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All News Analyses by this Author

The Hispanic Market is Soaring - Marketers Take Notice!

November 4, 2009

Analysis of:The Hispanic Market Is Set to Soar | www.adweek.com

Hispanics are a critical target for US marketers in coming years.  They are growing in size, influence, buying power, and have a young audience that is just entering their high earning and spending years.  This target will have to be handled differently than a typical US target, as culture plays a bigger part in their lives.  Language will be more important even as most will have English language skills.  And yes, they are wired!  However complex, the numbers will make it worthwhile.

Barnes & Noble's Nook v. Kindle: Who will gain competitive advantage?

October 26, 2009

Analysis of:Barnes & Noble: Raising the E-Reader Bar | www.businessweek.com

IT sounds like Nook is launching with a lot of additional bells and whistles that Kindle does not currently have.  The question is what is the strategy that each is really employing to gain a sustainable competitive advantage? 

Ballmer Places ALL Content Online within Ten Years

June 25, 2009

Analysis of:Microsoft’s Ballmer: All Traditional Content Will Be Digital In 10 Years | tinyurl.com

At the Cannes Lion Festival Ballmer said that all content would be digital and online within ten years. He further said that the advertising economy had been reset and revenues would never reset to “pre-recession” levels. The core message being that “traditional broadcast and print media” would be taking a smaller share of the market with the shift moving to digital outlets. OK - but is that a surprise? The real issue is that for the first time, online growth is stabilizing and slowing. How is the market changing and what does this mean in terms of where the market is really headed?

Vizeum: Break-though Marketing or Trying a tad too hard?

June 23, 2009

Analysis of:Vizeum: We’re graffiti-ing the streets of Sydney and Melbourne | mumbrella.com.au

It is getting tougher and tougher to break-through with marketing messaging and agencies must be creative and think differently.  But does breaking the law and spraying graffiti properly target an audience, or get the message out in an effective way?  Or is the message lost altogether? In this case, the question has to be asked if the effect was more damage than good, or is any publicity, good publicity?

Online Growth Opportunities in the Down Ad Market

June 11, 2009

Analysis of:Has The Ad Recession Hit Bottom Yet? | www.paidcontent.org

The ad market has been brutal - the decline has been steady and hit 15.1% in Q1 according to Bernstein Research Ad Tracker. No sector grew including online which was a first. And while many, including ZenithOptimedia, still predict growth in online ad spend this year, even they have cut their projection in half to 4.5%. However, there are strategies for companies to make money in online advertising. It is key for online marketers to monetize their business - now more than ever.

Disney's Cost Cutting Now Reduces Flexibility

June 4, 2009

Analysis of:Disney's Hopes Are High for 'Up' | online.wsj.com

The WSJ article focuses on Disney’s release of “UP,” however reviews the greater implications of a strategy of reduced film releases.  The implications of this strategy tie performance more significantly to the results or each film giving Disney, perhaps, less flexibility.  This, however, has been building for years as Disney has tried to boost near-term profits.  Perhaps a result of the near-term profit orientation rather than a balanced strategy to build a sustainable, long-term profitable growth plan.  

To Globalize Really Does Mean Think Globally, Act Locally.

June 2, 2009

Analysis of:A Snip at the Price: The recession gives parsimonious innovators a chance to go global | www.economist.com

The recession provides opportunity and one is for innovators to look to the world. Expansion is a real possibility in this time where consumers are looking for value. However, one must do so with a strategic plan, and thoughtfully to succeed. Today more than ever, you must think globally but act locally.

Google Book Deal - Information is No Longer Free

March 17, 2009

Analysis of:Google Book Settlement Site is Up; Paying Authors $60 Per Scanned Book | tinyurl.com

The Google Book Deal Settlement that was made late last October and is still being discussed in seminars all over the country has created one of the more controversial and potentially lucrative deals in history.  It is certainly one of the largest book deals in history.  The lawsuit grew out of the claim that Google was infringing on the copyright of authors.  They were and are maintaining “fair use” doctrine in their scanning of works and making snippets accessible.  One thing for sure, Google has ensured that they will continue to be able to provide access to worlds largest available body of published works.  They are just going to be paying authors for access and sharing the revenues derived from making the works available.

Amazon's Kindle 2 Taking Advantage of Shifting Winds

March 17, 2009

Analysis of:Amazon Raises an E-Book Specter | online.wsj.com

Kindle 2 has evolved with many new advances.  Some question if it will significantly impact the book-buying market or just fade away into the techno-junk yard.  The fact is that the device is in demand and projected to sell $1.2 Billion by 2010.  Competitors have taken notice and are entering the market.  All of this at a time when the publishing industry is struggling.  The winds are shifting and Amazon seems to be taking advantage of these shifting winds.

What were they thinking?

July 18, 2008

Analysis of:Flickr turns to Getty to sell amateur photos | www.usatoday.com

What is Yahoo/Flickr thinking?  The Execs at Flickr have done it again - they have shown they lack the understanding of the value of what Flickr is and could be.  This week they announced a deal with Getty Images which allows Getty editors the exclusive right to peruse the site and select images that may be appropriate for publishers, designers and advertising creatives for licensing.  Getty will contact the photographers directly and any licensing fees will be split between Getty and the photographer.  And what does Flickr get?  It appears nothing.  

Getty Images – Does Scoopt add up to more than citizen news?

March 14, 2007

Analysis of:Scoopt Gets Scooped Up | www.forbes.com

Getty Images has taken a beating in the market over the last year and there has recently been speculation that they should have bought JupiterImages.  But, their acquisitions strategies have always been focused on bringing real value to the company - more than knocking out a competitor for a high price.  Recent  actions continue to point to this and the most recent, the acquisition of Scoopt, provides access to Flickr users and the citizen news community while leveraging their technology and a news workflow that already exists.  Their recent moves are very smart for the near and long term and build out a well-rounded and very well-positioned company.

Yahoo & Flickr –Monetizing the value of the network and usability!

March 13, 2007

Analysis of:How Yahoo Blew It | www.wired.com

General analysis coming out regarding Yahoo is that they have missed the boat. This is also true in relation to Flickr.  Implications are that there is little opportunity left.  However, even in light of many mistakes on the part of Yahoo, users continue to use Flickr.  Flickr has amassed an amazing collection of visual media that rivals the best in the world.  Users find Flickr a powerful tool but more importantly, a useful tool. It is a great way to share images, and one that offers some things that others don't.  Flickr is actually better.  As a result, Flickr has become host to perhaps the most significant collection of still images in the world.  But it appears they don't know what to do next.  There are even others capitalizing on the Flickr tool offering to license Flickr images if only the individual posting this image will tag their images a certain way...  The tool is strong and the opportunity still exists -- almost in spite of what Yahoo has been doing.   

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