Posted by Michael, Griffin York & Krause Marketing Strategy
Google, the king of Internet search, launched another unique search application on February 4th causing a substantial amount of Internet buzz. The new application titled, Latitude, is an enhancement to Google’s already popular mobile mapping service, Google Maps. Once a member downloads the application onto their smartphone, Google then tracks the user by reading signals by nearby cell towers. Once the location of an individual is pinpointed, Google then places their profile picture onto Google Maps for all of their friends and family to see. Think of it as a human GPS machine.
In order to use the Latitude service you must be registered with Google and have an iGoogle profile. There is no cost for a profile or for the new Latitude service. There are two ways that you can use the new Latitude service, first, you can download Google Maps with Latitude to your smartphone and second, is to add the gadget to your iGoogle homepage. In order to access the service on a regular computer, a user must install Google Gears or use Google Chrome. Once you become a member of Latitude you can invite your friend to join via an email. Click Here to watch a video describing all of Google Latitude’s services. Some individuals are excited for this added functionality, some marketers see it as an application that has tremendous targeting potential and some people find the service, well creepy.
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It has been reported that the average American consumer is exposed to somewhere between 275 to 3,000 advertising or brand messages a day. Whether the answer is closer to 275 or 3,000 does not matter; the point is that advertisers face intense competition when vying for consumer’s attention. It seems like every day there is a new technology, medium, product, person, television show, videogame, book, magazine, etc. competing for our attention. The challenge that all advertisers face is how to stand out in today’s increasingly cluttered environment. Well, CBS and Pepsi are hoping to stand out in next month’s Entertainment Weekly with the placement of a video print advertisement.
