A comprehensive research study by the Online Research Quality Council (ORQC) of the ARF concluded that respondents who are members of multiple panels are not necessarily a threat to data quality. Read more here Research-live.
"Findings of the study into duplication and overlap of online panel members concluded that multiple membership only has an impact on data quality when members take part in the same survey more than once. Duplication rates when combining two panels – a realistic scenario for a survey – ranged from 2% to 19%, with the average “well below 10%”, the study said. However, for surveys taking place in localized markets the rate could be significantly higher.
Further research will look at survey response quality, inter-study comparability and benchmarking. The full industry report, incorporating all the papers, will be published later this year. Committees of the ORQC focusing on industry solutions and metrics will review the results on overlap and duplication in panels to come up with principles, recommendations and guidelines for the industry, the foundation said."
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Google's response to the McKinsey report on cloud computing
Last month McKinsey & Company released a report through the Uptime Institute entitled "Clearing the air on cloud computing." "Clouds already make sense for many small and medium-size businesses, but technical, operational and financial hurdles will need to be overcome before clouds will be used extensively by large public and private enterprises," the report said.
Click here to learn more about cloud computing from Google's POV on the official Google Enterprise blog.
Click here to learn more about cloud computing from Google's POV on the official Google Enterprise blog.
Friday, April 17, 2009
McKinsey report on cloud computing and some search data from Compete on netbooks
McKinsey: 'Cloud Computing' Overhyped, Still Too Expensive
"Is the whole "cloud computing" craze overhyped? Here's one clue it might be: Lots of companies are boasting about how they're cloud computing players, but there's still no real definition of what cloud computing is. In a new report, "clearing the air on cloud computing," McKinsey deflates some of the claims made about the cloud, saying the buzz is disconnected from reality and the promised cost savings just aren't there yet. But the news isn't all bad for cloud computing players: Startups and small-to-medium sized business can see gains by 'going cloud' that still elude big business." Read more on the Silicon Alley Insider.
Netbooks: Searching along a converging frontier
"Depending on your vantage point, a netbook might look like a small laptop or a large Smartphone. Below chart from Compete shows the top 10 sites that people were directed to after going to a major search engine and looking up a term that included the keyword ‘netbook.’ The sites are ranked by the percentage of all traffic generated by searches including the keyword ‘netbook’ that went to a particular site. So these ‘netbook’ searchers are going to retail and manufacturer sites, but many are visiting third party review sites, blogs and information sites like Wikipedia to learn more about the devices, likely because heavy marketing and media reports on netbooks are a relatively recent phenomenon." Read more on the Compete blog.
"Is the whole "cloud computing" craze overhyped? Here's one clue it might be: Lots of companies are boasting about how they're cloud computing players, but there's still no real definition of what cloud computing is. In a new report, "clearing the air on cloud computing," McKinsey deflates some of the claims made about the cloud, saying the buzz is disconnected from reality and the promised cost savings just aren't there yet. But the news isn't all bad for cloud computing players: Startups and small-to-medium sized business can see gains by 'going cloud' that still elude big business." Read more on the Silicon Alley Insider.
Netbooks: Searching along a converging frontier
"Depending on your vantage point, a netbook might look like a small laptop or a large Smartphone. Below chart from Compete shows the top 10 sites that people were directed to after going to a major search engine and looking up a term that included the keyword ‘netbook.’ The sites are ranked by the percentage of all traffic generated by searches including the keyword ‘netbook’ that went to a particular site. So these ‘netbook’ searchers are going to retail and manufacturer sites, but many are visiting third party review sites, blogs and information sites like Wikipedia to learn more about the devices, likely because heavy marketing and media reports on netbooks are a relatively recent phenomenon." Read more on the Compete blog.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Viral videos
For some of the latest viral videos sponsored by advertisers, check out the Ad Age Viral Video Chart. Hope you enjoy the videos!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Technology news from The New York Times
Here is a roundup of the latest technology news from The New York Times:
Skype, the Web Phone Giant, Brings Cheap Calls to Cellular
"Skype, the Internet calling service that has more than 400 million users around the world, is aggressively moving onto mobile phones. The company plans to announce that it will make its free software available immediately for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch and, beginning in May, for various BlackBerry phones."
Do-It-Yourself Magazines, Cheaply Slick
"For anyone who has dreamed of creating his own glossy color magazine dedicated to a hobby, the high cost and hassle of printing has loomed as a big barrier. With a new Web service called MagCloud, Hewlett-Packard hopes to make it easier and cheaper to crank out a magazine than running photocopies at the local copy shop."
Is Facebook Growing Up Too Fast?
"Sometime this week, the five-year-old start-up, born in a dorm room at Harvard, expects to register its 200 millionth user."
Video Game Makers Challenged by the Next Wave of Media
"The video game market has expanded greatly, with more women and older gamers playing. People are playing on consoles, computers, cellphones and hand-held gadgets. But a proliferation of free or low-cost games on the Web and for phones limits how much the major game publishers can raise prices. It also diverts attention from the game consoles, like the PlayStation 3 from Sony and the Xbox 360 from Microsoft."
Monday, March 23, 2009
Marketing After the Recession
According to Professor John Quelch, the downturn in economy has likely changed people's buying habits in fundamental ways. In this article, for Harvard Business Online, reprinted on HBS Working Knowledge, he discusses why marketers must start planning today to reach consumers after the recession.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Are CMOs gaining ground in the recession?
A recent Ad Age article by John Quelch has some good news for marketing heads: Chief marketing officers are holding on to their jobs longer. According to Spencer Stuart's annual survey of CMO tenure at the 100 most advertised brands in the U.S., average time on the job has risen to 28.4 months from 26.8 months in 2007 and 23.2 months in 2006.
In this Ad Age article, Quelch lists the top four issues on which CEOs look to CMOs for guidance. Here is a summary; for details see Ad Age.
- Shifting consumer behavior: The recession has changed consumer attitudes and behaviors and the CEO needs a CMO who understands company's brands, consumers, and their comparative profitability.
- Price positioning: The economic downturn has increased customer price sensitivity. Marketers need to hit key retail price points and revamp their promotion and marketing strategies to maximize price competitiveness.
- Stretching marketing dollars: Recession demands that marketers come up with creative ways of doing more with less.
- Embracing digital: Rather than avoid online advertising, now may be the time for many companies to experiment further and allocate more of their budgets to search advertising, banner advertising or motivating user-generated content.
In this Ad Age article, Quelch lists the top four issues on which CEOs look to CMOs for guidance. Here is a summary; for details see Ad Age.
- Shifting consumer behavior: The recession has changed consumer attitudes and behaviors and the CEO needs a CMO who understands company's brands, consumers, and their comparative profitability.
- Price positioning: The economic downturn has increased customer price sensitivity. Marketers need to hit key retail price points and revamp their promotion and marketing strategies to maximize price competitiveness.
- Stretching marketing dollars: Recession demands that marketers come up with creative ways of doing more with less.
- Embracing digital: Rather than avoid online advertising, now may be the time for many companies to experiment further and allocate more of their budgets to search advertising, banner advertising or motivating user-generated content.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Wired: "Netbooks prove that we finally know what PCs are actually for: Not all that much"
This Wired article points out a fact about computers in the most basic way possible. Most people do not need heavy-duty hardware. Read the article on Wired: "The Netbook Effect"
"Netbooks have ended the performance wars. Our most common tasks—email, Web surfing, watching streamed videos—require very little processing power. Only a few people, like graphic designers and hardcore gamers, actually need heavy-duty hardware. For years now, without anyone really noticing, the PC industry has functioned like a car company selling SUVs: It pushed absurdly powerful machines because the profit margins were high, while customers lapped up the fantasy that they could go off-roading, even though they never did. So coders took advantage of that surplus power to write ever-bulkier applications and operating systems."
"Netbooks are evidence that we now know what personal computers are for. Which is to say, a pretty small list of things that are conducted almost entirely online. Netbooks prove that the "cloud" is no longer just hype. It is now reasonable to design computers that outsource the difficult work somewhere else. Netbooks are a classic Christensenian disruptive innovation for the PC industry. "
"Netbooks have ended the performance wars. Our most common tasks—email, Web surfing, watching streamed videos—require very little processing power. Only a few people, like graphic designers and hardcore gamers, actually need heavy-duty hardware. For years now, without anyone really noticing, the PC industry has functioned like a car company selling SUVs: It pushed absurdly powerful machines because the profit margins were high, while customers lapped up the fantasy that they could go off-roading, even though they never did. So coders took advantage of that surplus power to write ever-bulkier applications and operating systems."
"Netbooks are evidence that we now know what personal computers are for. Which is to say, a pretty small list of things that are conducted almost entirely online. Netbooks prove that the "cloud" is no longer just hype. It is now reasonable to design computers that outsource the difficult work somewhere else. Netbooks are a classic Christensenian disruptive innovation for the PC industry. "
Thursday, February 26, 2009
"How Marketers Get Wikis Wrong"
A recent video by Advertising Age on wikis.
Marketers have begun to explore wikis as a new approach to product promotion. But, several flaws in marketers' thinking often causes their wikis to fail, says Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia to Ad Age. Wales now has a second site, Wikia.com, which has become a universe of thousands of wikis with more than 500 million page views a month and has growing stable of blue-chip advertisers.
Marketers have begun to explore wikis as a new approach to product promotion. But, several flaws in marketers' thinking often causes their wikis to fail, says Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia to Ad Age. Wales now has a second site, Wikia.com, which has become a universe of thousands of wikis with more than 500 million page views a month and has growing stable of blue-chip advertisers.
Friday, February 20, 2009
"Web 2.0 tools present a vast array of opportunities—for companies that know how to use them"
This McKinsey article is a need to read not only for Internet researchers or marketers but for anybody who is interested in looking at the Internet from a new perspective.
"Technologies known collectively as Web 2.0 have spread widely among consumers over the past five years. Social-networking Web sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, now attract more than 100 million visitors a month. As the popularity of Web 2.0 has grown, companies have noted the intense consumer engagement and creativity surrounding these technologies. Many organizations, keen to harness Web 2.0 internally, are experimenting with the tools or deploying them on a trial basis."
In this article, McKinsey provides six management imperatives that determine the outcome of efforts to implement these technologies. "Web 2.0 tools present a vast array of opportunities—for companies that know how to use them."
"Technologies known collectively as Web 2.0 have spread widely among consumers over the past five years. Social-networking Web sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, now attract more than 100 million visitors a month. As the popularity of Web 2.0 has grown, companies have noted the intense consumer engagement and creativity surrounding these technologies. Many organizations, keen to harness Web 2.0 internally, are experimenting with the tools or deploying them on a trial basis."
In this article, McKinsey provides six management imperatives that determine the outcome of efforts to implement these technologies. "Web 2.0 tools present a vast array of opportunities—for companies that know how to use them."
Sunday, February 15, 2009
News stories from the past week
Here are some interesting industry news that I have selected from the past week.
FTC updates behavioral ad guidelines
"In the US, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a revised report which reinforces the view that companies which track peoples’ online behaviour should follow self-regulatory guidelines to protect user privacy. The FTC began investigating behavioral targeting after the Center for Digital Democracy and the US Public Interest Research Group filed a complaint about the practice in November 2006. In its report, the commission updates concerns about how online advertisers can protect consumer privacy while collecting information about their online activities in order to serve up ads tailored to their interests." MrWeb Daily Research News Online
Do we need a new Internet?
"Security and privacy have become so compromised that many experts believe it is time to start over. What a new Internet might look like is still widely debated, but one alternative would, in effect, create a “gated community” where users would give up their anonymity and certain freedoms in return for safety. Today that is already the case for many corporate and government Internet users. As a new and more secure network becomes widely adopted, the current Internet might end up as the bad neighborhood of cyberspace. You would enter at your own risk and keep an eye over your shoulder while you were there." New York Times
Study to shed light on state of play in UK mobile ad industry
"Mobile operators and ad agencies are backing a major new research project into mobile advertising in the UK. The project aims to “document the state of the mobile advertising industry in the UK, identify growth opportunities in the emerging mobile advertising marketplace, and benefit stakeholders, shareholders and consumers worldwide”. It has been commissioned by Every Single One Of Us, a joint initiative backed by mobile operators, ad agencies and brand owners to promote mobile marketing, and has the support of the Interactive Advertising Bureau and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA)." Research Magazine
Market researchers need to develop softer skills
"Market researchers need to listen to consumers rather than focuson "feeding the metrics monster", according to Procter & Gamble's senior researcher Kim Dedeker. Dedeker told an Advertising Research Foundation forum that market researchers need to employ softer skills, such as finding and telling persuasive stories or making greater use of ethnography and online communities." Brand Republic
FTC updates behavioral ad guidelines
"In the US, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a revised report which reinforces the view that companies which track peoples’ online behaviour should follow self-regulatory guidelines to protect user privacy. The FTC began investigating behavioral targeting after the Center for Digital Democracy and the US Public Interest Research Group filed a complaint about the practice in November 2006. In its report, the commission updates concerns about how online advertisers can protect consumer privacy while collecting information about their online activities in order to serve up ads tailored to their interests." MrWeb Daily Research News Online
Do we need a new Internet?
"Security and privacy have become so compromised that many experts believe it is time to start over. What a new Internet might look like is still widely debated, but one alternative would, in effect, create a “gated community” where users would give up their anonymity and certain freedoms in return for safety. Today that is already the case for many corporate and government Internet users. As a new and more secure network becomes widely adopted, the current Internet might end up as the bad neighborhood of cyberspace. You would enter at your own risk and keep an eye over your shoulder while you were there." New York Times
Study to shed light on state of play in UK mobile ad industry
"Mobile operators and ad agencies are backing a major new research project into mobile advertising in the UK. The project aims to “document the state of the mobile advertising industry in the UK, identify growth opportunities in the emerging mobile advertising marketplace, and benefit stakeholders, shareholders and consumers worldwide”. It has been commissioned by Every Single One Of Us, a joint initiative backed by mobile operators, ad agencies and brand owners to promote mobile marketing, and has the support of the Interactive Advertising Bureau and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA)." Research Magazine
Market researchers need to develop softer skills
"Market researchers need to listen to consumers rather than focuson "feeding the metrics monster", according to Procter & Gamble's senior researcher Kim Dedeker. Dedeker told an Advertising Research Foundation forum that market researchers need to employ softer skills, such as finding and telling persuasive stories or making greater use of ethnography and online communities." Brand Republic
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
The future (!) of newspapers
Don't miss this amazing video (1981 TV Report On Birth Of Internet News)
“Imagine, if you will, sitting down to your morning coffee, turning on your home computer to see the day’s newspaper. Well, it’s not as far-fetched as it may seem.”
SF Examiner: “This is an experiment. We’re trying to figure out what it’s going to mean to us, as editors and reporters and what it means to the home user. And we’re not in it to make money, we’re probably not going to lose a lot but we aren’t going to make much either.”
Monday, February 02, 2009
The Best And Worst Super Bowl Ads
"With a price tag of up to $100,000 a second, companies that bought ads in Super Bowl XLIII are banking on buzz. NBC sold spots up until the last minute, convincing marketers that even in a harsh economy, Super Bowl ads can help build a brand and drive sales. The network scored several first-time sponsors, including Mars’ Pedigree dog food, Denny’s and Cash4Gold.com. Advertising’s big game will play out over water coolers and across the Internet for days after the Super Bowl."
For an interesting review of the Super Bowl XLIII ads by experts for the Forbes magazine, visit forbes.com
For an interesting review of the Super Bowl XLIII ads by experts for the Forbes magazine, visit forbes.com
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Inauguration 5th Most Watched Online Event Ever
According to the Internet infrastructure company Akamai Technologies, news web sites saw about 5.4 million visitors per minute, making Obama's taking of his oath of office the fifth biggest web event. Akamai's Net Usage Index for News enables users to monitor global news consumption 24 x 7, seeing in real-time the impact of current events on online media consumption. Here is the 5 most watched online events since Akamai started its tracking (based on total visitors per minute) in August 2005:
1. Nov. 4, 2008 8,572,042 Barack Obama is victorious in historic presidential election
2. June 22, 2006 7,283,584 U.S. eliminated by Ghana in World Cup
3. Mar. 20, 2008 7,008,325 Day One of U.S. College Basketball 2008 Playoffs Coverage
4. Mar. 16, 2006 5,489,918 Day One of U.S. College Basketball 2006 Playoffs Coverage
5. Jan. 20, 2009 5,401.250 Barack Obama's inauguration
1. Nov. 4, 2008 8,572,042 Barack Obama is victorious in historic presidential election
2. June 22, 2006 7,283,584 U.S. eliminated by Ghana in World Cup
3. Mar. 20, 2008 7,008,325 Day One of U.S. College Basketball 2008 Playoffs Coverage
4. Mar. 16, 2006 5,489,918 Day One of U.S. College Basketball 2006 Playoffs Coverage
5. Jan. 20, 2009 5,401.250 Barack Obama's inauguration
Friday, January 30, 2009
Research news
Here are some interesting news from the industry. Have a great weekend!
Insight at the heart of new WPP
"Global communications group WPP is planning to move away from its role as a traditional media and advertising supplier, to concentrate on becoming a more insight-led organisation, says CEO Sir Martin Sorrell. Sorrell says this change of direction will move the company away from the business models of rivals such as Omnicom, IPG and Publicis, towards those created by Nielsen, IPSOS, GfK and even Thomson-Reuters and Bloomberg." MrWeb Daily Research News Online
Facebook launches polling ads
"Advertisers seeking to crack the code on reaching Facebook's growing audience have a new weapon in their arsenal: polls. CareerBuilder is the first advertiser to test a new ad format on the popular social network." AdWeek
Maverick CMOs try going without TV
"As the upfronts loom, many big brands—like General Motors and Citibank, for instance—are slashing their spending on television advertising out of necessity. But another factor to consider is the maverick CMO who is willing to spend a lot less on TV advertising or cut it out entirely." BrandWeek
Ex-ComScore execs bring analytics platform out of beta
"A new website audience profiling tool developed by two former ComScore executives moved out of beta today to challenge for supremacy in the online analytics space. The Crowd Science Demographics platform relies on website owners tagging pages of their site so that visitors can be randomly selected to take part in surveys. Questions cover basic demographics through to information on product usage and attitudes, and these are tailored to the particular focus of site or a given section within it." Research Magazine
Insight at the heart of new WPP
"Global communications group WPP is planning to move away from its role as a traditional media and advertising supplier, to concentrate on becoming a more insight-led organisation, says CEO Sir Martin Sorrell. Sorrell says this change of direction will move the company away from the business models of rivals such as Omnicom, IPG and Publicis, towards those created by Nielsen, IPSOS, GfK and even Thomson-Reuters and Bloomberg." MrWeb Daily Research News Online
Facebook launches polling ads
"Advertisers seeking to crack the code on reaching Facebook's growing audience have a new weapon in their arsenal: polls. CareerBuilder is the first advertiser to test a new ad format on the popular social network." AdWeek
Maverick CMOs try going without TV
"As the upfronts loom, many big brands—like General Motors and Citibank, for instance—are slashing their spending on television advertising out of necessity. But another factor to consider is the maverick CMO who is willing to spend a lot less on TV advertising or cut it out entirely." BrandWeek
Ex-ComScore execs bring analytics platform out of beta
"A new website audience profiling tool developed by two former ComScore executives moved out of beta today to challenge for supremacy in the online analytics space. The Crowd Science Demographics platform relies on website owners tagging pages of their site so that visitors can be randomly selected to take part in surveys. Questions cover basic demographics through to information on product usage and attitudes, and these are tailored to the particular focus of site or a given section within it." Research Magazine
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
"Online video of inauguration sets records"
According to an article in today's New York Times, millions across the country helped set records for Internet traffic on Tuesday as they watched online video of the inauguration ceremonies. "The overwhelming demand meant that some Web sites and data networks had trouble keeping up, forcing many people to turn to less cutting-edge forms of media. Internet traffic in the United States hit a record peak at the start of President Obama’s speech as people watched, read about and commented on the inauguration, according to Bill Woodcock, the research director at the Packet Clearing House, a nonprofit organization that analyzes online traffic. The figures surpassed even the high figures on the day President Obama was elected."
Monday, January 19, 2009
Research highlights
More users have 1-hour-plus daily Web habit
"The number of adults who log more than one hour a day on the Web increased from 43% in 2007 to 48% in 2008, according to a Gallup poll. The survey also showed major boosts in this level of usage among those who make less than $30,000; unmarried people; 18-to-29-year-olds; and those with a post-graduate education" Adweek
Pre-Shop Customer Reviews Important to Online Customers
Nielsen Online, studying the holiday mindset of the U.S. online shopper, found that customer reviews are an important research tool for online consumers. 71 percent of online shoppers agreed that consumer reviews make them more comfortable that they are buying the right product. 81 percent have read product or retailer reviews by other customers when doing their holiday shopping this year. 63 percent of online shoppers indicated that it was important to have multiple reviews for each product, 14 percent looked for reviews from an established source, and just three percent sought out reviews by people they knew personally.
News No Longer Newspaper's Forte
According to the Pew Research Center, the Internet has now surpassed all other media except television as an outlet for national and international news. Currently, 40% of the survey respondents say they get most of their news about national and international issues from the internet, up from just 24% in September 2007. For the first time in a Pew survey, more people say they rely mostly on the internet for news than cite newspapers. Television continues to be cited most frequently as a main source for national and international news.
"The number of adults who log more than one hour a day on the Web increased from 43% in 2007 to 48% in 2008, according to a Gallup poll. The survey also showed major boosts in this level of usage among those who make less than $30,000; unmarried people; 18-to-29-year-olds; and those with a post-graduate education" Adweek
Pre-Shop Customer Reviews Important to Online Customers
Nielsen Online, studying the holiday mindset of the U.S. online shopper, found that customer reviews are an important research tool for online consumers. 71 percent of online shoppers agreed that consumer reviews make them more comfortable that they are buying the right product. 81 percent have read product or retailer reviews by other customers when doing their holiday shopping this year. 63 percent of online shoppers indicated that it was important to have multiple reviews for each product, 14 percent looked for reviews from an established source, and just three percent sought out reviews by people they knew personally.
News No Longer Newspaper's Forte
According to the Pew Research Center, the Internet has now surpassed all other media except television as an outlet for national and international news. Currently, 40% of the survey respondents say they get most of their news about national and international issues from the internet, up from just 24% in September 2007. For the first time in a Pew survey, more people say they rely mostly on the internet for news than cite newspapers. Television continues to be cited most frequently as a main source for national and international news.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
More industry highlights
Wal-Mart CEO Sees 'Fundamental Change' in Consumer Habits (Video)
"Consumers, particularly younger ones, who are seriously cutting back spending during the current economic downturn may be establishing new patterns of frugality that will live on after the recovery. That was one of the concerns of Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, who yesterday kicked off the National Retail Federation's annual convention in Manhattan. His candid comments come just weeks before he is scheduled to step down as CEO" Advertising Age
Lines Between Media Channels Increasingly Blurred
"From 2006 to 2008, the share of U.S. consumers using shopping Web sites doubled from 17% to 35%, according to a study released Monday. More revealing, perhaps, is that 44% of those online shopping consumers reported reading consumer reviews and comments found on the sites. This demonstrates that such e-commerce sites have transformed into virtual social gathering places and information destinations." Online Media Daily
Key Advertising Groups to Develop Privacy Guidelines for Online Behavioral Advertising Data Use and Collection
"Four marketing and advertising industry associations today announced that they are working together to develop enhanced self-regulatory principles for online behavioral advertising in order to address privacy concerns and to increase consumers' trust and confidence in how online information is gathered and used. The associations are the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA), the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). The Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB), a leading organization dedicated to advancing marketplace trust, is also part of the effort." BusinessWire
Survey: 45% of top U.K. marketers to cut ad spend this year
"Some 45% of U.K. marketers surveyed intend to cut their ad spending this year, while 20% plan to increase their budgets and the remaining 35% plan to keep spending levels flat, according to a survey of 250 major marketers in the U.K. by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising." Advertising Age
"Consumers, particularly younger ones, who are seriously cutting back spending during the current economic downturn may be establishing new patterns of frugality that will live on after the recovery. That was one of the concerns of Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, who yesterday kicked off the National Retail Federation's annual convention in Manhattan. His candid comments come just weeks before he is scheduled to step down as CEO" Advertising Age
Lines Between Media Channels Increasingly Blurred
"From 2006 to 2008, the share of U.S. consumers using shopping Web sites doubled from 17% to 35%, according to a study released Monday. More revealing, perhaps, is that 44% of those online shopping consumers reported reading consumer reviews and comments found on the sites. This demonstrates that such e-commerce sites have transformed into virtual social gathering places and information destinations." Online Media Daily
Key Advertising Groups to Develop Privacy Guidelines for Online Behavioral Advertising Data Use and Collection
"Four marketing and advertising industry associations today announced that they are working together to develop enhanced self-regulatory principles for online behavioral advertising in order to address privacy concerns and to increase consumers' trust and confidence in how online information is gathered and used. The associations are the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA), the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). The Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB), a leading organization dedicated to advancing marketplace trust, is also part of the effort." BusinessWire
Survey: 45% of top U.K. marketers to cut ad spend this year
"Some 45% of U.K. marketers surveyed intend to cut their ad spending this year, while 20% plan to increase their budgets and the remaining 35% plan to keep spending levels flat, according to a survey of 250 major marketers in the U.K. by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising." Advertising Age
Monday, January 12, 2009
Industry news headlines
Meet the "New Info Shoppers"
"Political consultant and trendwatcher Mark Penn has identified a burgeoning consumer segment -- the "new info shopper." His research found that 92% of respondents trusted information gleaned from online searches as opposed to in-store sales pitches. While consumers have traditionally researched major purchases like homes and cars via the Web, the interactive marketplace is creating new categories of information-driven purchasing. The the new info shoppers just can't buy anything unless they first look it up online and get the lowdown." Wall Street Journal
10 things you need to know about mobile
"The much-touted location-based services (LBS) that marketers dream of leveraging for laser-geo-targeted promotions have not found their own way yet. A small percentage of U.S. phones have GPS built in, and while many more will come to market this year, carriers can't figure out how to price and promote them." Online Media Daily
Mobile video use up 14%, but numbers are still small
"Only 5% of the wireless subscribers in the U.S. access video content in a given month, but the 10.3 million who do represent a 14% gain from 2007, according to the Nielsen Co., which cited the growth of Internet-friendly handsets as the major driver of video viewing." MediaWeek
Web analytics market set to defy recession
"In the US, a survey conducted by the Web Analytics Association (WAA) has found that more than 96% of respondents plan to increase or maintain current spending on web analytics during the year. While the survey of more than 650 marketing and analytics professionals highlighted that more than 40% of respondents see funding as their biggest challenge, WAA says that the investment outlook is positive." MrWeb Daily Research News Online
"Political consultant and trendwatcher Mark Penn has identified a burgeoning consumer segment -- the "new info shopper." His research found that 92% of respondents trusted information gleaned from online searches as opposed to in-store sales pitches. While consumers have traditionally researched major purchases like homes and cars via the Web, the interactive marketplace is creating new categories of information-driven purchasing. The the new info shoppers just can't buy anything unless they first look it up online and get the lowdown." Wall Street Journal
10 things you need to know about mobile
"The much-touted location-based services (LBS) that marketers dream of leveraging for laser-geo-targeted promotions have not found their own way yet. A small percentage of U.S. phones have GPS built in, and while many more will come to market this year, carriers can't figure out how to price and promote them." Online Media Daily
Mobile video use up 14%, but numbers are still small
"Only 5% of the wireless subscribers in the U.S. access video content in a given month, but the 10.3 million who do represent a 14% gain from 2007, according to the Nielsen Co., which cited the growth of Internet-friendly handsets as the major driver of video viewing." MediaWeek
Web analytics market set to defy recession
"In the US, a survey conducted by the Web Analytics Association (WAA) has found that more than 96% of respondents plan to increase or maintain current spending on web analytics during the year. While the survey of more than 650 marketing and analytics professionals highlighted that more than 40% of respondents see funding as their biggest challenge, WAA says that the investment outlook is positive." MrWeb Daily Research News Online
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Mid-week news update
Marketer survey offers New Year cheer for MR
"Use of research will not decrease in 2009, say Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG) members. A survey of marketing executives offers some New Year cheer for researchers – 78% say their use of market research will either stay the same or increase in 2009." Research Magazine
Economy weighs heavily on marketing execs for 2009
"Marketing executives are tired of buzzwords such as Web 2.0, blogs and social networking. They're more concerned about credit availability, housing markets, alternative energy and the trade deficit, according to a new study of top-level marketers." Advertising Age
Ad shops eye web space
"Firms Customize Digital Marketplaces to Stay in the Game. Madison Avenue took a back seat as technology companies created the tools to buy advertising space online. Now, major ad holding companies are developing their own systems." Wall Street Journal
Launch of ‘Digital Home Observatory’
"Competitive and market intelligence firm Strategy Analytics has launched a user experience research capability, which will explore purchase motivations, product satisfaction and barriers to the use and consumption of digital media." MrWeb Daily Research News Online
MRA predicts key legal issues for MR in 2009
"Auto-dialling of cellphones and online behavioral tracking are among the key areas raising legislative and regulatory concern for the research profession in 2009, according to a new forecast by the US-based Marketing Research Association (MRA)." MrWeb Daily Research News Online
Obama urged to overhaul consumer privacy law
'Privacy campaigners are calling for the Obama administration to introduce a comprehensive consumer privacy law that would cover behavioural ad targeting and online data collection." Research Magazine
Monday, January 05, 2009
IMRO membership
Joining the Interactive Marketing Research Organization (IMRO) is easy. For non-MRA members, an application can be found on both the IMRO and MRA websites. Note that IMRO membership is one of the optional benefits of a MRA membership- the IMRO benefit must be selected during the MRA membership registration process. MRA members can join IMRO by either contacting the MRA via phone or email and asking to have IMRO added to their membership. If you have questions regarding membership or need assistance, contact the MRA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
