Marketing

Suddenly, of the hundreds of available colors, there is a rush all over the world to paint almost everything green -- green paint, green ribbons and green fabrics are everywhere. Green logos, green billboards and almost politically correct green ties are becoming the most fashionable and trendy stat...

EA will launch a free Web-based online battlefield game, the first barrage of what may become an advertising-supported blitz which could help change the economics of the game-publishing industry. EA's "Battlefield Heroes" will be a free-to-download and free-to-play multi-player personal computer gam...

The e-commerce market is entering a new period. After an initial phase during which companies focused largely on making their products and services available to potential customers via the Web, users are now trying to take a more comprehensive look at their deployments. Consequently, a new breed of ...

If you lived under a rock throughout 2007 and recently surfaced to catch up on technology news, you likely will not recognize Google. Sure, the company still dominates the search market, its logo looks the same, and it continues to offer Gmail and other Web-based products. However, the "don't-be-evi...

Behavioral targeting has been around since the first dot-com days, but it got really hot again in late 2007, thanks to a few big promoters like Facebook. So, What exactly is it, and does it really work the way it sounds? BT tracks a Web visitor's browser clickstreams -- typically in the last six vis...

Considering the speed at which technology evolves, predicting even a year in advance can be a dicey proposition. Still, given key tech sector developments during 2007 and the outlook for 2008, some trends are unmistakable. It's a safe bet that social networking and Web 2.0 overall will remain a clos...

Get ready for new "controlled circulation" models on the Web, ones that target you based not on your preferences for music or soft drinks -- but on what you consume in your occupation. Think of it as B2B social networking. First, some set-up ... One of the great media inventions of the mid-20th cent...

For advertisers, the mobile Web is full of possibilities -- and problems. U.S. adoption of the mobile Web lags behind European and Asian countries. Closed systems have hindered application development, as has the field's wide array of competing standards, platforms and browsers. Small screens necess...

Google received an early holiday present from federal regulators Thursday, as the Federal Trade Commission granted a wish the search giant has had on its list since April -- approval to complete its purchase of interactive advertising agency DoubleClick. The Federal Trade Commission approved the dea...

In a significant boost for its Internet unit, Microsoft has reached a long-term deal to work with media giant Viacom on content and advertising distribution, an agreement worth an estimated $500 million. The partnership calls for Microsoft's Atlas to become the exclusive advertising platform for all...

Mobile Internet usage is on the rise, and for marketers, the time to establish their brands on the "third screen" is now. For example, more than four in 10 U.S. mobile users will look at phones with strong Internet features when they buy next, according to The Kelsey Group. Concurrently, there are w...

Building a multimillion-dollar business wasn't really on my mind at age 18. Tired of working odd jobs, I saw potential in online advertising. So, in exchange for a share in the startup, I persuaded my older brother Chris to let me charge $99 to his credit card for a domain name. For $33, third broth...

Online retailers agree that it's better to give than receive, yet they stand to receive more than most. Santa will barely have time to shuck his boots for his slippers before the merchandise misfits begin a return journey to the warehouse to wreak havoc on the season's sales numbers. "The reality is...

Buying sponsored links on a major search engine isn't cheap. Getting to the top of the search engine pile without paying your way requires mastery of search engine optimization -- a craft that often seems to fall somewhere between advanced calculus and alchemy. However, for small businesses catering...

With thousands of companies selling products online to both businesses and consumers, it takes more than nice site design and a shopping cart to be competitive and make money. We know that effective search and navigation leads to more people finding what they're looking for and, therefore, higher co...