I am calling this prediction “Cam’s Law” (after moi) with due respect and deep regard to Intel Founder Gordon E. Moore, who in 1965 predicted that the number of transistors on integrated circuits would double every two years thereby exponentially increasing computing power.

Trust me, it does not take a genius to see the trends. My prediction is firmly guided by data. comScore’s recently reported that Americans watched 11.3 billion video ads in December, setting a new peak, and a sharp 10% rise from November’s 10.3 billion. December 2012 ad views were twice as many as in January 2012, representing 59% year-over-year growth. Video ads accounted for 22.6% of all videos viewed in December, and 1.9% of time spent viewing video online.

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The Nielsen announcement is “fantastic for us,” he says. Once there are some numbers underpinning tablet TV viewership, he says, “I can see brands moving their spend to tablets. We’re at the edge of a Golden Age.”

It is to Yuill’s credit that he is quick to remind a reporter that, of course, he’s pre-disposed to think that way, but he has a point when he says the tablet has one peculiar quality that TV does not: Yuill says “It’s tactile. Touching creates a relationship. It’s really a fundamental difference for advertisers.”

Then again, there’s a lot of that going around.

*An earlier version of this blog said the Nielsen changes would only result in a ratings change of six-tenths of a percent. Nielsen explains it will initially result in a six-tenths percent increase in the size of its television universe.

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First up, kudos to CBS for “getting it.” Steaming live video to tablets is an absolute no-brainer. There were almost 50 million tablets sold worldwide last quarter alone. That is a lot of consumers.

So, let me say “thank you” to CBS on behalf of the millions (I’m betting that there were millions) of consumers who took advantage of the live stream. It provided consumers the flexibility and choice we deserve when it comes to watching the biggest sporting event in the country.

Now, if you were only watching the big game on your tablet that would be fine. However, I made the mistake of having the television on at the same time as having the live stream on my iPad on my lap (I am sure many others did this as well).

The issue — and I don’t know if it was my connection or the WiFi I was on, or if it is a technical limitation of live stream — was that the stream to the tablet lagged the television coverage. It was not a short lag, it was considerable. At one stage in the first quarter, I got out the stop watch and timed it. The lag was 21.7 seconds. This was essentially streaming one play behind the live coverage on the television.

This made it impossible to have both the tablet and television on at the same time. And you guessed it, the big screen eventually won.

That said, I did like the fact that you had access to a curated Twitter feed and the commercials that you could play on demand on the tablet.

Perhaps the most exciting innovation was the ability to switch between camera angles at will. It made me feel like I was in control of what I wanted to watch. There was a second or so between the camera angles switching but nothing that marred the experience.

At the risk of looking stupid, the only other thing that I had an issue with was that I could not watch the game on the full screen. Try as I might, I could not find a way of expanding the picture to the full screen. It might be able to be done, but for the life of me I could not figure it out. I am sure someone from CBS will call me out on this.

Overall, I must say I was excited to watch the game on my tablet. We should be able to watch everything on live on tablet. Unfortunately, there are still plenty of live sporting events that are not available. At least there is one network that gets it. Congratulations CBS. Great game!

In: VentureBeat

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Not long after the iPad mini launched last fall, Cameron Yuill, the founder of AdGent Digital, started using the device to make business presentations.

Convenience was one reason: The iPad mini has all the capabilities of its bigger predecessor, including wireless AirPlay mirroring that allows him to project the tablet’s screen onto a nearby TV. But salesmanship was a factor, too: There’s nothing like arriving at a meeting, seemingly empty-handed, only to pull the latest and greatest Apple technology from a jacket pocket.

“I pull it out and people are quite astounded,” says Yuill, whose company provides advertising on mobile platforms. “We’re in the business, so we’re promoting the usage as much as we can.”

In: Macworld

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Just producing online video advertising campaigns doesn’t guarantee their success or viral spread through social media. Here are a few best practices that will not only strengthen your video production quality, but will ultimately lead to more successful video campaigns.

1.) Know the video advertising policies.

Always check the policies on video advertising before embarking on your ad. You don’t want to waste your time crafting a campaign just to get rejected by governing policies. We recommend going through this Video Ad Guideline from Google before creating your video campaign.

2.) Identify your purpose.

Analyze what your real intention is for creating a video. Is it for brand-building or a direct response campaign? Always remember the goal of the campaign before making any other decisions. Focus is key.

3.) Deliver your core message early and clearly.

The first few seconds of your video are the most critical. Some users immediately lose interest after realizing it’s an ad campaign, so maximize those first few precious seconds.

4.) Make it short and sweet.

Users normally stay engaged for 15 to 30 seconds (thanks to decades of television commercials), after that they drop off to find something more interesting. You’re wasting time creating long videos that nobody will finish anyway. If long videos are necessary, make them interactive. The audience will stay engaged longer if they participate in the process.

5.) Stimulate the users’ senses.

Be imaginative and descriptive in creating your video. Use eye-catching images with sharp and rich colors. Use quality audio to communicate with your audience. Do not let background music drown out your primary audio, like a voice over. If you are using text, use it sparingly. Users dislike reading long and complicated text.

6.) Make a strong call-to-action ending.

This tip is crucial and often neglected. At the end of the video, do not leave your audience hanging. Take this opportunity to keep your audience engaged through a call-to-action. Some simple calls-to-action including visiting a website, introducing a link to more content, buy it now, etc.

7.) Monitor your video ad performance.

After you’ve launched the campaign, start collecting analytics immediately. What is its interaction rate? Is it getting higher or lower? If the engagement rate is declining, you might want to review the video ad and add something to make it more engaging.

Did we miss anything? Feel free to add in the comments below.

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The online retail landscape is changing fast. And the change is being driven by tablets. T-Commerce is the new e-commerce.

According to eMarketer, $24 billion will be spent by consumers shopping on their tablets this year and that amount will likely double by 2015.  Contrast M-commerce (mobile) estimated growth will be lower at $13.44 billion for 2013 and $24.32 billion in 3 years’ time.

Source: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Record-Retail-Sales-on-Smartphones-Tablets-Take-Greater-Ecommerce-Share/1009595

Source: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Record-Retail-Sales-on-Smartphones-Tablets-Take-Greater-Ecommerce-Share/1009595

Is your company’s website ready for T-commerce?

Where do you start?

Start with your existing site.  While it is ok for shoppers to access traditional websites on their tablet, consumers may encounter issues.  Some old web elements like flash will not work on a tablet. Tablets are for tapping and desktops are for mouse-clicking.  The way you hover on a site using a mouse won’t work on a tablet. So having a site that works on tablet is crucial.

Creating a Great T-Commerce Experience

It’s easy to get lost in the tablet vs mobile dilema.  Many think that M-commerce and T-commerce are basically the same thing.  When the scramble to create mobile-optimized sites arose, companies quickly jumped on board.  Now that tablets are here, many sites simply redirect their tablet users to sites that are mobile-optimized.  BIG MISTAKE!

The way we defined mobile is changing.  We can’t lump together all online-buying activities from a mobile device as m-commerce.  Tablets offer more screen real estate and can deliver more information compared to an m-commerce site.  Consistency in the quantity of the content is paramount in creating a better user experience.

HTML5 Is King

HTML5 paved the way for developers to build a rich customer experience online.  Aside from that, it enabled developers to add must-have features and functionality for tablet-friendly sites.

While it is widely accepted that Apple’s iPad is dominating the tablet landscape, many retail sites still use Flash – which Apple (along with most tablet manufacturers) does not support.  The move to HTML5 entails some new development costs, not to mention production delays.

Analyze Your Data and Set Goals

As with any new initiative, careful analysis of data must be considered. Doing experiments and testing can enable you to create a site that’ll increase sales and provide more value to your customers.

As  retailer you can’t ignore T-commerce. Our prediction is that it will end up taking over both e-commdrce and m-commerce in the not too distant future.

http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Record-Retail-Sales-on-Smartphones-Tablets-Take-Greater-Ecommerce-Share/1009595

http://tabtimes.com/news/ittech-stats-research/2013/01/10/study-tablet-shoppers-will-spend-24-billion-2013-almost-double

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/190755/tablets-could-and-should-be-driving-even-more.html#axzz2I6ooEjgk

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Has HTML5 paved the way for more enhancements in web development and usability? What do developers really think about HTML5?

HTML5 gives developers a competitive edge. It integrates seamlessly with different mobile platforms, positioning it for exponential growth.

According to Peter Sheldon of Forrester Research, “We are at an inflection point: With consumer adoption of HTML5-‘capable’ desktop browsers widespread and Web Developer understanding of the technology rapidly maturing. HTML5 is no longer an emerging toolset for mobile and tablet development. Instead, it is fast becoming the de facto standard for Web experience innovation across touch points.”

In 2011, only 56% of North American browsers were HTML5 compatible. In 2012, we saw that figure grow to 75%. Developers are quickly riding the HTML5 wave.

HTML5 Mobile Web Examples

Some of the biggest brands in the world are already using HTML5. The Financial Times, following the success of its HTML5 web page, decided to completely veer away from the iPad app so that they “can have full control over its application,” and rid themselves of the 30% charge that Apple is taking from any company that uses its App store. The “Ford Showroom,” an application that utilizes HTML5 was designed for Ford clients by Burrows Communications Agency. Vimeo also employed HTML5 to create a self-hosted awards show.

HTML5 is good news for advertisers. A single creative unit can now be served across multiple platforms including desktop, tablet and smartphone.

However, not everyone is excited about the HTML5 mobile web. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and CEO, said that they made a big mistake in banking on HTML5. Questions were raised against HTML5’s readiness and capabilities afterwards. As it turned out, the real issue was Facebook’s lack of adeptness. Even the World Wide Web Consortium has said that HTML5 is “feature complete.” And Zuckerberg made a complete turn-around when he stated: “… it’s not that HTML5 is bad. I’m actually, on long-term, really excited about it.”

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In April 2010, Apple released the iPad. News and magazine publishers were ecstatic. The digital platform allowed a lot of extras such as photos, videos and interactive elements that made for a much richer experience.

Apple’s innovation opened the floodgates for publishing companies to crash the mobile party by using Apple’s new device to showcase their beautiful print publications the way they were intended to be seen. Apple capitalized by setting up an easy-to-use pay wall for publishers to upload their content.

Enter the Audit Bureau of Circulations, an organization that monitors circulation and customer base information for magazines and newspapers in North America, which declared that “rate base” would once again be the foundation for setting online advertising rates…

In: Huffington Post

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“Unfortunately for RIM, its BB10 strategy will be a case of too little, too late,” Cameron Yuill, CEO and founder of AdGent Digital, told the E-Commerce Times.

“RIM’s core strategy of selling to corporations has been decimated, at least in the developed world,” he said. “That cannot be reversed. So that leaves RIM trying to compete in the consumer market. No matter how good the BB10 handsets are, they will not be wildly different from anything else available on the market. That leaves RIM competing on features.”

Apps are the key features that consumers want, but 70,000 pales in comparison to the number of Android and Apple offerings available, Yuill said.

“RIM is turning up late to a party that has been in full swing for some time. Waving around BB10 is not going to attract anyone’s attention,” he predicted.

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