Tag: in-app advertising

Proxama has launched the first of its mobile proximity ad campaigns on London buses.

This move, which has equipped 500 of London’s famous double-decker buses with Proxama’s Bluetooth-powered beacon technology, marks a key milestone in the industry. The buses will deliver real-time travel updates as well as relevant in-app ads to travelers who have signed up for the service.

Half a million travelers have already signed up for the service.

The project was developed by advertising giant Exterion Media and app developer Mapway. Proxoma’s beacon Mobile SDK was integrated into its Bus Times London mobile app, which deploys in-app ads to the mobile devices of passengers with the application. This allows marketers to capitalize on what is known as “dwell time”; the 17 minutes of idle activity that occurs during the average London bus journey.

More specifically, the half a million (and counting) users of the app receive contextually aware ads that “capitalize on the consumer’s exact physical context,” reported The Verge. Android users of the app started receiving the apps earlier this year and now they have also rolled out on iOS as well.

Location-based advertising using beacon technology drives higher consumer engagement levels.

According to a recent press release announcing the launch of the UK’s largest iBeacon consumer transport experience on London buses, brands that use beacon-triggered enhanced advertising have discovered that delivering contextually-relevant experiences boosts consumer engagement levels.

For instance, Sticky9 is seeing a 14.5% click-through rate average, which is much higher than the usually 1% or 2% of advertising that isn’t beacon-triggered.

What makes the particular enhanced Bus Times London app a particular hit with users is that aside from being sent relevant in-app ads that allow brands to capitalize on the consumer’s precise physical context and dwell time to deliver the best ads at the right time to increase click-through rates, it also provides users with real-time travel updates for the exact route on which they’re travelling.

Commenting on the partnership with Mapway and Exterion Media, Proxama’s marketing division CEO Jon Worley stated in the press release that “This collaboration is a huge milestone for the proximity marketing industry. App owners are looking for ways to increase active user numbers and establish new sources of revenue, and beacons can deliver on both objectives.” Worley added that the partnership is just one more indication “that 2016 is the year that beacon technology for marketing gains significant traction.”

As ad blocking apps become more popular, marketers are working on more appealing alternatives.

As ad blocking apps have suddenly exploded in popularity – particularly now that they have been permitted on iPhones and other iOS devices – mobile marketing firms have found themselves taking a cold hard look at the techniques that they have been using to reach consumers, and what they can do to overcome being potentially blocked.

Advertisers are finding themselves experimenting with different ways to reach customers over smartphones.

A growing belief is that mobile marketing companies will need to start looking for new, relevant, context-driven techniques to connect with consumers in a way that is appealing enough that they will not want to take measures to block them off. Two areas that many feel will be grabbing a great deal of focus will be in-app advertising and branded content. While it is too early to tell precisely what the top methods will be, these are some of the main guesses, so far.

At this point, it has not yet reached the point in which mobile marketing budgets are being slashed back.

So far, ad blocking apps haven’t had enough of an impact to stop industry execs from wanting to spend over this channel. That said, there is still a risk that a reduction in mobile web ad inventory could occur as publishers and advertisers gauge the impact of ad blockers and attempt to find other methods of reaching consumers in which they are less likely to be blocked.

According to A.T. Kerney media and technology practice partner, Greg Portell, “Budgets will continue to shift to mobile as they catch up with the shift in eyeballs.” He added that “There should be a period of time with spend in mobile rising regardless of ad tech.” Portell pointed out that there has been some worry expressed over the risks associated with ad blocking software, which will help to drive experimentation to a greater degree than has been the norm until now.

He feels that there will likely be a rise in branded and native sponsored content. He also underscored the importance of providing consumers with relevant communications within an appropriate context, saying that it “transcends ad blocking”