2 – Online Technology

Update: Webtrends Buys App Platform Start-Up Transpond, Boosts Social Media Analytics

August 10th 2010

Web analytics stalwart Webtrends is increasing its ability to measure traffic from Facebook users and iPhone owners with the acquisition of app platform provider Transpond. They see the acquisition as a complement to their purchase of landing-page optimizer Widemile (now Webtrends Optimize). The Bay Area start-up employs 10, and provides a suite of software-as-a-service tools that […]

Skype and Demand Media IPOs Make this the Year of Digital Investment

August 9th 2010

Look around: These *are* amazing times. Who would imagine, in the “Summer of the Great Recession,“ that a digital content start-up and a phone company whose majority of customers pay nothing would be hot IPO news.  But that’s the point. These two companies shift the status away from the status quo.  And they’re heating up […]

Amanda Palmer and Burning Man Show How to “Sell 2.0”

August 6th 2010

I was part of a manic panel discussion on sales strategies for a Web 2.0 world.  Amidst the usual Rorschach of social media advice were a few killer moments I have to share. Framing Idea: What’s the result of an abundance of information? Attention scarcity. This is what makes insight a premium in the digital […]

Everybody Wants to Rule the World…Wide Web

July 30th 2010

Recently, numerous political groups have been quite upfront about their intent to exert authority over different parts of the online world.  It seems everybody want to rule the Web. Dept of Justice moves to regulate Web through accessibility standards. FCC proposes to regulate Web access via broadband, claims it’s part of regulating telcos. Commerce Dept […]

Jive Takes 30 Million in Funding – Positions for Future IPO

July 26th 2010

It’s been six months since my post that 2010 investment in digital marketing would occupy an increasing share of marketing dollars.  Since then, Oracle, CDC, and Hearst Media have taken the leap. And now, social business software company Jive has taken a $30M series C investment round from  Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers (KPCB).  Here’s […]

Social Media ROI: How to Track Social Visitors to Your Firm’s Site with Google Analytics

July 22nd 2010

Yesterday I tweeted about a technique for using images to get traffic statistics on Facebook fan pages.  While sizing traffic on social sites is fascinating, the playbook for many businesses is to acquire awareness on social sites and then drive qualified leads to the corporate site for deeper engagement. If you can segment social traffic, […]

How to Get Twitter Followers If You’re Starting From Scratch – Thoughts Please

July 16th 2010

A friend of the blog emailed this question last week.  He’s new on Twitter and wants advice on getting going. What would you say? Q: How does anyone know I’m on Twitter?  Spam?! A: People know you’re on Twitter because you use it Okay, let me put some meat on that bone. Why do you […]

Digital Afterlife: Legacies, Digital Executors, and Visiting The Dead On Facebook

June 16th 2010

Who Will Update My Facebook Status When I Die? If you follow this blog’s Twitter feed you may have already seen me saying goodbye to people I’ve enjoyed in person and online.  MIT’s Bill Mitchell and Chuck Howes, formerly of the Christian Science Publishing Society, both good men, recently passed away.  In the case of […]

More Digital Marketing Investment: Marin Gets Funding, Hearst Buys iCrossing

June 10th 2010

Last week, buying lead management companies was all the rage.  Now Marin Software, a Paid Search (SEM) Marketing Platform, completed another financing round, bringing in $11 million.  (That’s $33 million for them to date.) And SEM agency iCrossing has been purchased by Hearst Media for a reported $325 million. The deal could increase to more than […]

Industry View of Lead Management & Marketing Automation Systems

June 8th 2010

Over the last five years I’ve helped companies hone their online game, and that often involves lead management.  Increasingly, lead management systems that provide analytics, automation, customization, and integration with CRM systems are where the online marketing rubber hits the road. Last week I shared links to the 2010 Lead Management Buyers Guide, and I […]