I recently signed up for the new mobile app Viggle that awards you for checking in to TV shows. I thought it was a cool idea, and one was new to me. The way Viggle users are awarded points is by amount of time spent watching shows, and through featured shows. There are featured shows that give you a certain amount of points, for example The Simpsons is valued at 325 points, and the Walking Dead is valued at 300 points. Otherwise a user receives 120 points for each hour of television watched. Points are given at the end of a show, and if you check into a new show partway through the episode you are awarded for the amount of minutes you spent on the previous show.
When you sign in, you set your location and television provider so that Viggle can recognize the programming in your area. The “Check In” button then scans the audio of the show playing, similar to Sound Hound and other apps, then asks you to confirm the selection it pulls up. I have had a few instances where the audio feature didn’t work due to background noise, but then I was able to manually check in by typing in the name of the show. Viggle also lets you check into shows you have recorded through DVR.
Viggle gives rewards of gifts cards - $5 gift cards at 7,500 points, and $10 gift cards at $14,000 points. Some of the companies participating in the Viggle rewards program are: iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Burger King, Sephora, Foot Locker, Lowe’s, Papa John’s Travelocity, and Target to name a few. There are also higher tiers of prizes. Amazon is giving away a Kindle at 175,000 point mark.
Viggle recently acquired the company Loyalize as a means of real-time audience engagement. During the Grammys users were able to participate in polls and voting as a means of earning points. Users can also discuss the shows they’re watching through the “Latest Chatter” feature, which is a comment stream that users can also choose to share through Facebook or Twitter.
I’m already at almost 6,000 points, and I can’t wait to start getting some gift cards!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
The Super Bowl Streamed for the First Time
I decided to do a post about streaming video for today’s post. Specifically, the streaming of live video feeds is of particular interest to me, and with the Super Bowl being streamed for the first time ever tonight, I thought it would be a good topic to search up on.
It took a lot to get the licensing of the Super Bowl on mobile devices, as well as a lot of technical work. One thing to note is that the event is only available through Verizon customers with NFL mobile, and also only for specific versions of the Android platform. It is also recommend to do the stream through a wireless connection for best viewing results. This makes sense, as many people are most likely trying to view the event, causing lots of strain on anyone attempting to view through 3G or 4GLTE. There are also a number of unofficial streams out there for those that can’t view the official sources, but the NFL has been cracking down on these mediums.
However, it is expected that most NFL games will be kept off the internet for the foreseeable future. There is still a lot of money in network television, and also a lot less revenue in airing online ads. NBC is banking on most online viewers already watching the game on TV, and only tuning in online to receive bonus material. Don’t expect the quality of sports related video streams such as this to get better anytime soon either, as network television has plenty of money tied up in keeping the games on TV only.
So while this year’s Super Bowl being streamed online may be more of an experiment than the new norm, I think it presents an interesting view of what the future may potentially hold. Networks will have to figure out how to make online streaming more cost effective for them before they give up TV broadcasts, so expect to see more and more subscription fees before it becomes a format that users can tune in to for free as they can with TV.
It took a lot to get the licensing of the Super Bowl on mobile devices, as well as a lot of technical work. One thing to note is that the event is only available through Verizon customers with NFL mobile, and also only for specific versions of the Android platform. It is also recommend to do the stream through a wireless connection for best viewing results. This makes sense, as many people are most likely trying to view the event, causing lots of strain on anyone attempting to view through 3G or 4GLTE. There are also a number of unofficial streams out there for those that can’t view the official sources, but the NFL has been cracking down on these mediums.
However, it is expected that most NFL games will be kept off the internet for the foreseeable future. There is still a lot of money in network television, and also a lot less revenue in airing online ads. NBC is banking on most online viewers already watching the game on TV, and only tuning in online to receive bonus material. Don’t expect the quality of sports related video streams such as this to get better anytime soon either, as network television has plenty of money tied up in keeping the games on TV only.
So while this year’s Super Bowl being streamed online may be more of an experiment than the new norm, I think it presents an interesting view of what the future may potentially hold. Networks will have to figure out how to make online streaming more cost effective for them before they give up TV broadcasts, so expect to see more and more subscription fees before it becomes a format that users can tune in to for free as they can with TV.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Negotiation Interview
For my negotiation interview, I spoke with Todd Maahs, Director of Partner Relations, at Discover Mediaworks. Todd has many years of experience in sales and client interactions, and had a wealth of knowledge on the topic of negotiating.
DR: Thanks for meeting with me, Todd! The first topic related to negotiations is dirty tricks. What are your thoughts on dirty tricks?
TM: In my opinion, dirty tricks don't work. But there are tricks, they are real, and you have to be ready for them. One of the tricks that I’ve used myself is the assumptive close. At the end of the conversation, talk like the deal is already done. Don’t say that it will be, or it could be, use terms such as “when this is done” or “once under way.” You talk about it as if the decision is made.
Another trick I use is if I can’t close the sale right then and there, I always schedule the next meeting while I have them. Don’t ever walk away without a meeting set up to try again. This puts things back in my control, and it gives me the timing advantage, setting me up for the actual negotiation. I’ll also do the opposite and say I’m not available, or out of town and will have to get in touch at a later date.
It all comes back to doing business in person. A face-to-face situation is more than just a proposal sent over email or phone – it’s really easy to say no to that. But if you drive out to see somebody, you have what I call “skin in the game.” You have that sense of guilt going out of your way to see somebody in person creates.
DR: Great insight! What are your thoughts on negative emotions that come up during a negotiation?
TM: I like to get a good understanding whenever negative emotions arise. Knowing exactly where the other party stands helps me figure out ways they would be happy. A bad deal is when both people are unhappy. The best deal is when both are happy. And make sure it’s a sincere understanding – don’t put words in their mouth. Also don’t rush – people need time to think, so give them time to think. Wait longer if you have to. The awkward silence will eventually make them say what’s on their mind.
DR: What are your thoughts on industry standards when you are making sales?
TM: Well, I don’t necessarily compare price as much as services. Discover Mediaworks is often compared to a marketing agency, but an agency doesn’t offer anywhere near the services our potential clients have access to. I try to make an apples to apples comparison as opposed to making a comparison to an orange. Your quality and expertise is an intangible, so I try not to let the price points of other companies factor in too much. However, when I’m on the east coast I recognize that we have a mid west price, so price factors in more in that situation.
DR: How do you use leverage and power to your advantage?
TM:
I like to use a sandwich technique that involves the company president in the negotiation. What we do is the president will work with the president of the company we’re meeting with, and then I’ll meet with the people actually doing the work. We’ll leverage them against each other, but at the same time I’m aligning what they’re looking for. This leverages their trust, and they end up agreeing to what we propose.
DR: Thanks, and I appreciate you taking time for this interview! Any last comments?
TM: Mutual benefit is the single most important aspect of a deal. Sincerely consider not doing the project if it isn’t mutually beneficial.
DR: Thanks for meeting with me, Todd! The first topic related to negotiations is dirty tricks. What are your thoughts on dirty tricks?
TM: In my opinion, dirty tricks don't work. But there are tricks, they are real, and you have to be ready for them. One of the tricks that I’ve used myself is the assumptive close. At the end of the conversation, talk like the deal is already done. Don’t say that it will be, or it could be, use terms such as “when this is done” or “once under way.” You talk about it as if the decision is made.
Another trick I use is if I can’t close the sale right then and there, I always schedule the next meeting while I have them. Don’t ever walk away without a meeting set up to try again. This puts things back in my control, and it gives me the timing advantage, setting me up for the actual negotiation. I’ll also do the opposite and say I’m not available, or out of town and will have to get in touch at a later date.
It all comes back to doing business in person. A face-to-face situation is more than just a proposal sent over email or phone – it’s really easy to say no to that. But if you drive out to see somebody, you have what I call “skin in the game.” You have that sense of guilt going out of your way to see somebody in person creates.
DR: Great insight! What are your thoughts on negative emotions that come up during a negotiation?
TM: I like to get a good understanding whenever negative emotions arise. Knowing exactly where the other party stands helps me figure out ways they would be happy. A bad deal is when both people are unhappy. The best deal is when both are happy. And make sure it’s a sincere understanding – don’t put words in their mouth. Also don’t rush – people need time to think, so give them time to think. Wait longer if you have to. The awkward silence will eventually make them say what’s on their mind.
DR: What are your thoughts on industry standards when you are making sales?
TM: Well, I don’t necessarily compare price as much as services. Discover Mediaworks is often compared to a marketing agency, but an agency doesn’t offer anywhere near the services our potential clients have access to. I try to make an apples to apples comparison as opposed to making a comparison to an orange. Your quality and expertise is an intangible, so I try not to let the price points of other companies factor in too much. However, when I’m on the east coast I recognize that we have a mid west price, so price factors in more in that situation.
DR: How do you use leverage and power to your advantage?
TM:
I like to use a sandwich technique that involves the company president in the negotiation. What we do is the president will work with the president of the company we’re meeting with, and then I’ll meet with the people actually doing the work. We’ll leverage them against each other, but at the same time I’m aligning what they’re looking for. This leverages their trust, and they end up agreeing to what we propose.
DR: Thanks, and I appreciate you taking time for this interview! Any last comments?
TM: Mutual benefit is the single most important aspect of a deal. Sincerely consider not doing the project if it isn’t mutually beneficial.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
The Facebook Millionaires
The Facebook Millionaires
With the upcoming Facebook IPO, there is much speculation as to the potential creation of thousands of millionaires. Facebook is expected to debut on the market at $100 billion dollars in 2012, which makes me wonder what other numbers are at play that we aren’t seeing.
How much revenue does Facebook need to account for executive compensation and employee wages? Facebook had around 700 employees in 2008, and currently employs over 3,000. Not all employees will get equal shares either, and one downside to going public is that all executives will need to include the amount of shares owned in quarterly reports. There may be dissent among the company once this information is released, and only time will tell if a restructuring of the company is necessary. Current investors will have a vested interest in making sure everything goes smoothly, and may be the deciding factor in the future of the company.
This makes me wonder how our experience as end users will change. Can we expect to see more invasive advertisements because it’s what stockholders want? Will our status updates and fan-page comments be considered fair game when we mention specific products? I also wonder what this means for the on-going privacy issues held against Facebook. How much of a say will the stockholders have in the way our data is used?
Facebook’s IPO is expected to be the biggest tech IPO ever – Google debuted at $1.9 billion as a comparison. I plan to invest, but I’ll see how I feel once next April comes around. A lot also depends on how Facebook offers the shares – they may opt for an auction as Google did in 2004. Pricing most likely won’t be known until the night before it goes public, but definitely keep an eye on this story. If you have a lot of money to invest, this may be something for you to consider. This could be the ground floor of something major, and though there is always the possibility of Facebook becoming the next Myspace, I think it will be a while before Facebook is replaced.
With the upcoming Facebook IPO, there is much speculation as to the potential creation of thousands of millionaires. Facebook is expected to debut on the market at $100 billion dollars in 2012, which makes me wonder what other numbers are at play that we aren’t seeing.
How much revenue does Facebook need to account for executive compensation and employee wages? Facebook had around 700 employees in 2008, and currently employs over 3,000. Not all employees will get equal shares either, and one downside to going public is that all executives will need to include the amount of shares owned in quarterly reports. There may be dissent among the company once this information is released, and only time will tell if a restructuring of the company is necessary. Current investors will have a vested interest in making sure everything goes smoothly, and may be the deciding factor in the future of the company.
This makes me wonder how our experience as end users will change. Can we expect to see more invasive advertisements because it’s what stockholders want? Will our status updates and fan-page comments be considered fair game when we mention specific products? I also wonder what this means for the on-going privacy issues held against Facebook. How much of a say will the stockholders have in the way our data is used?
Facebook’s IPO is expected to be the biggest tech IPO ever – Google debuted at $1.9 billion as a comparison. I plan to invest, but I’ll see how I feel once next April comes around. A lot also depends on how Facebook offers the shares – they may opt for an auction as Google did in 2004. Pricing most likely won’t be known until the night before it goes public, but definitely keep an eye on this story. If you have a lot of money to invest, this may be something for you to consider. This could be the ground floor of something major, and though there is always the possibility of Facebook becoming the next Myspace, I think it will be a while before Facebook is replaced.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Trover, the Location Based Social Network
Since I plan to create and market a travel app in the future, I thought it would be interesting to test out and review an app for a blog post. I recently downloaded the Trover app, and I absolutely love it so far!
Trover describe themselves as “a new smartphone-based social network that lets you share discoveries with friends and fellow explorers in a visual, fun way – all based on your location.” Users are encouraged see what others have discovered based on GPS location, and as your dig deeper into the results you are shown locations further away from you. Shares are brief, consisting of a photo and a quick note.
Your first option in the Trover app is “Nearby” listings. This gives a cool display of shares by other “trovers” based on your location, which can then be sorted by Anytime, Last 7 days, and Today. Underneath the category display is a mileage reading, which increases as you scroll down the thumbnail images of user shares (as mentioned above, the deeper results are those further away from your current location).
There is also a “Feed” option that shows all submissions to Trover as they happen. These are not sorted by location in any way, but you can sort between All Shares and those that you are following. I wasn’t sure how active the feed would be since I hadn’t heard of Trover before, but it turns out there are quite a few users from all over the world actively sharing through this location based social network.
A “Featured” section is also included in the app, which is similar to the Feed screen, but with stars in the upper-left corner of the thumbnails. I’m not sure how featured shares are decided, as there seems to be a combination of views, comments, and shares in the listing, but I consider this a great feature since there’s a lot of content that wouldn’t be seen otherwise (there’s quite a lot in the feed, and unless you search by location you will only see what is shared close to your current location).
The “Me” section lets you invite friends, search users, and send feedback. I may invite some friends, as I couldn’t find anyone I knew with the search users function. They are missing out – for a free app, Trover is great!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Being Young and Making an Impact
I just watched a great video on TED.com of Natalie Warne’s presentation Being Young and Making an Impact. Natalie tells an amazing story of her involvement with Invisible Children, an organization involved in ending the use of child soldiers by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Africa. She explains that what made all of their triumphs possible was the acts of Anonymous Extraordinaries, and that you should follow your dreams because they are what drives you, not because they will make you successful or famous.
Natalie’s mother had two pictures in their apartment: one family picture, the other of her mother at 12 years old looking into the eyes of Martin Luther King, Jr. Natalie would always imagine it was her looking into his eyes, and though she didn’t get to meet Dr. King, she did get to meet Dr. Vincent Harding, who wrote many speeches for the late Dr. King. She explains that Harding is an example of an Anonymous Extraordinary, and was just as important to the Civil Rights movement in his behind the scenes role.
She struggled to find her identity in high school – she received hate letters for being black, and was forced to pick a race due to her mixed heritage. But that situation made her resent both races, and it wasn’t until she saw the film Invisible Children that she found her identity. The film was about Joseph Kony’s use of child soldiers in the Lord’s Resistance Army, and what struck her the most was how one man could start a war that has lasted 25 years.
That made Natalie ask the question of what could one 17 year old do to end the use of child soldiers. She joined the Invisible Children foundation, and flew to San Diego to be meet with the founders. They told her getting a bill passed would be the first step, which lead her on a journey that took her all the way to the Oprah show to gain support.
However, getting on Oprah wasn’t her defining moment. Oprah was a checkpoint on the way to the bill, and the signing of the bill by the president was her defining moment. She wasn’t there, none of the interns were, and yet she felt just as much a part of the movement. Just as the family who ordered 100 boxes of pizza was part of the movement. It was people doing whatever they could, the Anonymous Extraordinaries, that drove the movement, not the Oprah moments. Natalie states that not even a number of Oprah moments strung together could fuel a movement as much as Anonymous Extraordinaries. That is what brought 100,000 people to her rescue event in Chicago that got Oprah to listen to the Invisible Children message.
Natalie says that this is what will define the new generation, and I foresee many business innovations if people do start following their dreams simply because it’s what makes their heart sing. If one person can get Anonymous Extraordinaries to gather around a vision it creates a truly powerful force.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Steve Largent and CTIA
Quick update: my last post was about Siri on the iPhone 4S, and I’ve since then purchased the new iPhone. Siri is amazing from a user experience perspective, and I’m excited about developments regarding Siri’s current lack of an API.
This new development for mobile devices made me curious to find out who has a hand in regulating mobile devices, which lead me to CTIA-The Wireless Association. Their website describes CTIA as “an international nonprofit membership organization that has represented the wireless communications industry since 1984. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products.” CTIA is also involved in the Engadget in which he sheds light on his vision of the industry. I learned that Steve Largent plays a major role in lobbying for mobile carriers, which makes him a key figure in the long-term direction of the industry. He mentioned that even the President has given him direct support for his company’s initiatives.
Another interesting point mentioned is taxation of wireless users. There is an average state tax of 15.3 percent on wireless bills, and some states pay as high as 23 percent. I wasn’t even aware of how high the tax could be, and I’m glad to find out CTIA is doing everything in its power to find a more reasonable solution. If they are successful, I think that could potentially mean more mobile users, which would benefit my company directly in that many viewers of Discover Wisconsin are from more rural areas of Wisconsin. If wireless could be cheaper, I think it could potentially translate into more views to DiscoverWisconsin.com through mobile devices, which would make it more likely those same users would get the Discover Wisconsin mobile app.
CTIA is also working to change the tax on digital goods and services. Popular downloading services such as iTunes charge a tax for downloads, which would be another deterrent stopping people from engaging in the wireless user experience.
The U.S. Army is working with CTIA on an Army Marketplace Application Store. Only the Department of Defense can access the store’s content, and the apps will be geared at assisting troops complete their missions. App developers and soldiers will also have open communication, as a soldier can post what is needed in an app, and then a developer can get to work on it. I see a lot of potential for this amount of personalization in app development, with a possible new market emerging related to apps developed for specific individuals in the civilian market.
This new development for mobile devices made me curious to find out who has a hand in regulating mobile devices, which lead me to CTIA-The Wireless Association. Their website describes CTIA as “an international nonprofit membership organization that has represented the wireless communications industry since 1984. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products.” CTIA is also involved in the Engadget in which he sheds light on his vision of the industry. I learned that Steve Largent plays a major role in lobbying for mobile carriers, which makes him a key figure in the long-term direction of the industry. He mentioned that even the President has given him direct support for his company’s initiatives.
Another interesting point mentioned is taxation of wireless users. There is an average state tax of 15.3 percent on wireless bills, and some states pay as high as 23 percent. I wasn’t even aware of how high the tax could be, and I’m glad to find out CTIA is doing everything in its power to find a more reasonable solution. If they are successful, I think that could potentially mean more mobile users, which would benefit my company directly in that many viewers of Discover Wisconsin are from more rural areas of Wisconsin. If wireless could be cheaper, I think it could potentially translate into more views to DiscoverWisconsin.com through mobile devices, which would make it more likely those same users would get the Discover Wisconsin mobile app.
CTIA is also working to change the tax on digital goods and services. Popular downloading services such as iTunes charge a tax for downloads, which would be another deterrent stopping people from engaging in the wireless user experience.
The U.S. Army is working with CTIA on an Army Marketplace Application Store. Only the Department of Defense can access the store’s content, and the apps will be geared at assisting troops complete their missions. App developers and soldiers will also have open communication, as a soldier can post what is needed in an app, and then a developer can get to work on it. I see a lot of potential for this amount of personalization in app development, with a possible new market emerging related to apps developed for specific individuals in the civilian market.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)