Digital Marketing Archives - Page 2 of 3

YouTube Updates Contest Policies AGAIN

In March we published a post about YouTube’s changing contest policies. The changes at that time outlined specific age and platform guidelines. These changes have since been revised again, but no official date that the changes went into effect was published by YouTube. As of 8/7/15 these are the new guidelines: They can also be found here. Basically they have done away with three of the requirement we last warned you about: 1. The age 18+ requirement for your entrants is gone. 2. The restriction on not using video views or thumbs up/down for voting is gone. 3. The … Continue reading →

If You Build It, Will They Come?

So you launched a Sweepstakes or Contest yet no one is entering. While there could be multiple factors for this lack of consumer response, the first thing to check is your media plan. If you do not promote your own Sweepstakes or Contests, chances are no one else will. You must use media to drive awareness and traffic to your website or Facebook page. Here are some examples of different media tactics – both online and off – that can be used to promote a Sweepstakes or Contest. Online Media Tactics -Google Adwords: Set predetermined keywords and then ads … Continue reading →

Responsive Microsite or Mobile App…Which One Is Better For a Promotion?

Tricia Zorn, Digital Project Manager at Marden-Kane, contributed this week’s blog about responsive microsites vs. mobile apps. If you are planning on running a contest, sweepstakes or instant win game, and are wondering whether or not you need a responsive microsite or a mobile app, you are not alone. This is probably one of the most asked questions we get from clients who want to run a promotion but don’t want to exclude mobile users. First let’s start by understanding the differences between them. WHAT IS A RESPONSIVE MICROSITE? A responsive microsite is a website that has been built … Continue reading →

Wearable Technology Provides Promotion Marketers an Edge

In 2013 Google Glass became the tip of the spear in demonstrating that wearable technology is a viable channel to deliver promotional messaging. A survey conducted in the UK by YouGov, the international Internet based market research firm, revealed a few compelling facts. 28% of consumers would welcome, welcome not merely tolerate, promotional messaging with a nearly equal amount saying that they would opt-in to be informed of additional offers from the sponsor. One key to the latter is providing these consumers with some unique ability to receive special offers not available to the general audience. This is totally … Continue reading →

Holiday Planning. A lot of Technology not a lot of Time.

The last two weeks of August are traditionally the time many of us realize we’ve worked too hard this summer and we’re over the limit. So it’s time to kick back and take a vacation before Labor Day. Good advice because once Labor Day passes it is definitely time to get moving on holiday promotion plans. Once you have your creative idea there are three digital technologies that will likely drive the success of your Holiday Promotion Plans. Mobile Whether you are a pure ecommerce company or traditional brick and mortar here is an eye popping prediction. … Continue reading →

Use Content Moderation to Ensure Fair Play

There is a torrent of content being produced and distributed through the various social platforms. The overwhelming volume may have us believe it is impossible to keep watch over it all. That’s not true, at least for content created by marketers. The FTC has refreshed their Truth in .com Disclosures Report. It is a good idea to review their latest take on how to remain within their guidelines and prepare effective disclosures. But apart from marketers who are being encouraged to play by the rules, there is no big brother per se making sure content from consumers is … Continue reading →

Gmail, Where The Heck Did Our Mail Go?

Gmail has apparently been busy quietly rolling out a new tabbed layout. There has not been a lot of fanfare about it (yet), but it may change the way we receive emails and read emails. And it certainly needs to be on the radar of anyone sending marketing emails. On the surface the change looks pretty simple. Instead of one email stream you now will see three tabs at the top of your email. One is labeled “Primary” – your personal email automatically gets filtered into this one. All of your email received from your contacts goes here. … Continue reading →

The Impact of Instagram Versus Twitter Vine on UGC Contests

Why did Kevin Systrom, co-founder of Instagram introduce 15 second videos now? Because he can? That’s a possible answer since barriers to download speeds have all but disappeared. This is thanks to 80% penetration of smart phones and tablets among adults 18-34. But technology aside for a moment, there is more to it as Systrom suggests; “You can capture a lot in 15 seconds. It’s the right balance between not too short and not too long where you have to wait a lot of time for it to download.” Sounds like Goldilocks and the three bears to me. … Continue reading →

When to Add Apps for Facebook Contests to Your Page

Facebook allows up to 12 individual visible tabs. Each provides real estate for a custom contest application. Too few companies take full advantage of this space. We can hardly think of on occasion when this inventory should be allowed to spoil. The number one reason consumers will make repeat visits to your page is to see if there is value. And consumers see great value in online contests. A well thought out contest app will deliver value in many ways because it can facilitate real time communications with customers. Because there are some fixed costs associated with adding apps … Continue reading →