Epic Mix Leading The Way with Ubiquitous Check-in

Posted on December 4, 2011 by admin

Last year Vail Ski Resorts through ‘Epic Mix‘ trialled a program that used RFID technology in the ski pass to help skiers track and share their ski activity on the mountain. The video below explains how this works:

The app is a great example of what I refer to as the ‘ubiquitous check-in’. By placing connected objects on the person or in the environment, the activity of that person can be monitored and then provided back to that person in a meaningful way. With Epic Mix, skiers never stop doing what they are doing but they get access to stats on their ski performance, photos and easy to use apps that help relive the excitement of their ski trip. Now compare the value of Epic Mix with a better known Check-in app, Foursquare:

Every person on the mountain with Epic Mix is automatically checked-in 100% of the time. The Foursquare picture is less complete with comparatively few users and infrequent check-in activity.
Epic Mix badges and awards are based on what you have done, rather than where you say you have been.
The value of ski performance stats, pictures and being able to share your story is much greater with Epic Mix.

Many have asked how leading check-in applications like Foursquare and Gowalla can evolve and become more relevant? Epic Mix, using smart UX, data, social graph integration and game design around a Ubiquitous Check-in, provides a good answer to this question.

Technorati Tags: Check In, Connected Products, Ubiquitous Check-in

Internet Trends 2011 – Globality

Posted on October 24, 2011 by admin

One of the dominant internet trends this year is Globality and the increase in the number of global web users of the web. 81% of internet users on top 10 global web properties are outside the US.

Mary Meeker2019s 2011 Presentation On Internet Trends [Slides] | TechCrunch

The above chart shows that more of the top web companies are now coming from outside the US with countries like China and Russia climbing the list of top online companies. These trends mean that online businesses need to look at other markets around the world and think about what needs to be done to get into those markets. China alone has almost double the amount of internet users compared with the US and countries like India, Nigeria, Russia and Japan are all adding more users compared with the US.

Technorati Tags: Online Strategies, Web2.0

Internet Trends in 2011

Posted on October 24, 2011 by admin

I watched a talk by Mary Meeker of Kleiner Perkins and she provides a great summary of Internet trends for 2011 and beyond. If you have time watch the video and in my next few posts I will provide a summary of her main points along with my view on what this could mean for your business or development project.

Technorati Tags: Online Strategies, Web2.0

Is Social Media Sharing for Small Business Working?

Posted on June 27, 2011 by admin

There is a whole suite of tools on the Internet that help you share content via social media. The best-known examples are the Facebook ‘like’ or ‘share’ button, Twitter ‘follow’ or ‘tweet’ button and the Google +1 recommendation button. These are all great for sharing content and they work particularly well for publishers.

Personally, I regularly share through Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. But what am I sharing?…usually it’s information about (1) my company blog, (2) news articles that interest me or (3) videos and music that interest me. Reinforcing the value sharing has to publishers all you need to do is look at the sharing options on any article on Techcrunch, Mashable, HuffingtonPost or other mainstream news sites. It’s a slam dunk, sharing on content sites is brilliant stuff!

Sharing options as seen on most news and publishing websites.

But How Effective are Sharing Options for Businesses?

It got me thinking about the effectiveness of these share options for businesses. As a consumer when was the last time you clicked on an option to share or recommend a service?

Sharing or recommending a business usually puts a number alongside the share button to indicate how many people have shared that content, but browsing through Yellow Pages or any other online directory you will struggle to find business listings that have had anyone share, tweet or like small businesses.

Sharing options as seen on most business listings.

My feeling is that most businesses have implemented some form of sharing button because everyone else is doing it, and it can’t hurt! But, if the objective is to help your business and engage with people who visit your website or directory listing then perhaps it’s failing.

Why would a customer click on a share button on your business page? What possible motivation do they have to ‘like’ your business? How do you meaningfully engage with customers visiting your website?

Would love your feedback if you run a small business and have used social media sharing options here.

Technorati Tags: Add This, Reward Me, Social Media Sharing

The Future of Mobile Web

Posted on May 2, 2011 by admin

In my opinion, Mobile Internet is the most dramatic shift in computing since the 1970′s. I remember designing a coupons app for the mobile in early 2008 and was limited in so many ways. Hard to believe how far the mobile internet has shifted in this time thanks to the iPhone, Android and Symbion. See how Smartphone devices and applications are changing the world with this video that Tracy Goh put together.

Technorati Tags: CrowdSauce, Location Based Services, Mobile Apps

Facebook Business Page

Posted on November 28, 2010 by admin

Earlier today I received an email with content that I felt is worth repeating in relation to Facebook Pages for Business. Many businesses originally setup Facebook profiles as individuals to market their business. So instead of setting up a ‘Page’ they setup a new id with a business name instead of their personal name.

Setting up a Business Page is now a necessity. If you continue to use your initial personal profile to blatantly promote your business, you run the risk of being shut down by Facebook. Plus, your personal profile on facebook is limited to 5000 friends. If you have a personal profile, you need to create an Official Page(s) for Business, which is free, and does not have the 5000 friend limit.

You should create an Official Page. If you don’t have Facebook account yet, which includes either a personal profile account or official page, it is straight forward to get started. Simply log onto Facebook.com and you will immediately be given the option to “Create a page for celebrity, band or business”.

The italicised text above is taken from an email on Social Media and Email Marketing by www.SocialMediaNationRadio.com. I encourage you to visit the site as it’s a great reference for businesses interested in Social Media.

Technorati Tags: Business Promotion, Facebook

Facebook Coupons Tab for Franchises

Posted on November 23, 2010 by admin

Generating a following on Facebook by getting your customers to ‘like’ your page is a great way to engage with consumers who love your brand. Smart businesses are giving incentives to customers to ‘like’ their Facebook page through competitions or coupons and one option for attracting customers to your Facebook page is a new service we launched last week.

The ‘Myzerr App’ is a Facebook Coupons Tab that allows franchises and businesses to promote deals from their business via their Facebook Page. It’s free to install and takes about 3 minutes to setup*.

Planet Chocolate

On Friday last week (10 days ago) we assisted a small Franchise called Planet Chocolate with adding a Coupons Tab to their Facebook Page. Planet Chocolate, who have 4 outlets didn’t previously have a a Facebook page so we assisted with setting up their Myzerr group, Facebook page and Twitter account and linking the three.

The coupons they have promoted provide genuine value and give their fans who ‘like’ Planet Chocolate a reason to engage. A sample of their page can be seen below.

To access the deals customers can print off coupons or use the Myzerr iPhone app to claim the deal in-store and each sale is registered in Planet Chocolate’s group database.

Planet Chocolate Promotion Results

In the first week, promoting deals via the Facebook Coupons tab has resulted in over 287 ‘likes’ on their Facebook Page and 65 additional sales. These results are exciting given the relatively small footprint of Planet Chocolate. For more information on the app please download the Facebook Coupons Tab PDF.

*3 minutes applies to those businesses on Myzerr. If not on Myzerr businesses need to setup a page on Myzerr as part of the process.

Technorati Tags: Facebook Coupons, Franchises, Social Couoons, Social Media Marketing

Get Your Business on the Map

Posted on November 10, 2010 by admin

One of the biggest technology advances over the last few years to benefit businesses has been in Location Based Services. Just a short time ago, in mid 2008 I was working on a mobile application in which we were trying to use location to find local businesses. Continue reading →

Technorati Tags: Google Maps, Location Based Services, Small Business Marketing

Slade Sherman

Creating digital solutions the world needs.

Category Archives: Web2.0 Weapons