Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Broadband

Two interesting news articles from the WSJ and NYT today.

"Internet Providers Move to Shape Broadband Push" (The Wall Street Journal) "President-elect Barack Obama's call to improve the nation's broadband infrastructure has cable and phone company lobbyists maneuvering to get a leg up. Policies under serious consideration are corporate tax credits to build new wireless or landline infrastructure, government-backed broadband "bonds" and grants to companies or local governments, legislative aides and lobbyists close to the process say. There also is strong agreement that low-income consumers need to be encouraged to sign up for broadband -for example, through vouchers to purchase computers or discounts on monthly service. Public-interest groups are clamoring for conditions to be imposed on carriers that receive tax credits, such as pledges not to degrade any Internet traffic, a principle referred to as "net neutrality."

"Internet Use Grows At Meetings, As Do Challenges" (The New York Times): "The advent of cheap, user-friendly —but bandwidth-heavy— streaming video technology changed the status quo drastically. Demand at hotels and convention centers has spiked, as businesses add videoconferencing to their meetings and guests download media. Adding to the logjam, hotel managers are moving toward Web-based tools for managing back-of-the-house departments, using more bandwidth, too. Nick Price, CIO and CTO for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, said that bandwidth has been doubling year over year."

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Caught on Camera

Check out this CNN video on 2008's some of the most memorable iReports.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Best technology stories of the year

Here is another top 10 list. Last week, PC World published IDG News Service's top technology stories for 2008 (not in order of importance). It includes some big mergers (and attempts), important news from the industry, and some new and innovative technology products brought to market this year. Other interesting picks for the top stories of the year are the use of technology during the elections and the impacts of the recession on corporate IT budgets and the tech industry overall. I am sure you have read and heard a lot about these news over the past year, but you can visit the link above for a quick recap.

- Recession Pulls the Plug on Tech
- HP Gobbles up EDS
- Microsoft Chases Yahoo
- Open Office XML Scores Controversial Victory
- Android and the Opening of the Mobile World
- Format Wars Revisited: Blu-Ray Beats HD DVD
- McColo, King of Spam, Falls and the Fight Goes On
- XP is Dead, Long Live XP
- Politics 2.0: Obama Taps Tech to Clinch Victory
- The End of an Era: Gates Retires

Friday, December 19, 2008

IAB's biggest interactive news of 2008

Most will agree that the most important news in the year 2008 were the credit crunch and economic downturn that has dominated the news, a presidential election driven in part by the Internet and social networking, the rise of social networks as an interactive platform and the growth of mobile media. The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) released the most important interactive stories and events of 2008, based on the clicks of the readers of its daily newsletter, IAB SmartBrief. Here is the top 10 list:
- Twitter 101 (The Washington Post, 5/1)
- Blogging yet? Don't bother (Wired, 10/20)
- Mary Meeker on the state of the Internet (The New York Times, 11/5)
- Letterman's McCain tirade get 3.5M hits on YouTube (Advertising Age, 9/30)
- Experts weigh in on SEO myths (iMedia Connection, 6/30)
- Panel: The future of widgets (ClickZ, 3/24)
- Click rate for fake ad soars (Philly.com, 6/7)
- Newspapers are troubled, but online aggregators are flourishing (Reuters, 8/28)
- Research points to value of online display ads (The Wall Street Journal, 9/19)
- BusinessWeek's "25 Most Influential People on the Web" (BusinessWeek, 9/29)

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Updates from MRA


Marketing Research Association (MRA) Launches Internal Review Program
MRA has created and launched a research company review program designed for providing transparency in online research. The MRA Review Program will vet and standardize online sample providers, it will create a clear understanding of panel supplier practices as they relate to data quality. Click here to access the MRA Review Program.

Marketing Research Association to Close Professional Researcher Certification Open Enrollment December 31, 2008
MRA will close Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) open enrollment on December 31, 2008. The unveiling of Certification 2.0, the second generation of the prestigious program, was introduced July 1, 2008. PRC's main goal is to encourage high standards within the marketing research profession, to raise competency, establish an objective measure of an individual's knowledge and proficiency and to encourage professional development.

Marketing Research Association Releases Special Edition of Alert! Magazine
MRA has released a special edition of Alert! Magazine dedicate to addressing the issue of quality in online research. The question of data quality with online research has been challenged over the years. Early in 2007 MRA began discussing the various options for resolving the viability issue. It was concluded that online research when done well and applied appropriately was a solid and effective research method.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

More from the industry

Text message marketing to increase
"Nearly 60% of U.S. mobile subscribers use text-messaging on a regular basis, with 16% recalling some form of advertising while texting, according to new research by Nielsen Mobile. Given the growing popularity of text messaging, Nielsen says cell users can expect to see more short-code marketing. So far, marketers have used text messaging in various ways ranging from conveying basic information to rewards programming to couponing, according to Nielsen." Online Media Daily

13.5 billion Web videos viewed in October
"In October alone, 13.5 billion Internet videos were viewed, a 45% increase over the same month in 2007, according to comScore's Video Metrix. Google, with its YouTube, had the most views, followed by Fox Interactive's MySpace, Yahoo!, Microsoft and Viacom Digital." MarketingVOX

More users embracing new technology in developing world
"Media hardware such as DVD players and gaming consoles is more heavily used by people in Western countries, while newer technology such as video-enabled handsets is being embraced in developing countries, especially those in Asia, according to the biannual Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey." The Hollywood Reporter

Recession can be catalyst for growth
"Interpublic research group Magna released a report Friday suggesting steps that marketers can take to propel growth during the recession, including making more cross-platform deals and looking for opportunities to drive down rates. It also advised that marketers seek to build awareness while blocking competitors in the process." Marketing Daily

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Industry news headlines


QA's crime cutting research wins industry award
"QA Research's qualitative study designed to cut crime levels through interaction with former offenders scooped the top prize for public policy research at the Research Awards. This year's Research Awards, hosted by the Market Research Society in London, saw the debut of the New Consumer Insights category. The winners were Vodafone and Mesh Planning for developing a new product to tackle the challenges of an increasingly fragmented media." Brand Republic

Mediaplex Launches Ad Targeting Tools
"Ad technology firm Mediaplex has released Dynamic Behavioral Targeting, a suite of products enabling advertisers to differentiate and segment customers from prospects based on their prior activity, and serve the most appropriate message. The system allows marketers to define their own optimization criteria and then measure and evaluate the performance of the creative element to automatically serve up the best performing ads." MrWeb Daily Research News Online

Tesco predicted to become world's second largest retailer
"Tesco is set to overtake Carrefour in global turnover rankings within the next five years, making it the world's second largest retailer after Wal-Mart. The latest data from food and grocery research firm IGD predicts that Tesco will grow at a faster pace than French retailer Carrefour, with forecasts suggesting a growth rate of 11% for Tesco between 2007 and 2012, compared to 7% for Carrefour." Brand Republic

AHAA Forms Online Measurement Task Force
"In the US, members of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) have formed a committee, AHAA Online Measurement Task Force, to lead an initiative designed to deliver more precise online Hispanic market research data." MrWeb Daily Research News Online

Grant to Fund Virtual World Research
"In Singapore, market research firm The Kalypso Agency has been awarded funding to analyse online virtual worlds, as part of a 5-year $500m incentive programme to transform ideas into ‘breakthrough’ products. Kalypso aims to combine actual behavioral data with marketing metrics to help businesses evaluate their investment in virtual worlds." MrWeb Daily Research News Online

German agencies told to provide callback number
"Research associations in Germany have introduced a guideline stating that research agencies should provide phone survey participants with a callback number. It is hoped the move will help legitimate survey firms to differentiate themselves from sales and marketing callers operating under the guise of research." Research-live.com

TNS buys remainder of Brazil's InterScience
"TNS, now part of WPP Group's Kantar, has acquired the remaining 37% of the shares in TNS InterScience, one of Brazil's leading market research businesses. TNS has held a majority interest in TNS InterScience since 2005 and now owns 100% of the company." Brand Republic

Thursday, December 11, 2008

From the Quirk's magazine, December 2008

Here are quick summaries of some of the articles in the December issue of the Quirk's Marketing Research Review. You can read all the articles in this month's issue on Quirk's website, where you can also search its archive of marketing research articles by signing up for free access to their online database.

Clients should seek a safer and quirky research vendor, by Matthew E. Singer, Decision Development
"Using two acronyms, the author outlines the qualities that research clients should seek in a research vendor."

Does interactivity hold the key to respondent engagement?, by Deborah Sleep, Engage Research and Jon Puleston, Global Market Insite
"The authors provide research-on-research data to show that adding elements of interactivity to surveys can indeed make them more fun to take and lead to more thoughtful responses from participants."

Researching online communities, by Susan Roth and Deanna Lawrence, TNS
"Creating an online community allows a company to understand consumers' experiences and hear their stories in their own words. This article explores the types of research that can be conducted using communities and offers guidance on how to get the most value from them."

When do we stop identifying with Rodney Dangerfield?, by Greg Rathjen, Marketecture
"While the drive to deliver insights is a valuable endeavor for any researcher, the best approach involves both the researcher and their client working together to generate insights, rather than placing the burden solely on the researcher."

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

IAB's new audience reach measurement guidelines

The Interactive Advertising Bureau released its audience reach measurement guidelines, providing definitions for measurement of audience reach related to Internet-based content or advertising, including appropriate controls, filtration procedures and disclosures associated with this measurement and setting standards for measuring audiences regardless of methodology. The new IAB Audience Reach Measurement Guidelines are currently in public comment period until January 20, 2009. More information and feedback forms for publishers, marketers, agencies and technology vendors are available on the link above.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

OPA: Consumers spend more time with content

According to the Online Publishers Association, financial turmoil has increased attention to content sites for people looking for trusted information online. The latest OPA Internet Activity Index (IAI), based on data captured by Nielsen Online, from October 2008 showed that people are spending 6.1% more time on content sites that month vs. January 2008. In that same time period, time spent on commerce sites went down 20.4%, while time spent on community sites was up 16%. Time spent on communications sites was down 2.4%, probably due to more people using social networks such as Facebook to contact friends and colleagues, according to OPA's October IAI, which concludes that consuming content is the dominant way people spend time online, as consumers turn to the Internet for vital news and financial information.

Also, Silicon Alley Insider published some more recent comScore figures today, suggesting that online sales have stayed up since Cyber Monday (Dec. 1), with e-commerce up 9% y/y since then. Click here to learn more.

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Last week's industry news


In Lean Times, Online Coupons Are Catching On
"On the Internet, nothing travels faster than a tip on how to score a bargain. Especially in an economic downturn. With online retail sales falling this month for the first time, Internet merchants are offering steep discounts to anyone willing to punch in a secret coupon code or visit a rebate site for a “referral” before loading up their virtual cart. Some online shoppers are so good at this game that they almost never buy anything at full price, making them the digital era’s version of bargain hunters who used to spend hours clipping coupons to shrink their grocery bills." The New York Times

Car Makers Take Case to the Web
"When times were better, American automakers were known to be early adopters of new digital marketing techniques to promote their vehicles. Now, with the U.S. Big Three in turmoil, executives at Ford, Chrysler and General Motors are now turning to the Web to lobby for billions of dollars in federal aid. The Wall Street Journal reports that the American automakers have launched a series of campaigns on sites like Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and various blogs to make their case for a bailout." The Wall Street Journal

Future Laboratory launches LS:N online lifestyle network
"The Future Laboratory has launched LS:N Global, an online consumer insight and inspiration network for the lifestyle sector. The network has been created to look at what's next in consumer thinking and to consider how this is set to impact on the way retail brands will be developed, designed and marketed in the future. The LS:N Global site, designed by Made Thought, consists of sections including Seed, Trends, Insight, Innovate, Inform and Inspire." Brand Republic

Nielsen Online partners with Net-Metrix in Switzerland
"Nielsen Online is teaming up with Net-Metrix to provide standardised online research data for the Swiss internet market, starting next year. The new internet measurement panel, known at 'Net-Metrix-Tracking - powered by Nielsen Online', combines two existing panel products, NetView from Nielsen Online and Net-Metrix-Tracking from Net-Metrix." Brand Republic

MySpace streams video on mobiles
"MySpace Mobile users can now access MySpace video content from their video-enabled mobile devices. The move makes MySpace the first social portal to launch video streaming for mobile. The MySpace Mobile site (m.myspace.com) receives approximately three billion worldwide page views per month with more than 10 million monthly unique users." Brand Republic

Ball State Launches $17.7 Million Emerging Media Initiative
"Ball State University unveiled a major initiative designed to advance the study of emerging media and to better prepare students for careers in a rapidly changing digital economy. The program, backed by $17.7 million in funding over the next five years from a combination of institutional and private sector sources, is another in a series of commitments the Indiana state university has made to become an area of academic excellence for the media industry." MediaPost Online Media Daily

Facebook Aims to Extend Its Reach Across the Web
"Facebook, the Internet’s largest social network, wants to let you take your friends with you as you travel the Web. But having been burned by privacy concerns in the last year, it plans to keep close tabs on those outings. Facebook Connect, the company’s new feature, allows its members to log onto other Web sites using their Facebook identification and see their friends’ activities on those sites." The New York Times

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

2008's top searches

What were the most popular search terms during 2008?

The end of the year is almost here, and major search engines are gathering up the most popular search terms and trends. The most searched for terms throughout the year reflect the fact that 2008 was an election year and we are officially in a recession. Below are some highlights (more information here) and an interesting CNN video about the 2008 search trends.


Google's most searched for econ. terms: Financial crisis, depression, bailout, mortgage crisis, Wall Street
Top shopping trend searches on Google: Free shipping, coupon, layaway, buy one get one free
The fastest-rising search terms of 2008 on Google: Obama, Facebook, Att, iPhone, YouTube, Fox news, Palin, Beijing 2008, David Cook, surf the channel
Yahoo's top 10 overall search terms: Britney Spears, WWE, Barack Obama, Miley Cyrus, RuneScape, Jessica Alba, Naruto, Lindsay Lohan, Angelina Jolie, American Idol
Top 10 news stories in 2008 on Yahoo.com: Hurricanes, Caylee and Casey Anthony, Election 2008, Pakistan, Pregnant Man, China, Iraq, Shelley Malil, Patrick Swayze, Afghanistan

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

News from last week

Most viewed items at the Daily Research News Online (MrWeb DRNO)

TNS Wins Record Qual Contract for Eurobarometer
"TNS has beaten Ipsos, GfK and others in a major qual competitive tender from the European Commission and the European Parliament. TNS says the deal covers all the body’s qualitative studies and is ‘believed to be the world’s largest qual research programme’, valued at some 15m Euros over four years."

Revenue and Profit Surge at Research Now
"Online research and panels specialist Research Now is forecasting results ahead of previous market expectations, including reported revenues up more than 55% to £41m, and operating profit up 120% to around £6.2m, for the year ended 31 October 2008."

‘Recession-Proof Strategy’ Brings Growth for Confirmit
"Research software provider Confirmit has announced its most successful quarter to date for new business revenue, along with revenue growth of 51% for the nine months ending September 2008."

Monday, December 01, 2008

Online shopping & retail growth over the holiday weekend

The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported that individual shoppers spent about 7% more this year than last year from Thursday through Sunday. Shoppers affected by the down economy were more cautious than in years past, with many drawn in by deep discounts from retailers. One indicator was how shoppers were searching on the Internet for Black Friday sales and promotions while preparing for the holiday-shopping weekend. According to Google, Web searches for the words "Black Friday" were up 41% from last year. Searches for the words "coupons" were up 59%, "free shipping" up 11% and "buy one get one free" up 200%.

To learn more about how Black Friday went, check out the recent articles in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.