MySpace Launches Targeted Ad Program

News Corp.'s MySpace social networking site is using personal details contained on users' profile pages and blogs to sell highly targeted advertising, the company said Tuesday.

The Web site started the first phase of its "interest targeting" experiment in July, culling likes and dislikes from its users' pages to sell ads in 10 broad categories such as finance, autos, fashion and music. >>Full Story

Thoughts// The announcement that MySpace will begin behaviorally targeting users based upon their MySpace pages could become the first real test to determine the threshold of how much information consumers are willing to give in order to receive targeted, relevant ads. While most online users have been behaviorally targeted already, one would assume the vast majority of this group is unaware that any targeting has taken place. However, in the case of MySpace there is the potential for a connected, vocal group to educate the majority of users on how their profiles are being searched for keywords...and for those users upset with the practice to move on to another social networking site.

While most behavioral targeting takes into account which pages you have previously visited and then serves ads for those companies (basically), the MySpace model will actively search out and look for keywords that you have used in blogs, quotes and descriptions of yourself on your MySpace page. So, if you have just wrote a blog about your upcoming vacation to China, a company such as Orbitz (for example) could use that information to run targeted, China-related banners (for flights, hotels, etc.) on your MySpace page. Talk about a targeted message.

As the investors and parent companies of these popular web companies look to monetize and recoup investments, how will advertising programs such as this one affect the reputation of these sites with there members? Will MySpace users accept this type of advertising or simply move on to the next, new site?

Visit My Baltimore Allows Baltimoreans To Post Video

If you've never been to Baltimore, you don't know what you're missing. That's why we've created this website. So you can get the real Bawlmer experience from the people who know it best: Baltimoreans. Let us show you what gives Charm City its charm. The wonderful. The weird. The waterfront. It's the world's biggest invitation, from us to you. So please, come explore. http://www.visitmybaltimore.com/

Thoughts// The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association launched Visit My Baltimore earlier this summer to allow Baltimoreans the opportunity to show off the best of the city as well as continue the new 'Get in on it' marketing / branding campaign. The site, which uses online video technology from ViTrue, lets users upload their own videos or create a video using a variety of pre-selected clips. So far the site is hosting just under 100 videos. Side note, how can you not love the video rating icon of the crab...a nice touch.

As with several other DMOs who have begun to explore the idea of user-generated video, it would appear that the growth of content is slow, however it is still too early to determine the impact of the site on potential visitors.

In addition to the UGC video site, the BACVA has also launched a mini-site for it's recent 'Get in on it' brand launch. The site, www.areyouinonit.com, offers some good information on how and why the current brand was produced...including a brand-icon match game! If you are currently going through a re-branding process, I would recommend giving it a look. This is not only a good way to introduce a brand to the public, but also to constituents and co-workers who will help determine the success of any new brand.

Travel Trends - Yahoo! MapMixer, PayPal

Yahoo! MapMixer - An interesting addition to the Yahoo! Local / Map offering, MapMixer allows users to combine existing maps with the Yahoo! Maps program. In the example above, a user has taken a detailed map of Grand Canyon National Park and created a new map containing both maps. The site lets users zoom, pan and explore the map in the same fashion as the normal Yahoo! Maps site. Microsoft Research has a similar product called MSR MapCruncher.
http://maps.yahoo.com/mapmixer

PayPal Your Airline Tickets - Following the lead from Northwest Airlines, several carriers including Southwest, Midwest and US Airways now accept payment via the online e-commerce firm PayPal. JetBlue began allowing customers to pay via Bill Me Later, a similar product earlier this year.

New Social Sites Cater to People of a Certain Age

Older people are sticky. That is the latest view from Silicon Valley. Technology investors and entrepreneurs, long obsessed with connecting to teenagers and 20-somethings, are starting a host of new social networking sites aimed at baby boomers and graying computer users.

The sites have names like Eons, Rezoom, Multiply, Maya’s Mom, Boomj, and Boomertown. They look like Facebook — with wrinkles. And they are seeking to capitalize on what investors say may be a profitable characteristic of older Internet users: they are less liankely than youngsters to flit from one trendy site to the next. >>Full Story

Thoughts// Yet more evidence that the connectivity afforded by the digital age isn't just restricted to Gen X or the millennials. This NYT piece highlights emeging new social networks catering to boomers and older adults, who are increasingly congregating in smaller niche networks of the like-minded folks discussing a host of lifestyle issues. Most importantly, boomers were likely to be loyal to a network and are "stickier," with one network citing that 96% of users returning each month (Consider however that half of all Facebook's 30 million+ users login daily).

Perhaps the following quotes offer some insight into how such niche networks are different than Facebook and MySpace.

• “I feel like I’m putting down roots, building relationships...my feeling on MySpace is that people give you a poke, and then they’re gone and you never see them again.” (38 year old CO mom)
• “I’ve discussed my divorce, my medical issues, and when do I dare go dating again...I sure wouldn’t discuss that stuff with a 20-year-old.” (Martha Starks, 52, a retired optician in Tucson, who spends an hour or two each evening on a site called Eons.)

Word of the Week - Folksonomy

A means of classifying and categorizing data on the web through collaborative efforts from the online community. Commonly known as (though not strictly synonymous to) ‘tagging’.

The basic idea behind a Folksonomy is rather than save files in a typical folder structure, you simply apply a tag to that file ('Budget' for instance). And then, when you need to find the file, you search for 'budget'. No need to click-thru that giant list of folders. Or, at least that is the basic idea.

Unfortunately, folksonomies won't improve your organizational skills.

Travel Trends - Flickrvision, Millennials

Flickrvision - A mashup in the truest since of the word, Flickrvision lets you watch in real-time as users upload images to Flickr, all set against a Google Map. An interesting look into what other people around the world are uploading to Flickr. As it turns out, most of the world appears to have pretty similar interests when it comes to photos.
http://flickrvision.com/

Millennials - A good report from Deloitte's study on Media & Entertainment, courtesy of the Center for Media Research. Findings include:

• 51% of all consumers are watching/reading personal content created by others; the number jumps to 71% for Millennials
• 55% of Millennials and 42% of Xers read blogs
• 62% of Millennials and 41% of Xers watch YouTube or other video streaming sites
• 40% of all consumers are creating their own entertainment, such as editing movies, music and photos.
• 56% Millennials are creating their own entertainment
• 25% of Matures report creating their own entertainment

http://www.centerformediaresearch.com/

Orbitz Debuts Traveler Update Feature

OrbitzTLC Traveler Update combines up-to-the-minute information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), OrbitzTLC air traffic alerts and data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with the contributions and reports of everyday travelers to create a powerful new information resource. Content includes real-time data and information on security line wait times, traffic delays, parking updates, taxi lines, flight delays, weather information and more. >>Full Story

Thoughts// A new offering from Orbitz, the 'OrbitzTLC Traveler Update' allows users to post messages and alerts for other Orbitz flyers. What is intriguing about this offering is how Orbitz has centralized a good deal of airport related information on one page...for example, the Phoenix Sky Harbor International page contains traffic updates (from Google), weather (from weather.com, more than likely), parking advice (from PHX), average security line wait times (again, from PHX) and tips from other travelers.

Additionally, it would appear that the bulk of the tips are coming from either repeat travelers or users who work at or for the airport. Interesting that someone at the airport (might have) realized what a great option this could be for communicating with consumers. If only they would have thought of it first.

The United Countries of Baseball

(click the map for a larger version)

In a retail branding effort that bonds Nike and the MLB, this poster campaign from Cole & Weber United is based on extensive data collection, according to the agency, which, among other things, charts fan loyalty, depicting the geographic boundaries of each team's fan base. In a tie-in with a Nike baseball clothing line, there are 30 team maps as well a series of ads and posters featuring individual players. The posters are seen in baseball team shops and Niketown stores.

Thoughts// Not exactly interactive-related, but I cannot help but love the execution of this Nike Baseball campaign. As the article says, the agency used data collection to create an accurate picture of the baseball fan divide in the US. The combination of a popular subject (baseball) in an easy-to-use and enjoyable format (a map) puts a creative spin on well-known information. From a travel perspective, how could we take this concept, apply typical (dare I say boring) information to a map and create a new way of looking at the data.

And I really think the Braves piece of the map should go a little deeper into Florida...but that is just my opinion.

Travel Trends - Dopplr, YouSendIt, WAA

Dopplr - "Dopplr is an online service for frequent travellers. It lets you share your future travel plans with a group of trusted fellow travellers that you have chosen." Dopplr, a relatively new site that is still in private beta, allows you to add upcoming trips to your profile and automatically update any friends and family of your travel whereabouts. You could describe the social-networking / travel planning site as a travel version of Twitter. Let your friends know where you are going and find out if any of them will be there at the same time. (Editor's note: Dopplr is based out of the U.K., hence the 'English' English spelling of travellers in the company description)
http://www.dopplr.com/

YouSendIt - Yesterday a co-worker was having trouble receiving a large file from an outside vendor. Typical issue, the file was too large to email into our network, mailing a CD would take too long and there was not an easy-to-use FTP site available. Enter YouSendIt, a simple site that allows users to upload large files and then automatically email the link to the file. While I would not recommend sending confidential documents via YouSendIt, the system works great for those large PowerPoint or Excel files that we all have. Several other companies offer similar services, but YouSendIt is free (for basic service) and easy.
http://www.yousendit.com/

WAA - The Web Analytics Association (WAA) announced a big step towards industry standardization with the acceptance of 26 standard definitions for web analytic metrics. The 26 terms focused on the areas of unique visitors, visits/sessions and page views. It is about time...
http://www.webanalyticsassociation.org/

Bugaboo Daytrips

Travel sites have thrived by helping users customize trips, providing travel-related content to enhance the booking experience, and up-selling purchases with car rental and hotel reservations from their partners. Restaurant review sites make it easy to select the right place to grab a bite. A microsite from trendy Dutch stroller company Bugaboo does just that. At Bugaboo Daytrips, users can browse a world map to select a day trip relating to one of over a dozen different cities. >>Full Story

Thoughts// A really interesting example of 1) how to build and display trip ideas with style; 2) How to subtly market your product while giving consumers a valuable service.

The presentation and user interface are sublime; I was totally awed by the minimalist but engaging design and kept digging around to learn about each destination and recommended day trips. When you get to the destination of your choice, you'll note that each of the maps were produced by local artists (Portland map pictured above) and careful attention was paid to convey a sense of place. On the downside however, the site is resource heavy and load times aren't optimal. In addition, none of the PDF maps I downloaded (Portland, LA, Miami) appears to work.