Leadpile's Blog» television

Google & Dish Network Partner Up

Mari Holt — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:04:20 +0000

Technology these days is something that continues to be so innovative with what new concepts get rolled out. The newest concept that ceases to surprise me is the idea of having testing going on for a TV search engine. NPR news is reporting that Google and Dish Network are teaming up to bring together a search engine to our television sets (specifically Dish Network clients). This is only in a test mode, however if the testing goes successfully, Dish Network clients could utilize their televisions to search the television programming while also searching the internet for video services such as Hulu or YouTube. So is this really that big of a deal, or is this something really innovative that other television network providers are going to want to be a part of? Does this affect the Google search engine and how companies like Leadpile utilize it to generate traffic? I guess time will really tell with this one.

Americas Addiction To Trendy Electronics

Natasha Aronov — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:49:48 +0000

The last time I checked, everyone was still saying that we were still in a recessions. So why has there been a increase in smartphone sales and a huge push for big screen TV’s? Frankly, just because people want them. It is true that many consumers have been cutting corners here and there, but it is where they are cutting that is showing changes.
Most people find it very easy to switch from a name brand food to the store brand, or maybe hold off on that new pair of shoes that you have been eyeing in the store window. However, when it comes to electronics, it seems that consumers just don’t want to cut back. They buy the newest smartphone or upgrade to the new version without even thinking twice. This has been great for the technology companies seeing an increase in their sales even in the tough economy.
A lot of consumers are finding themselves trying to rationalize their electronic purchases. They upgrade to a large HD flat screen TV saying that they will stay in more and watch a movie, rather than going out to a movie. Even just switching from a regular DVD player to a Blu-ray player is something consumers are not thinking twice about. The next big electronic buzz you are going to hear about….3D TV. It really was only a matter of time before something like this was going to hit the shelves. 3D televisions are set to hit the shelves in most stores mid 2010, and experts are estimating there potentially to be 4 million sold this year.
The real question is if this is all really necessary? Smartphone are great. We use them at LeadPile all the time to get back to our clients when we are on the run, but a 3D television set? Really? I have a feeling they are not going to be as awesome as everyone thinks. What do you think?

YouTube Testing Skippable Ads

Mari Holt — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:08:51 +0000

In years past YouTube tried to roll out in-stream ads (in 1997), however the acceptance of it did not go to well with viewers. Time has past and there are other sites that have incorporates such ads, so YouTube is now looking at taking another stab at it. It makes sense because YouTube is utilized by so many people in so many ways, that incorporating some sort of ads had to become part the of “YouTube Revolution”. The good thing about what YouTube is doing, is that they are creating these ads that are actually able to be skipped. However, what they are finding is that if you have a short 15 second ad, more people are not “skipping” over the ad. This is great news for the advertiser trying to get their ads played. Maybe the future of high priced Super Bowl ads will continue on from our televisions to our computers?
Leadpile has incorporated YouTube into our marketing efforts to help get our name out there, and we can certainly see a potential with bringing in ads to these videos. YouTube has to learn to make money, so what other options do they have but to look at cashing in on all the eyes they have on their videos? I think it is a good marketing idea…..

Google Celebrates Sesame Street Turning 40!

Natasha Aronov — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:56:58 +0000

An old favorite turns 40! Sesame Street had it’s 40 anniversary this week and was celebrated all over including Google’s homepage which changed images daily from one Sesame Street resident to another. Sesame Street has been teaching and entertaining children for 4 decades now, and is probably to thank for a large percentage of the US population under 40 learning how to count to 10.
Sesame Street not only teaches the ABC’s and 123’s, but also teaches acceptance and sets examples for children to follow. According to Newsweek, Sesame Street is now in 16 countries across the world including South Africa were the show features an HIV positive Muppet and in the Palestinian where coexistence and cooperation were displayed. Topics such as death and 9/11 have also been acknowledged by Sesame Street and children with illnesses and conditions are often regularly included on the show as well.
Newsweek states that not only is “Sesame Street no ordinary nonprofit. It is, arguably, the most important children’s program in the history of television. No show has effected the way we think about education, parenting, childhood development and cultural diversity, both in the United States and abroad, more than Big Bird and friends. You might even say that Sesame Street changed the world, one letter at a time”.
It seems too simple that a children’s program created 40 years ago could still be one of the best, but it is and nothing I have seen comes close to comparing. Leadpile wishes Sesame Street a Happy Anniversary!!!!!

Television Going Interactive?

Mari Holt — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:38:05 +0000

Are you ever watching your favorite television show and some sort of advertisement comes on that really you have no interest in? I know I know a lot of us don’t really care for advertisements at all, but what if the ads that are on your t.v. are things you are potentially interested in? How about if you’re watching a show like Home Shopping Network, and you can then use your remote control, push a few buttons, and charge a purchase from your television? How about voting for your favorite reality show contestant without using your phone?
All these are things that our televisions are going to be soon allowing us to do in addition to relevant commercials. NPRNews points out, “Consumer advocates worry about marketers compromising our privacy by rummaging through our viewing habits and getting us to trade personal information for coupons.” Potentially these marketing companies will know everything you have purchased, however they will not know detail information such as your name. Is this sort of thing crossing the line on your personal t.v time? This sort of thing is already happening with the internet (behavioral targeting) and websites you are visiting (cookies), so why not with your television too? Leadpile Lead Exchange does not use cookies with our lead generation, however many affiliate marketing networks do.

Hulu: Brilliant to Consumers, Hurtful To Cable Companies

Mari Holt — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:26:52 +0000

The term “couch potato” was coined because people sit and watch television for hours and hours at a time. However, with the rise of the internet and video sites like Hula, the question is what is going to happen to our nation’s cable/satellite companies…and couch potatoes?
Hula is a site that allows you to view any television show, but on the internet. You can catch up on any of the missed television shows that you could dream of…. and for FREE! Therefore, if this becomes the newest craze (which it is on it’s way to do that), what will our cable companies do? They can’t compete with sites like HULU who offer “television” for free? HULU is funded by advertisers, so there is no cost passed on to the consumers. Internetnews.com points out a very interesting point that years and years ago this sort of experience happened to our nation’s newspapers. Now look at some of them… they are closing their doors.
Lead generation and affiliate marketing companies may find this to be something of a positive nature, however one company’s happiness is another company’s sadness. Leadpile likes the idea of Americans decending from being a couch potato to an internet junkie.

Online Lead Exchange gets Huge boost from Television DVR’s

Andy J. — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:41:33 +0000

The LeadPile Lead Exchange is about to get a huge boost from television DVR’s.At LeadPile, we consider the DVR one of our best friends. Why? More and more companies wanting more and more leads will have no other choice than to move away from television as DVR’s become more and more prevalent.

Let’s face it, the only reason television exists is to sell advertisements. The better a show does, the more it can get for its .30-second air space. And why do Companies buy television ad space? Simply put, to get leads in one way, shape, or form.

So what will become of our old best friend, television?

Well, by the end of the year, 31% of households with TVs will have DVRs, according to Interpublic Group, and that figure could rise to nearly 44% by the end of 2014.

And we all know that most DVR owners speed past the ads.

So, why is this amazing news for the LeadPile Exchange? If viewers aren’t watching TV ads, those advertising dollars must be placed somewhere else, and that somewhere else is online advertising for lead production.

As LeadPile already is the Largest Online Exclusive Lead Exchange conducting business in over 50 verticals, one can only imagine why the DVR is LeadPile’s best friend!

Is Technology Changing Anything?

Mari Holt — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:31:21 +0000

The obvious answer to this mostly rhetorical question would seem to be “yes”. However, numbers just released from The Nielsen Company indicate that Americans are still watching a lot of television. The older the person, the more television, on average, they are watching. The way people are watching television is changing, and the report is even called the “Three Screen Report”. People are now watching television on their computers and mobile devices in addition to the standard way. These additional methods of viewing have added to the time spent watching television programs. The average American is now watching more than 151 hours of television each month, or about five hours each day. Last year people were averaging around 145 hours of viewing each month. So, yes, technology is changing the way we watch television, but is it for the better?

Advertising Effectively To Reach Women

Mari Holt — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:22:37 +0000

In today’s world there are many things that have changed in a advertising sense. One of the largest changes that has happened is in the way in which advertisers advertise towards women. There are more women in the career role, running a business and buying high priced items for their home. I found this article on Phoenix Business Journal very interesting. For instance, they stated:

*Women business owners spend $1.5 trillion on business purchases.
*In today’s world, age is less important than life stage, e.g., 60-year-old women are dating, 50-year-olds are starting new careers and 40-year-olds are having children.
*Women purchase (or influence the purchase of) 85 percent of all consumer goods including automobiles, investments and computers, which were traditionally viewed as male-domain items.
*Advertising that makes a woman feel uncomfortable about her looks or health will have a hard time reaching an audience willing to purchase its product.

More businesses are realizing these facts and starting to adjust how they market their products online, through television, and print media. In previous years, selling your product or service was something you had to appeal to a man, however as we can see things are changing.
With the Leadpile Lead Exchange we deal with all sorts of lead types and all sorts of demographics of consumers and advertisers. The key for our marketplace to be effective is not only diversify what lead types we are working with, but also understand that publishers doing effective marketing to generate the leads is really important. To do effective lead generation, you must know details about the product and service you are generating leads for, AND you must understand who are the potential people you need to attract in this market.