Sunday, November 29, 2009
Adapt To Reach Your Audience
by Stephanie Piche 11/25/2009
If you really want to engage with Moms, you need to adapt your strategies to understand what the influencers are. From spouses to children, health to finances, friends to colleagues, finding the triggers to how a mom engages is not an exercise for the weak, nor is it one that is going to be delegated anytime soon.
I like to watch people and follow trends, including reading research about who is doing what and why. For 20 years, I've been a sales and marketing executive, responsible for creating go-to-market strategies to lower costs with shortened sales cycles to increase sales, so observing and adapting have been vital keys to successful programs.
One of the lessons I learned as a sailor and use often is that you need to constantly be adjusting your sails or you'll end up on the rocks. This lesson holds true for influencers or those wanting to engage with moms. Take this case in point: my son and his method of adapting to engage his mom.
One of my favorite pastimes was spending Sunday mornings going through the newspaper while my son looked through the circulars. He would circle the items he liked (a/k/a wanted) and then share them with me, communicating his desire for specific items especially prior to birthdays and holidays. Over time, this tradition evolved to surfing the Internet and instant messaging the links, subtle hints about items he liked.
Whether I bought them or not, it provoked engagement, conversation and provided me with the information as a call-to-action, making it easy for me to click and buy. As a professional marketer, I couldn't help but be amused at the way my son was learning to adapt and engage me, to influence me so he could get to "yes" (a/k/a mom buying what he wanted).
So, why do brands and agencies still think engagement consists of consumers clicking on banner ads, when a recently released report pointed out that just 8% of Internet users click on 85% of banner ads, and speaking as a mother, moms are not part of the 8% who are clicking on those ads.
Recently, I found a newly released white paper published by Advertising Age, titled the "Rise of the Real Mom." In it, Boston Consulting Group states Moms control $4.3 trillion of the $5.9 trillion in U.S. consumer spending, or 73% of household spend. Hoping to find that the researchers who wrote this paper have hit the Holy Grail in helping marketers engage with the highly coveted "mom" demographic, I instead found parts of it to read more like a scene from "Mad Men."
The most startling paragraph contained suggestions that were offered up to guide marketers, including:
-not to just "communicate goods and services they offer are practical and convenient; they also need to make real moms feel confident and in charge"
-"empower female consumers to delegate to others (spouses, children, brands) so they can have more time to be who they want to be"
-"use new ways to reach a population that rarely has time to sit down and read or watch or enjoy something without simultaneously doing something else"
Wow, okay. I scrolled down the page past lots of impressive pie charts as I had to find out who wrote this 28-page whitepaper and, you guessed it, they were two women who aren't moms.
News Flash: Moms are empowered, confident, and in charge. We are ahead, way ahead, of the curve. We have adapted by embracing technology and are highly functional multi-taskers. We use our smartphones on the go to find products and services, VoIP products to stay in touch with family and friends and to meet and connect with other moms using Twitter, blogs and Facebook. We engage in real-time conversations daily on the Internet using "social TV" that goes beyond what traditional television is trying to morph to today on MomTV.com.
Moms are learning, growing and changing, but that does not mean childcare and household duties shift over to our spouses because of our pursuit of personal goals. It's just not how moms (or dads) are wired. The "mom target market" has moved light years ahead of "Mad Men" mentality. It's time for brands and agencies to get ahead of the curve and adapt their strategies to reach and engage moms with an authentic voice in a two-way conversation.
"The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hear much." Benjamin Franklin
If you really want to engage with Moms, you need to adapt your strategies to understand what the influencers are. From spouses to children, health to finances, friends to colleagues, finding the triggers to how a mom engages is not an exercise for the weak, nor is it one that is going to be delegated anytime soon.
I like to watch people and follow trends, including reading research about who is doing what and why. For 20 years, I've been a sales and marketing executive, responsible for creating go-to-market strategies to lower costs with shortened sales cycles to increase sales, so observing and adapting have been vital keys to successful programs.
One of the lessons I learned as a sailor and use often is that you need to constantly be adjusting your sails or you'll end up on the rocks. This lesson holds true for influencers or those wanting to engage with moms. Take this case in point: my son and his method of adapting to engage his mom.
One of my favorite pastimes was spending Sunday mornings going through the newspaper while my son looked through the circulars. He would circle the items he liked (a/k/a wanted) and then share them with me, communicating his desire for specific items especially prior to birthdays and holidays. Over time, this tradition evolved to surfing the Internet and instant messaging the links, subtle hints about items he liked.
Whether I bought them or not, it provoked engagement, conversation and provided me with the information as a call-to-action, making it easy for me to click and buy. As a professional marketer, I couldn't help but be amused at the way my son was learning to adapt and engage me, to influence me so he could get to "yes" (a/k/a mom buying what he wanted).
So, why do brands and agencies still think engagement consists of consumers clicking on banner ads, when a recently released report pointed out that just 8% of Internet users click on 85% of banner ads, and speaking as a mother, moms are not part of the 8% who are clicking on those ads.
Recently, I found a newly released white paper published by Advertising Age, titled the "Rise of the Real Mom." In it, Boston Consulting Group states Moms control $4.3 trillion of the $5.9 trillion in U.S. consumer spending, or 73% of household spend. Hoping to find that the researchers who wrote this paper have hit the Holy Grail in helping marketers engage with the highly coveted "mom" demographic, I instead found parts of it to read more like a scene from "Mad Men."
The most startling paragraph contained suggestions that were offered up to guide marketers, including:
-not to just "communicate goods and services they offer are practical and convenient; they also need to make real moms feel confident and in charge"
-"empower female consumers to delegate to others (spouses, children, brands) so they can have more time to be who they want to be"
-"use new ways to reach a population that rarely has time to sit down and read or watch or enjoy something without simultaneously doing something else"
Wow, okay. I scrolled down the page past lots of impressive pie charts as I had to find out who wrote this 28-page whitepaper and, you guessed it, they were two women who aren't moms.
News Flash: Moms are empowered, confident, and in charge. We are ahead, way ahead, of the curve. We have adapted by embracing technology and are highly functional multi-taskers. We use our smartphones on the go to find products and services, VoIP products to stay in touch with family and friends and to meet and connect with other moms using Twitter, blogs and Facebook. We engage in real-time conversations daily on the Internet using "social TV" that goes beyond what traditional television is trying to morph to today on MomTV.com.
Moms are learning, growing and changing, but that does not mean childcare and household duties shift over to our spouses because of our pursuit of personal goals. It's just not how moms (or dads) are wired. The "mom target market" has moved light years ahead of "Mad Men" mentality. It's time for brands and agencies to get ahead of the curve and adapt their strategies to reach and engage moms with an authentic voice in a two-way conversation.
"The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hear much." Benjamin Franklin
Friday, November 20, 2009
MomTV Needs Your Vote! Mashable Open Web Awards
Hi Everyone,
It's that time of year when we start thinking about our family and friends and what we are thankful for. It is with a full heart that I want to tell each of you how thankful we are here at MomTV to have you share your passion, family and expertise with the MomTV community and by supporting our LIVE web shows that happen every day of the week.
Thanks to your continued support (and great feedback), we now have over 70 live web shows making us a real - live "Social TV" online network. It's my hope that by the end of January we will have also grown to 100 live web shows. As a community we are collectively ahead of the other social networking sites in what we are doing with the live web shows and our community sharing and support.
Over the past month, I had the privilege to speak at events like Digital Hollywood, where the MomTV concept was met with shock and awe (in a good way), and I have also been speaking with leading brands and agencies about how to engage with the MomTV audience and have an authentic voice and be part of the live, engaging conversations we have here every day. We have two awesome site sponsors now withLogitech (webcams/headsets) and Creative Labs (pocket video cameras) and who knows who else will join us as we revolutionize the way brands market. (they also give back to us with special discounted pricing on their products for the MomTV community - click on their names for more info).
Right now - MomTV is one of the top 5 finalists for the Mashable Open Web Awards: Best Online TV Network: You can help us win by:
Vote for us today and every day through 15 December 2009 http://mashable.com/owa/votes?v=&c=22 (you can promote us on your blog or website by embedding the vote for button if you'd like) and it would be helpful to tweet it out to your followers as well. (you can vote every day if you really want to).
Thanks again for your ongoing support of our community! We would love to invite you to connect with ideas to make it better.
OH ->> and watch out for some very cool promotions we have coming up for awesome giveaways in time for Holiday Giving! And be sure to comment & rate when you watch or read posts/videos cause you get points that you can turn in for rewards!!
Have a wonder-filled Friday!
Best,
Stephanie
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The Difference Being a Mom Makes
What do women want? 
Having kids changes your life. It may also change your feelings about online marketing, according to the “What Women Want Consumer Survey” by Prospectiv.
More moms than women without children said they did not mind seeing online discounts and coupons for products that interested them, and moms were less likely to report skipping over such offers. Mothers also reported trusting online coupons more than female Internet users without children.
When asked what they would like to see in marketing e-mails, 45% of moms said they wanted information relevant to their lifestyle, and another 21% said they wanted to see “anything they send me.” Women without children were much pickier: 35% did not want any information at all, while 30% were interested in messages pertaining to their lifestyle.
There is a lot of buzz around mommy bloggers, but Prospectiv data suggests marketers may be overestimating their usefulness. Just 1% of moms surveyed thought blogs were the most effective way to promote a brand, compared with 47% who favored product samples offered online and 40% who preferred coupons.
Female Internet users without children actually liked blogs better than moms did—but blogs still came in near the bottom of the list.
Samples were also effective as a purchase driver: 39% of all female Internet users told the research firm they would be most apt to buy a product after trying it out. Sales and discounts would get about three in 10 women (31%) to purchase. Notably, females without children were twice as likely as moms to say they would pick something up based on a personal recommendation from a friend, family member or co-worker.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The MomTV Online Network - 60 LIVE Weekly Shows with More on the Way
We believe MomTV is the start of the conversation. We would love to have you join us and vote for us as the BEST TV Online Network for the Mashable Open Web Awards- as it represents YOU our members, friends, show hosts - a collaboration of parents - sharing friendship online on a platform that empowers us all.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Difference Being a Mom Makes
What do women want?
Having kids changes your life. It may also change your feelings about online marketing, according to the “What Women Want Consumer Survey” by Prospectiv.
More moms than women without children said they did not mind seeing online discounts and coupons for products that interested them, and moms were less likely to report skipping over such offers. Mothers also reported trusting online coupons more than female Internet users without children.
When asked what they would like to see in marketing e-mails, 45% of moms said they wanted information relevant to their lifestyle, and another 21% said they wanted to see “anything they send me.” Women without children were much pickier: 35% did not want any information at all, while 30% were interested in messages pertaining to their lifestyle.
There is a lot of buzz around mommy bloggers, but Prospectiv data suggests marketers may be overestimating their usefulness. Just 1% of moms surveyed thought blogs were the most effective way to promote a brand, compared with 47% who favored product samples offered online and 40% who preferred coupons.
Female Internet users without children actually liked blogs better than moms did—but blogs still came in near the bottom of the list.
Samples were also effective as a purchase driver: 39% of all female Internet users told the research firm they would be most apt to buy a product after trying it out. Sales and discounts would get about three in 10 women (31%) to purchase. Notably, females without children were twice as likely as moms to say they would pick something up based on a personal recommendation from a friend, family member or co-worker.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
From MediaPost's Engage Moms: WIIFM: Keeping Up With Moms
by Stephanie Piche, Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 8:47 AM
When I worked as a marketing strategist for several startups in Silicon Valley, I did my homework and built ROI (return-on-investment) models to show how the technology we were pitching actually saved money and made you more productive. Successful B2B (business-to-business) marketing strategies apply the WIIFM principle (what's in it for me) to engage the client.
This was the lesson I learned early on in my career: If you want to engage the corporate client, you need to start by listening and understanding its workflow and problems before you can provide a better process or technology to streamline its operations. The net result of delivering on the WIIFM model is a happy client who can now do more for less.
As a mom, that's what I've looked for in the partners that I've chosen to shop with, the ones that can help me do more, for less (time and money).
In the mid '90s, I started shopping online to gain time back from my work and travel schedule. The convenience of e-stores saved me time as I could order the items needed on the Internet while away from home and, in return, I had more time for my family.
Many of my family and friends thought I was nuts for buying something that I didn't try on or touch and for putting my credit card out there. Merchants got wise to these fears quickly and engaged security providers to ensure SSL encryption along with great return policies. We've come a long way over the past 12+ years with personalized email marketing for opt-in subscribers, rewards programs, coupon codes, rebates, recurring shipments, and the best of all, free shipping (my favorite).
Now that's how you engage and gain adoption, make it easy to save time, money and reduce waste through electronic communications that I ask for.
As an uber-geek Mom, the adoption of new technology and services that enable me to do more in my day comes with one minor pitfall ... I keep adding more to my day as my productivity increases. But that's what moms do; we adopt new ways to do more in our day.
Looking beyond the social revolution, going mobile is the next frontier for those seeking to engage with the mom on the go.
Why mobile? According to The Nielsen Company (Sept 30, 2009), mobile Internet users are up 34% to over 56.9 million in the U.S. The biggest gain is the 9 percentage points of growth for female users putting them at 47%. Two key things that women are utilizing mobile web access and apps for: shopping and social networking.
A huge benefit of mobile for me is that brands are starting to figure out that moms really don't have hours to clip coupons every week, that's so June Cleaver! As much as we love to save money, more and more of us want to do it on the go.
One of my favorite iPhone apps is called Yowza. It's free and not only does it carry local deals but it counts up the dollars that I save, and that's a huge warm-fuzzy! There are also cool services like Cellfire that store your coupons on your club card. You simply go to the Internet and click on the product coupons that you intend to use (look Ma, no clipping).
Then there are the merchant programs that offer coupon codes for discounts and free shipping along with the ones that pay you back with rebates like Drugstore.com and Ebates.com. I also love sites like K9cuisine.com, where I can set up a regular shipment of the same dog food I buy every month and they will auto ship it.
You have the technology, you can use it to help you engage - WIIFM is not just for B2B marketing ... now more than ever: What's in it for Moms?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The New York Comedy Festival Presents: "You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up... A Love Story"
MomTV show hosts Perform @ Tribeca Mainstage November 5th
After thirteen years of marriage, Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn have found out that “We’re just not that into us.” Though the secrets of happily-ever-after might not be revealed in this live love story, You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up is a humorous, surprising and honest take on love and relationships, adapted from Annabelle and Jeff’s forthcoming memoir of the same title, which will be released in February 2010.
"So funny because it is so accurate. Kahn and Gurwitch illuminate the insanity of marriage. They make you want to embrace your spouse for the same reason you want to strangle them."~ Ben Stiller
“Although, after 11 1/2 years of pure, uninterrupted marital bliss, I don't relate at all to the subject matter, I still found Jeff and Annabelle's book to be hilarious.”
~Judd Apatow
Date & Time: Thu, Nov 5, 2009, 8:00pm
Location: 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson Street Directions
Venue: 92YTribeca Mainstage
Price: $12.00
For tickets, go to the NY Comedy Festival web site or 92YTribeca:
http://www.92y.org/shop/92Tri_event_detail.asp?category=92Tri+92YTribeca+Comedy888&productid=T%2DMM5CM02<http://www.92y.org/shop/92Tri_event_detail.asp?category=92Tri+92YTribeca+Comedy888&productid=T%2DMM5CM02>
After thirteen years of marriage, Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn have found out that “We’re just not that into us.” Though the secrets of happily-ever-after might not be revealed in this live love story, You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up is a humorous, surprising and honest take on love and relationships, adapted from Annabelle and Jeff’s forthcoming memoir of the same title, which will be released in February 2010.
"So funny because it is so accurate. Kahn and Gurwitch illuminate the insanity of marriage. They make you want to embrace your spouse for the same reason you want to strangle them."~ Ben Stiller
“Although, after 11 1/2 years of pure, uninterrupted marital bliss, I don't relate at all to the subject matter, I still found Jeff and Annabelle's book to be hilarious.”
~Judd Apatow
Date & Time: Thu, Nov 5, 2009, 8:00pm
Location: 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson Street Directions
Venue: 92YTribeca Mainstage
Price: $12.00
For tickets, go to the NY Comedy Festival web site or 92YTribeca:
http://www.92y.org/shop/92Tri_event_detail.asp?category=92Tri+92YTribeca+Comedy888&productid=T%2DMM5CM02<http://www.92y.org/shop/92Tri_event_detail.asp?category=92Tri+92YTribeca+Comedy888&productid=T%2DMM5CM02>
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Three Screens of Increased Viewing
TV, Internet, mobile: up, up, up
Americans are consuming more video content across their three screens—television, Internet and mobile—according to The Nielsen Company.
The research firm’s “A2/M2 Three Screen Report—2nd Quarter 2009” indicates the screen to gain the most US video viewers was mobile, with a 70% year-over-year increase. Traditional television viewing climbed by 0.9% between Q2 2008 and Q2 2009, while online video viewing was up significantly in June (due to changes in methodology, online figures should be used for directional purposes only). Timeshifted TV viewing was on the rise as well, with 32.2% more viewers in Q2 2009 than the prior year.
Most video viewing channels also saw quarterly gains. Traditional television, however, is subject to seasonal viewing patterns that led to a decrease from Q1 2009 to Q2 2009, despite the rise over 2008.
Americans spent significantly more time watching video content on the Internet in June 2009 than a year earlier. Average mobile viewing was down 10%, however, with mobile subscribers watching 3 hours and 15 minutes of video per month. Consumers also reported watching more than 141 monthly hours of traditional TV, and 7 hours and 16 minutes of timeshifted TV per month.
Nielsen emphasized that consumers were adding screen time, rather than simply replacing one screen with another. The report noted that 57% of Americans with Internet access at home multitasked at least monthly by using the Web and TV at the same time.
“Though this two-screen, simultaneous usage amounts to just 3% of their TV viewing, it already represents more than a quarter of their at-home internet usage (28%),” according to the report. “This simultaneous activity is one reason we see continued growth of both Internet and TV consumption.”
Another look at technological adoption and media consumption habits of Americans comes from “The State Of Consumers And Technology: Benchmark 2009, US” report from Forrester Research. According to the study, 25% of US households have a DVR, facilitating timeshifted television viewing.
Forrester also found that consumers spend an average of 8 hours per week with traditional media such as television and newspapers, and another 8 hours per week with new media, including the Internet. Despite the even split across the board, those under age 40 spend an average of about 2 hours more per week with new media than traditional.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Cutest Kid Photo Contest ~ Win a HD Vado Video Pocket Camera
Contest starts Sept 20th and runs through October 4th 2009. Winner will be announced on Monday October 5th.
Contest rules:
1. Upload your child's photo age 0 - 10 years old - only one entry per child / no limit per family - must be current within the last 6 months
2. Tell us about the photo briefly and post it to the Creative Vado Group with the words: "Creative Vado Contest Entry: Please Vote!"
3. If you have a blog, post your photo entry on your blog post and get votes from your viewers, be sure to put the link in your entry HERE so we can see how many votes you are getting.
4. If you have a twitter account - be sure to tweet the contest out directing them preferably to your entry on MomTV and use @CreativeLabs and #momtv in your tweets. (example: "Please vote for my child to win the @CreativeLabs #MomTV cutest kid photo contest http://is.gd/3t3yr ~ enter your child today!")
5. The top 10 will be selected and posted at for more exposure for the final day of voting at MomTV's sister site, NewBaby.com, on MomTV and NewBaby.com's FaceBook pages.
6. One winner will be selected and will be awarded the Grand Prize of a Creative Labs HD Vado pocket video camera valued at $229.
Contest starts Sept 20th and runs through October 4th 2009. Winner will be announced on Monday October 5th.
Capture life in HD
See it, shoot it, share it - capture life's unforgettable moments in high-definition clarity and share them online with Creative's Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and easily captures video in 720p high-definition quality with just the touch of a button. The Creative Vado HD is the only pocket video camera to feature high quality HDMI connectivity and an included HDMI cable that provides 1080i output to an HDTV.
 |
| ||
 | 2 hours of recording and playback Simply start and stop recording with the touch of a button. Record up to 2 hours1 of stunning HD plus quality video, up to 4 hours1 of HD quality video or up to 8 hours of video at VGA resolution. The large 8GB internal memory1 and three recording modes give you the freedom to choose the video quality that's best for you. | ||
 | Connect and share in an instant Simply plug in Vado HD's flexible USB tab and post your videos directly onto popular web sites such as YouTube™, Photobucket or Box.net with the built-in Vado Central software. You can even save your great quality video clips to your computer for a lifetime of memories. | ||
 | Edit movies and snap photos Make and edit your own short movies, or capture snapshots in still and burst mode with the built-in Vado Central software. | ||
 | Playback video on your HDTV Connect your Vado HD camcorder to any HDTV with the included HDMI cable and enjoy your videos in 1080i HD quality. | ||
 | High-quality video compression The latest H.264 video compression technology provides unprecedented video quality at ultra-efficient file sizes for the best possible viewing experience. Record up to 4 times more videos, compared to MPEG-4 encoded ones. | ||
 | Large 2", antiglare screen Set up the perfect shot, review clips onscreen or show them off to friends. Keep the videos you like; delete the ones you don't. | ||
 | Rechargeable for hours of fun Enjoy 2 hours of recording and playback with the Lithium-ion battery2; simply recharge via USB. Need more time? The battery is even removable so you can change out for a fresh one. |
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Total Online Video Streams up 41% from Last Year
September 15, 2009
The Nielsen Company today reported overall online video usage and top online brands ranked by video streams for August 2009. Year-over-year, unique viewers, total streams, streams per viewer and time per viewer were up, led by a 41 percent growth in total streams.
| Overall Online Video Usage (U.S.) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2009 | Year-Over-Year | Month-Over-Month | |
| Unique Viewers (000) | 139,176 | 18.00% | 2.40% |
| Total Streams (000) | 11,363,819 | 41.00% | 1.50% |
| Streams per Viewer | 81.7 | 19.60% | -0.80% |
| Time per Viewer (min) | 204.9 | 38.60% | -3.20% |
| Source: The Nielsen Company | |||
| Top Online Brands ranked by Video Streams for August 2009 (U.S.) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | Video Brand | Total Streams (000) | Unique Viewers (000) |
| 1 | YouTube | 7,188,638 | 107,730 |
| 2 | Hulu | 392,545 | 9,894 |
| 3 | Yahoo! | 226,601 | 28,402 |
| 4 | MSN/WindowsLive/Bing | 180,603 | 17,244 |
| 5 | Nickelodeon Kids and Family Network | 158,790 | 6,376 |
| 6 | Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network | 151,606 | 7,826 |
| 7 | Fox Interactive Media | 149,304 | 14,823 |
| 8 | Disney Online | 103,992 | 9,524 |
| 9 | MTV Networks Music | 102,021 | 6,227 |
| 10 | Blinkx | 94,728 | 425 |
| Source: The Nielsen Company | |||
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Save Big on the Go with Yowza!
POPULAR FREE MOBILE COUPONING APP. YOWZA!! CO-CREATED BY HEROES’ STAR, GREG GRUNBERG, LAUNCHES YOWZA!! VERSION 2.0 WITH ADVANCED FEATURES AND MORE RETAIL PARTNERS
New Version– Including Maps, Push Notifications, New Offer Alerts at Consumers’ Favorite Stores, Better Social Media Integration & More – is Now Available for Free via the iTunes App. Store and can be used on iPhone and iPod Touch Devices
Los Angeles, CA – September 9, 2009 –Yowza!! (www.getyowza.com) has announced the launch of Version 2.0 of its free mobile couponing application is designed to save consumers money and stimulate retail business.
Yowza!! removes the need to clip coupons or print out emails with promo codes by offering deals directly to the mobile device. Users can search for nearby, participating retailers either via zip code or by using the device’s built-in GPS to find stores within 1, 5, 15, 25 or even 50 miles of their current location. Once an offer is selected, a mobile coupon code or scan-able barcode can be redeemed at checkout.
Yowza!! Version 2.0 makes saving even easier. New features include the "My Stores" tab which lets the user keep track of their favorite stores and the number of new offers available at that particular location and push notifications that can be sent to the phone every time a favorite store adds a new offer, even when the application is closed. Yowza!! Version 2.0 also provides users with integrated maps: simply rotate the phone 90 degrees and a road map with all of the nearby retailers will appear making it even easier to get to a specific store and save money.
Another new addition, "Share your Savings," allows users to pass information on about the amount of money they have saved using Yowza!! – using social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as via e-mail.
“We have gotten a great deal of feedback from our consumer users and retail partners – via social media, email and personal conversations, and – we are excited about how the new features will add to the overall mobile couponing experience for all parties,” said Greg Grunberg, co-creator of Yowza!! “We are building off of our successful launch to add new features that all of our retailer partners can now take advantage of.”
Yowza!! downloads have increased an average of 46% every month since its launch, and more than 200 merchants – in over 10,000 locations – are now participating. Retailers who have partnered with Yowza!! since its June launch include Sports Chalet, Loehmann’s, Madison Square Garden, Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt, Cirque du Soleil, Maria’s Italian Kitchen, Lobster Festival Weekend and Concerts, Little Joe’s Famous Pizza, San Jose Earthquakes, Vans Stores, Pat & Oscar’s Restaurants, 17th Street Café, Killer Dana Surf Shop, Shore Club Miami Beach and Spa at Shore Club, Sears Hometown and Hardware Stores, Plaza Hotel & Suites, additional Aveda Salon and Spa locations and Guitar Center stores nationwide.
They join these retailers on the cutting edge of the growing mobile couponing trend: Pier 1 Imports, Sears, Sports Authority, McDonald’s, Polacheck’s Jewelers, Finish Line, ESPN Zone, The Container Store, Islands Restaurant, Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill, REI, Saks Fifth Avenue, Regency Shopping Centers, California Pizza Kitchen, American Golf Corporation, Cavallo Point Lodge, Marmalade Café, Traditional Jewelers, American Car Movers, Aveda Salon/Spa, Inner You Pilates, JRK Hotel Group, Cheeseburger Restaurants, Kiehl’s, Midway Car Rental, Santana Row Lifestyle Center, Seaton, Jill Roberts and Paige Premium Denim as well as Sysco, a national wholesale distributor with sales and service relationships with approximately 400,000 customers in the foodservice industry.
Jeff Haddox, Direct Marketing Analyst, Pier 1 Imports said, “The Yowza mobile application has allowed Pier 1 Imports to target potential customers within the vicinity of a particular store location. This enhanced targeting allows us to speak in a more concise and relevant manner regarding the event and pricing of an individual store.”
About Yowza!!
Founded by television and film writer/producer/actor Greg Grunberg (currently starring in NBC’s Heroes), along with technology entrepreneurs August Trometer and Rick Yaeger, and launched in June 2009, Yowza!! is an innovative mobile couponing application designed to save consumers money and stimulate retail businesses. Yowza!! is currently available in the U.S. as a free application for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch. Yowza!! provides consumers with deals and discounts while also giving businesses the ability to monitor performance on an up-to-the-minute basis. Unlike traditional forms of couponing such as newspaper ads and insertions, Yowza!! offers can be updated instantly and targeted per region or particular store location and are environmentally-friendly.
For more information on Yowza!!, visit www.getyowza.com or www.twitter.com/yowza.
New Version– Including Maps, Push Notifications, New Offer Alerts at Consumers’ Favorite Stores, Better Social Media Integration & More – is Now Available for Free via the iTunes App. Store and can be used on iPhone and iPod Touch Devices
Los Angeles, CA – September 9, 2009 –Yowza!! (www.getyowza.com) has announced the launch of Version 2.0 of its free mobile couponing application is designed to save consumers money and stimulate retail business.
Yowza!! removes the need to clip coupons or print out emails with promo codes by offering deals directly to the mobile device. Users can search for nearby, participating retailers either via zip code or by using the device’s built-in GPS to find stores within 1, 5, 15, 25 or even 50 miles of their current location. Once an offer is selected, a mobile coupon code or scan-able barcode can be redeemed at checkout.
Yowza!! Version 2.0 makes saving even easier. New features include the "My Stores" tab which lets the user keep track of their favorite stores and the number of new offers available at that particular location and push notifications that can be sent to the phone every time a favorite store adds a new offer, even when the application is closed. Yowza!! Version 2.0 also provides users with integrated maps: simply rotate the phone 90 degrees and a road map with all of the nearby retailers will appear making it even easier to get to a specific store and save money.
Another new addition, "Share your Savings," allows users to pass information on about the amount of money they have saved using Yowza!! – using social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as via e-mail.
“We have gotten a great deal of feedback from our consumer users and retail partners – via social media, email and personal conversations, and – we are excited about how the new features will add to the overall mobile couponing experience for all parties,” said Greg Grunberg, co-creator of Yowza!! “We are building off of our successful launch to add new features that all of our retailer partners can now take advantage of.”
Yowza!! downloads have increased an average of 46% every month since its launch, and more than 200 merchants – in over 10,000 locations – are now participating. Retailers who have partnered with Yowza!! since its June launch include Sports Chalet, Loehmann’s, Madison Square Garden, Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt, Cirque du Soleil, Maria’s Italian Kitchen, Lobster Festival Weekend and Concerts, Little Joe’s Famous Pizza, San Jose Earthquakes, Vans Stores, Pat & Oscar’s Restaurants, 17th Street Café, Killer Dana Surf Shop, Shore Club Miami Beach and Spa at Shore Club, Sears Hometown and Hardware Stores, Plaza Hotel & Suites, additional Aveda Salon and Spa locations and Guitar Center stores nationwide.
They join these retailers on the cutting edge of the growing mobile couponing trend: Pier 1 Imports, Sears, Sports Authority, McDonald’s, Polacheck’s Jewelers, Finish Line, ESPN Zone, The Container Store, Islands Restaurant, Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill, REI, Saks Fifth Avenue, Regency Shopping Centers, California Pizza Kitchen, American Golf Corporation, Cavallo Point Lodge, Marmalade Café, Traditional Jewelers, American Car Movers, Aveda Salon/Spa, Inner You Pilates, JRK Hotel Group, Cheeseburger Restaurants, Kiehl’s, Midway Car Rental, Santana Row Lifestyle Center, Seaton, Jill Roberts and Paige Premium Denim as well as Sysco, a national wholesale distributor with sales and service relationships with approximately 400,000 customers in the foodservice industry.
Jeff Haddox, Direct Marketing Analyst, Pier 1 Imports said, “The Yowza mobile application has allowed Pier 1 Imports to target potential customers within the vicinity of a particular store location. This enhanced targeting allows us to speak in a more concise and relevant manner regarding the event and pricing of an individual store.”
About Yowza!!
Founded by television and film writer/producer/actor Greg Grunberg (currently starring in NBC’s Heroes), along with technology entrepreneurs August Trometer and Rick Yaeger, and launched in June 2009, Yowza!! is an innovative mobile couponing application designed to save consumers money and stimulate retail businesses. Yowza!! is currently available in the U.S. as a free application for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch. Yowza!! provides consumers with deals and discounts while also giving businesses the ability to monitor performance on an up-to-the-minute basis. Unlike traditional forms of couponing such as newspaper ads and insertions, Yowza!! offers can be updated instantly and targeted per region or particular store location and are environmentally-friendly.
For more information on Yowza!!, visit www.getyowza.com or www.twitter.com/yowza.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Notice: Annie’s Family Fund
Reprinted From Mommy Brain Reports:
Sep-3-2009 By Monica
A very dear friend of mine lost a family member this past week. You might know her as @CraftyMamaof4… Her cousin’s baby Annie was taken back to Heaven after just 2 months here on Earth. Her passing has just crushed the hearts of so many people I know.. many who have never even met her. She is a sweet angel now.
Another very good friend (@PlusSizeMommy) has started a donation fund for Annie’s Family. As you can imagine, with Annie being born preemie, and then passing after just 2 short months, her family is going through a whirlwind of emotions right now. Funerals and burials are very expensive, and she is trying to help in any way she can.
I spoke to her this evening, and am going to get together a little memorial care package for the family.
If you are able, it would be appreciated if you could donate anything you can. 100% of the donations will go directly to Annie’s Family.
To read more about Annie’s journey back to Heaven, go to CraftyMamaof4’s website.
If you’d like to make a donation, please donate via the widget below. I’ll also add it to my sidebar to make it easier to find… All funds are going directly to a Paypal account for the family.
Thank you so much!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Do You Know Who’s on Twitter?
AUGUST 28, 2009
Demographics and usage habits of the microblogging crowd
Twitter has experienced explosive growth in 2009. According to “An In-Depth Look Inside the Twitter World,” from Sysomos, 72.5% of all Twitter users joined the service in the first five months of this year. Who are they?
More than one-half of all Twitter users (53%) are women, and the majority are young. Among users who disclose their age, 66% are under 25, and another 15% are ages 25 to 29.
Most Twitter users are quiet: 85.37% tweet less than once per day. Only about 1.1% of users update their timeline an average of more than 10 times daily. This means a small group of users dominate the Twitter timeline—75% of all Twitter activity comes from just 5% of users.
Not surprisingly, the more followers a user has, the more that person tweets. Sysomos reported that the average number of daily updates rises from three to six among users with more than 1,000 followers. But relatively few users are that popular. In fact, almost 94% of Twitter users have fewer than 100 followers. Just 0.68% reach the thousand-follower mark.
The situation is very similar in the other direction. The vast majority of users (92.4%) follow fewer than 100 other microbloggers. Less than 1% subscribe to the feeds of at least 1,000 others. Among users who identified themselves as marketers, the numbers were significantly higher: 15% follow more than 2,000 people.
Marketers are also more likely to update than the average Twitter user. More than 65% post less than once daily—significantly better than the 85.4% overall figure. Another 6.3% of social media marketers post twice per day (compared with 2.8% overall), and 4.3% post at least nine updates per day (versus 1.31% overall).
Be a power user—follow eMarketer on Twitter.
Making Real-Time Connections: Moms Are Wired Differently
| Stephanie Piche, Aug 26, 2009 10:46 AM |
| As evidenced throughout history, women have been very influential in shaping civilization. In 10,000 BC, they were the first food gathers and initiated agriculture, a/k/a grocery shopping. They've used their empathizing and mentalistic skills to anticipate and understand the needs of others, while using their socializing skills to integrate with neighboring clans for marriage, and making friends and allies by connecting through story telling, a/k/a word-of-mouth. Harvard professor and historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich chronicled the role of women in the household and how it affected the local market economy back in the 1700s in her book, A Midwife's Tale: The life of Martha Ballard based on her diary, 1785 - 1812, for which she received the Pulitzer Prize. It's no surprise that moms control over 85% of the household income, which, according to some research, is valued at $3.1 trillion in annual spending. Compared to our current national debt of $11.7 trillion, that's a staggering amount of power. Women as a whole are a powerful entity in our society. Sometimes, people forget this, including women themselves. Throughout history, women have been taking on more tasks at home, school and work while looking for ways to multi-task more efficiently and stay connected. One growing trend for moms is socializing online. Through the use of social media sites, blogging, and text messaging (mobile and Twitter), women are making more connections. With that said, more moms are going beyond Twitter connections for real-time socializing to using media such as streaming video. Earlier this year, for the first National Moms Nite Out event, created by Maria Bailey of BlueSuitMom.com and attended by thousands of women across the country off- and online, MomTV.com launched with several "live" streaming video parties from Los Angeles to New York, including a mom makeover with Audrey McClelland of MomGenerations.com and the first "live" streaming video show on saving money with Shynea from the PennyPinchingDiva.com blog. Since May, the demand for more "live" mom-themed streaming shows on the site has grown to over 50 weekly hour-long shows where the host can connect with viewers in real-time via text and video chat. Last November, comScore found that over 75% of Internet users watch video online, and Brian Pickens of Ipsos Media recently said, "The digital video revolution is no longer centered on short clips via YouTube." His firm also attributes the uptick to the growth of video streaming web sites. Looking towards the future, conferences like Digital Hollywood, which covers broadband, TV, movies, gaming, advertising, and social media, offer tracks on streaming video and tying in brands that are looking to create that next great user experience for today's consumer. Are we already there? It will be interesting to watch as this trend starts to build more momentum in the coming months; a Pew Internet survey earlier this year showed 62% watched video while 46% used a social networking site. Have moms pushed the envelope in tackling live video chat while using other streaming tools like TinyChat, Snazl, Skype and Logitech Vid? Which brands will join this revolution and engage in real-time video chat with moms as they continue to grow in numbers using these tools to make connections? |
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