Info from Mashable on which programming languages you may want to consider learning and where you can learn them

This is great info from Mashable on which programming languages you may want to consider learning and where you can learn them:
http://mashable.com/2014/01/21/learn-programming-languages/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

Flurry is providing us with great data on mobile technology usage

Flurry is providing us with great data on mobile technology usage:
http://www.flurry.com/blog/flurry-insights

Flurry statistics on which categories are seeing the most growth in usage of apps

These great statistics from Flurry show which categories are seeing the most growth in usage of apps:
http://www.flurry.com/blog/flurry-insights/shopping-productivity-and-messaging-give-mobile-another-stunning-growth-year#.VK1PMHsYHIg

Harvard Business Review blogs post on software as a service (SaaS)

This is an interesting Harvard Business Review blogs post on software as a service (SaaS) as it relates to the medical sector:
https://hbr.org/2014/12/why-so-many-tech-companies-are-getting-into-health-care

Harvard Business Review blog post on tech companies in the healthcare space

This is a good Harvard Business Review blog post on tech companies in the healthcare space.
https://hbr.org/2014/12/why-so-many-tech-companies-are-getting-into-health-care

SocialMediaExaminer post on how to use Google Analytics to help convert website visitors into buyers

This is an excellent SocialMediaExaminer post on how to use Google Analytics to help convert website visitors into buyers.
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/increase-conversions-using-google-analytics-conversions-reports/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=FacebookPage&utm_campaign=New

In-store GPS technology

A previous post addressed three technological approaches to in-store GPS technology.  They are:

• The use of high-pitched frequency
• Triangulation of an in-store wi-fi signal
• Bluetooth low-energy detectors (also called beacons) – with one-foot detection accuracy

This American Marketing Association post focuses on the third technology -- bluetooth enabled low-energy detectors or beacons. 
https://www.ama.org/publications/MarketingNews/Pages/beam-me-up-scotty.aspx

RetailTouchPoints on the future of mobile grocery shopping

This RetailTouchPoints post provides great insight into the future of mobile grocery shopping:
http://www.retailtouchpoints.com/mobile/3351-ahold-uses-mobile-to-facilitate-the-path-to-purchase

Twitter, advertising, and big data

This is an interesting post from The Guardian about how Twitter can make (and is making) money from advertising and big data.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/05/twitter-soggyfries-big-data-advertising

ComputerWorld article in in-store GPS technology

This interesting ComputerWorld article explains in-store GPS technology

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2487701/mobile-apps/location-based-services-controversy-at-every-level.html?page=2

Basically, there are three approaches described here:

• The use of high-pitched frequency
• Triangulation of an in-store wi-fi signal
• Bluetooth low-energy detectors (also called beacons) – with one-foot detection accuracy

Interestingly, this may be a way for brick-and-mortar retailers to counteract the practice of showrooming.  Page 4 of the article says, “consumers are also 46% less likely to go comparison shopping if they have a particular retailer’s app running on their device.”   

Page 4 also indicates that Web retailers have the technological capability to surreptitiously collect the network IDs of the routers in retail stores and, then, send low-price offers to the store’s customers whose phones are communicating with the routers.” That would be a pretty aggressive pricing practice. 

  

Social Media Exainer on how to turn employees into brand ambassadors

This is a great Social Media Exainer post by Louise Julig about how to turn employees into brand ambassadors.
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/turn-employees-brand-ambassadors/

AdWeek article on "next generation social analytics"

This is an excellent AdWeek article on "next generation social analytics."  Thanks to Murray State Alum Matthew Wilham for forwarding it to me!
http://www.adweek.com/brandshare/next-gen-social-analytics-are-transforming-digital-marketing-160064

Nation's Restaurant News on how restaurants are incorporating their loyalty programs into smart phone apps

This article from Nation's Restaurant News talks about how restaurants are now incorporating their loyalty programs into smart phone apps:
http://nrn.com/marketing/more-restaurants-layer-loyalty-programs-smartphone-apps?NL=NRN-02_&Issue=NRN-02__20140922_NRN-02__260&YM_RID=terry.holmes@murraystate.edu&YM_MID=1485635&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2

The Economist Special Report on "Advertising and Technology" provides excellent insights

The Economist published a Special Report on "Advertising and Technology" in its September 13, 2014 issue.  The report is full of excellent insights into various aspects of online advertising and the online advertising ecosystem.  Links to the various sections of that report are provided below:

• http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21615869-technology-radically-changing-advertising-business-profound-consequences
• http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21615871-everything-people-do-online-avidly-followed-advertisers-and-third-party
• http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21615870-what-advertisers-love-and-what-they-hate-about-mobile-devices-moving-targets
• http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21615872-rise-electronic-marketplace-online-ads-reshaping-media-business-buy
• http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21615867-technology-has-made-life-harder-admen-they-will-not-disappear-leaner-and-meaner
• http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21615873-technology-has-put-squeeze-publishers-online-advertising-virtual-beauty-parade
• http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21615874-online-video-flourishing-it-not-about-kill-television-cracking-screen
• http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21615875-technology-has-transformed-advertising-consumers-need-be-kept-board-world

The iMarketing Cafe's list of social media experts

This is a good list of social media experts from the iMarketing Cafe.  Thanks to Jason Falls for sharing this in his Facebook post.
http://theimarketingcafe.com/social-media/top-64-social-media-experts-list-twitter?utm_content=buffer442ac&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Digiday case study on how Charmin has chosen a social media tone of voice

This is a great case study from Digiday on how Charmin has chosen a social media tone of voice.
http://digiday.com/brands/inside-charmins-social-media-strategy/?utm_content=buffere5e66&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

How one company used Instagram as a modern coupon

This is an interesting anecdote about how one company used Instagram as a modern coupon and got Twitter publicity as well.
http://www.fastcocreate.com/3035424/this-swedish-retailer-used-instagram-as-a-modern-coupon

What successful advertising is beginning to look like

This post from the Content Marketing Institute makes some really good points about what successful advertising is beginning to look like:
http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2014/09/post-advertising-age-rules/?utm_content=bufferb6c87&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

UsefulSocialMedia post on openness in social media based communications

According to this UsefulSocialMedia post, people may not be very open when they communicate via social media:
http://usefulsocialmedia.com/customer-insight/spiral-silence?utm_campaign=USM%2005SEP14%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=4268e77299bc4a93b6114dd49e41668c&elqCampaignId=308

BufferSocial's little-known features of common social media sites

These little-known features of common social media sites from BufferSocial are quite helpful:
http://blog.bufferapp.com/little-known-features-facebook-twitter-instagram

"Mobile wallets" should take some of the pain out of the shopping experience

The advent of "mobile wallets" should take some of the pain out of the shopping experience:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/01/apple-iphone-mobile-wallet/14927481/

Google keeps track of your geographic location and the amount of time you spend there

Big data is central to the era of the new media.  This post discusses how Google keeps track of your geographic location and the amount of time you spend there. 
http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/story/26399867/what-the-tech-keeping-track

The changing role of brands in the era of new media and the digital economy

The new media and the digital economy is changing the role of brands in the marketing mix. This article in The Economist provides a thought-provoking view of the changing role of brands.  
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21614150-brands-are-most-valuable-assets-many-companies-possess-no-one-agrees-how-much-they

How Facebook is discouraging "click-baiting"

How Facebook is discouraging "click-baiting" --
https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2014/08/news-feed-fyi-click-baiting/

Lessons from the "ice bucket challenge" by SocialMediaToday and Stephanie Frasco

There are important lessons to be learned about human motivation in the response that we have all seen to the "ice bucket challenge."  This is a breakdown Stephanie Frasco and posted on Social Media Today.
http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/socially-stephanie-social-lessons-learn-ice-bucket-challenge

HBR article on fusing the physical and the digital world

This is a really interesting HBR article on fusing the physical and the digital world.  The authors call it "digical."
http://hbr.org/2014/09/digital-physical-mashups/ar/1

HBR blogs on the profitability of online shopping

Could online shopping be reaching the maturity phase of its life cycle?
http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/08/online-shopping-isnt-as-profitable-as-you-think/

Euclid Analytics

My previous post referred to Chuck Martin's HBR webinar (see below).  In that webinar, he referred to a company called "Euclid."  This company appears to be truly on the cutting edge of retail analytics.  Check out their website and YouTube video:

http://euclidanalytics.com/products/technology/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqmHlFUGxfE&index=3&list=PLnaQmtUJyjOW-Qn-jnkxLa4bAGqNeIazf

HBR webinar features Chuck Martin talking about "The Mobile Shopping Life Cycle"

This HBR webinar features Chuck Martin talking about "The Mobile Shopping Life Cycle."
http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/01/the-mobile-shopping-life-cycle-2/
Chuck is also author of the book Mobile Influence: The New Power of The Consumer.

Brains on Fire identifies companies that are successfully communicating through Instagram.

This is a great post from the company Brains on Fire about companies that are successfully communicating through Instagram.
http://www.brainsonfire.com/blog/2014/08/13/6-brands-killing-instagram/?utm_content=bufferd3003&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

SocialMediaExaminer post on designing a social media campaign

This is a good SocialMediaExaminer post by Debbie Hemley on designing a social media campaign.  Items 4 & 5 are particularly helpful:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/social-media-campaign-elements/

SocialMediaExaminer on growing a following with Instagram

SocialMediaExaminer provides a great case study about how one fitness expert, book author and motivational speaker used Instagram to grow her following:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/instagram-success-with-chalene-johnson/

SocialMediaExaminer on how one entrepreneur grew her business 800% using social media

SocialMediaExaminer provides a great cast study about how one entrepreneur grew her business 800% using social media:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/growing-your-business-800-fold-social-media/

Watermark Consulting on the correlation between customer experience and corporate profitability

This research by Watermark Consulting indicates that companies providing the best customer experiences are more profitable than those providing the least good customer experiences.
http://www.watermarkconsult.net/blog/2013/04/02/the-watermark-consulting-2013-customer-experience-roi-study/

Interesting insights from American Express on social media & customer service

Interesting insights from American Express on social media & customer service:
http://about.americanexpress.com/news/pr/2012/gcsb.aspx

Penalizing customers for negative reviews???

One hotel attempted to fine at least one wedding party for posting a negative review.  A lot of people didn't like it!
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/08/04/hotel_fines_guests_for_negative_yelp_reviews_don_t_stay_at_union_street.html

Mashable's list of grocery shopping apps

In this post, Mashable provides a list of apps that people use to facilitate their grocery shopping.
http://mashable.com/2014/04/08/apps-grocery-shopping/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link#_

SocialMediaExaminer on how to write a social media policy

SocialMediaExaminer on how to write a social media policy that empowers employees:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/write-a-social-media-policy/

SocialMediaExaminer explains how to split-test Facebook posts and Facebook ads

Companies sometimes try two different approaches to accomplish a given task and, then, observe the outcomes to see which worked best.  For example, you may have Internet advertisements that are identical except for the headlines that are used.  Which advertisement generates the most sales, or click-throughs, or whatever you are measuring?  This approach is called a "split-test" or "A/B" test.  SocialMediaExaminer explains how to split test Facebook posts and Facebook ads.
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/split-test-facebook-page-posts-ads/

Jeff Bullas on Facebook Remarketing

Have you ever shopped for something online but, then, abandoned the search without buying anything?  Then, did an advertisement for the product you were looking for show up the next time you were on Facebook? That's called "Facebook Remarketing" and here is a tutorial from Jeff Bullas on how to do it.

http://www.jeffbullas.com/2014/07/22/get-more-website-traffic-with-this-surprising-facebook-advertising-tactic/