Thursday, February 25, 2010

Report: More TVs connected to Internet

Report: More TVs connected to Internet
By Brian Santo
CedMagazine.com - February 24, 2010

More than one-quarter of all TVs purchased by American consumers in January were linked to the Internet, affirming consumer desire to distribute their media across multiple devices in the home.

According to a survey conducted by iSuppli Corp., 27.5 percent of U.S. consumers who bought a TV in January indicated their sets were connected to the Internet, either through the internal capabilities of their TVs or via external devices, such as digital video boxes or game consoles. This is up from 24.3 percent in December 2009.

“From video-sharing sites like YouTube, to online services like Hulu, consumers increasingly are turning to the Internet for video entertainment,” said Tina Tseng, analyst of television systems for iSuppli Click here!');document.write('');}//-->. “And these consumers want to view Internet content on their primary displays in their homes – their televisions – rather than being relegated the small screens of their desktop and notebook PCs. With the increasing pervasiveness of large-size, flat-panel digital televisions and the rising availability of Internet-enabled TVs (IETVs), more consumers are linking their sets to the Web.”

iSuppli’s survey revealed that 41.9 percent of Internet-connected televisions in the United States in January were IETVs. The next most popular means of connection, at 20.3 percent, was through video game consoles. This was followed by Blu-ray players at 13.2 percent and digital video boxes and other means of connection – such as PCs – which were tied at 12.3 percent each.

IETVs’ share of Internet-connected television in January rose by 14.2 percentage points from 27.7 percent in December.

How is your new TV connected to the Internet?

 

December 2009

January 2010

It is an Internet-enabled TV

27.7%

41.9%

Through a digital video box (i.e., Roku, Vudu)

10.3%

12.3%

Through a game console

17.7%

20.3%

Through an Internet-enabled Blu-ray player

14.1%

13.2%

Other (Internet module, PC, etc.)

30.3%

12.3%

Source: iSuppli Corp.

iSuppli defines an IETV as a set that has the capability to connect to the Internet, either with a wired link or wirelessly, and provides sufficient system resources to support thin-client applications such as Yahoo Connected TV widgets or the Adobe Flash Platform for the Digital Home.

“IETVs provide easy, integrated Internet access, attracting the interest of consumers,” Tseng said. “Because of this, all the major brands now are offering more flat-panel sets with Internet connectivity, including Samsung, Sony, LG Electronics, Vizio, Sharp and Panasonic. IETVs now are available at lower price tags and in a greater variety of screen sizes than ever before, from 24 to 65 inches.”

iSuppli forecasts worldwide sales of IETVs will rise to 87.6 million units by 2013, up from 14.7 million in 2009. An estimated 60 percent of total North American flat-panel TVs shipped in 2013 are expected to be IETVs.

All these televisions come with some internal navigation tools for the net. But I wonder if there is an opportunity for TV and/or newspapers to create content or a show that basically revolves around, "What's on the net?" There's lots there and more coming.

Posted via web from Randy's Stuff

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The allure of the Google 7-Pack

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The allure of the Google 7-Pack

Marketing Matters


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04:59 PM PST on Thursday, November 5, 2009

By Cindy McMahen

Most men would love to acquire a "six pack"; that well-defined rectus abdominis muscle of the human abdomen. But a business would do well to acquire a "Google 7-pack" presence today. (That's a listing that you often find among the first page of Google's well-defined local search results.)

No doubt you've seen the Goggle 7-pack and may not have realized that's what you were looking at.

You enter a Google search query for say, "chiropractors Los Angeles" and the first results it displays are 7 chiropractic businesses all adjacent to an eye-catching map of business locations. What many people don't realize is that these local business Listings are pulled from Google Maps results and aren't derived as part of the regular Google search results.

Ranking in the Google 7-pack is becoming more and more mission-critical to having a good overall Google presence. Searches done by people looking for local goods and services are estimated to comprise some 40% of online searches today.

In addition, Google's increasingly displaying Google Maps listings for keyword phrase queries that include both localized (i.e. Los Angeles) phrases AND now, non-localized phrases (i.e. chiropractors). Google's able to do this by serving up local businesses for a set region in matching the query to the searcher's IP address. (It's the IP address which essentially serves as your online numeric address. Each server connected to the Internet is assigned a unique IP address which can indicate which region you're being serviced from and what you would therefore be more interested in seeing.)

Even savvy webmasters and search marketers who've managed to finagle themselves into a top ranking in Google's search results for choice keywords, have found that ranking in the Google's local business results isn't a given. That's because Google Maps has its own algorithm. It has its own ranking formula, separate from Google's organic search algorithm that determines just who it will display in the 7-pack.

So how can you acquire a Google's 7-pack presence?

The exact formula for acquiring one of these coveted spots is a closely guarded Google secret; however top search marketers have some recommendations:

Step 1: Claim your businesses' local search listing TODAY, before some unscrupulous person does. Chances are good that Google already has your basic business information in its index. In order to improve you're listing you'll need to claim it and verify you are the appropriate person to modify the listing for that particular business location.

Step 2: Get customer reviews. Search engines are increasingly pulling in data from social media sites and customer reviews. These testimonials are viewed as less susceptible to any shady search engine optimization tactics and search engine spam.

You'll also want to develop a strategy of ways to entice customers to add more customer reviews over time.

Step 3: Grow online mentions of your company. Citations, which are mentions of your business in other online sources (and not necessarily linking to your website) are also good for growing your presence. What's deemed a recognized authority site for citations varies by industry.

You'll want to do some research as to what Google seems to be responding to by examining those sites that are currently ranking in your business sphere.

But keep in mind that having a top listing is a moving target.

As other businesses grow their own online presence you may find yourselves preempted.

Anyone who has worked hard to acquire a nice six pack physique knows it requires regular workouts to maintain it. Obtaining a Google 7-pack listing and keeping it is no different.

With some consistent effort you can acquire and keep a top Google listing for your choice keyword phrase. This puts you front-and-center with your online audience when they are looking for local goods and services.

Cindy McMahen is owner of search marketing PROS in Riverside and is secretary and past president of the American Marketing Association - Inland Empire chapter. Contact her at 951-637-9561 or visit www.searchmarketingpros.com.

Comment on this story

If you're a local business, or work with/for one, it's time to start cracking into the Google 7-pack. Here are some tips to get started.

Posted via web from Randy's Stuff

Friday, February 5, 2010

Augmented Reality - Finally Becoming Useful?

Augmented reality.....OK, this finally shows some promise beyond novelty.

Posted via web from Randy's Stuff