No more home alone, ''Big Internet'' is watching you

If you asked me few years ago whether my thoughts could be read by other people I would certainly call you insane. If you now ask me the same thing I will think my answer twice and yet, I won't be able to give a straight one. Can you think why?

Well the answer is hidden behind the fact that Internet is continuously gaining more and more power over our lives. From now on, companies like Google, Microsoft and Yahoo will be able to trace what we look for, think or even feel by simply analysing our Web searches. This results in the creation of numerous archives that hold information about our wants, needs and likes which all comprise our culture.

What's also surprising is that a further analysis of those searches leads to a deeper view of what that might mean. For example, during the pre-election period search results can be used to compare the number of people who search for a specific candidate against to the opponent.

What we all feel though is that our privacy is getting violated by default and no one cares if we agree to that . And although our identity cannot be tracked yet from our searches, after a few years I can foresee my name filed and attached with my deeper thoughts. Horrible thought, isn't it?

Blackberry Journey - Planning Software

How many times have you turned up late for an appointment because you got lost, could not find the street, and nobody was able to give you clear directions? What I am describing is an 'NFL' situation... 'Normal for Londoners'!

Whichever might have been the reason for this - might have looked "easy-to-find" on the map, or you might have forgotten to take the printed copy of the map details with you before starting your journey, or maybe even you were just out of the office-, most of us, have found ourselves in the unpleasant situation of... walking in circles...

Fortunately, technology and Visual IT is on our side! Their Tube 2 Software for Blackberry is one of the solutions available in the market. Tube 2 offers all the details you might need when travelling, including line changes, platform directions, accurate journey times, and can be installed in any color screen Blackberry device.

Visual IT doesn't stop here! They constantly add new features, and expand the geographical reach of their award winning and highly acclaimed guides. A detailed description of the software's special features is meant to convince even the most demanding professionals in search of a robust and yet flexible solution.

Say 'goodbye' to wretched tube & A-Z pocket maps and go for a stroll around London. Last piece of advice - don't forget to charge your Blackberry!

Sponsored

Interesting business models - Isango!

The web is a wonderous place of interesting marketing practises and unsual business models being tried out. It is easy to access and therefore cheaper to start-up on.

What has been always difficult is to get some solid business ideas that convert into return for investors. Examining a business model below you can see how different concepts can be applied to a saturated industry such as travel:

Isango! is a relatively new player in the online travel field that seems to have managed a lot since launching. Sure, they have introduced a unique proposition by focusing on tours, activities and experiences, they have also taken everyone by suprise in going directly into the ski business.

But apart from having a great product Isango! also has spread through the web like an arrow through a massively successful distribution network. By partnering with some of the biggest guns online Isango! brings a cheerful product to the masses. No need to worry of being ripped off, you simply book your activity in advance and enjoy your trip effort and queing free.

Isango website

Ted Baker - Modern fashion costs more

If you fancy a nicely designed and impressive shirt or top you might find yourself on the Ted Baker website. After your purchase however you need to limit your quality demands down to a zero (0). Washing is not an option for these clothes as they will dissolve after a couple of washes.
Ironing is also a no-go, I mean you can attempt to iron them but it will not really make a difference.

Unfortunately Ted Baker has joined the likes of other high street retailers that believe in the new wear once and throw away trend. Well done guys, I am staying away from you for the next 50 years.

Gossip marketing

Adestra is a well known leader in email marketing and delivery services for a reason. The guys have been demonstrating some of their in-house skills in an email sent out to their prospective clients database.
The first part of the email discusses data collection in email marketing as well as news about Windows Live Hotmail changes. Very interesting stuff.
It is signed by Client Strategy Consultant Hollie Williams who happens to be a very presentable young lady. Her picture signature is a bright example of clever email marketing.

Now to introduce the concept of gossip marketing (aka plain gossip) I had a look on Facebook. Hollie's profile is however restricted. Thankfully her mate Hannah lend us a hand with this picture posted back from a 'girly holiday' in 1998.

Tracey Cheffey invents Search Marketing 3.0

In a highly innacurate article on Travolution, the travel marketing publication, Tracey Cheffey, Category Director at Yahoo Search Marketing has an attempt at creating a new buzzword, namely Search Marketing 3.0 (see Web2.0). In the article she claims that "while websites have evolved to introduce new opportunities for travel advertisers, so has search marketing – and some have dubbed this phenomenon Search Marketing 3.0".

Unfortunately for Tracey a Google search reveals two results only and shows that 'some', as claimed in the article, are none other than herself trying to start a new hype.

She goes on to suggest six features that provide functionality "essential for travel marketers in the future". Again, very difficult not to notice that most of these features have been available on the AdWords platform for years (in the past). So what is exactly new?

Wait, this article is getting stranger. Some paragraphs below she claims that:
"With 90% of travel purchases occurring after the initial session and 45% more than four weeks later".
Does that mean that there is 135% of conversions?
Impressive.

Good on you Tracey.

Original article.

Guardian testing transatlantic visitor targeting

Interesting news from the Guardian Online this week. Apparently the cutting-edge online publisher is testing a system that tracks Guardian transatlantic business travellers using their laptops on planes and across the pond.
The information is then used to target visitors with relevant advertising regarding their destination.

The initial obvious question is how many people can this cover in terms of volume and how many trips (IPs) does one need to change to have the relevant content served to them?

As advertisers love such initiatives we are looking forward to more news about these geo-targeting capabilities from Guardian and other publishers.

What do you think about geo- and behavioural targeting?

EU in Google privacy probe

It took the European Union far less time, than in the case of Microsoft to probe search giant and hopeful internet monopolist Google for its privacy policies.

Google as the lone major player in the search market has set the tone and is guided by what many think of as its own laws and regulations.

'Privacy' translates in 'secrecy' in Google. The main areas to watch out for are:

- AdWords pricing (the least transparent method of charging advertisers)
- AdSense revenue share (another black hole in the industry)
- User data (the company has accumulated so much information that is now considered a global information agency)

But its not only the EU that is concerned about privacy. Several internet activists and copyright and freedom of information sharing advocates as well as members of the open source community are increasingly voicing their concerns about the giant's domination of what was formerly known as a free information highway.

Google knows better than not to react to this. Microsoft was slated about its monopoly over the software market and the brand damage was as large as the payments Mr Gates still makes to third world countries.

Your thoughts?

Consolidation war, MSN, Yahoo and Google

Many movements are witnessed in the online space of marketing and advertising of late. The big search engines have moved in all directions.

Google has become a social media publisher in buying YouTube and a major player in the metrics and management of display and other online advertising when purchasing DoubleClick. This in combination with the past purchase of Urchin (Google Analytics) for web metrics and visitor analysis. A fairly multiple role for a:
- search engine
- online marketing agency
- web publisher
- web analytics provider
- video sharing site
- news aggregator
- email provider
- free blog service
- calendar management
- publisher network
- local directory
- software provider (picassa)
- offline advertising (radio)

On the other hand Microsoft is not lacking width in terms of forms and services. Recent aquisition of aQuantive means that the software giant also has a multiple personallity:
- software provider
- search engines
- web publisher
- web metrics provider
- ad display platform
- online marketing services
- email provider
- business directory
- peer to peer (MSN)
- blog service (ad funded)
- hardware maker

Yahoo is not lacking behind with various properties that make it amongst others:
- search engine
- email provider
- peer to peer (Yahoo Messenger)
- social media (delicious, flickr)
- price comparison site (kelkoo)
- news aggregator
- business directory

We can only wait and see where the battle takes us. No doubt that there is more consolidation to come and many entertain the thought of a merger between Yahoo and MSN, something that will bi-polarise Google's current monopoly. What do you think?

Google refreshes Analytics

The Google bunch has surpised Analytics users by slowly introducing a brand new and completly revamped interface that not only offers new features but also changes the was stats are being presented, read and interpreted.

As radical this may sound, the usability gurus at Google have made a very good job out of making things simpler to understand, speeding up the process and generally adding to the whole experience.

Nice one guys.

Other posts about Google Analytics:

• Google Analytics in major revamp