Microsoft adCenter is now named Bing Ads. The company is also testing longer ad titles for paid-search ads on Bing. Meanwhile, Gyft has launched a new mobile app that aims to bring gift cards to mobile phones in a big way, and Groupon is bulking up its customer-service operations with help from India. Read on for more interesting industry updates and tips.
Industry News and Perspectives:
Microsoft adCenter Is Now Bing Ads, Testing Longer Ad Titles
Microsoft adCenter has been renamed Bing Ads. The company is also introducing the Yahoo! Bing Network, the new name for the combined audiences of Yahoo! Search, Bing and their partner sites. Bing Ads is also testing longer ad titles for paid-search ads on Bing. (Bing Ads Blog, Search Engine Land)
Is a Social Media Manager a Marketer?
Sure, social media managers are dedicated, but can they be called “marketers”? A case can be made that online community managers, while important, don’t participate in exchanges that lead up to bigger marketing goals. One thing’s for certain: If you want to be in this game, which is riddled with uncertainties and debates, you have to be motivated by a genuine passion. (Adweek)
Who’s Who in Display Advertising?
Change is definitely a constant in the world of display advertising. If you’re newer to the game, you’re likely a bit confused; if you’ve been in the game for a while, you probably see clearer. Here’s a rundown of who the players in display advertising are: publishers, affiliates, networks, supply-side platforms/exchanges, demand-side platforms, media buying and managed services companies, and performance enhancement companies. (Marketing Land)
3 Tips for Preparing for the 2012 PPC Holiday Season
Paid-search pros lick their chops all year for the holiday season, but are they prepared? Carefully planning budgets (and knowing when shopping starts), getting your mobile act together and having someone as a quality supervisor are three ways to prepare. (Search Engine Watch)
Gyft Brings Gift Cards to Mobile Phones
Gyft is a new mobile application that allows users to buy, save and redeem gift cards using their mobile phones. In the words of its co-founder and CEO Vinny Lingham, Gyft is trying to be “the mobile gift card mall for consumers.” The company has also closed a $1.25 million round of funding. (TechCrunch)
Daily-Deals News:
Groupon Looks Overseas for Customer-Service Help
Groupon is testing a new approach to customer service by hiring agents in India to answer emails that are now being handled by employees in Chicago. The move is aimed at taking advantage of the time-zone differences, which will enable the company to handle inquiries 24/7. There are no plans to reduce stateside staff. (Wired.com)
BevBucks: Daily Deals on Alcohol
BevBucks is a daily-deals site that offers discounts on alcoholic beverages at bars, restaurants and liquor stores. The site, which began offering deals in New York City, also promotes products with events at bars and restaurants. (Darien, CT Patch)
ThxVets Offers Daily Deals That Benefit U.S. Veterans
ThxVets.org is a nonprofit based in Arizona that aggregates daily deals from various sources. When consumers purchase deals via the site, a portion of the purchase price is distributed to veterans’ charities. (Daily Deal Media)
Are Daily Deals a Good Feature?
Daily deals aren’t a defensible standalone business, according to one investor. It’s nothing more than a feature for e-commerce sites, portals and social networks. But recent events have given weight to the case that daily deals aren’t even a good feature. (PandoDaily)
Adorii Offers Daily Deals for Those About to Get Married
Seattle-based Adorii is an e-commerce site that offers daily deals to couples about to get married. The site offers deals on photographers, dresses and getaways, among other things. (GeekWire)
Blogs of the Business:
MBA Mondays From the Archives: The Balance Sheet
Here’s a rundown of the balance sheet, which shows how much capital you have built up in your business. It shows asset and liability accounts. (A VC)
Life in the ‘Trough of Sorrow’
Here’s the life of a company in a nutshell: “first you’re excited, then you’re not, and if you stick with it, you just might make it work. It could take years. But you may fail too, you never know until you do it.” When you’re in the “Trough of Sorrow,” what do you do? (Andrew Chen)
