Advertising Agency Blog

On the Web Today, Content is King.

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:50:08 +0000

Any site that successfully attracts repeat visitors has to have fresh and constantly updated content. In the world of traditional site building, that means HTML files--and lots of 'em. The problem is that, more often than not, the people providing the content for a site are not the same people handling its design; content generation and site design are mutually exclusive. That plus maintenance of a content-driven site can be a real challenge, resulting in hundreds of files that need to be maintained should you wish to make a fundamental change to your site. The solution is database-driven site design with automatic content updates. As a preferred Motorola site developer, Stream Companies has access to the full Motorola database, updated constantly. Our website maintenance package means we’ll oversee the entire site, so dealers can focus on running their business. == Stream Companies is an award-winning advertising agency located right outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Give us a call at (888) 449-7443, email us, send us a message via Facebook or Tweet us TODAY. We can and WILL have a direct and positive impact on your bottom line.

Stream Companies Named to Inc. 5000

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:17:22 +0000

Stream Companies, has once again made the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing, private companies in America. Thank you to every partner client, Stream Team member, and vendor. We appreciate your trust, support, and business.

Retail Mobile Alerts – SMS or App?

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:41:57 +0000

Most mobile users are still not using current available technology (text or SMS) for mobile alerts according to a May 2010 survey conducted for Placecast by Harris Interactive. In 2010, consumers expressed only a small rise of in interest (2%) for receiving mobile alerts and penetration still only reached 28%. However 8% of respondents "were extremely or very interested" in receiving alerts. This represents almost 40% gain in favoribility, but is 8% enough for a solid strategy? As an aside, under-35s interest in mobile alerts was significantly higher. Coupons and promotions from grocery stores and restaurants lead the list for those who wanted the alerts. The following statistics were also presented for those who get "text alerts":

34% more likely to visit the company’s website
33% visit the store
28% purchase the product being promoted online
27% purchase the product being promoted in the store

Location based text alerts help present an offer to consumers - at the right time and possibly the right place - making the channel more effective, but is texting every going to reach a critical mass for retail adoption? Is the potential better with smart phones and check-in apps such as foursquare or Gowalla (and soon Facebook). Smartphone penetration is expected to surpass "feature phones" in 2011 - I argue now is the time to build your smartphone app in anticipation of the market shift. Stream Companies is an award-winning advertising agency located right outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Give us a call at (888) 449-7443, email us, send us a message via Facebook or Tweet us TODAY. We can and WILL have a direct and positive impact on your bottom line.

Will iAd Be Effective For Mobile Marketers?

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:11:34 +0000

Smartphones are starting to change the face of advertising. The next big step to this process is the iAd. This mobile advertising platform gives third party developers the freedom to directly embed advertisements into their own iPhone applications and it’s being launched today , July 1^st. Steve Jobs has put $60 million in for second half of 2010 from the likes of select brand names like Nissan, Sears, JCPenny, GEICO, Target, Best Buy, GE and Unilever, as well as longtime partners Disney and AT&T. Those brands represent 48% of mobile display ad spending the second half of the year. When a new, more capable iPhone with a revised OS is combined with a new ad platform, there is much potential for success. The awareness that Apple has generated about iAd should work in favor of the advertisers who use it. Will the campaigns be effective once they are in-market? Stream Companies is an award-winning advertising agency located right outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Give us a call at (888) 449-7443, email us, send us a message via Facebook or Tweet us TODAY. We can and WILL have a direct and positive impact on your bottom line.

The Automotive World is Revving Up to Mobile Advertising

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:34:19 +0000

Automotive dealers! You now have the opportunity to influence consumers at the top of the purchase funnel when using advertising via the mobile web. As the mobile Web becomes more important to consumers, automotive marketers need to make their advertisements mobile-friendly. The only difference is that the information is on smaller screens and literally in the hands of prospects. Consumer engagement on automotive mobile advertising has been steadily increasing, so catch the mobile advertising wave while by contacting us today. == Stream Companies is an award-winning advertising agency located right outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Give us a call at (888) 449-7443, email us, send us a message via Facebook or Tweet us TODAY. We can and WILL have a direct and positive impact on your bottom line.

As iPad Sales Rise, E-reader Prices Descend

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:57:48 +0000

Barnes & Noble and Amazon are in a disagreement due to lowered prices on e-reader devices. Barnes & Noble was the first to drop the Nook 3G price from $259 to $199 as well as add a WiFi-only device for sale at just $149. This led Amazon to drop is price from $259 to $189; that's $10 less than what Barnes & Noble offers. Store feud aside, the underlying reason for this price controversy is the iPad, which starts at $499. E-readers such as the Kindle are significantly less expensive than the iPad. However, Barnes & Noble and Amazon make around 30% commission off of each e-reader sale which begs to ask the question...how inexpensive could an e-reader really be sold for? Having sold more than 3 million copies to date, Apple’s new product has been a tremendous success. Millions more are predicted to be sold as we near the end of 2010. This creates quite a competion for the e-reader. All of this may remind you of the Great Video Game Crash of 1983 which marked the end of the first game console craze. Could the iPad's sucess be the start of the e-reader crash of 2011? == Stream Companies is an award-winning advertising agency located right outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Give us a call at (888) 449-7443, email us, send us a message via Facebook or Tweet us TODAY. We can and WILL have a direct and positive impact on your bottom line.

Online Retail Among Rising Mobile Apps

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:14:20 +0000

A recent study by comScore MobiLens™ shows some rather startling numbers when it comes to the number of folks using Smartphone Apps. According to the study, from April '09 to April '10, the total number of mobile application users in the United States increased by 28%. The fastest growing mobile app was for Social Networking/Social Media, which saw an increase of 240% during this time frame.

Among other apps increasing in popularity are weather apps, news apps and online retail, the latter seeing an increase of 91% in usage from April '09 to April '10, which falls right in line with what many are predicting will be a major increase in overall online retail. A forecast from Forrester Research shows that by the year 2014, overall online retail sales will grow to nearly $250 billion, up from $155 billion in 2009.

Some additional forecasts/findings include...

e-commerce sales will represent 8 percent of all retail sales in the U.S. by 2014, up from 6 percent in 2009
In 2009, 154 million people in the U.S. bought something online, or 67 percent of the online population (4 percent more than in 2008)
Three product categories (computers, apparel, and consumer electronics) represented more than 44 percent of online sales($67.6 billion) in 2009

Forrester was also quick to point out the importance and sheer influence of online research. They estimate that $917 billion of retail sales were "web influenced" last year alone. They also estimate that online and Web-influenced offline sales combined accounted for 42 percent of total retail sales and that percentage will grow to 53 percent by 2014.

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Stream Companies is an award-winning advertising agency located right outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Give us a call at (888) 449-7443, email us, send us a message via Facebook or Tweet us… TODAY. We can AND will have a direct and positive impact on your bottom line.

Why System Patches & Updates Are Important

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:10:56 +0000

I don't know about you, but when I was a kid and I ripped a hole in my blue jeans or dungarees, (those over 35 will get that reference) my mom would simply sew on or iron on a patch to cover the hole. And before you knew it, I was back playing with my friends... Nowadays of course, in the computer-driven world in which we live in, the word "patch" takes on a whole new meaning. A patch is a piece of software designed to fix problemswith, or update a computer program or its supporting data. This includes fixing security vulnerabilities and other bugs, and improving the usability or performance. And the importance of staying on top of system patches and updates cannot be overstated. These patches and updates are essential to keeping your computer safe from malware, viruses, and rootkits.

System patches and updates also...

Fix security holes
Increase software compatibility by updating subsystems & drivers
Optimize how the operating system handles resources
Add updated features & tools
Remove outdated features & tools

So, no matter how annoying it may seem, it is vital to ensure the long-term health of your computer. Think of it as a necessary evil. Doing your due diligence and staying on top of patches and updates won't save your life... but it will surely make your life a whole lot easier!

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Microsoft’s Mobile Woes…

Tue, 25 May 2010 18:48:10 +0000

On Monday of this week, the Wall Street Journal reported a corporate shake up was about to occur at Microsoft with the changes affecting divisions that focus on video games, mobile phones and other consumer devices. Today came word that the shake up had already begun as Microsoft replaced the chief of its division focused on mobile phones, video games and other consumer devices Robbie Bach, who will retire this fall. The announcement comes as the Microsoft Windows Phone is being passed by the iPhone from Apple and the Android from Google in the ultra competitive smartphone market. The Windows Phone is an operating system for mobile phones that accounted for over $1.5 billion in sales in 1Q 2010 or roughly 11% of Microsoft's entire revenue of $14.5 billion during the period. Those seemingly gaudy numbers, however, belie the fact that in the same time period (1Q 2010) new shipments of Microsoft's mobile software handsets accounted for 6.8% of the worldwide market, down from 10.2% during 1Q 2009. Meanwhile during the same timeframes, Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhone rose to 9.6% from 1.6% and to 15.4% from 10.5%, respectively. With numbers like these it came as no surprise when Microsoft announced the significant overhaul of its mobile software. Windows Phone 7 is expected to be available during the 2010 holiday shopping season. It promises to provide improved support for touch screens, better website browsing and redesigned user interface. ### Stream Companies is an award-winning advertising agency located right outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Give us a call at (888) 449-7443, email us, send us a message via Facebook or Tweet us… TODAY. We can AND will have a direct and positive impact on your bottom line.

Stream is Social

Thu, 20 May 2010 15:56:11 +0000

Hey there, Stream Company enthusiasts! Stream Companies is now on Facebook and Twitter! Become a fan, like us, follow us...stay connected! Facebook: www.facebook.com/StreamCo Twitter: www.twitter.com/streamcompanies Thanks for your patronage and we look forward to connecting with you even more in cyberspace.