Swarovski Gives Valentines Tips Via Mobile

February, 2012

Swarovski developed a mobile site dedicated to providing Valentine’s Day tips and recommendations to men and women. For those who visit the site, the mobile site will leverage GPS to provide users with romantic dining locations near their current location. Guests can peruse the site by specific categories (including chocolate, florists, restaurants, and more) to make their search more efficient. Even more, guests can tailor their search by selecting “Walk” or “Drive” to find locations within relative distance. This mobile site’s dedication to providing lifestyle-focused content versus merely pushing their Valentine’s Day products will help position Swarovski as a content curator and help consumers bond more closely with the brand. To learn more, please visit LuxuryDaily.com.

Tylenol Uses 2D Codes To Educate Consumers

January, 2012

Tylenol has placed 2D barcodes on their product packaging to further educate consumers on proper dosages. When scanning the code, users are directed to a site where they can learn about the the drug acetaminophen and the appropriate amount to administer to alleviate symptoms. The site also offers medication safety tips, other over-the-counter products that include acetaminophen, as well as tips on how to properly read the Drug Information labels. The 2D barcodes are part of a new initiative, Get Relief Responsibly, Tylenol will be pushing in 2012. To learn more, please visit MobileMarketer.com.

Express Boosts App Downloads With QR Code

January, 2012

Express has added QR codes to store windows and clothing tags inorder to encourage downloads of the store’s app and promote their social sites to their consumers.  The QR codes placed on the windows of the New York stores and placed on tags for clothing lead to the mobile landing page where consumers can learn about and easily download the Express app for iPhone, Android, or Blackberry platforms.   Express hopes that the app downloads will lead to more memorable in store experiences as well as increase engagement with the fashion retailer’s social media sites.  For more information see Mobile Commerce Daily.

@WalmartLabs Acquires “Small Society”

January, 2012

In another move to boost their digital presence, Walmart’s digital division, @WalmartLabs, has now acquired digital agency Small Society. The three year-old agency has helped develop and launch a number of iOS programs, and has worked with clients such as Starbucks, WholeFoods and Amazon. @WalmartLabs will use the additional members of their team to not only strengthen their online presence, but mobile presence as well. To learn more about this new acquisition, please visit TechCrunch.com.

Saks Fifth Ave. Turns to Mobile For Holiday Push

December 2011,

Saks Fifth Avenue will drive holiday shopping this season via their in-store window displays, as well as customized QR codes. When visitors passing the windows scan the QR code, they can either watch a holiday video or visit the mobile shopping site. Along with the normal drop down departments, the mobile site also offers “Best Sellers” and “Designers We Love” options for quick holiday gifting ideas. To learn more about this combination of retail display and mobile activation, please visit LuxuryDaily.com.

Facebook to Begin Mobile Advertising in 2012

December, 2011

Facebook is planning to start advertising on mobile devices in March of 2012, says two knowledgeable sources. The world’s leading social-networking site is considering placing the Sponsored Stories Ads, which highlight users and their friends interaction with brands, in the mobile news feed. For more information, please see Ad Age.

considered is putting Facebook’s Sponsored Stories ads, which feature friends’ interactions with brands, within the mobile News Feed

David Yurman Introduces mCommerce Site

November, 2011

David Yurman, luxury jewelry designer, recently launched an mCommerce site to increase sales, especially during the holiday season. After learning about the increase in mobile purchases (20% of luxury shoppers, accumulating roughly $5 million in sales each year), Yurman decided to revamp his mobile site to be more consumer-friendly. Visitors to his site can search for products based on the campaign or celebrities who have worn particular pieces. Upon clicking on a particular item, consumers can now easily move a product into their shopping bag and seamlessly purchase the item. “[Consumers] will [now] enjoy the greater speed, ease and convenience of shopping on-the-go from anywhere they please at any time of the day,” he said. “It will make holiday shopping faster and easier for time-pressed shoppers as well as discriminating affluent consumers searching for the most unique and perfect gifts,” said Createthe Group’s Mr. Kung. To learn more about this new site, please visit LuxuryDaily.com.

Ralph Lauren Customizes QR Codes

September 2011

Ralph Lauren showcased their iconic logo in customized QR codes featured in store front windows. The branded QR code enticed consumers to scan the code, which drove them to a mobile site where they could purchase apparel specially designed for the 2011 US Open. Additionally, users could register for a chance to win a trip to the 2012 US Open final, complete with a $3,000 Ralph Lauren wardrobe. Luxury Daily notes, “Custom QR codes have a three-to-one ratio of scans over traditional codes,” according to Matt McKenna , founder and president of Red Fish Media, Miami.  For more information, please see Luxury Daily.

Pandora Revamps Its Website

September, 2011

Popular music site Pandora has revamped their site and lifted the existing 40-hour listening cap. The site has moved away from the use of Flash, and is now built in HTML5 to increase the speed at which someone can move about the website. The music dashboard has been moved to the top of the website to allow users to search underneath without leaving the page, and a “shuffle” function has been added to create a mix-up of music possibilities. Social sharing has also been added to the music player. To learn more about the website re-haul, please visit Mashable.com.

Walmart Buys Mobile-Ad Targeting Company

September, 2011

Walmart has recently purchased the mobile-ad targeting company Kosmix, and renamed it @WalmartLabs.  The goal of the acquisition is to boost Walmart’s e-commerce.  According to Anand Rajaraman, Kosmix co-founder and and senior-VP e-commerce at Walmart, “The technology at the core of what we do [at @Walmartlabs] is the Social Genome, which enables us to connect millions of consumers with the best products based on their interests at any given moment.”  For more info, please visit adage.com

Pier 1 Pushes Store Visits Via Mobile Ads

September, 2011

Home accents store Pier 1 is driving in-store visits by connecting with shoppers who are on the go. The company has created a series of expandable advertisements running on Pandora’s mobile application that communicate the company’s new fall products. When users click the ad, they are directed to Pier 1′s mobile site which provides local stores. Pier 1 has placed mobile ads on the Pandora site in the past, previously promoting their line up of summer product offerings. To learn more, please visit MobileMarketer.com.

Hooters Connects Social Media With QR Codes

September, 2011

Hooter’s has a new promotion just in time for opening football season called, “Lee Corso’s Saturday Ticket.”  The campaign offers consumers a “Buy 10 wings get 10 free” offer simply by liking the Hooters Facebook page.  The objective is to drive overall brand awareness through mobile bar codes and social media.  The campaign also includes QR codes that drive to the Facebook page that also has a sweeps overlay.  For more info, please visit: www.mobilemarketer.com

Heinz Uses QR Code to Engage Customers

September, 2011 Heinz is placing QR mobiles codes on packaging to engage and reward consumers. Heinz is showing consumers that they are going green and being more conscious of the environment via the new program. By scanning the mobile code consumers are directed to a mobile-optimized landing page. There they can answer a question about the environment for a chance to win several eco-friendly prizes.

Costa Farms Launches GrowingStyle

September, 2011

Costa Farms, a leading producer of indoor houseplants, has launched a digital magazine geared towards indoor houseplant lovers. The magazine will provide users with helpful tips on decorating with indoor houseplants, indoor houseplant varieties, as well as information on how plants can help purify your air. “We want to attract gen X and Y who get most of their information digitally — whether online or through their smartphones,” says Jose Smith, president of Costa Farms. “Our new digital magazine connects with this mobile generation and brings them into the conversation about the benefits of houseplants to go truly green and enrich our lives.” The magazine will be released monthly and is available for download on iOS and Android operating systems. Click here to find out how you can get the app.

Jack Daniel’s Birthday Month Promotion

September, 2011

September marks the start of Jack’s Birthday Month, a promotion from Jack Daniels that celebrates the originator of the Tennessee whiskey.  The promotion encourages consumers to complete challenges for a chance to win a trip to the distillery in Lynchburg, TN, along with other daily prizes.  There are also various digital overlays that include a Facebook app, website and promoted tweets.  For more info visit: http://www.joinjacksparty.com/

AMEX Mobile Aims to Help Traveling Customers

August, 2011

AMEX is hoping to aid those who frequently travel by allowing them to change travel plans quickly during instances of storms or unforeseen disruptions. The application lets companies track their employees as they travel, and is updated if delays are anticipated. Through the app, companies can track changes in itineraries and connect with their employees. “Our goal is to provide both travelers and their companies support in day-to-day traveler management as well as in emergencies and travel disruptions,” said Michel La Bianca, vice president of technology strategy at American Express Global Business Travel, New York. To learn more, visit MobileCommerceDaily.com.

Self Magazine’s Mobile Diet Plan

August, 2011

Self, the womens health and fitness magazine, launched a new text-based diet system on Monday. The “Self Diet Tapper” will send subscribers five texts a day, instructing them when and what to eat, drink and exercise. The plan was devised, and is being run, by a team of registered dietitians and fitness experts. For more information, please see Self Diet Tapper.

Taco Bell’s New QR Codes

August, 2011

With the help of technology company Scanbuy, Taco Bell has started placing QR codes on some of their products. As of late last month codes can be found on the packages of the fast food chains large fountain drinks and Big Box Remixed. The QR codes will unlock exclusive footage related to Taco Bell’s sponsorship of MTV’s Video Music Awards, such as interviews and music videos. For more information, please see T-Bell QR Codes.

Taco Bell Promotes MTV Content

August, 2011

Taco Bell has launched a campaign with their package design that uses QR codes on its beverage and box packaging. When consumers scan the QR codes with their phones, they are brought to a site with exclusive MTV VMA content. The Video Music Awards is set to take place on Sunday, August 28^th, so Taco Bell and MTV are working together to get users excited about the event. For more information, please visit Mobile Marketer.

Lipton Iced Tea Pushes Social Media Via Mobile

July, 2011

Lipton Iced Tea is now running a mobile campaign to drive Facebook “likes” and Pandora visits by promoting the sites on mobile ads. The ads, which are currently running on Pandora, share a link that takes consumers to a branded Usher station. From there, visitors can click a link to visit the brand’s Facebook page. To learn more, please visit Mashable.com.

MBA Watch Socializes GMAT

July, 2011

MBA Watch, a social community for business students hoping to enter grad school, is making the application and testing processes much easier. The website has application information for major business graduate schools and even allows its users to follow and post on the schools’ profiles.  Statistics are categorized on each university’s profile to show important information, such as the average GMAT score and the average age of the applicant, among others. For more information, please visit Tech Crunch.

MyFlickbooks Converts Videos to Flickbooks

July, 2011

MyFlickbooks released a new app for iOS enabled devices that allows users to upload videos up to fifteen seconds long and turn them into their own personal flickbooks. MyFlickbooks segments the videos into high quality frames and publishes the books for the price of twenty dollars. If your phone doesn’t have iOS, the application can be utilized by the MyFlickbooks website. For more information, please visit Tech Crunch.

Google wants to know What You Love

June, 2011

Google has collaborated a number of their services to create a new search engine called What Do You Love. With the help of groups, trends, maps, translate and many other features, the new search bar provides the curious with small boxes of information on every aspect of their search on one page. The program eliminates the process of changing settings and supplies users with all of their services at once. Videos, a translation, a map, pictures, articles and events pertaining to the specific search are just some of the features provided by the heart-shaped search button. What Do You Love has not yet been released at a large scale and seems to be trickling down into the public from the web savvy. For more information, please see Mashable.

StumbleUpon launches widget for bloggers

June, 2011

Blog writers can now display the information that they find on the web on their own sites through a new widget maker released by StumbleUpon. Users are able to create boxes for each of their interests and then filter relevant websites into them. Bloggers enter the elements that they want into the widget maker and it then in turn gives them a line of code to place in their personal site. This code creates a box that the user can choose the content and size of and then add onto as they find more information like it. This tool will be very useful for people with multiple domains that wish to combine them in one space. For more information, please see Mashable.

Bacardi’s Live Nation Mobile Promo

June, 2011

Bacardi and LiveNation have come together for a summer promotion, which according to Mobilemarketer.com, “uses mobile to strengthen brand awareness and drive engagement, as well as provide a deeper connection to fans whenever they seek music information.”  LiveNation has just started advertising on their mobile site and Bacardi is the first large brand to promote on it with their new campaign that features the tagline “Best Shared Live.”  “Bacardi is an iconic spirits brand with a unique history and heritage that has always championed a spirit for life and music,” said Toby Whitmoyer, vice president and category managing director, rums at Bacardi U.S.A. Inc., Coral Gables, FL. Bacardi’s campaign also stretches from mobile, to digital and in-store POS.  The promotion, which began this month will run all the way through summer, during the peak concert season.  To read the full story, please visit mobilemarketer.com

Automatic Screen-Fitting for Smartphones

June 2011

Google has released an automatic screen-fitting feature to the “Google Sites” service. Google Sites is a service that offers the tools to tweak your website to appear better on smartphone devices.  With this new feature, the width of the website will automatically fit to the width of your screen, as well as updates made to the sidebars and dropdown links to make them appear more clearly. For more information, please visit Mashable.

Tone Skin Pushes Sales Via QR Code in WalMart

June, 2011

Tone Skine Care, a division of Dial Soap, is leveraging QR codes to drive sales in Wal-Mart stores. The QR code directs visitors to a video featuring singer Sara Bareilles, who talks about her sponsorship of the soap and how they can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to see her in concert. “This ad campaign with Propaganda Inc. and Dial is unique because with the in-store displays, we can track exactly where and how people are using the QR codes with the brand throughout the store,” said Andy Lynn, CEO at Kickanotch, Roeland Park, KS. To learn more, visit Mobile Marketer.com.

Lady Gaga/Zynga Launch FarmVille Invasion

May, 2011

On May 17, Lady Gaga and Zynga games are partnering up to introduce GagaVille – an offshoot of neighboring farm community FarmVille – featuring unicorns, crystals and other Gaga-fied virtual game rewards. Visitors will get a first listen to unreleased songs from Gaga’s upcoming Born This Way album, which is released on May 23, and will also get the full album with the purchase of a $35 Zynga game cards at Best Buy. Gaga is also tapping into Zynga’s Words With Friends mobile game with a deal for Words With Gaga – which will feature a Gaga word of the day announced every day through the singer’s Facebook page. Words players will have the chance to win concert tickets and a signed copy of Born This Way.

Amazon’s Membership-Only Fashion Site

May, 2011

The powerful e-retailer Amazon is making it way into the high-fashion discount arena.  The new membership-only site, Myhabit.com, will offer members up to 60% off fashion items.  The new site launched yesterday and included discounts of brands like Doo.Ri and Vera Wang.  The site will offer clothes for women, men and children, and it’s free, all you need to do is sign up.  Current members of Amazon can also use their Amazon login for access.

HBO Officially Launches HBO Go Apps

May, 2011

HBO has officially launched its new HBO Go app and website.  Access to the service is free to any HBO subscriber and is currently available online at HBOGo.com or as an app available for iPad, iPhone, and Android smartphone users.  The service allows users to have unlimited access to over 1,400 shows and movies from HBO as well as bonus features and behind the scenes extras available only through HBO Go.  Users can create a “watch list” on their profile from a selection of any episode of any season of HBO original programming or available movies.  They can also subscribe to programming and have new episodes automatically added to their watch list.  The service also offers parental control so that parents can block content for their children who are accessing the service on their computers or phones.  HBO Go also links to users’ Facebook and Twitter accounts to post what shows and movies they are currently watching.  For more information, see HBO Go.  This post is a follow up to our previous post,  HBO To Steam Content Via Mobile Devices.