October 5, 2011

QR Code + Rooftop= Space-grade Exposure

QR codes are popping up everywhere these days — they’re on product packaging, in print ads and even on the sides of buses. Consumers are scanning them too; More than 14 million American mobile phone users scanned QR codes in June 2011 to connect to Websites, see videos, grab digital coupons and more. Appearing that marketers are really on to something great with these tags…one company has to go and blow it up. Literally…

Courtesy of Mashable

Marketing company Phillips and Company is helping businesses generate and attach super-sized QR codes to their rooftops. The main goal right now being that these QR codes will pop up FOR FREE  in navigation apps like Google Earth and Google Maps. Pretty cool way to reach your customers, huh?

Check out more about Phillips’ Blue Marble and how it creates “space-accessible billboards” here.

Twitt
June 13, 2011

Round of Applause for Snapfish

I recently ordered a dozen thank you cards from Snapfish. On May 30 to be exact. Just this weekend, I noticed I had not received them yet. So, first thing this morning, I sent an email to their customer service team for an update. Within a couple hours, I received a most delightful response. In a nutshell, Snapfish said “We sent it out June 1, but realize you never got it…and we’re not happy about that…confirm your shipping address with us quickly and we’ll send you the same order with 2-day shipping…with no cost to you.”

Snapfish took me from unhappy to happy by following some basic customer service principles that I think a lot of today’s hottest companies (Ahem, Beyond The Rack!) seem to overlook…

BE PROMPT – When a customer contacts you, contact them back soon. Waiting more than a day can really increase their frustration.

ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM – Companies need to acknowledge an error has occurred. No need to dwell. Just say it and move forward.

FIX IT FAST – Your customers want to know how you’re going to fix the situation and when. Be clear about the next steps and follow through.

If that wasn’t enough, Snapfish also sent me a survey. This shows me that not only are they dedicated to fixing known issues, but they care to hear other feedback about how they can do their job better.

Kudos, Snapfish. I’m impressed.

Twitt
May 13, 2011

Fancy a Personal Assistant?

I read a great Q&A on ReadWriteWeb today. It was with Ted Roden, founder of a startup named Fancy Hands. His story is great for two reasons; his raw ambition to succeed is palpable, and, I always admire someone who doesn’t just want it all, but wants to do it all really well.

Ted admits he was scratching his own itch when he created Fancy Hands. A husband, father of two and author, he had trouble getting all the little things done. Not satisfied with that outcome, a company was born.

Fancy Hands does just about anything a personal assistant would do. In fact, humans — not computers — are on the other end that make sure the clients’ needs are met. You can get advice on your fantasy football league, arrange for car service and more. Unlimited help of this kind will cost you just $55 a month.

Ted’s road to creating Fancy Hands breaks from conventional startup-dom too. He is a single founder and simply not afraid of carrying the burden alone. He even thinks there’s an advantage to this model. What a great entrepreneur story…

Twitt
March 29, 2011

Missing a snake? No worries…he’s real tweet

Last week, the Bronx Zoo in New York announced that it had shut down the World of Reptiles after an Egyptian cobra escaped its enclosure.  As of today, the critter is still on the loose…yet thousands of people — 35, 148 and counting — know exactly where it is in the Big Apple.  It didn’t take long before @BronxZoosCobra showed up on Twitter, complete with an email address, and he has been regularly posting his commentaries on New York, its landmarks, food, and even Charlie Sheen.  His profile statement: “I’m not at the Bronx Zoo. I’m an Egyptian cobra out on the town.”

It’s obvious that the Bronx Zoo is not behind the Twitter account.  It’s too funny and raw.  Yet wouldn’t it have been great if the organization had been forward thinking enough to have done this?  Whoever @BronxZoosCobra is, he knows social media and the power of humor.  Had the organization tapped this idea, it could have not only diffused some of the concern about the missing cobra (the zoo is confident the snake is contained in a non-public area)…it could have promoted practically any landmark in the area.  Here are a couple of the recent posts:

- Rise & Slither. #snakeonthetown

- Dear @CharlieSheen, know what’s better than tiger’s blood? Cobra venom. #winning #snakeonthetown Also I’m 20 inches long. Just sayin’.

- Holding very still in the snake exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. This is gonna be hilarious!

- Donald Trump is thinking about running for president?! Don’t worry, I’ll handle this. Where is Trump Tower exactly?

A tip of our hat to @BronxZoosCobra.  Slither on, dude.

Twitt
March 24, 2011

Nestle’s Surreal Cereal Experience

Forget about 3D, augmented reality is where it’s at. Mashable reported today that Nestle is rolling out a global augmented reality promotion for the film Rio. In 53 countries, kids and adults who eat kids’ cereals (you know who you are…) will get the chance to cut out a hand card from their cereal box to experience augmented reality at the breakfast table. All you need is a Web cam and Internet connection to make it work.

Check out the below video to see how it works. This is definitely one of those things you need to see to understand fully.

Twitt
March 14, 2011

St. Paddy’s Day? There’s an app for that!

If you’re feeling like you need to shake your shamrocks, chances are it’s time for the annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities. There might be gray skies in Seattle this week, but come March 17, there will be plenty of green to be seen. Technology lovers everywhere will be especially joyful this year, because St. Paddy’s Day is also being commemorated by mobile application developers, who have created everything from recipe finders to free wallpaper.

If you’ve got an Android OS phone, head on over to the Android Market for your free St. Patrick’s Live Wallpaper.  Now, every day can be St. Patrick’s Day.  But if you’re wanting to wait until March 17 to celebrate, you’ll need the Shamrock Countdown clock.  Don’t get what all of the hoopla is about?  Watch the full-length documentary, St. Patrick Apostle of Ireland, on your phone for just $9.95.

VOXUS coworkers will undoubtedly be downloading the free St. Patrick’s Day Chug for their iPhones, and so will you.  Tilt the iPhone back and forth to see how much you can swill in a single sip.  A similar app (except it involves real Guinness) is Lucktricity – St. Patrick’s Day.  And for you Angry Birds fans, the game has been updated with green pigs and a pot of gold in the St. Patrick’s Day edition.

After your hard day of work at the pub, download the Irish lullabye Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral and go to bed, safe in the knowledge that there will be even more apps to choose from in 2012.  Erin Go Bragh.

 

 

Twitt
February 18, 2011

Can’t Handle the [DSP] Truth? Laugh Instead!

If you follow the advertising demand side platform (DSP) space, then you know they’re taking over the world by bringing ROI-driven display to businesses of all sizes and making sure online shoppers get the info, deals, and steals they crave. Check out the following YouTube video from “LMcDuff08″ for a LOL look at where we’re at and where we’re headed. Enjoy!

Twitt
February 14, 2011

That one with the kid and the Star Wars thingy…

I can sometimes remember the gist of a commercial I like, but not always the brand being represented. So, it was fascinating to read in ClickZ, how Nielsen reports on which Superbowl ads consumers recalled most versus those they just really liked a lot (there’s a pretty significant difference).

According to Nielsen, the “recall score” is the percentage of viewers who can remember the brand of an ad they were exposed to during a regular viewing of the Super Bowl. The “likeability score” is the percentage of viewers who report to like an ad “a lot” (among those that can recall the brand).

This year, Doritos hit it out of the recall park with the guy taunting the pug ad; more consumers remembered that spot and brand. The most likable one (and the only one I can remember at all for that matter) was the kiddie Darth Vader Volkswagen commercial.

I wonder how the recall and likeability ratings would change if the day weren’t filled with drinking, food, conversation, betting and more.

(For those of you keeping score, it was food and conversation that lured me away from watching and/or remembering most of the ads. True story.)

Twitt
January 26, 2011

State of the Web

Seattle’s own The Oatmeal (Matthew Inman) has posted his update on the State of the Web for Winter 2010. Insightful, and well worth a read.

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Twitt
January 11, 2011

Think you can’t do Sudoku? Get Android.

In addition to the plethora of tablets and mobile applications that were unveiled at last week’s 2011 International CES, there were also any number of shiny new things running on the Android operating system that were unveiled for the first time. Some seemed puzzling, such as a programmable Android touch module that could be integrated into washing machines, microwaves or other home appliances, presumably so that your clothes dryer could send you a Tweet when the laundry was done.

For me, the best Android-related news came at the end of the show. Google boosted its Google Goggles mobile application so that it can solve Sudoku puzzles on Android smartphones. Finally, something truly useful! Who doesn’t need help solving those vexing numeric puzzles?

Google Goggles is a visual search application that is able to scan barcodes, print ads, artwork, locations — and Sudoku puzzles — through a mobile phone’s camera. It then uses the image to return Web search results. By scanning a blank Sudoku puzzle, you can retrieve the answer. You can see how it works in this video.

I don’t know if Android is truly taking over the world, as some analysts might suggest. And I don’t know if I need my microwave to let me know when my food is cooked to perfection. But I do believe that Google Goggles may be the next best thing for people hooked on Sudoku.

Twitt
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