Welcome to episode #199. On the show: Apple's big event; Into the Storm's augmented reality street sign; Unicef's Digital Drum Project; Budweiser brings beer to your Facebook friends; TalkLocal raises and rebrands; WhatsApp and Skype add location sharing; Twitter brings buying to your stream; Jafflechutes drops grilled cheese sandwiches; iScent thinks we want to smell our emails; T-Mobile becomes the UnCarrier. Our resource of the week is a map of all the connected devices in the world. Full sho...
Sep 15, 2014
In this installment of our "Ask A VC" segment, we sit with Moe Kermani of Vanedge Capital from Vancouver, Canada. Moe has roots as an entrepreneur having co-founded a company that he ran for 11 years before selling and moving into the venture capital world. Moe's advice is balanced, succinct and very valuable to any entrepreneur on the hunt for investment today. Some of the key takeaways echo previous guests - especially the "no asshole" rule - but much of what Moe says is incredible insight int...
Sep 12, 2014
This debate has raged on endlessly: Mobile app versus mobile web site. Finally, some straight answers for marketers on how they should approach each and why. From the "one web" concept to the difference between a mobile web customer and a mobile app customer, Greg highlights some key strategies and questions that good marketers are asking and implementing. You probably should watch this......
Sep 11, 2014
Are you a developer for hire or a company involved in mobile development? Have you looked at the enterprise as an opportunity to build a business or your portfolio? You see, larger companies are struggling both internally and externally which makes the opportunity incredibly large. They need to satisfy their own internal requirements for CRM and employee optimization while at the same time satisfy their customers that fuel the business. Good thing for you that Peggy lays out the opportunity righ...
Sep 10, 2014
There is so much speculation around Apple's event today but there are a few things we are sure of and I'm not talking about the new phones. Mobile payments are coming to - and through - Apple's ecosystem with huge partners and even greater clout. Chuck explores the impact that a mobile payments-enabled Apple means to the industry.
Sep 09, 2014
Welcome to episode #198. On the show: Heineken's location-based loyalty rewards for small bars; AVG acquires LocationLabs; xAd and IndoorAtlas raise rounds; Walkers chips tweet to eat; Nordstrom & Target powered by Curalate; InMobi partners with Factual on mobile ads; McDonalds trades cans for food in Sweden; Magnum and NewAer partner on beacon engagement; Marriott teams with MIT to create matchmaking table through LinkedIn data; FUZ design brings us the bluetooth-enabled Noke padlock; MCX t...
Sep 08, 2014
Most entrepreneurs are driven individuals. Sometimes they are driven by divine inspiration, other times it is as a result of personal experience. Some entrepreneurs are focused on changing the numbers in their bank accounts while others are set on making a long-lasting contribution to humanity. For Peter Cahill, founder of LifeLine Response, he can check them all off and his company is just at the start of its run. LifeLine Response is a personal safety service that has already saved 4 lives. Le...
Sep 05, 2014
We both receive a lot of requests about the resources we use to stay on top of the mobile marketing world. Here, in a single episode, are the books, podcasts and websites that Greg and I use to keep up to date.
Sep 04, 2014
Video has always been an important part of the mobile app marketing process and is getting a huge boost on the iPhone platform when Apple introduces the use of short videos in the next version of its App Store. Peggy summarizes some incredible advice from Apptamin co-founder Sylvain Gauchet to make your app video standout amongst the crowd. If you haven't used video to market your app, we provide a great framework to start with. If you have, here's a refresher on what works and what doesn't....
Sep 03, 2014
There are some stark differences when it comes to mobile commerce adoption around the world and they are detailed in a new report by Internet Retailer called the 2015 Mobile 500. Chuck dives into the key stats from the report. One of the key findings is the difference in revenue growth between retailers that have an app versus those that don't...Not sure you can afford to skip this episode....
Sep 02, 2014
Welcome to episode #197. On the show: Sprooki rolls out beacons in Singapore malls; Philipp Schmitt's location based light painting project; Comcast thinks EverBlock and Philadelphia are a good combination; Magpi's cloud-based mobile data collection; Google brings local ads to the desktop; Runkeeper partners with KIIP; PitneyBowes' location start-up incubator in India; 7Eleven rolls out Belly to 2600 stores; QR codes to help Alzheimer sufferers from getting lost; Pumpipumpe goes old-school with ...
Sep 01, 2014
A stroke of genius. We all want it to happen while we take a shower or run or meditate don't we? But we all know deep down inside that it takes hard work and hustle to be exposed to the opportunity to have a stroke of genius - and for many of us it will never happen or will pass us by unnoticed. For Zach Supalla, CEO of Spark.io - an open-source, cloud-connected operating system for the Internet of Things - it wasn't a single stroke of genius but many steps towards it as you'll see in this episo...
Aug 29, 2014
Just what is Apple up to on Sept 9? Much more than we think. It is official, Apple’s next big event is – aside from being the worst kept secret – in fact happening on Sept 9 at the Flint Center. There are so many rumours floating around as to what will be announced and, while technically everyone seems to have agreed on the principle items, I think there could be a much bigger story here than most are speculating about. From the phones, to the wearable device and a payment system – even why they...
Aug 29, 2014
Often the hardest part of achieving success in anything is starting - mobile marketing is no different. This craft can be very daunting because it is so new and there are so many moving parts but it doesn't have to be hard. There is a logical progression that makes it quite simple to get moving and gain momentum. Greg highlights his experience on how he did this while he was with Cabelas. Watch this episode and you'll gain insight into the place you need to start when bringing mobile marketing i...
Aug 28, 2014
What are the 10 most foundational steps that every single developer needs to do in order to give their app a fighting chance? That question is answered here by Peggy as she highlights a great resource put together by India-based Dot Com Infoway. This episode focuses on the core requirements to set any app on the right path to success.
Aug 27, 2014
With the conversation in retail shifting to beacons and the act of beaconing, Chuck explores the next phase of this emerging technology by visiting IPG Media Lab in New York City. The next phase? Aren't we just entering the era of the beacon? We are but, once you watch this episode you will understand that the beacon is not the focus, it is the experience that comes as a result that should be....
Aug 26, 2014
Welcome to episode #196. On the show: Discovery navigation for the blind; Earshot and DoubleDutch raise money; Apple patents car locator; Lays partners with Uber for Uber Picnic; Can smartphone screens correct your vision; Lionel Messi returns to Barcelona; Vemory app launches; Stylebored pays cash for referrals; Omote's living makeup; Netflix changes room colour based on the movie. Our deep dive stories are why you should build for a cause; Why cash is king and Digital hacking the real life. Fu...
Aug 25, 2014
Here is another installment of our "Ask a VC" feature. This time we sit with Vegas Tech Fund partner Will Young. The Vegas Tech Fund is part of the many initiatives put together by Zappos founder Tony Hsieh with a mandate to revitalize the Vegas tech scene. When you watch this episode you will quickly understand that the ethos of Zappos and Hsieh himself are a fundamental ingredient in their investment philosophy. After watching Will in this episode you will want to come up with an idea just to ...
Aug 22, 2014
The majority of your customers access their social media accounts from their mobile devices. The majority of marketers aren't using this to their advantage. The minority of marketers that do are thriving - and probably stealing business from those that don't. The difference between social media on a big screen and it's counterpart on a portable screen is as different as driving a car versus piloting a plane. On the surface they have similarities: They both take you from point A to point B, they ...
Aug 21, 2014
An arsenal of tools. To win in marketing your app you need to use an arsenal of tools. The more you use, the more likely you are to succeed and one of the important pieces in your app marketing strategy needs to be SMS. There are tremendous benefits and Peggy outlines them in this episode. If you've ever wondered how to give your app a voice, to bring users back that have forgotten about your app or even to deepen the relationship you have with existing users, sit back and watch this episode. Of...
Aug 20, 2014
The word of the fall in retail is going to be beacons with good reason. There are a number of innovative companies that have been experimenting with their use and this fall will see them commit fully to them. Chuck gives us a run down of the companies that are in this category - the ones that aren't sitting back and waiting for the end of retail. What will retail look like in the fall? Here's a glimpse....
Aug 19, 2014
Welcome to episode #195. On the show: Verve Mobile's programmatic direct platform; JCDecaux's CitiScape; Denver Beer Company's Explorer Challenge; VMBeacon brings mannequins to life; Amazon's Local Register; TD thanks a select few...very well; Cucalu confounds; Yahoo buys it's 31st mobile company Zofari; Glympse works on your wrist; Gilbarco-Vedder Root teams with Verifone at the gas pump. Our special guest is Debbie Landa, CEO and founder Dealmaker Media. Full show notes can be found here : htt...
Aug 18, 2014
Location. The core to much of the emerging mobile advertising fortunes, location is not as easy as it seems. There are so many factors that effect the "place" in location and it gets more complicated as we unearth its potential and start using it for business. As we've tried to capture in other episodes, getting location right is of paramount importance and one of the most difficult and rewarding things for the craft of marketing since marketing was invented. There are different pieces to locati...
Aug 15, 2014
Mobile advertising is big business. Companies like Google and Facebook are betting their immediate future on the revenue they receive from mobile advertisers. Why? Well, they are more "effective" and can certainly be more targeted than web advertising for one. While the majority of spend today is on banner ads - which are unfortunately not the right medium for mobile - there are other options and certainly more strategic ways of using mobile to get your message out. In this episode Greg highligh...
Aug 14, 2014
Making an app is a complex undertaking. Making your app business successful is also hard work. As we will show you in this series, the decisions you make will largely depend on your category of app, target audience and monetization model. But you shouldn’t just rely on your judgment. Knowing what other app developers think, do and recommend can also help you avoid pitfalls along the way. Peggy highlights some key information from a new report by Vision Mobile - the good and the frightening - and...
Aug 13, 2014
People don't want to buy from a smartphone. This according to a huge study by GroupM. They do want to shop from them but most companies don't factor that into their research - they simply look at the transactions. Could the most important thing to measure become the wish list or what goes into the shopping cart? Many retailers at the forefront of mobile commerce are focusing there and this strategy will make a ton of sense once you watch this episode....
Aug 12, 2014
Welcome to episode #194. On the show: A compressed, no-frills version of the show today as Rob is remote on Prince Edward Island. Stories about Tinder match-making for dogs; Simon Malls & Mobiquity team up for “smart” malls; The Traces app launch; Shazam releases their Resonate platform; The Ninja Sphere for your connected home; Westpac adds augmented reality to banking; Track Toronto tracks the lyrics of the city; Drop closes a small round; Bing catches gets smarter mobile ad targeting; Tim...
Aug 11, 2014
Can you imagine paying for a billboard, television or newspaper ad to target an audience in Los Angeles only to have it run exclusively in New York? How about wanting to target an audience sitting in a stadium in Toronto only to actually have your message seen in Kansas City? Welcome to the tumultuous and challenging world of location based marketing. This challenge - the accuracy of location data - effects every single advertiser trying to grow their business via mobile. This challenge is also ...
Aug 08, 2014
Mobile search is SO different than the search we've come to know on our desktops for two reasons: The first is that your customer is closer to intent (by that I mean they have money in hand and are looking to spend it). The second is they arrive on your site via their mobile and give you valuable notice as to what they are interested in. Greg gives tactics on how to begin using the power of mobile search to achieve great results with a little bit of effort. Oh, and if you are thinking about skip...
Aug 07, 2014
It is hard enough to come up with a great idea for a mobile business, design it, build it, market it and convince a bunch of people to download it and use it more than once. When, miracles of miracles, you've done all that and your customers finally start paying for it. you end up having to wait for up to 60 days to get paid from the various app stores. Life is hard as a mobile development company trying to survive on selling through apps. So what do you do? Well Peggy has an answer for you on t...
Aug 06, 2014
