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Learning Next-Gen Digital Signage at HITEC 14

Learning Next-Gen Digital Signage at HITEC 14
22MILES (Booth#1643) will host learning sessions of their interactive, digital signage, and kiosk content software, Swift Publisher, with NEW enhanced next-generation features for cross-platform content development, at HITEC 2014 hospitality technology …
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Useful DSP-100E Digital Signage Players From China Digital Signage Supplier …
Recently, Digital-Signage-China.com, a renowned digital signage supplier, has released its new designs of DSP-100E Digital Signage Players. Also, the company is now launching a promotion for its useful players. All the company's current and prospective …
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Registration Open for SKIMs Spring 2013 Marketing Research Webinar Series

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 22, 2013

SKIM, an international market research agency, will kick off its 2013 Spring Webinar Series with “Using social media in a ‘brandless’ category,” presented by communication and social media research expert Sourabh Sharma on Thursday, February 28. Registration for the entire series is available at http://www.skimgroup.com/webinars.

1) Using social media in a ‘brandless’ category

February 28, 2013

1pm EST

Presenter: Sourabh Sharma, communication and social media research expert

Digital communications is today’s leading marketing force, owing to the fact that consumers have candid conversations about brands online. Yet, it is especially challenging to derive insights in a category where there is brand saturation, or where the category overpowers the brands themselves, making it virtually “brandless.” Illustrated by a butter/margarine category case study – and touching on the fundamentals of social media research – Sharma will show attendees how to revitalize digital communications with greater effectiveness in “brandless” categories.

2) Menu-Based Conjoint: A new method

March 14, 2013

1pm EST

Presenters: Eline van der Gaast, new venture director, and Christopher Fotenos, project manager consumer goods

Consumer choices are getting more complex in the face of wide-ranging options and opportunities to personalize. This poses an ongoing challenge for marketers seeking to offer the right product configuration at the right price. We can now model and predict complex consumer choices, such as through menu-based or personalized offers. Menu-Based Conjoint (MBC) is an optimal methodology marketers seeking an optimal product configuration. Featuring an entertaining fictional, non-technical case study, attendees will learn about this new methodology, the special insights it yields, and the scope of its application.

3) Marketing medical nutrition

March 28, 2013

1pm EST

Presenter: Laura Dekker, project manager healthcare

Increasingly, medical nutrition solutions are being developed to treat or prevent diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, sarcopenia, HIV and obesity. Previously, drugs have been predominantly prescribed for these conditions, while medical nutrition has been traditionally used only to address malnutrition. Medical nutrition is therefore not yet perceived as an obvious solution to treat or prevent diseases. Successfully marketing these products presents numerous challenges. Join the presenters as they share how you can take on the challenges of marketing medical nutrition.

4) A consultant, researcher & client walk into a bar: An unfiltered look at the consumer insights process

April 11, 2013

1pm EST

Presenter: Juan Andres Tello, regional director consumer Americas

The consumer insight process brings together multiple stakeholders working towards one goal: making better business decisions affecting consumers. However, interactions between practitioners can hinder the process. Differing skills, individual agendas and conflicting visions of “success” can sometimes make the process rocky and less effective. This story brings together three unfiltered views of the insights world – from a client, researcher, and consultant – providing an honest look at what we should learn from each other to make the process seamless, become more well-rounded practitioners, and ultimately drive impactful decisions and strategies.

5) Online moderating around the clock

April 25, 2013

1pm EST

Presenters: Hannah Baker Hitzhusen, director healthcare, and Daisy Lau, project manager healthcare

SKIM recently implemented and managed a global online bulletin board in 10 different countries with the goal of generating new product ideas and marketing solutions for a client. Full respondent engagement combined with total moderator immersion resulted in a deep exploration of the respondents’ working environment and daily activities. Hitzhusen and Lau will share and discuss what continuous online engagement can offer over traditional qualitative research.

6) Pricing beliefs uncovered: A meta-analysis of 200+ price elasticity studies covering 7,000 SKUs and 500 brands

May 9, 2013

1pm EST

Presenters: Juan Andres Tello, regional director consumer Americas, and Daniela Piacenza, account director

Setting the right price is vital for every company. It allows you to communicate your brand’s value in relation to competitive offerings and is therefore a major marketing lever. The question remains: How far can one go in increasing price while still maintaining the perceived value of the brand? Over the past five years, SKIM has carried out more than 200 pricing studies covering 18 different countries, more than 7,000 SKUs and about 500 brands in 45 product categories. Tapping into this wealth of information we have sought to create a database to leverage knowledge and identify behavioral trends on pricing. Join Tello and Piacenza for this webinar in which they will reveal the three main factors that drive price elasticity.

About SKIM

Founded in 1979, SKIM is a dynamic and rapidly growing market research agency with offices in New York, San Francisco, Rotterdam, Geneva and London. Combining market-specific expertise and knowledge of advanced research methodologies, SKIM is a valued partner for multinational companies in consumer packaged goods, healthcare, consumer health, telecommunications, technology and financial services. Leading companies around the globe rely on SKIM researchers for strategic guidance on pricing, communication and new product development. Visit http://www.skimgroup.com for more information.







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Internet Marketing – Use Message Boards

There are numerous concepts that come under the umbrella of Internet marketing like banner advertising, Search Engine Optimization, e-newsletter, etc. One of the simplest and least expensive strategies for online promotion is using message boards. In this article, we will discuss how message boards can be used as an Internet marketing strategy.

Message boards are basically online discussion sites which are used by people for online interaction to discuss their problems, learn new strategies, ask questions, provide advice, etc. These boards are developed by keeping particular niche in mind that can be anything like basket ball team, Internet marketing, essay writing, current events, jobs, television shows, etc. Message boards are popular among Internet marketers as these are used to reach the target audience.

Suppose there is a board that focuses on website promotion. So mostly people who are interested in promoting their website join this board to interact with other website owners and promoters to gain knowledge.

By actively participating in the message boards you get a good opportunity to promote your business and website. This is because while replying for a particular post you can place the link of your website at the end of the post that is in the signature line. This is important because there are numerous people who visit boards daily.

Before starting with the message board it is important to register with the site and check all the guidelines. Some message boards have strict guidelines which you have to follow to avoid termination of your membership. Take care to include links to your website wherever it is relevant. Do not make the board look spam by replying to all the posts by placing the link. If you do this, then the visitors may start ignoring your website or this can even lead to the termination of account.

Also, keep all the posts professional. This is because if you act professionally, then only other people will take your seriously and reply to your post. This does not mean that you just act professionally in the messages which include the link. You have to be professional in other posts also. Reply for the posts only if you are confident that the information you are providing is absolutely correct.

Message boards are the only marketing strategy that is simple and free.

Charles Greer is a big marketing guy. He can give you the marketing techniques ever used for driving good traffic. To get the best knowledge from this marketing guru just visit the website http://www.marketingforaffiliatesinstitute.com

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Synchronising Digital Signage

One aspect of digital signage that is very rarely talked about is the need for synchronisation, especially amongst networked systems. If a network of signs, especially outdoor digital signage used to deploy time-critical information such as timetables, emergency warnings or other time crucial content, is not properly synchronised, delays of minutes, hours and even days, can occur between individual screens.

There is more to proper synchronisation than just ensuring that the media delivery systems are set to the same time, as different system clocks in media players and computers, can, and often do drift at different rates. This means that in the space of a week, screens could be as much as a minute apart and the problem will exacerbate over longer periods.

Upload time-critical content on one machine, and the information could be obsolete by the time it is displayed on all the screens on a network.

Many emergency electronic signs along highways and motorways are accurately synchronised for this very reason to ensure all information appears at the same time – but how is this achieved?

Commonly, the time protocol NTP (Network Time Protocol), is used in computer networks and is often deployed in synchronised sign networks. It works by using a master time that it then distributes amongst all devices along a network, but problems can arise, especially when selecting a master clock.

It is very common for NTP users to use a source of Internet time as a master time source. And while these sources of time are claimed to be UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), an atomic clock source, it seems a good idea; however, online sources can be unreliable, the servers can go down and can lead a network to become out of sync remarkably quickly.

A solution is to use your own NTP time server; relatively inexpensive time server devices use a source of GPS or radio signals as the time source. These are far more reliable and ensure that an accurate, and secure source of time is always available.

NTP time servers are deployed by many computer networks, including motorway signage and other digital signage networks where time crucial information is a necessity.

Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital signage industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and protection for plasmas. Please visit us for more information about LCD Enclosures or NTP server systems.

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Smart Media Technologies Releases a Great New Tool for Home School Parents and Students

Henderson, Nevada (PRWEB) March 18, 2013

Smart Media Technologies releases new features to Home Page Pays that help those who choose Homeschooling over traditional schooling. While Homeschooling has its benefits it also has some negative aspects to it as well and SMT offers a no cost solution to each of them. According to NHERI National Home Education Research Institute “Homeschooling – home education or home-based education – has grown from nearly extinct in the United States in the 1970’s to now about 2 million school-age students.”

For parents looking to completely opt-out of the traditional education model finding a quality curriculum for students can normally be a very costly endeavor. With HPP parents now have access to over 2,200 video classes to offer to their children. Parents can find everything from basic educational classes to advanced university classes from Stanford and Yale. HPP also offers prep courses for college entrance exams as well as computer education classes and these are offered to students worldwide at absolutely no cost.

HPP offers different ways for parents and students to connect with others with common goals and interests from anywhere in the world. There are many benefits to this including the ability to unite for political reasons. They can also share educational ideas or even plan trips and offer student exchange programs. If they are not part of a community they can join one, and if there is not one for what they feel passionate about they can create one. Those who might be thinking of Homeschooling can connect with others who already do to learn more about it.

Through Home Page Pays parents have the opportunity to offer things to their children that they may feel their children are missing out on like social events or even sports teams and it is global so the possibilities are endless. There is even a special place to make a “call out” to the entire community where someone could say “I am looking for home school parents in Ohio” or “I am forming a softball league for Homeschooled students in Texas.” The possibilities are only limited by people’s imaginations.

Home Page Pays can even be used for fundraising for different projects. Anyone can choose to purchase and brand their own version of HPP and they can create special content if they choose to and by giving the special branded version away the owner earns a percentage of money whenever any of those people are online. And they also earn off of the people that any of those people give it to so the fundraising capability is actually unlimited. The money that they earn does not come from the students themselves but from the advertisers on HPP in the same way that actors are paid by advertisers when they do television shows. Everything on HPP is completely funded by advertisers from around the world.

Students can also socialize and play games with their friends and even hold competitions against others in their own community or other communities. They also have the ability to communicate in many different ways not available anywhere else through things like Smart Mail which unlike traditional email is 100% safe, secure, spam free and deliverable and communicate live as well through Smart Chat and socialize through Smart Chirp. Smart Chirp is a unique kind of social network where people can share thoughts, pictures and videos with all their contacts which is more like a social gathering rather than a social bulletin board which is common to most social networks.

About Smart Media Technologies

Smart Media Technologies is a world-class technology company that has developed proprietary technology called “Home Page Pays” (HPP) which is set to revolutionize the Internet world. HPP works on any computer or browser and no technical experience is required. This platform offers the user dynamic free services and products combined with the very best digital branding and advertising services that are available online.

Users have access to the HPP Social Community, which includes the latest Communication features, Social and Educational Games, Educational Video Libraries, Prizes, Giveaways, a Top Sites window to the Internet that puts the very best of the Internet at the users fingertips and the world’s only Reward Points System where users earn points for simply using the Internet that they can redeem in the HPP online rewards store.”

CEO David Martin says; “Through creativity and our amazing technical team, we can do almost anything that we can dream. Our goal is to offer the most valuable free member system ever created.”

To learn more about Smart Media Technologies visit their website at: http://smartmediacommunications.com

To learn more about the Home Page Pays Dynamic Bar go to: http://smartmediaplay.com







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Digital Signage in the Washroom

Digital signage, it seems, is ubiquitous. From shopping centres to outdoor digital signage along the high street, advertising and information screens seem to be everywhere. And thanks in part to LCD enclosures, which protect LCD screens from weather, dust, hot, cold and other elements, digital screens are now venturing even into bathrooms, washrooms and other wet-rooms.

Placing a TV in a bathroom or washroom is not a new idea, bathroom TVs have been around for years but are very expensive due to them needing to be waterproof and isolated; as electricity and water do not mix.

A lot of businesses such as nightclubs and leisure areas have always embraced washroom advertising. There are two very good reasons for this: firstly, nearly everybody who spends more than a couple of hours at a location will eventually visit the washroom. Secondly, when people are in a washroom they are known as a captive audience as they have little choice but to see the advertisements.

And for home use, people who enjoy a good soak in the bath often consider a bathroom TV to make the experience even more pleasurable.

The problem, however, in employing a screen in this sort of area is that while the cost of LCD screens has fallen dramatically over the last few years, waterproof TVs don’t seem to be following suit and it can be a costly businesses placing a screen in a washroom or bathroom, but it doesn’t need to be:

A waterproof LCD enclosure is a cost effective and simple way of securing a flat-screen TV such as a modern LCD, plasma, or back-lit LED into a washroom or bathroom.

The great thing about LCD enclosures is that as they house standard devices the cost is far lower than specific bathroom TVs, and not only will these LCD cabinets protect the screen from water but for nightclubs, were rowdiness could be a concern; they provide impact and vandal protection too so the investment can be left protected.

Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital signage industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and protection for plasmas. Please visit us for more information about LCD Enclosures or other digital signage solutions.

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Complete Stewardship Communication Now Available from One Source for Catholic Parishes Nationwide

New Berlin, WI (PRWEB) March 20, 2013

Messner Publications Inc and Liturgical Publications Inc (LPi) announce the completion of the blending of their product lines and companies into a comprehensive stewardship communication source for Catholic parishes.

“My vision of bringing a complete stewardship communication product line to churches, helping them build stewardship-driven communities, came together even better than I imagined,” said Jeff Messner, President of Messner Publications.

Jeff continued, “Combining our stewardship communication services, directories, welcome packets, and calendars with LPi’s media resources and online products, including e-giving, websites, and private social networks, gives our customers a depth of product line that is unmatched. My biggest opportunity was leading LPi’s national sales meeting, educating reps on how to help churches with their stewardship efforts. This greatly accelerates the accomplishment of our mission to bring effective stewardship-building to all churches.”

Messner Publication’s success has been built by consulting with their customers on how to become stewardship communities, fully engaging their parishioners in their mission. The joining of Jeff’s vision and LPi’s investment and digital products combine to offer this complete package to any church nationwide.

“We are thrilled with the development of our relationship with Messner from a strategic marketing alliance to a merger of our two companies,” commented Paul Knaapen, CEO of LPi. “This is definitely a case where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. With the Messner family on board for the long term, we have the leadership necessary to transform from a church bulletin provider to a complete stewardship communication provider.”

With Jeff as president, Scott in sales, and Jerry Messner in production, as well as the increased financial investment from LPi, customers in the southeast US now have the Messner brand of customer service and attention they have come to know, combined with the additional printing capabilities and online products they know they need.

Church leaders interested in learning how their community can benefit from this one source for complete stewardship can visit MessnerPublications.com if they are in the southeastern United States or 4LPi.com if they are anywhere else in the United States.

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Since its founding over ten years ago, Messner Publications’ goal has been to assist your church in creating unique methods of communication to foster stewardship in your community. They strive to keep your parishioners active, informed, and involved.

LPi has been offering churches customized communication products for over 40 years. Their years of experience, financial stability, and quality standards enable churches to rely on them to make their jobs easier and their communications more effective.







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Start-up Explodes, Finds Audience through Social Media

Costa Mesa, CA (PRWEB) May 14, 2013

The fashion start-up Wizards of the West, a new company from Costa Mesa, in California (USA), is launching their new e-commerce store. They are a successful example of how a business born through social media can grow up and become a part of their clients’ daily life, by reaching out to customers where they are most comfortable: the social networks.

Jason West, Wizards of the West co-owner, can explain this success: “unlike our competitors, who had to integrate an existing business into social media, we were born from it. Essentially building a new business from within the platform and not supporting it externally. We have a completely different perspective on how to approach and enable social media”.

“Even in our short lifetime we have seen an enormous amount of brands trying to capitalize sales directly through social media. This is not a good approach. The worst mistakes we have seen happened when organizations used social media as a bulletin board. It’s an incredibly rich platform that’s so effective at rewarding your customers”, adds the Wizards of the West co-owner.

This innovative e-commerce store works according to the ideals of social rewarding and gamification, a new concept even for the savviest online retailers. Always choosing to be different, Wizards of the West took the concept and applied it to their technology infrastructure, “rewarding customers for loyalty before they even become customers”, says Jason West.

The term gamification is used to describe the techniques that increase people’s natural desires for competition, achievement, status or self-expression. One of its core strategies is to reward the “players” with points or other kind of compensation, such as digital currency, when they complete the desired tasks. Providing a reward encourages more and more people to compete and this is an approach that has been revealing to be successful in the e-commerce world.

Currently, one of gamification’s major applications is in the marketing field. Actually, over 70% of Forbes Global 2000 companies are using or intend to use gamification for marketing and customer retention purposes. This is why gamification is one of the paths followed by Wizards of the West. Until now, tenacity and proprietary technology have enabled the start-up to stay ahead of the curve.

“Our ecommerce platform is well integrated with social platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We do a lot of R&D on social migration, getting to know how people react to likes, tweets and pins. Gamification is relatively a new buzzword around social media, but “we are already experimenting with it”, states Anil Gupta – Director of Technology.

Taking into account that e-commerce sales continue to grow worldwide in 2013, with sales projected for over $ 333 billion and an aggressive 13% growth rate, as stated by official data (emarketer.com), this bet doesn’t seem so strange or risky.

For now, the methodology is working, as the fashion start-up has been seeing its sales skyrocket month over month. Why? Because Wizards of the West uses proprietary technology to track, analyse and encourage social interactions among their clients and potential customers. Fashion is fickle, but not as fickle as social media. As brands spend millions trying to map out what makes a brand socially acceptable to their followers and fans on social media, this start-up has known that since the beginning.

To discover more about this project, you can visit wizardsofthewest.com or contact the company directly (info (at) wizardsofthewest (dot) com).