Want to catch up with what happened in the digital world this week? Our weekly Cheat Sheet fills you in on everything you missed while you scrambled to meet deadlines and put out fires.
Read about BuzzFeed teaming with CNN on YouTube, Waze adding integration with Facebook events, E-mart flying its stores out to customers, Tablets outperforming notebook computers and gas stations/retailers sending mobile offers to consumers.
1. BuzzFeed partners with CNN to create a YouTube channel
This week, BuzzFeed announced its partnership with CNN to launch a YouTube channel that provides newsworthy content for viewers. This collaboration intends to create three clips per week that hopes to encourage viewers to share with friends across all social networks. With BuzzFeed gaining a viewership growth of over 500 million views on YouTube, since September, the two companies should be expecting successful results. This joint venture not only provides better viewer engagement but it opens doors for brands to promote a range of advertisements and sponsored content as well.
2. Waze now incorporates Facebook events
Waze has unveiled its latest version, 3.7, which includes new features that integrates a user’s Facebook events. Once Waze is connected to Facebook, a user can accept to attend an event without having to worry about memorizing the address. For easy access, directions will appear in the user’s navigation list while using the Waze application. Friends who are on the way to the same event will also appear on the Waze map, along with each of their estimated times of arrivals. This upgrade optimizes the user experience by providing an efficient method of finding relevant information, but what new improvements will Waze come up with next?
3. E-mart creates flying stores to meet its shoppers
It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s E-mart! E-mart, the largest retailer in South Korea, launched an eye-catching campaign that reached its customers using a flying store that was distributed through truck-shaped balloons. Wi-Fi routers were attached to the E-mart mobile stores to provide consumers with accessibility to its products, as well as its promotions. Customers are encouraged to connect to the free Wi-Fi to obtain coupons and/or purchase products using the E-mart app right then and there. This successful platform managed to increase sales by 9.5 percent and mobile sales by 157 percent. With numbers like these, brands should consider following E-mart’s footsteps.
4. Tablets are now outshining portable computers
As the demand for notebook computers start to dwindle, the percentage of tablet adoptions has increased tremendously. By the end of 2013, tablet shipments are expected to increase by 58.7 percent, whereas notebook PC’s will drop approximately 6.7 percent in shipments. With tablets slowly, but surely, dominating the market, brands must become better accustomed to consumer preferences in order to provide a better experience, as well as maintain the user’s interest.
5. Gas stations and retailers track and send discounts to nearby customers
A few gas stations and retailers are now using iSign, a mobile technology that tracks the number of people who pass by, while sending promotions to their phones. The reasoning behind this platform is to acquire more foot traffic by encouraging customers to go in the stores and make purchases on other products; and as a result, increasing profit. The iSign system is a great tool that enables brands to further engage with their consumers and gather richer data in order to tailor offers to returning customers.
