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