Chat apps overtaking social networks in Asia
In North America, younger consumers are flocking from traditional social networks to mobile messaging apps like GroupMe and Waterloo, Ont.’s Kik. In Asia, the chat app industry is already booming – China’s WeChat, for example, has over 300 million users.
For marketers, the boom in messaging app usage may necessitate rethinking their social strategy and finding new ways to partner with app companies to deliver marketing messages. The good news: compared to the average smartphone users, mobile chat app users are 30% more likely to be interested in receiving ads on their phone, according to Simmons Connect.
[Read more via Reuters]
Indian mobile marketing startup shop pairs free calls with ads
Zipdial, a Bangalore-based company, has announced plans to expand into South East Asia. The startup, which lists Procter & Gamble, Hindustan Unilever, Cadbury and Disney as clients, sends free SMS messages with polls and coupons to consumers on behalf of its brand clients, which each have their own toll-free Zipdial number consumers can call. Though Zipdial is backed by 500 startups in the U.S., it says it’s not currently planning to expand to any western markets.
[Read more via The Next Web]
McCann acquires Indian database marketing firm
Some more news out of India: McCann WorldGroup announced earlier this month it has acquired End To End, a firm that focuses on direct and database marketing. Prasoon Joshi, executive chairman and CEO and president of South Asia at McCann, said the acquisition enhances McCann’s presence in the tech sector.
[Read more via Afaqs.com]
German non-profit prints QR codes on blankets for homeless campaign
Fiftyfifty, a German non-profit benefiting the homeless, has released a short video case study of a marketing stunt it pulled earlier this year at a movie theatre. According to QR Code Press, Fiftyfifty turned down the temperatures in a cinema to mimic the climate homeless people have to deal with and then handed out blankets with QR codes printed on them that the movie-goers could scan for more information about the charity.
[Read more via QR Code Press]
