Ru Roberts, Waze: On non-distracting and privacy-conscious advertising

MarketingTech caught up with Ru Roberts, UK Country Manager for Waze, to discuss how the popular satellite navigation app advertises to drivers in a responsible manner.

As a free app, Waze relies on advertising. However, displaying ads to drivers could be a recipe for disaster.

Waze has faced its fair share of criticisms in the past for distracting drivers. Early users will remember things like messages from random drivers popping up constantly. Fortunately, Waze heard...

11 February 2022 | Advertising

Directly.me’s Rocky Mirza: We’re more of an ‘anti-social network’

This week I got to speak with Rocky Mirza, the co-founder of an ambitious search engine called “Directly.me” which can allow you to get your message to anyone – yes, anyone.

Occasionally you come across projects which could potentially revolutionise how we get in touch with people, and this is exactly one of these types of startups.

The core idea is to place a “Bounty” on someone you’d like to get in touch with, and how much you’re...

8 July 2013 | Commerce

Is Social Media putting extra strain on marketers?

Where most of us think of social media as a way of easily reaching out to friends and family, for marketers, it’s a powerful tool for engaging new audiences. A report from marketing production services firm Charterhouse however, shows extra strain being put on departments.

In fact, two thirds of marketers agree that this new generation of marketing channels such as social media has created more work for their department.

Most of the pressure appears to be from increased...

2 July 2013 | Advertising

Looking to improve your commercial performance? Get FTSE 350 Social

We can probably all think of times we’ve received great customer service; moments which stand-out, will be remembered, and walked away feeling our opinion matters, has influence, and has been dealt with to the best of a third party’s ability.

A new study by Sitecore, a leading web content and customer experience management software company, shows those companies which employ a “personal touch” perform better commercially.

The report looks into FTSE 350...

25 June 2013 | Campaigns

Microsoft tries to gain back Windows 8 ad trust with Ad Pano

Nearly two months ago I’d written an article on our sister site DeveloperTech how Windows 8 developers were not being paid for their in-app advertisements, and how it was affecting their finances. Now Microsoft could be trying to restore trust and rival Apple’s “iAds” with Ad Pano.

The platform which enables this new interactive advertising is even reminiscent of the iAd platform, but available on any screen where Windows 8 is installed.

Availability...

24 June 2013 | Advertising

Google Glass is ‘the next iPhone’ says analyst, prime for marketing?

Wearable computing has taken headlines by storm recently; from wrist-based such as the Kickstarter-success Pebble, to those sitting on your nose like Google’s Glass. Amid concerns and “fashion” issues; many wondered whether these devices would take off, alongside privacy concerns.

Well it looks like it will, it looks like it will be big, and due to the popularity we’re left thinking how it could be great for some innovative marketing.

According to a...

21 June 2013 | Advertising

Microsoft rewarding users for watching TV? Count me in!

From Microsoft’s initial introduction of the Xbox 360, the team wished to be the “360 [degree] entertainment hub for your home.”

This vision far succeeded where others fell short; taking a vast library of content services and mixing them with incredible games.

Alongside this version of the best-selling console came an “achievements” feature, the undisputed way of bragging to friends of your accomplishments and spurring them to do...

13 June 2013 | Advertising

Google’s advertising under fire by FTC

It’s not the first time Google has come under scrutiny by the FTC, but this time it’s whether the world’s favourite search engine is using its advertising platform to harm the competition.

“With great power, comes great responsibility” is a quote which comes to mind when speaking about a giant like Google, and I’m not sure Spiderman would approve of how Google is handling its responsibility to provide fair ground for advertising.

According...

24 May 2013 | Advertising

Twitter helps your marketing with ‘Lead Generation’ Cards

Just over a month ago, DeveloperTech wrote about Twitter updating its expandable “Cards” to include apps, products, and photo galleries. In a blog post; Twitter has announced “Lead Generation” cards to further help with your digital marketing.

If you’re unaware of how the cards work, they’re currently only available via the web and official Android/iOS clients, and allow the standard tweets to be “expanded” with more...

22 May 2013 | Advertising

Regulator shuts down TweetDeck due to accounting irregularities

TweetDeck is a well-known product for many diehard (otherwise known as “power”) users of the popular micro-blogging platform service, Twitter.

So in less than 140 characters, let’s explain the situation: “TweetDeck fails to file financial records, gets ‘dissolved’ by Cardiff-based Companies House”.

Let’s go a little more in-depth. Twitter first bought TweetDeck Ltd in 2011 for a reportedly cool £25 million deal from...

7 May 2013 | Branding