Posted by Claire Burdett In a week dominated by the ongoing financial crisis and the Leveson enquiry into badly behaved journalists, we take our usual spin around the online business world.
Superfly has launched a more personal way for regular flyers searching for the most cost effective flights, by taking into account their loyalty rewards.
Amazon announced this week that, for the first time since they started selling books online, its digital books have outsold its paper books this year. Interestingly student text books have been lagging behind generally, but have finally taken a big leap digital-side, with sales of textbooks widely reported as doubling this semester on last Spring.
Hello wallet is the newest iPhone app launched for consumers to make it easier to keep track of what they are spending and whether they can afford the purchase or not. This launch reflects the growing trend of the mobile wallet, which is definitely the next big thing for businesses to be aware of, with Paypal, Google, Visa and American Express all jumping on board so far.
Brand-wise, Domino’s has found a new way to utilise the digital space, with a new app that allows customers to create a pizza on their iPads before ordering it in reality. Meanwhile, struggling high street retailer HMV has announced a new online rental service as it continues to try and get to grips with digital retailing. Users will be able to choose from hundreds of movies from more than 30 distributors, with rentals costing £3.75, though with YouTube and Google already in the space, plus Freeview and LoveFilm, we predict it’s going to be a tough battle.
Old Spice is at it again, merging creativity on online brand promotion in a very tongue-in-cheek video release of a ‘bear holder’ for Old Spice deodorant (yes, you CAN buy it apparently), which has already got over 43 thousand views on YouTube, while Unilever’s Lynx brand has had a double ban for their separate outdoor and internet campaigns after the advertising watchdog upheld complaints that they objectified women and were inappropriately located where they could be seen by children. Shame, because we ADORED their augmented angel reality campaign, which is perhaps the most creative integrated social campaign of 2011.
On Facebook, Nivea is launching a social Christmas campaign this week to encourage people to send personalised gifts to their Facebook friends, Thorntons have launched a Christmas app, offering fans facts, fun and the chance to win a Christmas Hamper, and Baileys are running a personalised Cup Cake giveaway … all nice to have, and we are noticing that retail brands are embracing the digital relationship with their customers much more enthusiastically and with a surer touch than they did in 2010.
Over on Twitter, Samsung ran a gloriously simple yet effective campaign this week to show off the capabilities of their new Galaxy Note handset. Called Create My Tweet the brand asked Twitter users to suggest ideas for artwork by tweeting @samsungmobile with their 140 character message and the hashtag #createmytweet.
Renowned illustrators Steven Wilson, Rose Stallard, Danny Sangra and Natasha Law will then turn some of their requests into real artwork using the design applications on the Galaxy Note – we’re waiting to see if any of ours get chosen! For more information and inspiration for your own campaign, see their Facebook page.
And finally… there’s a new action figure on the block… yes it’s Mashable’s very own founder, Pete Cashmore! And while he may not be ending up in any of our Christmas stockings, it does go show you what immense reward might await you if you ever choose to start a blog for business…
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