You can be sure that whenever a social network becomes successful, people will try to make money off it. Twitter is a very good example.
Of late, all sorts of people have been gaming the social network. For instance, using Twitter bots to artificially boost the number of Twitter followers, as what US Presidential nominee Newt Gingrich allegedly did.
Which was why I approached Gushcloud with some skepticism.
Gushcloud is a Singapore-based startup that, in a nutshell, rewards its users to perform certain tasks promoted by marketers: Tweeting or sharing on Facebook about a product, writing a blog post, or completing a survey. In this way, it’s similar to ChurpChurp. Read more
The adoption of green practices among entrepreneurs could become the new black in 2012. With natural resources dwindling, the quest for more sustainable business practices that generate profits will remain a pressing issue for years to come.
In addition, as more consumers are willing to spend more on green products, the boon to an organization’s profitability can be substantial. As such, companies know that taking the plunge into green business practices is necessary to add to their company’s overall value.
Green Future Solutions, a Singapore-based business that promotes environmental awareness and action, provides consultancy services to help SMEs reduce costs, increase revenue, and become more sustainable. Read more
Filed under Entrepreneurial Mindset, Marketing & Branding, Special CommentaryTags: Al Gore, green cleaners, green future solutions, green practices, LEED, singapore environment council, singapore environmental agency, sustainability, the body shop
QR codes have taken off in a big way in the marketing world lately, and PayPal is the latest to get in on this craze.
Just recently, they launched a pilot program in Singapore’s train stations to allow locals to purchase Valentine’s Day gifts at discount using QR codes, reported AllThingsD.
To purchase a gift, commuters would need to download a QR code reader on their mobile phones to scan the right spot on the poster. They will be brought to a webpage where they can purchase the product using PayPal. The experiment is being run on 15 subway stations in Singapore. Read more
Depending on who you speak to, QR codes are either a passing fad or the next big thing. I believe it’s somewhere in the middle.
QR codes are beginning to enter the mainstream in Singapore, driven by the mass adoption and usage of smartphones, and I expect this trend to continue in 2012.
But while critics might argue that NFC technology will supplant QR codes, I wholeheartedly disagree. Although NFC trials are slated to start in Singapore this year, I’d wager that mainstream adoption is at least one year away (depending on whether the iPhone 5 adopts NFC). It’s likely that QR codes will remain the de facto bridge between outdoor and digital marketing for some time. Read more
Filed under Featured, Innovation & Technology, Marketing & Branding, Mobile, Special Commentary, Technology, Toolkit, WebTags: beetagg, bit.ly, goo.gl, google goggles, Mobile Marketing Association, qr code, qropit, redlaser, responsive design, shopsaavy, tagloop, Tony Tan
Recently, comScore, a leader in digital business analytics, has released a report documenting the key social media trends for 2011. What is clear is that social networking sites have become one of the main channels for businesses to engage existing customers and win over new ones. So, it’s important that entrepreneurs keep abreast about the current state of social networking, adopt their online strategies to suit the current environment, and anticipate future trends.
Here are several key points summarized from the full report.
1) Social networking has emerged globally as the activity which Internet users spend the most time on.
Social networking sites are reaching 82 percent of the global Internet population, or 1.2 billion users. The activity now accounts for 19 percent of time spent online, making it the most popular activity on the Internet. That’s a huge jump from a mere six percent in 2007. Social networking is followed closely behind by search/navigation, retail, and communication. Read more
Crisp Media, a US and Singapore-based rich media mobile advertising company, announced on 7th December its acquisition of Smart Device Media, which provides a marketplace for premium ad space.
Top brands like General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Volksagen, IBM, Intel, HP, P&G, Unilever and Coca-Cola have used the Crisp platform to reach publications like CBS, CNN, ESPN and Yahoo!, as well as ad networks Jumptap, Millennial and Mojiva. Read more
Filed under Innovation & Technology, Marketing & Branding, News Stop, Technology, WebTags: ad marketplace, ad network, ad platform, ad space, crisp media, EDBI, Intel Capital, M&A, merger and acquisition, smart device media
Ambient Digital, a large advertising network in Vietnam, and MCM, an advertising and digital media group in Indonesia, will start using US-based Amobee‘s end-to-end online advertising platform, it was announced last week. Read more
Thousands of Singaporean commuters taking the train at the Bugis and Boon Lay MRT stations will be in for a Christmas surprise: They can purchase now groceries by scanning QR codes with their smartphones.
The squarish bar codes are placed next to pictures of the items, which are on a wall. Commuters will then be brought to the Cold Storage website, where they can key in their details and get the Christmas ham delivered to their homes. It’s an interesting integration of mobile commerce and ambient marketing. Read more
Filed under Innovation & Technology, Marketing & Branding, Media, Mobile, News Stop, Technology, WebTags: cold storage, E-Commerce, m - commerce, Mobile Commerce, qr code
Sprooki is an app that lets shoppers find out the latest deals near them, purchase the products in-app, and redeem them at the store. Sounds like just another daily deals app? Not quite — it’s much more than that.
Think of it as Groupon meets Chalkboard, with retail analytics built-in.
It is an end-to-end platform that lets retailers push their promotions to mobile users in the vicinity, receive payment directly from customers who use the app, and analyse data about their customers. Read more
It started out as a simple message on EatAds.com, an online marketplace for outdoor advertising spaces.
“hello i wish to rent a taxi for 1 day and propose to my girlfriend. the taxi will be decorated with photos of us and wordings of: will u marry me? flowers will be placed on the back seat of the taxi and i will call for the cab. venue will be near central area, to be confirmed again,” the message went. Read more
