Fri
Dec
4
I’m continually fascinated at the lengths that publications must go to stay relevant. Augmented reality covers from InStyle Magazine, Thrillist’s jetsetter parties, and the New York Times debut of the Times Wire are all examples of the great innovations media must create just to stay afloat. In today’s Los Angeles Times, another example hails. Rolling Stone magazine has announced the launch of a restaurant and nightclub chain in Hollywood. Set to battle the existing Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood type of establishments, creators insist that the Rolling Stone venue will cater to a “more upscale Hollywood crowd.” It’s a scary media world when even the most classic and timeless of magazines has to create a branded restaurant experience.
-Frani
Tags
- advertising - frani - publishing - magazines
Thu
Nov
12
It’s no secret that print magazines have to figure out a way to stay current to sell ads. Today, WWD reported that InStyle is entering the previously-techy world of augmented reality with its December cover, featuring Taylor Swift. Readers who hold up the cover to their webcam will see Swift, surrounded by snowflakes, spring to life in a 45-second video that ends when she signs her autograph on screen.
Publishers are fighting hard for ad dollars, and this sort of experiential cover is a smart way to bring in new advertisers. In fact, InStyle’s publisher has extended the augmented reality theme to a special “gifting in 3-D” marketing program and has gained upwards of 12 new advertisers and will see a 3.6 percent increase in pages.
-Frani
Tags
- advertising - frani - journalism - magazines - augmented reality
Wed
Nov
4
Peek Seems to Be a Boo
Andrew LaVallee of the Wall Street Journal wrote an article yesterday about the world’s first Twitter-dedicated device, developed by New York mobile startup Peek. The TwitterPeek will enable people to post and read Twitter updates on the go. I’m pretty sure that anybody needing to post and read Twitter updates on the go likely has a smartphone, no?
Could this actually make a profit? Is the market big enough? Doesn’t a smartphone negate the need for a Twitter-only device? I can’t actually buy that there are people who want Twitter, but don’t want to surf the Web on their phones. Do they exist?
-Frani
Tags
- mobile - twitter - Frani - gadgets
