If there's one group of merchants that is likely to do its own advertising and promotion, it is those with only one employee, AKA "very small businesses" (VSBs), according to Wave 18 of BIA/Kelsey's Local Commerce Monitor™ survey of small-and-medium…
Update 2/05/14: The graphic in this post has been updated to reflect recent data. "Location is the real world cookie," asserts David Staas, NinthDecimal's president, "I think we were the first ones to say that." Staas spoke to us recently…
Update 2/05/14: The graphic in this post has been updated to reflect recent data. "Location is the real world cookie," asserts David Staas, NinthDecimal's president, "I think we were the first ones to say that." Staas spoke to us recently…
Apple has taken the crown for most profitable company in history. BIA/Kelsey Sr. Dir. of Industry Strategy & Insight Abid Chaudhry reminds us that of the 20 most profitable quarters of all time, fifteen were oil companies... the remaining five…
The most popular advertising channels for SMBs in the Home and Trade Services vertical, according to BIA/Kelsey's Local Commerce Monitor™, Wave 18,survey of small-and-medium businesses, are a mix of paid and free media. Media Ad View Plus (MAV), BIA/Kelsey's forecast…
Search strategies continue to shift as more and more activity comes through the mobile front door. Google launched Enhanced Campaigns to tackle that reality, while Google Now is a play at push-based content. In a presentation last week, I went through…
One big trend we are seeing in our Local Commerce Monitor (LCM) findings is that low-spending SMBs are taking advantage of the lower price levels of digital and social media and reducing their overall ad spend. This has big implications…
We live in a multi-screen world, where an action begun on one device is often completed on another. Marketers are eager to follow a consumer all the way along this cross-device chain of actions. That's the cross-device retargeting challenge,…
Mobile payments won't take over the universe in 2015, as the tech media would have you believe. But it will have a noticeable impact on our favorite new topic: On demand local services (ODLS), a la Uber. That's where mobile…
A sea change in home repair habits is occurring, as consumer segments begin to shift from Do It Yourself to Do it For Me models where people are seeking professionals to do everything from changing light bulbs to building decks.…
Ever get that "grass is greener" feeling that your digital media competitors may have a leg up on you in how their organize and run their advertising operations? Here's a chance to find out how you compare. Operative is running…
It's here! We have just announced the agenda for BIA/Kelsey NATIONAL. which takes place March 25-27 in Dallas. The NATIONAL theme is especially important this year. Local technology and services have reached a level where they have fostered major relationships…
On demand local services (ODLS) a la Uber will not only bring buyer and seller together with leaner unit economics, but could also transform the way local services are marketed and fulfilled. This was the theme of a session we…
On demand local services (ODLS) a la Uber will not only bring buyer and seller together with leaner unit economics, but could also transform the way local services are marketed and fulfilled. This was the theme of a session we…
We continue to see a shift from active search to passive discovery as smartphone usage itself grows. That's especially true with local search, given that portability, location awareness and use case are more conducive to push-based content. The ways in…
In local media and advertising, "National" is increasingly where it's at. Though paradoxical in a semantic sense, it stands to reason if you consider the deeper pockets and more technologically adaptive nature of national brands, compared to SMBs. This is…
"Google Domains" is now open for business. The search giant's decision to wade into the world of domains registration is a logical extension of its growing suite of business apps and services, many of which are focused on SMBs. Another…
"Google Domains" is now open for business. The search giant's decision to wade into the world of domains registration is a logical extension of its growing suite of business apps and services, many of which are focused on SMBs. Another…
As this week's Consumer Electronic Show (CES) closes out tomorrow in Las Vegas, we've seen a blizzard of news, press releases and commentary inhabiting our inboxes and news readers. It's a huge and diversified event with a lot happening. Here's…
As this week's Consumer Electronic Show (CES) closes out tomorrow in Las Vegas, we've seen a blizzard of news, press releases and commentary inhabiting our inboxes and news readers. It's a huge and diversified event with a lot happening. Here's…
