As local media sites continue to look for ways to create and sell low cost high quality video to small businesses one contender is Spotmixer. The product is simple enough, a set of 200 video advertising templates by industry, that media can customize with voice overs, text, music, photos, mood and pacing by following a wizard (or use SpotMixer’s experts for a fee).I spoke with Leslie Latham, Vice President of Business Development just after she signed up Comcast Spotlight in San Francisco. Read More »
Posted by Alisa Cromer |
11/02/09 | No Comments »
Everyscape, a provider of software that creates interactive panoramic video tours, called “webscapes” has an interesting play for local media companies. So far the company has partnered mostly with merchant associations using its own sales force to sign up the merchants. But there is no reason media companies can’t do the same thing, obtaining video content for “experiential” guides like dining and nightlife, or for hyperlocal communities. Read More »
Posted by Alisa Cromer |
10/14/09 | 1 Comment »
“Best of” contests gain new life online when media companies partner with Web-savvy CityVoter, a site that let’s visitors vote for their favorite establishments. So far mostly broadcast sites with no established “Best of” brand have taken advantage of the opportunity. “TV is a no-brainer. Its like a megaphone,” says Joshua Walker, founder and CEO. “I’m still looking for the print that can activate as well as TV. Print companies tend to get caught up in Church and State issues.” According to the Kelsey Group about half of the traffic from contests comes from the media, the other half comes through the CityVoter site. Read More »
Posted by Alisa Cromer |
09/30/09 | No Comments »
Self-serve advertising software is increasingly important as media shift from print to Web-based business models. One robust ad platform is San Diego-based Impact Engine. Publishers and other clients can utilize ad editing tools; run diverse ad units including video, widgets, coupons, and data collection; and are able to see real-time ROI reporting. Read More »
Posted by Suzanne Rodriguez |
09/23/09 | 1 Comment »
Just how important is a software platform? One company is betting that its cloud-based software will allow newspapers large and small to restructure more quickly.
Boston-based Mediaspectrum reports massive cost-savings for its large-chain clients and says it now plans to host smaller newspapers on a cloud-based platform. Read More »
Posted by Suzanne Rodriguez |
09/10/09 | No Comments »
Bet you thought display ads were toast? Low CPM? Over-controlled by ad networks? Not so fast.
Mixpo , a Seattle-based online video-advertising tech company, says its video display ads sales are up 300% on a monthly basis this year over last year, with 30% of viewers who initiate the video taking an additional action, such as a click or e-mail. Local clientele are also the cream of the market: 80% of what Mixpo has deployed are local TV advertisers extending campaigns online by adding simple conversion tools. Read More »
Posted by Alisa Cromer |
08/26/09 | 1 Comment »
Helium’s Marketplace that allows publishers to solicit stories from its writers for a 20% fee, is developing…slowly. But with an active community of 11,000 writers making pennies per word, the site is a great place for diligent local editors to spot diamonds in the rough: Writers and bloggers who may live in the local area and/or who can develop vertical content. Read More »
Posted by Jenna V. Loceff |
08/24/09 | No Comments »
NewsProNet’s latest channel, MainStreet Money Minute to be announced today, is a slick three minutes of pointers like “how to cook a gourmet meal for a family of four for under $25″. By focusing on every daily consumer issues, the company plans to attract visitors adjusting to reduced personal budgets and advertisers who cater to women. It’s NewsProNet’s second channel, after HealthDay TV, announced here last month.
Read More »
Posted by Alisa Cromer |
08/18/09 | No Comments »
Urbanspoon, best known as a shake-your-iPhone-app is getting ready to take on OpenTable, the popular andpublicly traded restaurant reservation service. Urbanspoon juststarted a pilot program with four restaurants in Seattle. Chances are that the company will then slowly expand this service to the rest of the 90+ markets it currently serves. Compared to OpenTable, Urbanspoon offers a fuller range of features for diners, though OpenTable currently offers more features for restaurant owners, even if they have to pay about $300 per month for a dedicated OpenTable terminal. Both charge $1 a reservation to restaurant partners. More…
Posted by Newswire |
08/09/09 | No Comments »
Aaron Fin, CEO of AdReady describes the problem like this: ”If I’m a small business, let’s say a lasik surgeon… the designer is going to build an ad that looks like my web site. If it doesn’t work I’m going to blame the media. And this has a horrible impact on performance. It can make display advertising unpopular.”
So AdReady’s self-serve design library includes historical click-through percentages for each ad so customers can select high-performing ads that have been tested in other markets. Read More »
Posted by Alisa Cromer |
08/04/09 | 1 Comment »
