, the process of research and respectful outreach should never be compromised. One social influencer may have 40,000 followers, but in the micro-influencing game, every one of those are their own important ecosystem of valuable interaction and feedback. Erring from the influencer’s typical sharing practices or a brand appearing disingenuous could have catastrophic results for all involved, even on that supposedly smaller scale. That trust is sacred for followers, and it’s something that must be carried over for every part of the influencer marketing industry. From the brand to the agency to the talent to the audience, respect builds trust and trust builds high-quality engagement. It’s unlikely Dove’s situation is the last of its kind. But as an industry, we can progress to making these occurrences few and far between. The only thing stopping influencer marketing’s growth is itself. With the roadmap already in place to move beyond the old, flawed mistakes, it’s time to grow up. The post Trolling for a Match isn’t the Way to Generate Influence appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch. Mobile Marketing via Mobile Marketing Watch http://ift.tt/HGJCKG June 29, 2017 at 04:18AM Getting Creative With First-Party Data http://ift.tt/2ukHJRs In today’s digital marketing world, data is everywhere. According to eMarketer, nearly 40% of executives say they have spent over $100 million on data in the past five years. While marketers are spending handsomely on other people’s data, they are also making use of their own first-party data, and for good reason: being able to leverage information about your own customers, pulled from your own properties, can be a powerful tool. But with the costs associated with the gathering, organization and implementation of first-party data, how do marketers know if they’re making the most of it? The good news is, first-party data provides more opportunities than simple customer retargeting. In fact, it can be a gold mine if you’re willing to get a bit creative. Below I offer four out-of-the-box approaches to using first-party data to help ensure marketers maximize efficiency and drive results in digital video and TV. 1. Use reverse targeting to net new customers. The traditional use of first-party data is to find and target a known customer base. But what if you flipped that on its head? First-party data gathered through a Web site tag can also be used to suppress existing customers, resulting in a segment of new customer prospects. To drill down on targeting even more, marketers could pair this up with third-party insights like privacy-compliant credit card data to ensure they are reaching an interested audience — for example, a hotel brand looking to reach frequent travelers who are not current customers. advertisement advertisement 2. Reach customers across devices — even TV. When a pixel is placed on a Web site, brands can see the digital footprint of their existing customer base. To take this a step further, they can find these same customers across all video screens, including linear TV. Tying digital data to TV data through a 1:1 match is an effective way to reach consumers offline, requiring a technology or measurement partner to connect the dots. A major financial services brand recently used this approach to reach known customers not just on laptops, mobile, or connected TV, but also on their TV sets. Reaching consumers across devices with a holistic plan ensures you’re in front of your consumers wherever they are watching video. 3. Use CRM data to model high-value customers. While first-party data is often used to reach a brand’s exact customer base, it can also be used to model prospects who look like your current customer base. Recently, a major insurance brand was looking to find consumers with similar attributes to their best customers. They were able to achieve this by bumping their CRM data up against a Nielsen 1:1 digital/TV match, to see what shows its best customers were watching on TV. This information helped the company determine which programs, networks and day parts similar customers would be more likely to watch on TV — and to reach them with a brand message. 4. Determine optimal frequency and avoid overexposure. Brands should consider their first-party data an opportunity to drive efficiency when working with a limited budget. To do this, determine the optimal frequency and reach to drive a specific outcome among current customers, who may need less exposure than a non-customer or a new customer. An online travel brand recently looked at different response levels among current customers vs. known frequent travelers (identified through standard third-party data). By looking at different response levels for those exposed vs. the control in each bucket, they were able to determine the exact level of exposure needed for each group without wasting impressions. However you choose to use your first-party data, be sure you’re looking for creative ways to get your message in front of the right person. The data is yours for the taking, so be sure you’re putting it to work. Mobile Marketing via MediaPost.com: mobile http://ift.tt/2oB2PsH June 28, 2017 at 10:28PM |
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