The Ascending Growth Of Podcast Marketing

By David Erickson | April 28, 2018

Beyond Social Media Show, Episode 226

BL and David discuss Google’s new strategy for leveraging the growing library of podcast content; the latest data from Edison Research about the podcast consumer; Amazon’s new Alexa Skill Blueprints feature; Jason Calacanis’ Open Book Challenge race to replace Facebook; SmugMug’s acquistion of Flickr; Burger King’s stealthy campaign to sneak Whoppers into movie theaters; Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes chocolate record; an advocacy campaign that turns victims of gun violence’s handwriting into a tool for change; teaching kids to be polite to machines; and much, much more.

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Best Digital Cases

VC’s Contest to Replace Facebook

Jason Calacanis, an early investor in Uber, spearheads a contest to find a service to replace Facebook “that is actually good for society” Teams have until 15 June to submit either a video tour, prototype or “full-blown product”. Seven finalists will each receive $100,000 in return for a 6% stake in their business.

Flickr Freed

Will SmugMug breathe new life into the long-standing photo-sharing platform?

Flickr bought by SmugMug, which vows to revitalize the photo service

Burger Sneaks Into Movie Theaters

Burger King “hacked” the Whopper into movie theaters in Peru with a concession item that features a layer of popcorn on top that conceals a Whopper and fries lower down in the container.

Burger King hid Whoppers in popcorn bags to help moviegoers skirt theater rules

The Growth Of Podcasts

Edison Research’s latest data indicates that podcasting’s “share of ear” doubled in four years.

The Podcast Consumer 2018

Kelloggs’ Playable Record From Chocolate Frosted Flakes

Kellogg’s is releasing an edible and playable record made of Chocolate Frosted Flakes cereal that plays the new release “Hello” from boy band PrettyMuch. The band new music video for seriously inspiid “Hello” features Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger.

Kellogg’s spins playable record made of Chocolate Frosted Flakes

Google’s Amazing New Podcast Strategy

Google’s new podcast strategy could exponentially increase podcast audiences. Podcasts will show up in Google Search alongside the text, image, and video results you are used to seeing.

Turn Social Media Posts Into Letters to Congress Using a Shooting Victim’s Handwriting

Change The Ref and Area 23’s Posts Into Letters initiative, transforms social media posts into handwritten letters to members of Congress. They use the handwriting of Joaquin Oliver, one of 17 people killed during February’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Worst Digital Cases

Compliments & Insults From Amazon Echo’s Alexa

Oh joy. Amazon’s new Alexa Skill Blueprints let users create personalized compliments, jokes, trivia or insults.

Is Amazon Alexa Teaching Rudeness?

Should we teach our kids to use manners when conversing with our machines?

Shiny New Stuff

Lanes: A Cool Weekly Planner With Pomodoro

Hover over any task and you will get an option to start it with a Pomodoro timer. Lanes keeps a track of everything, of course.

Lanes

Smart Walls

Researchers have figured out a low-cost way of turning ordinary walls into touch-sensitive devices.

A coat of conductive paint can transform regular walls into giant touchpads

MoviePass

MoviePass changed its plan allowing members to see a movie every day for a monthly fee of $9.95. Now you can see one movie a week. Sigh.

MoviePass

Projects

David’s monthly marketing research reports roundup posts at his agency’s blog:
FunWalkers – BL’s fun license plates for walkers business