Google Analytics Offers Holiday Analytics

If you get as geeked up over analytics as we do, then you’ll be interested to know that Google has a project called “Think Holiday.” http://www.google.com/thinkholiday/ It’s a pretty interesting portal that uses Google’s trending topics to present you a look into what consumers are thinking. For example this chart shows the growing interest in “Black Friday” over time: Or this table displaying the top trending searches for consumer electronics: With a little creative thinking you can use these trending topics to your advantage. For example, are you planning a holiday promotion? Find out what is the hot new thing this season to maximize the effectiveness. How else could you use this information to your advantage?

Twitter Smarts

Jason brought the article linked below to my attention today and I’d like to share a few thoughts on it:
Twitter Promotion Done Right: #moonfruit

1. The first ones out of the gate, clever – when Twitter becomes filled with this stuff, it will lead to a backlash.
2. Twitter IS an excellent tool for basic consumer sweepstakes – which is essentially what this is – because unlike traditional sweeps, it includes the viral element automatically UNLIKE the annoying email “free stuff” campaigns of a few years ago, you don’t hate your friends for forwarding it to you and wasting your time.
3. I’d personally like to see the viral component evolve for more brands beyond having to give stuff away – which to me is the least creative default (it seems to suggest that the story isn’t compelling enough without bribery which is untrue). I’m sure this will evolve.