Bookbook, The Best Apple Commercial Parody Comes From Ikea!

Ikea takes on Apple
 “The 2015 IKEA catalog comes fully charged, and the battery is eternal, The navigation is based on tactile touch technology that you can actually feel,” says Jörgen Eghammer, the Chief Design Guru. He explains that this catalog is neither a digital book nor an e-book, but a bookbook. 
Watch the video to really get the jokes, they get written themselves, as video rolls along.

Cyber Monday Shopping Tips From FTC

• Read reviews. Type the name of the product or company into a search engine along with words like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” Be sure to read a few reviews — don’t rely on just one source.
• Look for coupon codes. Search the store’s name with terms like “coupons,” “discounts,” or “free shipping.”
• Know the terms. Find out what the refund/exchange policies are, and if there are any charges (like shipping costs or restocking fees) if you return a product.
• Pay by credit card. Credit cards give you protections that other methods of payment may not. If there’s a problem, you have the right to dispute charges and temporarily withhold payment while your dispute is investigated.
• Use secure checkout. Before you enter your credit card information online, check that the website address starts with “https”. The “s” stands for secure.  If you don’t see the “s,” don’t enter your information.

FTC

CyberMonday, Google It! CTV Morning News.

online shopping rules in web searches over the weekend: http://ow.ly/F8Cis

Mobile Shopping For Black Friday And Beyond.

Black Friday shopping is on everyone' mind these days and Google Adwords telling us how to leverage the Google tools for the better.
Mobile shopping, mobile search is on the rise and will continue to rise in the future, much beyond the holidays. So as marketers, people should look in to getting these searches and and services to market their products and adwords could be a bigger player in the process. Google is providing the means;
Shoppers often want to see more detailed information about a product before making a purchase decision. Now, when they search for a specific product on their smartphone or tablet, we show an expandable product card with rich product content such as reviews and details for that item. For example, on a query such as the Nexus 10, results will show the image of the product along with merchants who carry this tablet, detailed information on the product, and product reviews from customers
Another aid Google is giving to shoppers are the local availability of products they search for. Sometimes low price hunt is superseded by the ability to walk into a store and touch and feel the product before purchasing. So make sure, that you are visible to your local shoppers. You can take the advantage of  Auction insights segmented by device. Checkout how your stand up against your competitors, both big and small. Then you can identify missed opportunities and refine your bid modifier strategy to gain a greater share of voice on mobile. Check New ways to rev up your Shopping campaignsarticle for more information on new insights now available in Shopping campaigns.

 

Getting a head start on Black Friday With Google.

If you are like me, you would already have done research on your Black Friday purchases, like revives and deals. Some are preparing to use Google Express for same day delivery, where available. Google is giving us hints on what people are looking for on Google search.Here are some questions;

• what time do stores open on black friday
• what time does black friday start
• when does black friday end
• what to buy on black friday

And what are people looking for and according to Google Shopping Blog those trends are;

• San Francisco: No gingerbread cookies here. San Franciscans are seeking a nutritious holiday with lots of bananas, avocado, coconut water and quinoa. And talk about eating clean: Disinfecting wipes are also among top shoppers’ searches.
  
• West LA: The City of Angels is ready to party. Disposable silverware, plastic cups, paper plates, tortilla chips and garbage bags are all they need for hassle-free entertaining. 
• Manhattan: New Yorkers start off the day right with cereal, almond milk and—why not?—butter croissants. After a long day, residents relax with snacks such as mini pretzels and almonds. 
• Boston: Bring your appetite to Boston parties. Salty treats such as maple bacon chips, green pea crisps and peanuts top shopping lists. The city also buys more ketchup and popcorn than any other city. 
• Chicago: Baby boom. Chicago households are stocking up for tots this winter with lots of baby wipes and goodies such as chocolate and sparkling juice. To ward off sniffles, Chicago is loading up on vitamin C and orange juice!
• Washington, D.C.: The capital is stocking up on healthy bites such as whole wheat crackers, fruit snacks and diet soda to wash it down. 

You can learn more about digital trends and their affects on Black Friday shopping and after, at ThinkwithGoogle.

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Paypal Scammers At Work, Paypal Spoof. Retailers Watch Out.

FTC is informing about people getting stung by scammers spoofing PayPal. The scam basically target sellers, usually high value items. Once the product appears online, the scammer contacts seller offering to by the product, with one condition, he will pay only with Paypal. If you say I do not have Paypal, he/she offers to setup one. And sends the seller an email with a link. Don't fall victim to these people. Contact Paypal (paypal.com) directly, if you need to get an account.
Here are the scenarios played out at FTC.

Scenario One: The buyer claims he can only pay via PayPal. Don’t have a PayPal account? No problem, he says. He’ll send you an email with a link so you can set one up.
What should you do? Don’t take the bait. The link will send you to a website masquerading as PayPal. Any information you enter will be collected by the bogus buyer, and may be used to commit fraud. If you need to set up an account, go directly to PayPal.com.
Scenario Two: “Check your email!” The buyer claims he has sent payment to your PayPal account with additional funds so you can ship the merchandise ASAP, but oops, he sent too much money. He asks you to return the extra money via a money wiring service. It’s all a lie, including the extra money the buyer says he included.
What should you do? Log into your PayPal account. Make sure you’ve been paid before you ship. Never follow links in emails from people you don’t know. The safest approach is to open a browser window, navigate to PayPal.com, and log in yourself. Also, if the buyer claims to have sent extra money, and asks for some back, that’s a big red flag.
Scenario Three: The buyer sends you real money through a real PayPal account, and you ship him the car. Problem is, the PayPal account belongs to someone else! You might need to return the money even though the scammer has your wheels.
What now? Contact PayPal and ask them to open an investigation. The company offers seller protections so you aren’t liable for unauthorized transactions. Also file a complaint with the FTC and your local police department.

Smart Watches, Will The Next Wave Of Advertising Bring A Data Rash?

da•ta rash \ˈdātə ˈrash\, n. an irritating or unsightly eruption of information on the wrist or other site of wearable technology.

As you know advertisements will appear everywhere possible and smart watches will not be safe from them. Now that smart watches are reaching every wrist, some of them literally giving rashes (The plastic Fitbit Force bracelet was recalled after causing allergic rashes and blistering.), and we will find the advertisements, close to your heart.
My colleague, Raven got a Withings watch and I asked him why such a less smart watch, no text, no calls? He just smiled. But I think I know the answer, now.
Read more...

Google Wallet For Digital Goods API To Retire On March 2, 2015

Google Wallet For Digital Goods API To Retire On March 2, 2015

Not to be confused with other Google Wallet services, like using NFC enabled phone (most Android phones are) for paying at your favorite coffee bar as it is a separate business for Google. Also if you are a developer, to charge your users through in app purchaces. Those will continue to function as they have done before.

"If you are selling apps on the Google Play Store or processing in-app payments through Google Wallet, you will continue to be supported. You will be able to access your Google Wallet Merchant Center as normal at wallet.google.com/merchant."

The retirement is if you are using Google Wallet to sell your digital goods, say like on a website. You will need to sign up with another merchant, if you have already done so.
Get more info at Google. Specific info on removing the integration is available at the Google Developer Site.

Running An AdWords Campaign? Get Help, Online Marketing 201

• Guidance on creating and managing your first online advertising campaign
• Examples of how businesses set up their campaigns to meet their advertising goals
• A combination of quizzes, videos, and links to additional resources

If you have not sot sure if advertising on the web is right for you? Check out our Online Marketing 101 
Google Adwords Online Marketing 201 is where you follow the short course.

Countdown To Black Friday, Nah It Is Already Here Thanks To Amazon!

Amazon just tweeted that they are bringing Black Friday forward with their Countdown event!

Black Friday Deals Are Here Early with Our Countdown Event
Black Friday 2014 is almost here, but we didn't want you to wait until the day after Thanksgiving for Black Friday deals, so we kicked off the savings a little early. We are counting down to the big day with even more deals, all day, every day. You'll find Amazon's fantastic early Black Friday sales right here. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our daily deals e-mails so you don't miss any deals.

Microsoft Markets iPads In A Surface Pro Promotion!

Surface pro 3 stands while iPad does the real work.
If you were watching Election 2014 last night on CNN, you might have seen the Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 on the tables. Shiny silver kickstands supporting them. But I guess CNN did not have apps for them or told News casters, don't touch them. Because every Surface Pro 3, there was an iPad on top doing the chores.
Not a good marketing plan, glad I was watching another broadcast, otherwise it would have ruined my Election deductions.
Twitter

MAC vs PC, Yoga 3 Pro – Let’s Dance

I loved those MAC vs PC and PC vs MAC advertisements, and still do. In the latest episode, Microsoft takes on Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Air with Lenovo’s Yoga 3 Pro. The 17mm thickness of the MacBook Air vs. the 13mm thin Yoga 3 Pro, flexibility of the tablet, touchscreen, and tent modes of Lenovo’s latest convertible, where Apple's Macbook Air fails to dance.

Gerber (Nestlé Nutrition) Charged With False Advertising Related To It's Good Start Gentle formula.

FTC has filed false advertising charges against Gerber Products Co., also doing business as Nestlé Nutrition, in it's advertising campaigns about Good Start Gentle formula.
FTC alleges that since 2011, Gerber has advertised its Good Start Gentle formula through advertisements that ran on television, in magazines, at point-of-sale displays, online, and in other promotional material. Good Start Gentle sells for about $24 for a 23.2-ounce package of powdered formula.
“Parents trusted Gerber to tell the truth about the health benefits of its formula, and the company’s ads failed to live up to that trust,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Gerber didn’t have evidence to back up its claim that Good Start Gentle formula reduces the risk of babies developing their parents’ allergies.”
Via Recallr

Live Poster Scares Hell Out Of People In An Amusement Park AD

In a bid to promote its upcoming attraction, The house of Nightmares at Gröna Lund, a theme park in Stockholm, Sweden, went streets with an ad with a new twist, a ‘possessed’ outdoor poster.It did scare some people.
The plain white ad, human size, invites people to stand close and scan the QR code to have a preview of the horror that awaits in the theme park. But the Preview, the horror does not appear on their phone but the poster comes alive, scaring be juices out of everyone.

I think the ad gained more than what it did on the street it was planted.

You can read more about the theme park here. The House of Nightmares is set to open in April 2015.
Via Trendhunter