3-6-2015
The streaming wars are heating up, Google announced today that they are offering a Play Music account trial for three months at only $3 a month, the service would normally cost users $9.99 a month. The account gives users access to the library of over 30 million songs. Once the three-month trial ends, you'll have to cancel the service or fork over $9.99 a month. The discounted deal only applies to new subscribers.
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1-6-2015
One of the biggest announcements from the first day of CES is Google's new streaming audio service, Google Cast. So what exactly is it? It's essentially a tech for streaming audio, much in the way that ChromeCast streams video, to a device that supports the protocol. Right now the aim is speakers, and of course, your ears. Google Cast pits Google head to head against Apple's AirPlay, and if the licensing cost is lower than Apple AirPlay, Google might win this fight.
The most apparent application is streaming from a smartphone to speakers, pretty much any speakers that would support Google Cast. Right now it's just "speakers," but it's just a matter of implementing the GoogleCast protocol into any device that supports audio, including that device in your dashboard. Google is also promising future streaming functionality in game consoles and set-top boxes with Android TV. Joining the party early with apps supporting GoogleCast are Pandora, Rdio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, NPR One, Deezer, and Google Play Music
Fast Company is reporting that, according to a Google spokesperson, "Currently no additional software development is required. Developers will just need to opt-in through the developer console in order to cast to Google Cast for audio devices. Google will also provide an updated SDK allowing content partners to further optimize their experience for Google Cast for audio devices."
In a nutshell, Google is saying that the development on Google Cast is done; all that's necessary for audio application developers to take advantage of Google Cast is to sign up and opt in. However, Google will be offering a software development kit that will allow developers to further customize the streaming protocol.
Look for the first hardware to arrive supporting Google Cast in the spring.
Here's a promotional video from Google showing Google Cast in action:
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6-13-13
According to eMarketer, Google took in more than half of the $8.8 billion that advertisers worldwide spent on mobile ads in 2012. That helped Google take in nearly one-third of all digital dollars. In 2011, Facebook didn't have a penny of mobile revenue.
In 2011, the company took in half a billion dollars worldwide on mobile ads. eMarketer says Facebook is expected to increase mobile revenues in 2013 to just over $2 billion. That will give the social media company a 12.9 percent share of the global net mobile advertising market. Read more from eMarketer HERE
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5-15-13
As expected, Google has debuted a streaming music service, Google Play All Access, getting out ahead of arch-rival Apple in this expanding area of audio entertainment. The company made the announcement of the subscription service Wednesday at its I/O developer conference.
The on-demand music service, which takes direct aim at such rivals as Pandora, Spotify, and Rdio, will cost $9.99 a month after a 30-day free trial. The Google Play service already offers a music store and locker and a games service. Read more about the service here at CNET
Google also said at the conference that it will be launching a custom version of Samsung's Galaxy S4 smartphone, loaded up with Google software and services.
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1-24-2013
Google has sent a to request to the FCC to build an ?experimental radio network.? Digital Trends reports that Google wants the spectrum for a 2-mile radius surrounding its HQ in Mountain View, CA. The test network will run somewhere in the 2524MHz and 2625MHz spectrum and Google wants to use it to experiment. The spectrum being tested is inaccessible by almost all current consumer electronics, including iPhones and Android devices, meaning it will be years before you see gadgets use this. Read more HERE
5-17-2012So how much are you conducting social marketing on Google+ as compared to Facebook and Twitter? Yeah, we thought so. It's worth remembering that Google's social network has only been widely available to the public for eight months. And it's only been available for use by us brands for six months. Six months, that's it. True, that amount of time seems like a blink. But considering the speed with which technological, and particularly social innovation, moves, it's also "forever."(5/17/2012 6:28:24 AM)
Totally agree with that last paragraph and the excitement for radio about Hangouts on Air. There is some serious potential there!
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4-19-2012
During the Arbitron conference call Thursday, SVP/U.S. Media Services Sean Creamer was asked about Google's rollout of Brand Activate, an initiative for measuring online ads that includes "Active GRP," calculated from both panel and anonymous user data and working in conjunction with a new "Active View" service to calculate "viewed impressions" for online ads. (Both services have been submitted for MRC accreditation.)
Creamer said it came as no surprise that Google is increasing its level of marketplace presence in online measurement: "I think it is going to be, as we've said in the past, a competitive environment, but also a collaborative environment." He noted that Google has partnered with other providers on similar activities and said, "We certainly stand ready to participate as those opportunities present themselves."
Asked how the Arbitron Mobile Trends Panel will differentiate itself, Creamer said its position relative to the competition "is difficult to discern" so early in the process, but added, "We believe we have as good a chance, with the assets we have in place, to be very competitive in that marketplace."
That panel is currently made up of 6,000-plus individuals 18 and older, and Creamer said that, though Arbitron will respond to customer input, "I think that's the size we are shooting for." He noted, "The ability to measure the entire relationship a consumer has with a smartphone device is a valuable set of insights to a broad customer base."
Asked about smartphones and the PPM, Creamer noted that, even with 44 percent of the population now owning smartphones, that's not enough to make up a representative sample. But as time goes on, Creamer said, "It becomes a very viable tool as a measuring device." He doesn't, however expect smartphones to replace the PPM entirely: "It will be a mix of devices over time."
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Mike Stiles
In a long awaited move, Google+, the social networking site aiming to take on Facebook and rock its world, now allows branded pages for businesses, organizations, artists, and yes, radio stations. There was never a doubt brands were interested in trying out Google?s venture, even having to be told by the company to stop making regular profile pages, because brand pages were coming. Well ta da, they?re here.
I hear you. ?What? Another social network I?ve got to deal with?!? No, you don?t have to make a Google+ brand page. But I would if I were you. In fact, I?d do it today, and here?s why. As with Facebook, there?s no real verification process to make sure someone setting up a brand page truly represents that brand. In other words, some yokel could be there right now setting up a Google+ brand page in your station's name. So if nothing else, secure your name.
It?s easy.
-Sign in to Google and go to http://www.google.com/+/business/
-Pick a Category. You?re in Arts, Entertainment & Sports.
-Enter your business name and website.
-Pick a sub-category. You?re a radio station.
-Decide who can see your profile. That would be everybody.
-Describe yourself in 10 words and put up a photo.
-Drag and classify the people who follow you into circles. You can designate your own
circles, i.e. Listeners, Advertisers, Partners, Media, etc.
Beyond that, you?ve got to make your own decisions on whether or not you?re going to actively use Google+ brand pages, and when, and how. At the moment, it boils down to how big of a pioneer you want to be.
Things to know to help you decide:
1. Facebook has 750 million users, so it makes sense for brands to want to reach those people. It?s going to take some time for Google+ to reach a similar number, but you?ll have to decide at what level of user adoption you want to jump in with vigor.
2. It?s speculated Google may be able to offer its brand pages some kind of advantage when it comes to search, since Google has 60% of the search business. However, that kind of thing might also bring legal challenges.
3. As a matter of Google policy, you can?t run contests, sweepstakes or promotions on Google+ brand pages. You can on Facebook, but such contests must be contained within apps.
4. You may find the ability to create more of a brand experience on Google+ thanks to the ability to custom skin the page, employ rich media ads, etc. You already kinda see this on branded YouTube channels. And while giving your page a distinctive look sounds good, the danger is some designers will go nuts and drift into the territory that got MySpace in trouble.
5. Ads and analytics. Again, there?s an assumption being made that Google?s existing ad and metrics tools will be able to give brands user data above and beyond what you?d get from Facebook Insights. Of course, if you?re doing the right thing and using a 3rd party publishing and analytics tool, you?re already getting comprehensive, usable data.
6. So far, only Facebook has eCommerce plug-ins rolling so purchases can be made within the social environment. They also have the app and like-gating ability advantage.
7. The component of Google+ that?s been getting the most buzz isGoogle Hangouts, which are like video-conferences. At the moment, Hangouts are limited to a handful of people, so you?ll have to decide if there?s a practical use for that for your station. Maybe listeners could win entry to a private Hangout with an artist?
So there?s Google+ for brands, at least as things stand now. Discuss amongst yourselves its rightful place in your marketing world.
Mike Stiles is a writer/producer with the social marketing tech platform, Vitrue, and head of Sketchworks comedy theatre. Check out his monologue blog, The Stiles Files.
Find him on Facebook www.facebook.com/mike.stiles
or on Twitter @mikestiles
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