High Tech, Baby

FRESH IDEAS:  My Son is now nine, but when he was a wee tiny baby, like most nervous parents, we had a baby monitor.  We ultimately stopped using it because his sounds were SO amplified that you HEARD EVERYTHING, and therefore, did not sleep at all.  Flash ahead to today’s offerings and what I just read about in today’s TechCrunch:  a BabyPing.  Basically, it’s a camera that enables you to peek in on your child from another room – including in the dark!  And where you peek in is what makes BabyPing so tech and cool — you use it with an app on any of your “i” devices (iPhone, iPad, iTouch).  So the images and the sound go through your own wireless to give you the scoop on what your “sleeping” baby is up to.  As opposed to using a frequency — potentially tapping into a neighbor’s frequency, too, yikes!  The BabyPing is currently only available in Europe, but is expected to hit the US market soon.  A system like this makes perfect sense for today’s Moms as 61% already use their mobile phones for internet connections; and Moms spend twice as much time online than others (according to Nielsen and BabyCenter).  Moms are mobile.  Mobile are tech savvy.  And now Moms can feel good about their babies with a cool new tool!

By the way, I did want to mention that there is a really good study about today’s Moms and their media consumption from Nielsen and BabyCenter called “21st Century Media Mom Report” (where I pulled the stats) that just came out in April.  A crunchy bunch of other Mom studies worth checking out are here, too: http://www.babycentersolutions.com/research_studies?bclink=logo&scid=20120522_trade_21stmom:4  TASTY TREND:  Go Mobile

Smart Snacks

CRUNCHY NUGGETS:  It’s 3:00 in the afternoon.  You’ve hit a wall.  You need more energy and decide that it should come in the form of a snack.  And so you head to the vending machine.  But instead of a traditional machine that takes your money, lets you punch in a combination of letters and/or numbers, you face a touchscreen on your regular machine.  Say hello to VendScreen.  I just read about this new technology in the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch.  This “smart” vending machine lets you:

• Know the nutritional information on your choice (for better or worse).
• Can serve up an ad or a promotion for you to watch or use.
• Eliminates the need for cash and coins with a host of paperless payment options (credit, online accounts, loyalty programs).

And for the manager of the machine, there are analytics available, a cloud-based system, inventory tracking, and other fancy items that enhance a traditional machine.

Testing will begin for a limited number of these machines and April, and continue to roll them out throughout the year.

Pretty cool!  I wonder how long before it links to social sites…so you can let your friends and followers what you’re nibbling on?!  Or let you pre-pay and send someone else a snack (giving them a code to use for payment).  Or link to your mobile?  Ah…the tech extensions can go on… Particularly as consumers have increased their snacking behavior (see 11/28/11 Snack Facts post). Hey, I do hope this post satisfied your brain’s craving for something new and interesting.  TASTY TREND:  Here and Now

App-solutely Crunchy

CRUNCHY NUGGETS:  Me, oh my, it’s been a while since I’ve shared, heavens!  I’ve been quite busy, but did read great stats today that I just had to make a little “after hours” time to blog about.  They’re about smart phone apps…hey, what’s your favorite?  Me, I’ve got a love affair with instagram going on now.  Unfortunately, other than taking super cool-looking photos and sharing, I’m not quite sure how to do some of the other functionality bells and whistles (note to self: brush up on my instagram, sheesh).  Anyway, when it comes to apps, brand and marketing types, listen up!  Sure having one is cool, but you may easily – and I mean EASILY – get ignored.  Here’s why:

• Too many to choose from: There are an estimated 1 million apps for the four most-popular mobile systems, and only 10% have been discovered.  That’s it.  That’s a whole lotta 90% unknown.
• Easy come, easy go: And even more bad news…80 to 90% of apps are usually deleted. Buh-bye.
• Smartphone ownership doesn’t mean app-using: Surprisingly only 42% of smartphone owners actually use apps.
• And those using…not so much: According to Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project (who, by the way, provided much of the nuggetyness), 69% of smartphone users open only five apps or less once a week.  And 17% of smartphone users, say not at all.
• So what’s a good “sticky” benchmark? 30% — if you can retain 30% of those folks who downloaded your app, your app is considered a success.

Here’s where I read all of these nuggety tid bits in USA Today, in case you need: http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/story/2012-01-30/smartphone-app-usage/52891556/1

OK, so that wasn’t terribly cheery, now was it?!  It’s more of a reality check before you go ahead and build your brand something that may or may not ever be seen.  Like any marketing piece, it’s going to require a lotta love and attention with the right audience.  Seriously, what’s your favorite app?  I’d love to hear.  TASTY TREND:  Go Mobile

So Very Pinteresting

CRUNCHY NUGGETS:  Clients are asking about.  A button just appeared on the etsy website to share it.  I have my own account to try it out hands-on.  And now I’m passing along the nuggets. It’s Pinterest.  What is it?  How do you use it?  Why should you care?  All excellent questions!  Following me on the Pinterest path…

WHAT:  Pinterest is a social web site.  If you want to get fancy, it’s actually a social curation site.  It’s much like the “like” button you often see for Facebook, e.g., read an article and then “like” it, and that articles then gets referenced or posted onto your Facebook wall and news feed.  Same for Pinterest.  Only this is more visually based.  So think “virtual bulletin board.”  Become a member.  Set up your board themes, e.g., Things I love…Things I want to try…Trends…Really cool stuff…etc.  Your choice of titles.  And then pin images to the boards as you wish.  It’s free and anyone can use it…even brands.  You can add a pin button to your browser to capture the images.  And sites are now just slowly starting to add the button to their share options.  You can also use their mobile app and snap shots of real things you wish to pin.  You also can follow other members’ boards (ala Twitter).

WHEN:  Did this web site start?  Actually in 2008.  But in the past few months it’s gained tremendous buzz and traction.

WHO:  A December report by Experian Hitwise indicated that the site’s total number of visits for the week ending December 17th, 2011 was at 11 million.  To show you just how much it has grown, this is 40x the amount of visits Pinterest had experience just in the comparable period six months before, wow.  comScore has profiled the user as 70% female.

WHY: Should you care when you already have so many other social obligations?!  Well…as marketers, it’s a great, emerging (and free) means of reaching your consumers and sharing interesting content.  Mashable had a terrific slide show this week, sharing 10 brands and how they’re using Pinterest.  It’s an informative, inspirational article for marketing-types to read:  http://mashable.com/2012/01/09/the-top-brands-on-pinterest

You know, as with every new vehicle, it comes with caution in throwing your resources at pursuing the latest “shiny object” in emerging media.  And this is certainly “shiny” — but it’s also free, and it makes a whole lot of sense for female-targeted, visual-centric brands.  Mashable didn’t include Threadless as an example in their slide show, but do check them out too as you play around with Pinterest.  Why?  Because Threadless links it to eCommerce and selling stuff — which for a marketer, is a cool and financially-fulfilling place to bring your consumer.  Again, I encourage you to try it out for yourself and learn hands-on.  You can even follow me, too: look for Lisa Fritts : ) !  TASTY TREND:  Social Curation;  Socially Acceptable

Mobile Only

CRUNCHY NUGGETS:  Over the weekend, I read a NY Times article about mobile only deals for this year’s black friday.  So you have your basic get up early and save at the store for black friday.  Your go online and save for black friday.  And now, trying to grab those folks who are waiting in lines to make their purchases (real and virtual lines) and wish to shop around a little bit more, online retailers are offering exclusive savings to smart phone users through their apps and mobile sites.  Gilt Groupe, Amazon, HSN, and Walgreens are among the retailers with mobile-only offers and coupons that will be available throughout the day this Friday.  Macy’s and Nordstrom are also facilitating shoppers carrying devices as they’ll offer free wifi in their stores, and free shipping for purchases made on their mobile sites.  It struck me as an interesting space to “play and protect,” if you will, given that 43% of Americans who have cell phones, own smart phones.  Here is the article if you wish to give it a read: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/business/mobile-deals-aimed-at-black-friday-shoppers-stuck-in-line.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=business

How ’bout you?  Shopping early and often this Friday?  TASTY TREND:  Here and Now; Go Mobile

Mobile Social Trends

CRUNCHY NUGGETS:  In my ongoing search to share interesting crunchy nuggets, I often squirrel away articles I’ve read in my inbox.  Today’s “nut” that I’ve uncovered “lobs” you over to an article from Media Post, about “Ten Mobile Social Trends for 2012.”  It comes nicely stocked with great examples (“best in show”) that bring the 10 to life.  Like me, some you’ve heard of, others you haven’t.  But it truly amplifies how much mobile is a part of consumers’ lives.  And how mobile so seamlessly integrates in social spaces, connecting consumers to their friends, family, followers, favorite brands, etc. through digital experiences.  OK, get ready…you’re like a tennis ball and I’m about to “serve you over the net” to the article.  Before I do, let me thank David Berkowitz of 360i for this article.  And then wish you a good weekend!  Ready?  Set?  Go!  http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/162418/ten-mobile-social-trends-for-2012.html TASTY TREND: Socially Acceptable; Here and Now; Go Mobile

Tech or Treat

CRUNCHY NUGGETS:  You gotta love how technology impacts our daily lives.  And I’ve been hearing and reading about mobile apps that have been designed just in time for Halloween’s tricks and treats.  Ring the door bell and scoop up these brain treats:

Apps for safety — With kids out and about at night, there are mobile apps available that can help parents keep track of where their trick or treaters are located, including…Trick or Tracker which is a geo-location app that enables you to find your child by linking his or her cell phone number to yours.  Google Latitude also does the same, only with no fun, Halloween designs, and you can track your child using the web, too. Lookout has also been mentioned.  It’s an app that actually enables you to find your phone when its lost.  So the thought is to “plant” your phone on your child and then use the service to “locate your phone,” as needed.  And it’s useful post-October 31st.

Apps for fun — Mashable just shared their 10 picks for Halloween apps.  They include two zombie makers — one cartoon-ish, the other that turns your photo into fright, a jack-o-lantern creater, spooky sounds, costume ideas, an e-card creator, creepy cocktail recipes, ghost stories, free horror movies, and a real spooky places locator.  Here is the URL if you want to get specific: http://mashable.com/2011/10/26/iphone-apps-halloween/#315551-Make-A-Zombie  Of course, Angry Birds has a refresh.  And if you find “fun” in scaring your friends, there is a Fright Factory app that draws in your friends to watch your cell phone screen, and then scares them with a sudden, pop up zombie.  Ahh!

So whatever your need, there seems to be a mobile app for your Halloween holiday preferences.  Although, no app out yet to track which houses have the best candy and the biggest selection of treats.  Give it time, I’m sure.  Hey, hope your weekend is a big, full-sized sweet treat!  TASTY TREND:  Here and Now; Go Mobile; App-iness

Be Creative

FRESH IDEA:  I can’t believe I haven’t shared this yet with you.  It’s a fun, worth-your-time web piece that a Tech company called Hitcents created.  They also turned it into a free iTunes app, and it’s now in the top 25.  What makes it nuggety to me:  1.  It’s guaranteed to make you smile, great user experience.  2. Wouldn’t you just love something a lot like this on your web site? Or for your brand? Or as your app to share?  and 3. The ending message serves to inspire.

Here goes…enjoy! http://www.drawastickman.com/

TASTY TREND:  Experiential Traditional

App-cessory

FRESH IDEA:  I read about a new Disney Cars game/toy/app coming out this year that enables (presumably) a child to “drive” a car toy on a track.  The car is a small, hand-held Cars character, and the track comes from an app that you download to an iPad.  Check out the image…cool, right?  But where it gets crunchy is that: there are other toys coming out for the holidays that are similar.  And they’re calling these sort of toys “app-cessroies.” Simulated crayons using a digital stylus from Crayola; an arcade game; and a helicopter controlled by the iPad are among at least a dozen toys — app-cessories — expected to hit shelves in time for this year’s holiday push.  Here’s a site that’s featuring a few now, including the arcade: http://www.discoverybaygames.com/appcessories

For my blog-reading parents who own iPads, I’m sure you can appreciate that this is yet another reason “your” iPad will be more like “our” (your entire family’s) iPad.  TASTY TREND:  Traditional Experiential

Pet Tech

CRUNCHY NUGGETS:  If don’t already read or subscribe to the Digital Buzz Blog, you should. It delivers really interesting, innovative web sites, digital campaigns and technology applications from around the globe.  OK, so giving them credit for this find…You know how crazy some pet owners can be for their lil’ ones.  And that includes cats.  Well how’s this for a new “cat toy”: a tablet.  Yes, an iPad or an Android-based tablet.  Apparently, there are apps you can download that are specifically made to entertain your cat.  And a round of marketing applause goes to Friskies for developing branded versions.  Specifically: Cat Fishing (as depicted in the image, lets cats “chase” koi using their paws), Tasty Treasures Hunt (chase chickens, cheese, and other food ingredients), and Party Mix-Up (another paw-chase game, only this one features the Friskies product shapes). According to brand, these apps have been developed applying research Friskies has gleaned based on cats’ senses and how they react to stimuli.  So these are no ordinary laser light, feather ball, cat-nipped filled games for kitties.  Here’s the article if you wish to give it a read and check out the Digital Buzz Blog: http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/friskies-branded-ipad-games-for-cats/  And here’s the Friskies site with the actual app specifics and downloads: http://gamesforcats.com/#playbuttons

My eight year old would think the video was HI-LARIOUS.  But I dare not share as he may get the ideas of using my iPad as a cat toy for his grandparents’ kitties – !!! Yeah, no.  TASTY TREND:  Pet Love; Experiential Traditional