CondeNet Apps Up for MySpace Users

Online publisher CondeNet has launched MySpace applications for Style, Epicurious and Wired, as well as Flip.com, a scrapbook app aimed at female teens. Each app extends the lifestyle experience for magazine devotees. The Epicurious app brings a Recipe of the Day to users; Style shares style tips. As with Facebook, users can install them on their […]

Posted: Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

Mobile Social Networking Grows in UK, Facebook a Favorite

More than 4 in 10 UK mobile phone subscribers (44%) belong to an online social network. And 25% of those social networkers use their mobile phone for social-networking activities, according to (pdf) Nielsen Mobile, writes MarketingCharts. Around 812,000 Britons each month, or 1.7 percent of all UK mobile subscribers, visited a social-networking website using their mobile […]

Posted: Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Gift Cards and Cash Most Popular Graduation Gifts

Gift cards (35.6 percent) and cash (56.8 percent) will remain the most popular graduation gifts, according to the National Retail Federation's 2008 Graduation Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by BIGresearch, MarketingCharts reports. Traditional favorites like apparel (10.8 percent) and electronics (11.6 percent) will be given by fewer this year, and many consumers also plan to […]

Posted: Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

iPhone Users Satisfied, but Many Carry Second Mobile Phone

Users claim the iPhone lives up to the hype, in some cases even displacing laptops for on-the-go 'net browsing. Even so, many iPhone owners still carry a second phone, according to a Rubicon Consulting study, writes MarketingCharts. Rubicon conducted a survey of 460 iPhone users in the US to determine how the iPhone is being used […]

Posted: Monday, May 12th, 2008

Network TV Schedules in Trouble, but Audiences Loyal to Content

Consumers are increasingly disenchanted with TV but are nonetheless loyal to favorite programs, demonstrating a marked preference for content over delivery method, according to Accenture's inaugural Global Broadcast Consumer Survey, MarketingCharts writes. Although television remains the predominant mass communications device worldwide, with 97% of respondents watching TV in a typical week, consumption patterns vary based […]

Posted: Monday, May 12th, 2008

Mobile Social Networking Gains Momentum

A growing number of global mobile phone users are accessing social networks over the mobile internet, according to research from Nielsen Mobile - via MarketingCharts. In the US, over 4 million do so each month, Nielsen said. That's 1.6 percent of all US mobile subscribers. The UK leads Europe with 812,000 - or 1.7 percent of […]

Posted: Friday, May 9th, 2008

April US Social Networking Traffic Down 16% from '07

The market share of April US visits to a custom category of 57 of the leading social-networking websites increased 3 percent from March - but was down 16 percent from April 2007, Hitwise reports - via MarketingCharts. MySpace.com led in traffic, receiving 73.82 percent of the market share of US visits in April. Facebook ranked second […]

Posted: Thursday, May 8th, 2008

Industry Buzz & Snippets: 5/6/08

Ad Networks and Analytics: Rise in revenue from its ad network were just enough to offset drops elsewhere at AOL. Analytics platform Media6Degrees raised $2 million in financing from Coriolis Ventures. Blinkx is licensing a toolset called Advanced Media Platform to publishers. The platform lets users manage video search ad inventory. New deals with both BlueLithium and Marchex will […]

Posted: Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

Zune Beefs Up with TV Shows; Films on the Way

Microsoft added hundreds of television programs to its Zune marketplace in a quest to contend with the versatile iTunes, reports Variety. Over 800 TV episodes were added to the Zune storefront from a variety of networks, including NBC and Turner. More deals will be announced over the long-term, and movies will be added sometime soon. The […]

Posted: Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

Lackluster Teen Spend Indicates 'Discretionary Recession'

Though fashion still accounts for 41 percent of the total teen budget, teen spend in the category declined nearly 20 percent year over year, pointing to a "discretionary recession," according to the 15th semi-annual "Taking Stock With Teens" study by Piper Jaffray, MarketingCharts reports. "We're currently in the 'transition phase' of the fashion cycle and […]

Posted: Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Wii Are Family — Kids Benefit from Social Gaming, Say UK Parents

UK parents say social gaming platforms like the Nintendo Wii have a positive influence in their homes: facilitating peer bonding and encouraging children exercise, according to a new TNS Technology survey, MarketingCharts writes. Below, some results from the study: Social gaming promotes bonding among kids - 52 percent of all users and 64 percent of parents […]

Posted: Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Mobile Display Ads Increase Brand Awareness and Interest

Awareness of and interest in "The Golden Compass" among users exposed to promotional full-screen mobile ads increased significantly, according to results of a mobile ad campaign by Greystripe and New Line Cinema, MarketingCharts reports. Greystripe commissioned Dynamic Logic to measure the campaign's success in raising awareness, interest and intent to see the movie. Survey respondents […]

Posted: Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

CRM Suite Helps SMBs Better Address Disgruntled Yelpers

Yelp has launched a set of tools that enable firms to nurture relationships on the popular review site — whose sip-and-tell clientele have likely burned as many small businesses as they have helped. The suite is available at biz.yelp.com. Business owners may: - Update business information - Directly message users that have reviewed their business - Set alerts for […]

Posted: Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Financial Strain on Family Life Tops Issues Most Crucial to Women

Women and their families experience tremendous financial pressure on issues ranging from housing, to credit card debt, to healthcare. As a result, family women are concerned about long-term financial security, according to a Meredith Corporation/NBC Universal survey, writes MarketingCharts. The "What do Women Want?" survey included 3,000 women and covered a range of topics important to […]

Posted: Monday, April 28th, 2008

CW: Sorry Mates, No Online 'Gossip Girl' for You

Against the gospel of bigger networks like NBCU and ABC, the CW has decided to stop streaming episodes of flagship show Gossip Girl online. Executives are concerned the show's online popularity may be contributing to its weakness on TV. For while Gossip Girl is among the most downloaded shows on iTunes and a strong generator of […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

MySpace Improves Creative Controls for Brand Profiles

MySpace is expanding functionalities for managing brand profiles on its network, reports Advertising Age. The enhanced toolset enables users to upload creative assets, then change and manage them on their own. Previously, MySpace creative team members had to assist marketers with this process. By making design and management tools easier to use, MySpace hopes to become more […]

Posted: Monday, April 21st, 2008

GoFish Swallows Three New Youth Sites

Youth-targeting network GoFish has absorbed interactive entertainment sites Urbaniacs, Doodlebops and Spider Riders, expanding its scope to over 20 million viewers. GoFish, which shall serve as exclusive ad partner, intends to distribute age-appropriate advertising from major brands across the properties. Ad options include rich media and video. As of March the GoFish network's month-over-month growth was about […]

Posted: Friday, April 18th, 2008

Profiles, Usage Patterns of US Internet Visitors Analyzed

US at-home and at-work internet users - numbering some 221 million - logged an average of 60 sessions/visits each (up 3.5% from February) and spent an average of 19 hours and 42 minutes online at their PCs (up 3.2%), according to data (pdf) from Nielsen Online. Nielsen's March data on US internet usage among all users: The number […]

Posted: Thursday, April 17th, 2008

Older Web Users: Online Content, Ads Aimed at Young

Most internet users age 45 or older say content online serves less their needs and interests than those of younger persons, according to (pdf) a Burst Media survey on the availability of age-appropriate online content, website design and targeted advertising, writes MarketingCharts. Still, 67.7 percent of all respondents say their daily routine would be disrupted […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

Behavioral Targeting (Mostly) OK by Consumers — If Privacy, Security Safeguards Instituted

Most US adults are uncomfortable about websites using online activity to customize content or ads. But if site privacy and security policies are improved, most would be comfortable with the practice, according to a new study, writes MarketingCharts. Specifically, the Harris Interactive survey found: Six in ten (59 percent) are not comfortable when sites like Google, […]

Posted: Monday, April 14th, 2008