Marketing

An Android taking over Earth? This sounds like a scenario pulled straight from science fiction, but it's not that far from the truth. Smartphone operating systems like Google's Android are poised for explosive growth over the next few years - in fact, research firm Gartner is projecting that mobile phones will bypass PCs to become the most popular devices used to access the Web by 2013.

Gartner warns that most websites, including enterprise-level eCommerce systems, are not evolving fast enough to meet this rapidly growing mobile demand. Sites that aren't optimized for the mobile Web risk alienating owners of handheld devices who will go elsewhere for quick information and online shopping that can be accessed with fewer clicks and faster browsing.

Will 2010 be the year of mobile? If you're not convinced, check out these stats:

• Estimated smartphone user base by 2011: 150M
• Estimated users of mobile web globally by 2011: 120M
• Estimated users watching mobile video by the end of 2011: 90M
• Date that Apple's app store hit one billion application downloads: April 23, 2009

Is your business ready for the mobile revolution?

How do you give away $100k, become the number one search term on google, top the twitter charts, and barely have your servers survive to tell about it? Sparkfun Electronics managed to do it. Sparkfun sells hobbyist and prototyping electronics, and has quite a fan base amongst the tech team here at Cuker! Check out all the action from their 2009 Free Day! Updated: They did a video recap of the action at their office.

What do you get when you throw skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, ramp-master Jeff King, a professional film crew, and the Quiksilver skate team into a massive top-secret green screen studio skate playground? A viral video so sick that Fuel TV’s The Daily Habit dropped by to document the execution.

Host Renee Renee goes behind the scenes to spotlight the filming of "The Spot", the groundbreaking new viral video that Cuker collaborated with Quiksilver to plan, direct, and develop.

Last week the "Gymkhana 2" Video featuring Ken Block went viral with the 9th highest views of all videos on YouTube. The video finished the week with over 2 million views. DC worked with Cuker Interactive to launch the campaign website and web marketing strategy. The campaign website features behind the scenes footage, downloads, and DC products. We are using the viral video as a tool to create awareness for the DC brand and product line and drive traffic to the DC website.

Cuker is also implementing DC's search engine strategy so that DC is at the top of search engines when people search for the video. The result has been a significant increase in traffic to the website and a wide spread viral buzz online.

The world is changing. It is important to embrace change and become a leader in technology in your respective industry. This video provides some interesting facts....

It’s a common feeling during a depressed economy to want to put on a Snuggie, curl up in the fetal position, and wait for the storm to clear. However, an economic downturn is precisely the time to get down to work, strengthen your brand, and invest in the future.

As the economy nurses a killer hangover resulting from the unadulterated excesses of years past, smart businesses can come out of the downturn stronger than ever. While there’s no doubt that hard times mean hard decisions, the recovery period can be fertile ground for renewal and revitalization.

A difficult environment forces adaptation, motivates us to strengthen our relationships, and encourages us to streamline and simplify. Economic anxiety can trigger an existential crisis that propels us to get back to basics, improve efficiencies, and re-evaluate our values.

Great minds throughout history - Buddha, Freud, Socrates, your grandmother – all agree that pain is the touchstone to growth. Tough times force us to look within, change course, and strengthen our resolve. Suffering can spark soul-searching, in turn provoking new insights and inspiring new innovations. Like the Phoenix rising from the proverbial ashes, smart brands can become smarter and strong companies can become stronger.

During this year’s economic recovery, make sure that you are investing in your company, your customers, and your brand. Nurture relationships by targeting customer satisfaction and promoting transparency. Improve ROI with proven strategies like email marketing and paid search. Strengthen brand loyalty by utilizing multi-channel marketing strategies and engaging in social media conversations.

Invest in developing or utilizing digital technologies and software that optimize business processes and create efficiency. Explore new sales channels and gain more online exposure for your product, brand, or service. Maximize your current sales channels and re-market to your current customer base.

So take off that Snuggie, brush your teeth, and get back to business! A revitalized economy is just around the corner, and your business needs to be prepared for it. Investing in your brand, your messaging, and your value proposition today will ensure that you survive – and thrive – in a rejuvenated global marketplace tomorrow.