Textopoly Mobile Blog » brands

Social Media: Are You In or Are You Out?

Guest — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:05:03 +0000

As I think back to the ancient days of MySpace and how far social media and social networking have come since then, I realize that the future only holds greater and more advanced outlets for communicating, advertising, and relaying information. The most popular form of social media at this moment continues to be Facebook but it is followed closely behind by a vast number of social media sites including Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Renren, and Flickr.

Erik Qualman, author of Socialnomics, put it best when he said that, “we don’t have a choice of whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it.” This is why companies such as our very own Textopoly are exploding into the social media world with full force. Facebook users, bloggers, and video downloaders have the ability to control how the world thinks about brands and their products. “Do you like what they are saying about your brand?”

Because brands are asking this question, companies such as Textopoly are leading the industry with their ability to use these social networks and other forms of social media to capture consumers and promote products. This industry is growing faster than seems possible yet the innovative minds that are powering these companies continue to challenge its speed. Can it be possible that social media is just a fad? Only time with tell. However, until the day that MySpace, Facebook, and upcoming social networks no longer exist, I highly recommend that brands take the leap into the social media world.

To see more about just how influential social media has become, check out the video below. (From where else but the social media site, YouTube)

Social Media Revolution

Apple is breaking up with Quattro Wireless!

Kang — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:22:17 +0000

Apple is not accepting anymore mobile ad campaigns and are closing down current ad campaigns through the Quattro Wireless ad network. Back in January, Apple purchased Quattro Wireless for a cool $275 million and it seems like they are already over the ad network after 8 months. With so much money invested into their new mobile ad network, I have to wonder what the reasoning behind Apple closing shop on their new cross platform ad network to focus on the iAd network?

This is good news for mobile advertising companies that have clients looking to execute mobile advertising on Android and other non-Apple platforms. There will be more available inventory options for smaller mobile ad players. However it will be impossible to execute a iAd campaign for a medium to smaller brand since the minimum buy is $10 million to execute. So really it’s a double edge sword, Apple has brought the light of understanding to major brands that big mobile media buys will be a norm and happen frequently. The catch is that no one with less than a $10 million for their mobile media budget will be able to run ads on iAds network.

Apple has always developed all their products to exist in an Apple eco-system. I think when Apple purchased Quattro, it was a little bit of a shock that they were extending their reach beyond the eco-system of their products. Perhaps Apple felt pressure due to the highly popularized and drawn out Google and Admob acquisition? Or was it an attempt to maintain dominance, they purchased a massive ad network to gain more control over their inventory? One thing is for sure, Apple is casting off the non-Apple inventory and ceasing to run campaigns on Quattro’s network of publishers. So what gives Apple?! I understand that you have $40 Billion in cash alone and $275 million won’t break or make you; but what do you have up your sleeve?

Vitaminwater’s Going Mobile

Naushad — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:33:44 +0000

Vitaminwater recently launched their newest campaign staring the genius that is Gary Busey. In the new ads Gary Busey plays Norman Tugwater, Fantasy Sports Attorney. He’s fighting to get monetary compensation from fantasy sports players for the athletes that he represents. The whole thing is pretty funny and quite entertaining, but Busey’s nut-job cheesy TV attorney character takes the cake.

The most interesting part of the whole campaign would be the texting component that they have going on – we are a mobile company and into the whole mobile thing. It’s nice to see a campaign with integrated mobile components. By texting in TUG to 70734, users receive a call from Gary Busey followed by an SMS with a link to their mobile site. Once on the mobile site, users can watch the viral video and share it via Facebook and Twitter. It’s a pretty robust campaign, from the Facebook page, videos, billboards, and OOH. We salute you Vitaminwater, welcome to the mobile club!

Movin’ On Up, Smartphone Usage Rises

Guest — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:05:53 +0000

As most people in the United States know, mobile phones are no longer used simply for calling someone for a piece of quick information or directions from A to B. Mobile phones have become our lifelines.

If you’re anything like me, which probably 80% of the people I interact with on a daily basis are, we would be unable to function without the use of our handy (no pun intended) mobile phones with their ever-expanding capabilities. Whether it be the iPhone, Android, or Blackberry, users have become infatuated by the unlimited number of games, messaging applications, and internet use that are available with one touch of a finger.

To support my belief that mobile phone users are becoming more and more addicted to the multiple capabilities of a smartphone is a statistic showing that between the months of March and May 2010, smartphone usage has increased by 8.1%.

A few statistics that should have companies who want to sell their products salivating;

Nearly a third (31.9%) used their smartphones for web browsing
30% used downloaded applications
20.8% used their phones to access social networking sites or blogs

This is great news for companies who are hoping to expand their products and advertise in the mobile world. With the rise of smartphone usage, and overall web browsing on any mobile phone; companies and agencies are now given the opportunity to reach out to their audiences and give them the information they are seeking through WAP/mobile sites (which in my opinion are brilliant), text messages, and applications. These tactics just make things that much easier for their consumers to devour whatever their hearts desires!

If you feel like your brain just hasn’t taken in enough to convince you, feel free to check out the article yourself and let me know your thoughts!

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=131673&nid=116386

Press Release: Textopoly Unveils Newport Beach Film Festival’s Social Media and Mobile Mash-up

Naushad — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:50:03 +0000

We’re very excited to debut out latest release!

Textopoly Unveils Newport Beach Film Festival’s Social Media and Mobile Mash-up

Textopoly Injects Mobile into Social Media through a Unique Facebook Mobile Opt-in Widget and Debuts Fully Integrated Social Marketing Campaign Capabilities including Social Management

Costa Mesa CA – March 9, 2010 – Textopoly, Inc., a bleeding-edge mobile & social engagement agency specializing in all things interactive, announced today the debut of their new mobile marketing tools in the social media space. Through a creative social media mobile opt-in method and integrated social tools such as Facebook, Twitter, RSS, and leep.it, Textopoly has delivered brands a new way to extend their message to interested and engaged users.

Textopoly’s new social suite includes mobile opt-in integration into Facebook. The new Facebook opt-in Widget enables social publishers to build a mobile community of opt-ins directly from their Fan Page through a customized tab and send targeted mobile alerts, video clips, images and audio clips through Textopoly’s proprietary mo:base platform. Through this unique widget, Textopoly has created a whole new communication paradigm connecting social media with mobile. Additionally, through the use of mo:base and it’s unique interaction with Twitter, brands now have the ultimate space to post their updates and have it sent out across their social media sphere and mobile communities.

“Textopoly had a lot of creative technologies which would help us better utilize and integrate our social media offerings,” said Todd Quartararo, Co-Founder & Director of Marketing for Newport Beach Film Festival. “We’re really proud to debut Textopoly’s new tools and have seen amazing results thus far. Through their social media & mobile offerings, Textopoly has helped us reach our goal this year of extending and organizing the social media and mobile space of the festival.”

“The Newport Beach Film Festival is just the start,” said Naushad Huda, CEO and Co-Founder of Textopoly. “We can now extend our social media offerings to all brands, providing them a space to further engagement with their fan base by fusing mobile and social together. As seen with the Newport Beach Film Festival, we’ve created a whole new way to vitalize end users; and this tool is the first of many on slate for this year.”

Alongside of the social media mobile widget and Twitter integration, Textopoly is debuting their social media campaign management offering. By moving beyond mobile services Textopoly has planted its foot in the overall marketing game by being the first to offer mobile and social from one shop. Through strategic content updates and mobile interaction, Textopoly vows to help every brand move beyond its traditional static methods and into the expanding social-metaverse of the future.

For information visit www.textopoly.com or their Facebook page at http://leep.it/fk

About Newport Beach Film Festival
Celebrated as one of the leading film festivals in the United States, the Newport Beach Film Festival has evolved into a prestigious multicultural event, attracting over 51,000 attendees to Southern California. Committed to enlightening the public with a first-class international film program, a forum for cultural understanding and enriching educational opportunities, the Festival focuses on showcasing a fresh and diverse collection of studio and independent films from around the globe. Located along the pristine Orange County coastline, the Newport Beach Film Festival offers attendees an optimal setting to experience filmmaking at its best. With its action packed slate of film screenings, red carpet galas, international spotlights, nightly receptions, compelling conversations with filmmakers, fashion shows, music performances and industry seminars, the Newport Beach Film Festival has quickly gained recognition among filmmakers and audiences worldwide The eleventh annual Newport Beach Film Festival runs April 22-29, 2010 and will spotlight over 400 films from around the world. www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com

About Textopoly, Inc.
Textopoly is a mobile & social engagement agency that creates highly customized campaigns for brands and agencies. Whether it is through texting, the mobile internet, applications, or social media they bring the brand straight to the users fingertips through easy and fun interactions. Through an evolving form of marketing, as well as research and dedication to both technology and its best practices, Textopoly is the leading pioneer in setting the trends in mobile and social engagements. Visit Textopoly at www.textopoly.com/.

Textopoly, Inc. Media Contact:
Evan Kennedy
Textopoly Inc.
O: +1.949.281.7201
evan@textopoly.com

Get at me!

Naushad — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:49:19 +0000

This is a quickie – I’ll randomly post brands that I was thinking about that would be fun to work with.

Johnny Rockets & Atkins are two I was thinking about today.

A mobile site (and/or iPhone app) for JR with location finder, nutrition info and fun bells and whistles would be cool. For Atkins, a strategy that would tie into their social media efforts on facebook and a strategy using SMS/WAP for health tips, menus, meal plans, etc.

HTC Hero – It’ll Save You!

Asif — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:23:16 +0000

In response to Shehzad’s “HTC…No One’s Hero”

Ohhhh little brother… You have so much more to live and learn. Kudos on the attempt though!

We can at least agree on the fact that AT&T’s network is anemic at best. However, when comparing the HTC Hero and Apple iPhone, both of which I have also owned and operated, I still feel as though the HTC, for my purposes is far greater than the iPhone.

Let me address a few of your ‘points…’

1) Size Always Matters

You are definitely correct, the HTC Hero is 10% smaller than the Apple iPhone; I don’t have a huge bulge in my hip pocket when I have the HTC Hero. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is less functional when using the virtual keyboard. I can type text messages and directions just as fast, and when the HTC Hero predicts the word you are trying to type it’s at least close if not exactly what you want to type!

2) HTC Hero = Non- Sense mobile phone

I’ll give you this one. Yes, I agree they should have made a sensor to when you put the phone to your ear it would lock the screen.

2a) HTC Hero = Social Media Guru

One of the other things that the HTC Hero does a lot better than the iPhone, is keep me connected with all my friends and family! Its’ simple integration with my Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter account, keeps me updated on all the ‘status changes’ and organizes my messages from my friends, and overall lets me stay in touch with everyone no matter where I am! I don’t even need the Facebook mobile application! With the iPhone, I have click on the stupid Facebook application, click on ‘home’ to view status updates, click on ‘profile’ to view my profile, why couldn’t they make it all integrated?!

3) Alphabetically? Really?

The menu button in the HTC Hero is really just a buy-product. They didn’t care about it because you can customize your home screen or any of the remaining 6 screens to have whatever you want on them! For example, on my home screen I have the most common items I use: contacts, Pandora, messages, email, and browser. If I flick the screen to the left, it has all of my wireless amenities, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, etc. I customize my phone to fit me and therefore never use the menu button! Furthermore, even if it is in alphabetical order, who cares, it’s so much easier to find things! When I had my iPhone, things were all over the place, and never in order, unless I customized them.

In conclusion, the iPhone is a good phone, its easy to use and meant for every Tom, Dick, and Harry, however, when you really want a phone to do a man’s job, get the HTC Hero, it’s a Hero and a Hero always wins!

PS: Let’s not forget, this is HTC’s first attempt against the iPhone, which is in its 3^rd generation. As soon as HTC gets a bit more comfortable, I have no doubt they will out do the iPhone in every category.

Want to chat about mobile over lunch!? My treat! Email me at: Asif[at]textopoly[dot]com

‘Oh Disney Where Art Thou?’

Asif — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:20:54 +0000

I starting writing this blog while listening to a webinar about mobile; one of the panelists was explaining how brands and agencies will pay more attention to mobile if they can understand its full potential ‘reach.’ We’ve heard many times before that most agencies and brands don’t fully understand the reach of mobile, or how to utilize it. Now, I’m not going go into detail about statistics of mobile nor try and to pitch mobile, but I will tell you how Disney has used mobile and how their reach is global.

Disney currently covers almost every available mobile content delivery method available: Disney mobile WAP sites, streaming mobile video, mobile games, ring tones, wallpapers, SMS updates and news, mobile Disney radio app., SMS campaigns and more! Disney entered the mobile space in 1999 and since then is the number 1 mobile entertainment media; with a mobile presence in over 40 countries and deals through 80 carriers and over 6,000 products across 20 product categories all via mobile. This seamless integration of their brand into mobile allows them to reach its consumers clear across the world, including impoverished countries in Africa and central Asia on a ubiquitous device. The more people you touch using the most intimate method of communication, the more loyalty, and brand recognition you create.

As 2010 approaches, and you’re looking back on 2009 think about this: Can your brand reach someone in Africa…? Or better yet, are you reaching 90% of the U.S. in their pockets? – Spend some time with us, we’ll show you how. Oh, to help further education on mobile and get a free lunch visit this: http://bit.ly/7AZKZM

Want to talk more about mobile and its potential reach!? Email me at: Asif[at]Textopoly[dot]com

Mobile and Action Sports

Kang — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:07:39 +0000

Being a surfer and an advocate of mobile, I had to comment on the great job Surfline did with their mobile website. Swell directions and wave conditions are always changing and are never the same. I always joke that a surfer is an amateur weatherman because we are always tracking storms, wind patterns, and tide levels. I’ve used this mobile web site for about 2 years now. The mobile site launched in 2004!

My hats goes off to the surf gurus at Surfline that understood the importance of taking their services mobile. The other day I was playing with my new phone (Mytouch) and browsing through the Android Apps market, sure enough I saw a Surfline powered Surf App! Seeing this made me wonder why aren’t more action sports brands doing more on mobile! The surfing demographic is perfect and RIPE for mobile. The ages that surf brands target are tweens, teens, and young adults, something I like to call the “green room” of marketers! This is the demographic that has high purchasing behavior and are completely mobile savvy, but many of these action sports brands solely rely on traditional methods. Perhaps it is a lack of understanding how mobile can take their brands into the pockets of their consumers? If that’s the case, sign up for a Mobile with the Munchies presentation here! Any brand looking to connect and engage their target market, mobile is the answer… My passion are surfing and skateboarding, both industries are so ripe for mobile to blow up their branding out of the water! Literally!

Mobile News Round-up – 11/11/2009

Naushad — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:13:41 +0000

It’s only Thursday and it’s already been a big week in mobile news. Check out some of the latest and greatest stories. Feel free to share any news that you stumble upon with us – hit me up at evan [at] textopoly [dot] com or throw it in the comments.

Great, just what we need – another OS and another App Store. Way to go Samsung, way to be original! However, I do applaud you for going the open standards route and trying to tackle the closed OSs like the iPhone and Windows Mobile. Check out the full story here: Samsung launches bada open mobile OS

Dear Microsoft, you may rule the desktop OS, but your Mobile OS is failing horribly and a quite subpar in my opinion. Good luck trying to overtake this market – First iPhone, now Droid. Who needs Windows?

Google expands it’s advertising options into the mobile space through their purchase of Admob. Watch out, soon Google will be our overlord – enjoy your freedom while you got it… – Breaking: Google Acquires AdMob for $750 Million in Stock