Click, enjoy and learn.

We’ve done the hard work for you.

Google Opens Places API With Initial Focus On Check-In Apps - TechCrunch
“Today on their Geo blog, Google is announcing that they’re beginning to open the Places API for business. The first developers getting access? Those working on check-in services.

Here’s what Google has to say:

  ‘We are going to focus initially on check-in applications. These are the applications that we feel the API currently caters to well, and we are excited to work with developers building these applications to understand their requirements, and ensure that we are offering them the best possible experience.’

So does this mean the end of Foursquare, Gowalla, Loopt, and all the rest? Well, no. All this means is that it should be a lot easier for startups to build the next versions of those types of services.”

From a RedDoor perspective, based applications are perhaps one of the most under-utilized technologies available to marketers.  Timely, convenient, personal and accessible through several existing channels.  Email, SMS, applications and mobile browsers each have an established place in the consumers hand.  All marketers have to do is reach out . . . 
Read More

The Dirtiest Word in UX:  Complexity- UX Magazine
“It’s hard to read anything about UX without finding a reference to the constant tension between simplicity and complexity. People have strong preconceived notions about the words, especially when it comes to experience design. You don’t have to be a UX practitioner to understand that simplicity is a good thing; no one goes around the office saying, “Alright team, let’s make this application really, really complex!”
Read More

Sonic, REI, American Eagle drive traffic in-store via SMS – MobileMarketer
“Sonic, REI and American Eagle Outfitters participated in a ShopAlerts pilot program where 65 percent of consumers purchased a product as a result of a text alert they received.

A Placecast executive discussed case studies and the company’s mobile strategy during a webinar moderated by Mobile Marketer’s Dan Butcher. The webinar centered around ShopAlerts, which are location-triggered text messages designed to drive opted-in consumers to a brand’s retail locations.”
Read More

10% Of Applications In The App Store For iPad Boast In-App Purchases - TechCrunch
“According to Distimo, the percentage of applications with in-app purchases is significantly higher in the App Store for iPad (10%) compared to that for the iPhone (2%). One of the main reasons for that, still according to the startup, is the fact that the App Store for iPad became available after in-app purchases were introduced, contrary to the App Store for iPhone. Another reason to take into consideration is that the iPad may currently be used more as a media consumption device than the iPhone, with magazine and newspaper publishers selling much of their content as in-app purchases.”
Read More

What Marketers Can Learn From Starbucks’ Foursquare Stumble - AdAge
Starbucks has a well-earned rep as an outstanding marketer that really does get social media. Which is why it didn’t surprise me it was an early adopter on Foursquare. What did surprise me: When I went to take advantage of Starbucks’ recently ended Foursquare promotion, neither the barista nor the manager had any idea what I was talking about. So much for cashing in on my mayorship with a discounted caramel frappuccino. Really, Starbucks? How difficult is it to send an e-mail to your managers outlining the campaign details? Missteps aside, I have a lot of respect for the marketing minds at Starbucks. The company has consistently been first to jump on new technologies and platforms and incorporate them into its marketing strategy!”
Read More

A comprehensive list of noteworthy news can be found at http://delicous.com/RedDoorInteractive.  Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter if you’d like up to the minute updates on our latest posts http://twitter.com/reddoor.

With Apple’s 4G iPhone and a second-gen Android on deck, smartphone sales are expected to grow. That means location-based brand marketing on mobile devices will become essential.

Smartphone features are changing the ways brands market and they could change consumer habits the way the Internet did in the late 1990s, panelists at a Red Door Interactive roundtable said Tuesday.

“The majority of communication and content consumption is going to move to mobile,” said panelist Jeff Montgomery, the chief revenue officer for Placecast, a location-based mobile marketing firm. “Mobile marketing messages need to be relevant, though — they have to reach you when you need them and where you need them.”

Full Story >>

This latest event was focused on Mobile Marketing. Mobile Marketing is revolutionizing the way that brands connect with consumers. For many marketers the world of Mobile can seem daunting but this channel offers a wealth of opportunity to strengthen brand awareness, drive conversions and increase customer retention.

Success of the iPhone 3G, Blackberry Storm and Google Android enabled phones empower brands to drive sales via the small screen. Food & beverage, sports, apparel, travel and tourism companies as well as retail giants are proving that mobile commerce is here to stay. Additionally, couponing, voting, store location, surveys and digital downloads are a handful of other ways to communicate with consumers through their Mobile devices.

Dan Flanegan (CEO, BrandAnywhere), Andy Jedynak (Internet Executive and Author), Greg Hallinan (CMO, Verve Wireless) and Travis Falstad (Marketing Strategy Consultant, formerly of Hot Topic) made up our expert panel. Red Door President Reid Carr moderated the hour and a half long discussion on the opportunities that this emerging channel provides as well as what marketers should be thinking about when launching a Mobile Marketing campaign.

Here are some photos from the event:

Here are some insights from the @reddoor Twitter feed (#reddoor hashtag to follow along):

“We are beyond the “Year of Mobile Marketing” focus is no longer on the technology but on the use and application for marketers”

“Most brands creating apps (@starbucks #chipotle are leveraging GPS functionality – becomes a bit like the Minority Report”

“Mobile technology is at the point where the local has become possible”

“Execution of the mobile campaign is becoming easier, but u have to have good marketing plan”

“Mobile is simply another marketing channel. Creating an effective marketing campaign is key to getting users interested”

“Open rates of text messages much higher than email, 60%-90%+”

“The majority of big brand’s mobile budgets are going toward advertising to drive users toward a mobile experience”

“The majority of big brand’s mobile budgets are going toward advertising to drive users toward a mobile experience”

“Theme among panelists:don’t do Mobile just to do it – understand your target audience, have pertinent reason to engage the customer”

“For most marketers, unless national or using GPS, there’s really no reason to build an app because mobile web is catching up rapidly”

“Keep up to date on what’s going on: http://usshortcodes.com/ and http://mmaglobal.com/main”

Our next Speaker Series event is in Denver on Tuesday, October 27th. The topic will again be Mobile Marketing and we have another great panel including Dan Flanegan (CEO, BrandAnywhere), Greg Hallinan (CMO, Verve Wireless), Sue Chandler (Senior Product Manager, Cricket Wireless) and David Gould (CEO, mShopper). Morgan Witt, Manager of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships at Red Door will be moderating. We hope that you can join us!

REGISTER NOW!!!!

Topics covered this year include email, search, mobile, optimization, testing, lead gen, direct mail, analytics, advertising, PR and video.

Plus three trends surfaced:
1. EMAIL IS NOT DEAD – Personalization and optimization are key
2. BUILD SOCIAL NETWORKS – There is value in building one-to-one relationships
3. SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION – Natural search produces significant ROI

Thanks to MarketingSherpa and Red Door Interactive partner, Omniture, for putting out this valuable information!