I confess – I have QR Code Letdown. I’ve had it for quite a while. When I first downloaded a QR code reader app to my iPhone, I was excited to see what magical secrets were hiding behind the QR codes I was starting to see everywhere. So I’d scan the codes, and…meh. It was someone’s contact information, or a link to their regular website (which looked terrible on my mobile browser). QR codes seemed to have such promise, but I’ve already mentally moved on.
At the same time, we’ve all been hearing about augmented reality. What does that really mean, and how can we as marketers and consumers take advantage of it? Mashable’s article “Why QR Codes Won’t Last” posits that augmented reality – in the form of mobile video search (MVS) – is superior to QR codes. The author states that:
“Humans are visual animals. We have visceral reactions to images that a QR code can never evoke; what we see is directly linked to our moods, our purchasing habits and our behaviors. It makes sense, then, that a more visual alternative to QR codes would not only be preferable to consumers, but would most likely stimulate more positive responses to their presence.”
Don’t miss the video about Google Goggles embedded into the article. It gives specific examples of how MVS works. This is all, of course, in its infancy, so whether QR codes evolve into something more usable and interactive, or whether augmented reality takes over, remains to be seen. Regardless, more and more information about the world – and brands – around us will be in the palm of our hands.
If you’re a Google shareholder, perhaps (like much of the investment community), you’re concerned that Google reported their average AdWords cost per click declined during the last quarter of last year.
But if you’re a marketer, you probably rejoiced at this news – what an unexpected treat after the seemingly inevitable climb of average CPCs!
So why the dip? Could it be the beginning of the end of Google’s dominance? Well…no. The short version of the story is that Google is offering many more options to both advertisers and searchers, and many of these new techniques come with a lower average CPC. So as the volume of cheap clicks goes up, the overall average CPC for all clicks goes down.
These more affordable options include:
- PPC Sitelinks
- Location extensions
- Product extensions
- Increased use of mobile search
Kevin Lee goes into more detail in Solving the Mystery of Google’s Q4 CPC Drop on ClickZ.
Pinterest, the newest social media darling, is growing at a crazy-fast rate, particularly considering it’s only a year old and still in “invitation only” mode. Last November, it had over 37 million visitors, which is more than either Google+ or Tumblr!
Pinterest is “a virtual pinboard” which allows you to “pin” images you find on the web onto your own digital bulletin boards. You can share your pinboards with friends and look at other people’s boards. To me, it’s kind of like sharing a picture of something you love (a restaurant dish, a piece of art, even a cool hairstyle) on Facebook, only you can categorize the photos on different pinboards, and it’s all images, all the time.
Savvy marketers, particularly those who sell products (rather than services) will want to take advantage of this new way to spread the word virally. Diane Kinney published Leveraging Pinterest: How “Pinnable” Is Your Content? on Search Engine Journal. It’s a great primer, and I’m sure as Pinterest evolves and its users become more creative in how they use it, more opportunities will arise for marketers. (…to use it appropriately by offering up unique, relevant content – I am in no way advocating misusing this fun new tool!)
Brad Schorr published (on Tamar Weinberg’s blog) a nice checklist of 25 things to look for in How to Select an Interactive Marketing Agency. I found the list to be quite comprehensive, covering the basics as well as questions that a client may not think to ask. Some of my favorites:
#2 Have a Documented Process (and) #3 Have a Flexible Process. Both are key – agencies must have a process they follow (to ensure efficiency, consistency, and quality work/results), but every client’s different, so the process can’t be too rigid.
#10 Value to the Agency - “If you are a small fish in a big pond, you likely will pay maximum prices for minimum service.” As a medium-sized pond ourselves, we agree that this is an important point.
#11 Can They Say No? - “It’s not in your interest to hire yes men. You want a partner bold enough to challenge your thinking and tell you when you are heading down the wrong path.” We have, from time to time, had to tell clients that their baby is ugly. It’s never easy, but sometimes it’s necessary in order for us to do the job we were hired to do.
One point Brad makes that I don’t fully agree with is: Read more…
I know the last thing you need is yet another social media account to keep up with – believe me, I get it! But ignore Google+ at your own peril. It is becoming more and more important in search engine optimization (SEO) for Google:
We’ve covered this — why are we talking about this topic yet again? Because we recently heard inside scoop that Google is increasing the importance of the +1 button in its organic ranking algorithm, and it eventually may count for even more than inbound links!
Read more…
Lee Kantor (Atlanta Business RadioX), Dawn Ely (Corporate Conversations Host & President of Palladium Chief Legal Officers) & Christian Griffith (VP Digital Strategy, Freebairn & Co.)
Lee Kantor (Atlanta Business RadioX), Dawn Ely (Corporate Conversations Host & President of Palladium Chief Legal Officers) & Stacy Williams (Prominent Placement))
If you weren’t able to tune in to hear the livestream of “Corporate Conversations” last Tuesday, here’s an audio clip of just my portion of the show, and here’s a longer clip including the first half with Christian Griffith of Freebairn & Company.
Because once just isn’t enough! 
Tuesday, January 17, 10:00 – 11:00 am (audio available anywhere)
Tune in to Corporate Conversations to hear Christian Griffith of Freebairn & Company and me talk about the growth of digital marketing with host Dawn Ely. If you can’t stream us live, a podcast will be available for on demand listening.
Thursday, January 19, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm (Atlanta)
Join the Independent Counselors SIG of the Georgia PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) for “Marketing your IC Business in 2012.” I’ll be on a panel along with Lynne Andrews of Marketing Expectations, Nora DePalma of O’Reilly-DePalma, and Greg Euston of McGraw Euston Associates. Dan Curran of Curran Public Relations will moderate.
The event will be held at The Ravinia Club and lunch is included. Fees range from $20-$45, depending on membership status and how early you register. More info.
While the world is moving toward more transparency and more data availability, Google recently backtracked on this front. In a move unnoticed by most, Google is now blocking organic keyword data from being captured for searchers who are logged into Google or searching on Google’s secure (https) site. This means that when marketers look at their web analytics, keywords used by these searchers are not displayed, but are lumped together under “(not provided).”
Why should you care? Because taking away this data makes it harder for marketers to measure the performance of their search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. When we know which keywords drive traffic – and more importantly, conversions – we can invest more of our time and effort into those keywords rather than less valuable ones. We can ensure that landing pages are directly relevant to the keyword that brought the searcher to that page. In general, we can continue to hone our efforts and maximize our results.
Read more…
More details keep coming to light as sponsors jump in with donated prizes and such. So here’s the final word on this Thursday’s “Jingle & Mingle” party, hosted by AiMA and SEMPO Atlanta:
Don’t miss the most anticipated Holiday Party of the Season: The AiMA Jingle & Mingle Holiday Bash in partnership with SEMPO Atlanta!
- Where: Tongue and Groove (565 Main Street NE, Atlanta GA 30324 – in Lindbergh Center Station)
- When: Thursday Dec 8th, 6-11pm
- Cost: $25 for SEMPO/AiMA Members, $40 Non-members, or $50 at the door
Bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots and enter for a chance to win a XBox Kinect from Microsoft Advertising Solutions or an iPad2 from Yahoo! And Pandora will unveil a signature cocktail, created just for this event!
REGISTER HERE!
SEMPO Atlanta has partnered with AiMA to cohost their Holiday Bash on Thursday, December 8. It’s been called the “most anticipated holiday party of the season!” Internet marketers of all types will be mixing, mingling, toasting, and generally creating holiday cheer. Don’t miss it!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
6 pm – 11 pm
Tongue & Groove
Lindbergh Center Station
565 Main Street NE
Atlanta GA 30324
Cost: $25 for SEMPO Members, $40 Non-Members, $50 at the door. Register here.
If that isn’t enough Atlanta marketing holiday festivity for you…AMA Atlanta is offering a holiday mixer this Thursday, December 1 at Twisted Taco. More info about that event. Hope to see you at one or both events!
