New Digital Index, Lab Measure Online Consumer Satisfaction Globally
A new digital consumer satisfaction index offers a global tool to understand how consumers make connections with a brand leading up to their final decision to either engage and purchase something or go elsewhere. This Digital Satisfaction Index (DSI) originated in the Intent Lab, a new research partnership between Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications and Performics Worldwide.
Verizon Acquires Yahoo for $4.83 Billion
Verizon Communications Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Verizon will acquire Yahoo's operating business for approximately $4.83 billion in cash, subject to customary closing.
An Interview with Nicole Johnson, Global Head of Digital Content Marketing and Strategy, Hearsay Social
As global head of digital content marketing and strategy at Hearsay Social, a San Francisco-based company that provides enterprise technology tools for global financial services, insurance, and mortgage teams, Nicole Johnson's role is to tell authentic and engaging stories around the brand and its offerings. She says, "I build the brand and engage our audiences through content, while ensuring a consistent brand experience across multiple touchpoints."
DX Rx: Updating Your Content Infrastructure to Deliver Better Digital Experiences
Consumers increasingly demand consistent, delightful digital experiences as they interact via desktop, mobile, tablet, digital signage, in-car, and in-store experiences. But the days when you could create a mobile experience that closely mirrors the desktop are long gone. Brands must create tailored experiences by carefully considering the consumer's preferences. Accomplishing this requires well-oiled and well-managed interconnected technologies. Culling necessary data from various customer touchpoint devices and employing it to personalize each consumer's experience on a constant basis demand a new level of sophistication in content-related infrastructure and architecture.
Serialized Content Is Back, and Brands Can Capitalize
According to research from The London Book Fair, more than two-thirds of 18 to 23-year-olds read episodic fiction--and 41% read it every month. Serial publishing is all the rage. Of course, this isn't surprising--at least not to me. The wild popularity of Serial showed us all that there is a market for storytelling that keeps listeners--or readers--dangling at the end of each week's episode.
Boopsie Publishes Report on Mobile App Best Practices
Boopsie sponsored a survey of over 350 librarians to learn more about the value that mobile apps offer diverse communities and the obstacles that libraries face when launching these apps. In preparation for the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference, Boopsie published a report on the results of this survey. With a majority of participants representing public and academic libraries, the report explores six key findings of the survey, which featured questions proposed by leaders in the library industry.
The Digital Tip Jar: Is It Viable in the Ad Blocking Era?
Interestingly, a new twist on an alternative revenue generator has emerged: the democratized digital tip jar. Sites like Wikipedia have employed an online tip jar for years in the form of regular requests for donations from its users via PayPal, credit/debit cards, and other payment methods. But now a major player in the digital donations space-Flattr-is partnering with AdBlock Plus to offer Flattr Plus, a browser extension/app that enables users to remove online ads from sites they visit while also contributing a monthly payment in an amount they choose that will be distributed proportionally to publishers of the sites they surf.
Tools You'll Use: Charles Kelly, Lead Virtual Reality Engineer, Littlestar
The right tools are an integral part of getting any job done. In the world of digital content tools are plentiful, so finding the right one for you can be tricky. That's why we ask the experts what tools they use to get their jobs done. In this month's installment, we talk to Charles Kelly, lead virtual reality engineer, Littlestar.
LinkedIn to be Acquired by Microsoft
In a post on its website, Microsoft announced its intentions to acquire LinkedIn for an all-in purchase price of $26.2 billion. Jeff Weiner will reportedly remain the CEO of LinkedIn, and the deal is expected to close in 2016. Microsoft pointed to a number of upgrades, acquisitions, and more as evidence of LinkedIn's success.
A Conversation with TrollBusters Founder, Dr. Michelle Ferrier
Now the Associate Dean for Innovation, Research/Creative Activity and Graduate Studies Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University, Dr. Ferrier's primary research focus is how best to address the specter of online harassment. She is also the founder of TrollBusters, a digital tool to combat online harassment against women journalists, bloggers, and publishers.
Millenials Still Consume News, But on Their Phones, Survey Finds
Researchers from the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI), housed at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, conducted a national survey of 1,000 smartphone users to better understand how they used their devices when consuming news. The survey revealed that 75% of adults 18-44 years of age frequently use their smartphones to consume news.
Nominate Your Favorite Digital Agency for the #EC40
We are looking for the best agencies in the business for "EContent's Digital Marketing 40." Nominate your favorite digital agency by sending its Twitter handle to @Econtentmag on Twitter -- be sure to include #EC40. Choose from one of the following categories.
The Fight for Marketing Talent
Just a few short years ago, it seemed as if the bottom had fallen out for marketing talent-including writers, graphic designers, videographers, and more. In a declining economy, marketing budgets are often the first to feel the pain. But companies have actively looked for less expensive and more cost-effective ways to get the word out about their products and services. Additionally, Google has tinkered with its algorithms to provide SEO rewards to those who can supply rich, varied, and original content on a regular basis. And so, demand for talent has outstripped supply.
An Interview with Charles Kelly, Lead Virtual Reality Engineer, Littlstar
As lead virtual reality (VR) engineer of Littlstar, a global network dedicated to immersive 360-video and photos, Charles Kelly is responsible for the development of all VR applications across the various makes and models of VR headsets. "My job is to make sure the Littlstar video applications can be viewed and used on multiple technologies and VR platforms," Kelly says. "There are several different headsets currently out in the marketplace to view these VR, 360-videos, and we want to be accessible and at the forefront of all of them."
Content Marketing Institute Announces Acquisition by UBM
Content Marketing Institute (CMI) is a ubiquitous name in the content marketing sphere, as is its founder Joe Pulizzi. Now the company has been acquired by UBM--a B2B events organizer and parent company of The PR Newswire. Reports say the purchase cost UBM $17.6 million.
Marketo Enters into Definitive Agreement to be Acquired by Vista Equity Partners for $1.79 Billion
Marketo, Inc., a provider of engagement marketing software and solutions, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Vista Equity Partners, a leading private equity firm focused on investments in software, data, and technology-enabled businesses. The terms of this all-cash deal provide substantial value to Marketo shareholders. Vista will acquire all outstanding shares of Marketo common stock for a total value of approximately $1.79 billion. Marketo shareholders will receive $35.25 in cash per share, representing a 64% premium to the unaffected closing price as of May 9, 2016.
LM Wolper Information Delivery Becomes LM Information Delivery, Inc.
LM Wolper Information Delivery's company name will change to LM Information Delivery, Inc. This change in name and visual identity in meant to unify the US organization with the international LM Information Delivery Group, which acquired the company, then known as Wolper Information Services, back in 2012.
Seismic Secures $40 Million Series C Funding
Seismic, an enterprise software company, and General Atlantic, a global growth equity firm, announced that General Atlantic has led a $40 million strategic growth investment in the company through a Series C round of funding. General Atlantic joins JMI Equity and Jackson Square Ventures as a minority shareholder. Gary Reiner, former chief information officer at GE and Operating Partner at General Atlantic, will join Seismic's board of directors.
SDL Research Reveals Challenges of Rapid Growth within the Translation Industry
SDL announced the release of its Translation Technology Insights research study, examining the role of technology in the translation industry. With nearly 3,000 respondents across 115 countries and nine languages, the survey findings are comprised of responses from freelance translators, employees of translation agencies and translation-related roles within business - making this the largest and most expansive within the translation industry to date.
Smartling Acquires VerbalizeIt to Expand Multimedia Translation Capabilities
Smartling announced it has acquired VerbalizeIt to augment its enterprise translation management platform with translation capabilities for audio, video, and other multimedia content. Its second acquisition this year, Smartling continues to expand the breadth of translation management technology offerings within its platform. In addition to technology and people, the acquisition brings hundreds of VerbalizeIt customers to Smartling.
Rapt Media Survey Reveals Personalization Drives Content Discovery
According to The Future of Content: Rethinking Content Consumption, a national survey report, consumers want to discover digital content on their own and are skeptical of brands pushing online ads through interruptive channels. Rapt Media, a provider of interactive video technology, recently surveyed an audience of more than 1,000 consumers to understand how content discovery is driving the content personalization trend.
Progress Finds Businesses Need to Make Digital Inroads, Announces Digital Factory
Progress announced the results of its recent global survey, Are Businesses Really Digitally Transforming or Living in Digital Denial? The survey, conducted in Q1 2016 by Loudhouse, the specialist research division of Octopus Group, aimed to better understand how business leaders view digital transformation and learn their plans to address its challenges.
Survey Reveals Impact of Streaming Video Services on the Future Evolution of Pay TV
CSG Systems International, Inc. announced survey findings that reveal new trends in consumer use of streaming video services and the impact of streaming on Pay TV services. In the survey titled Going with the Flow: How to Captivate Video Streamers, The Diffusion Group (TDG), on behalf of CSG, polled nearly 2,000 consumers across the United States who regularly use streaming services to watch video. Survey respondents reported their opinions about watching short- and long-form video content including movies, TV shows, sports and other content across devices and from multiple providers.
European Industry Survey Reveals Key Trends in Internet of Things
PLAT.ONE, an Enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) solution platform, announced the results of its European IoT Industry Survey from the M2M Forum in Milan. PLAT.ONE conducted an Internet of Things Industry survey in Europe in Q2 2016 to learn about the challenges IT and business professionals are facing with their IoT projects. Key areas of investigation included IT infrastructure, technology requirements, business challenges, and state of deployment.
Making the Case for the Homepage
Innovation never rests, and in the past decade, the way users discover content has continued to change rapidly. First Google and other search engines allowed a user to target specific topics and go right to related content, bypassing a site's homepage. Social media then developed completely new routes for users to discover content. It makes sense that marketers are now focusing on these other channels. But, does that mean they can completely ignore the homepage?