Posts Tagged ‘ behavior ’

Banner Ads?

Many people don’t care for, or even pay attention to, Banner Ads, and yet we keep using them.

Pity the standard banner ad, the workhorse of the webpage. It does not dazzle with video or rich media or annoy visitors by popping up or under other content. Declining clickthrough rates appear to have stabilized at a mere 0.09% in 2010, falling from a fractional 0.15% in 2008, according to a recent report from MediaMind.
And consumers scorn them: 43% of respondents to an online AdweekMedia-Harris Poll said they ignored or disregarded internet banner ads more than paid search ads and those in traditional media—TV, radio and newspapers.

A .09% click rate? Really? Doesn’t seem very high.

Those sentiments aside, eMarketer estimates that ad spending on standard banners will increase 11.4% in 2011, to $6.56 billion, and will continue to grow to $8.63 billion in 2014.

But we are spending more? What was that definition of insanity? The article goes on to share ways to improve banner ads. They really are a staple of online advertising, even if many people say they ignore banner ads.

Me, me, me, dugh. We have to offer something people want/need in order to generate interest.

But, seriously folks, we need to be more innovative than a traditional banner ad.

2010
12/13
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Facebook is Taking Over The World

Seriously.

2010
12/13
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Links

Inspiration from other people’s content is one of the more exciting things about the Internet; especially videos. And who doesn’t love a fun video? I have watched many and posted several. Now, I am finding some of the links broken. It is said that when we post something online we are shouting it to the world. But, what happens when what we say is removed? Censored? The inspiration was there, but now it’s harder to explain.

I am actually sad that great things are being removed. It says something…

2010
12/08
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The Vice Guide to Everything

Once again I reveal that not only do I watch a bunch of television, but on suspect channels for my age (MTV and VH1) and with shows that at first seem a little strange (OCD Project, The Buried Life).  But here I go again because I feel like I’ve found an interesting gem of a show that not only gives me a completely different view into the world we live in but does so with a definite style.

Ever heard of Vice Magazine (potentially nsfw)?  How can I sum this up best:  no holds barred, in your face, straightforward talk about politics, art, fashion and other news from around the world.  You may not agree with what they say but they’ll most likely give you a different way of looking at a given issue.  And not to downplay the entertainment aspect of this, these guys are willing to do just about anything to immerse themselves in a culture which can obviously lead to some interesting finds.

Package this kind of information into a 30 minute video format, and you’ve got the new MTV show The Vice Guide to Everything.  And they do mean everything!  Here’s a quick look at the first two shows:

  • Visit to Yemen to see if it’s the next breeding ground for terrorism
  • DIY strip club in Detroit
  • Mafia pop stars in Naples
  • African fantasy coffins
  • The “Hermit Kingdom” of North Korea
  • TV shows made by Russian mobsters about their past crimes
  • Mexican theme parks with an attraction that simulates border crossings
  • How to date a girl in a burqa

Just two episodes in and you can probably tell that this is both controversial and fascinating.  It is not my intent to offend, simply discuss this show, so please watch at your own risk.

However, I do find the openness and experimentation with different cultures to be one of the most interesting parts of this storytelling.  How are we to understand this world if we don’t see issues from different viewpoints?  The style in which they present this information is both raw and opinionated which certainly ups the ante on entertainment.  Finally, the topics they choose…well, it is called Vice for a reason.

I’m looking forward to watching a few more episodes because I find that it’s challenging some stereotypes that are in our mass media, shining light on cultures from around the world and practices that I’ve never heard of, and making me think about things in a way that’s at times uncomfortable but also enlightening.

And perhaps you’re bored with the local news and would rather your weather report be Vice-style.

2010
12/07
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There’s an App for That

There seems to be a mobile application for everything one would want to do with their phone. Not really, but “there’s an app for that” is frequently tossed around among smart phone users, especially iPhone and Android users.

However, more people actually prefer mobile websites over apps right now. At the same time, many brands feel like they need to develop an app, even if the functionality is minimal and many consumers expect brands to have mobile apps. So what gives? This seems contradictory. Well, the idea is that an app will be easier to use from a mobile device compared to a traditional website, but many apps can’t do all the things consumers want and so many consumers revert back to a website, especially if there is a mobile website. Clear as mud?

Essentially we have a need that is only partially filled and until brands become smarter about mobile apps, consumers will continue to explore multiple mobile brand interaction points until they find the one that works best for them. The only concern with this approach is that brands could be missing an important moment. If an app is only adequate or even “buggy” in the beginning, consumers could dismiss it, even write a bad review, and then never return. A lost opportunity.

Moral of the story: Don’t Create an App for App’s Sake

2010
11/22
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Mary Rocks It

After seeing the excitement that Kristen expressed in the previous post, I had to take a look at “Mary Meeker’s Awesome Web 2.0 Presentation About The State Of The Web.” I agree that the way the data is presented is hyper compelling and helps me continue to push myself on the issue. I was also jazzed by this slide.

The information is important because it shows the future of marketing. Consumers want things fast, easy, fun, and accessible. Especially when content is delivered through their mobile device, and it should be.

 

2010
11/22
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What’s a Printer?

I don’t own a printer. It went the way of my dining table in my most recent move. Since neither were being used, they found more appreciative homes. With this said, why do I have to print your stupid coupon? Admittedly, I am terrible with coupons; mostly because I avoid paper. On Saturday I decided to attend Artopia, a convergence of Dallas art, music, and fashion, and went online to purchase my tickets. All was rosy until a followup email insisted I print out my tickets. Hugh? Next was all the synapses in my brain firing, trying to figure out how to make that happen. Ultimately I found used paper in my files that I no longer needed and took the clean back sides to a public printer in my building. I actually had to hand over paper to get into a “forward thinking” event. Yes, ironic.

What do other people think? Apparently, most people still like paper. Couponing is a great example. The rise of smart phones has laid a path to help us get away from paper, but few people have even tried to use a mobile coupon.

Overall, respondents to the mBlox survey still preferred to clip coupons the traditional way—receiving them by mail. Email was popular with nearly a third, and a combination of email and text message with nearly 11%.

Blarg! At least a good number like email coupons, but I bet many of them need to be printed out unless used with online shopping.

2010
11/15
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What Does Your Cell Phone Case Say?

I love this image found in TechCrunch for many reasons.

But I have an even bigger question that raises many funny jokes: What does your cell phone case say about you? Most people pick from a series of cases that are standard for their phone. But what about unconventional cases? What do those mean? It means conventional cases are not always the best choice and this idea can be applied to any situation. If we always pick from a standard set of options that others decided, then nothing new or interesting will come to pass.

I use an iPod sock for my iPhone. Totally unconventional and people either respond by laughing and joking or wanting one themselves. When I had an Android, the G1 BTW making me an early adopter, I didn’t have a case for it as the phone itself was encased in super thick plastic already. I have never had a Blackberry. I have inspired several people to ditch their standard case and others still are trying out their own unconventional options with gusto.

2010
11/12
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Living Out Loud

Some people actually still wonder if social networks are important. Dugh.

Of course they are important! Entire lives are shared with hundreds of people. Facebook users have an average of 120 friends!

2010
11/11
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Fickle

Consumers are fickle, right? Well, if we believed this before, it is even more evident by the recent election. AdAge published a commentary on the topic:

As The New York Times observed, “In an accelerated culture, our loyalties toward just about everything — laundry detergent, celebrities, even churches and spouses — transfer more readily than our grandparents could have imagined. Now we dispose of phone carriers and cash-back credit cards from one month to the next. Forget the staying power of Johnny Carson; when Jay Leno starts to feel a little stale, he is shifted to prime time, then shifted back to the late night.” The credibility and trust in our institutions — government as well as business — continues to erode, and trust is a key component in advertising acceptance.

If we are indeed this unreliable, what does it say about us as a culture? I have read previously that we are a “throw-away society.” Meaning we are focused on consuming and want things we can dispose of when done. The rise in packaging is a good example of how this label works. But, if we are adding highly fickle to the mix, what does that mean for marketing? It means a need to very strategic when thinking about how to share information with others.

2010
11/10
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