Shoutz, Inc.

                 According to a study done by mobile company, Flurry, people are spending an average of 2 hours and 38 minutes using their mobile phones, and 80% of that time is spent using mobile applications. I find this number to be a little low, considering Candy Crush and its addictive nature, but maybe that’s just me.

With all this time being spent on apps, it is no surprise companies like SessionM and our very own LotteryHUB are rewarding app users with points for app actions.

SessionM is the host of a rewards program for a number of apps. One you might already know of is Craig’s List, which uses SessionM to host their rewards program. Also using SessionM is mobile app Crackle, this app plays movies and shows..for free…right on your phone. 

SessionM places surveys and ads in apps, and after you interact with them you gain points, called mPoints. You can also gain mPoints from doing in-app actions. For example if you watch an entire movie in the Crackle app you get 25 mPoints. With these points you can enter into drawings for gift cards to places such as Barnes and Noble or Amazon. If you want to save your points you can do that too, and then exchange them for a $5 gift card to places like JC Penny’s or Starbucks. And all for watching free movies and TV? We signed up right away!

LotteryHUB is also rewarding users for spending time on the app. For each action you complete you get a point, and all you need is 1 point to enter into a drawing for one of four prizes. Prizes include s Smart TV, an Xbox package, a Cancun vacation, and a trip to Bristol to watch a race.

If you have read anything on the LotteryHUB news site, or maybe saw a press release about Shoutz' recent award win, then you've seen the work of Editorial Manager Matt Isaacs. Spending his days, shoeless, and in the northeastern parts of America writing away on all things Powerball, lottery, and Shoutz related Matt was able to answer a few questions for out Teamsday post. Here's what Matt had to say:

1. Which celebrity would you choose to play you in a movie about your life? Why?      A lot of people tell me I remind them of Seth Rogen, so I guess he'd be a good me.

          We totally see it, and we know they share a sense of humor, hilarious!

2. If you were granted 3 wishes what would they be?      Hm.  1) Speak any language  2) Be able to fly  3) Have my own TV show

3. If you won the lottery what's the first thing you would do?      I would have a tough time deciding between a truck, a Ferrari, and a new motorcycle, so I'd probably go for all three if I won enough.  After paying off my student loans, of course.

4. How do you think people will travel in the year 2600?    In the year 2600, I think we'll probably be using spaceships to get around the universe.  I'm hoping we can figure out teleporting sooner than 2600!

5. Since you work remotely, do you even bother to put shoes on for the work day? Why or why not?     Ha!  Shoes are optional, but I don't work in my pajamas.  I try to be presentable so my head is in work mode.  I do have a pair of giant, panther-shaped slippers I'll wear in the mornings though.

Wondering what people are saying about your website on Twitter? Twitter recently added website tracking to their analytics page. So now when someone mentions your site, or pulls an article from your site, you can see it…without any hashtags or "@" your company’s twitter name.

Twitter silently added the “websites” option to the analytics page within the past few months, under the same drop down menu as “Timeline Activity” and “Followers” analytics.

In order to get the Twitter website analytics you just add a piece of coding to your homepage (or the pages you want to track, just like Google Analytics), and Twitter will start to track it. It will see how many people are posting from your website, as well as how many link clicks each post gets. The website tracking will even work with products that shorten links, such as bit.ly. 

This differs from platforms like bit.ly, because a company can track when others are posting the company's website material. Bit.ly allows the user to create and monitor how many link clicks they receive from their own link, but not from another company promoting it.

Shoutz, Inc.’s very own Marketing Director, Jamie Smith, was chosen to be a judge for the upcoming MobileWebAwards.  The Web Marketing Association, in Connecticut, hosts the MobileWebAwards. This is the competition’s second year recognizing the successes of companies in the online community. There are currently 96 different categories for companies to enter. Last year’s winners included mobile apps from Nissan, Last.fm, and The United States Naval Academy.

As a judge for the competition Jamie will be responsible for viewing 10-15 entries and critiquing the websites, or mobile app, based on her knowledge of the interactive world, as well as a common user. Criteria include: creativity, impact, design, content, and interactivity. This is a great honor for Jamie and the Shoutz team because our opinions and expertise are valuable to the mobile community.

As you all know Shoutz was nominated for an American Gaming Association's Communication, The Voice, Award last week during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas. Let's just say, TIME TO CELEBRATE! 

We took home the award for Best Mobile Marketing, for the LotteryHUB app, during the ceremony. For more details check out our latest press release: 

     "LotteryHUB, the mobile engagement platform for lotteries from      Shoutz, Inc., has placed first in the the 2013 American Gaming           Association (AGA) Voice Award for Best Mobile Marketing.            LotteryHUB took the top prize over competitors Konami Gaming,      Inc., and Bally Technologies, Inc.

      A well ­planned and precisely targeted marketing campaign      carried LotteryHUB’s message seamlessly through social media      and directed messaging, and the success of that initial      campaign firmly placed LotteryHUB above its mobile tech      competitors in the lottery industry. LotteryHUB’s Voice Award      win demonstrates how the Shoutz team of marketing and      technology experts capitalized on emergent opportunities to      pierce a burgeoning market in the lottery industry.

      “To be nominated along with two globally recognized names in      the gaming industry was very exciting for us,” said Shoutz      Director of Marketing, Jamie Smith. “Winning this award is really      validation that we succeeded in launching a great product that      can help take lotteries into the future of the gaming industry.”

      “People want this technology, and many lottery players expect      the kind of engagement that LotteryHUB offers. We’re honored to      have been recognized for our success in listening to our users      and delivering a product that both Lotteries and their players      really respond to,” Smith said.

      “While we’re certainly thrilled to win a 2013 Voice Award, up      against huge names in the industry, we’re still committed to      working hard every day to be the best source of lottery content      for our users,” Smith said.

      Now on Version 3 of the mobile application, with hundreds of      thousands of downloads on Google’s Android® and Apple’s      iOS® platforms, LotteryHUB is the most up­to­date and      comprehensive source of numbers, news, and exclusive lottery      content that modern lottery players can find. LotteryHUB is also      the only mobile app to offer live streaming of Powerball®      drawings on smartphones, bringing America’s favorite jackpot      game to smartphones all across the U.S.

      “Winning this award goes to show the success we have had in      bringing the lottery industry to the wireless devices the world      lives on today," explained Shoutz Senior Vice President Mark      Hutchinson. "We are excited to be a part of the small group of      pioneers that are helping the industry move into the mobile      world.” 

Today I sat down with Dylan, the Shoutz Assistant Marketing Director, and asked him a few questions. The first thing I noticed about Dylan upon my arrival to the office, a few months ago, is his beard. As everyone knows beards are a big deal, especially in the young trendy town of Austin, TX. 

        1.) If you could be anyone else, who would it be?       "Bruce Wayne."

2.) What television show describes your work ethic?       "White Collar"

3.) If Bill Gates came to your house for dinner, what would you make?      "Pie. Everyone likes pie." I'm going to Dylan's, they get to eat pie...for DINNER!

4.) If you won the lottery, what's the first vacation you would take?      "Australia. Go to the beach and do some surfing." 

5.) Pick two celebrities to be your brother and sister. Why?      "Conan O'Brien and Tina Fey. The reunions would be hilarious."

In a statement publicly released today Shoutz, Inc. is happy to say LotteryHUB was featured on September 18th's $400 million live Powerball drawing. Here is a copy of all the details surrounding the ground breaking event: 

    "Wednesday’s Powerball drawing featured a very special            reminder.  While the white numbers dropped on their way to      making a $400 million winner, drawing ambassador Alexa      Fuentes told everyone watching that Powerball drawings have      gone mobile.  For live Powerball drawings right on your      smartphone, all you have to do is download the free LotteryHUB      mobile app from Google Play or Apple’s App Store.  

     More than a quarter of a million people have already taken      Powerball on the go with their LotteryHUB apps. The latest      version of the LotteryHUB mobile application has taken lottery      player engagement to a whole new level, and is now the most          comprehensive source of numbers, news, and exclusive lottery      content on any mobile platform

           'We are thrilled to have partnered with the Multi-State Lottery      (Powerball) team.  With their leadership, ideas from Lottery      thought leaders in several states, and input from over 250,000      lottery fans,  we have created the mobile destination for lottery      players in the US and soon to be around the world,' said Donald      Clark, Senior Project Manager at Shoutz, Inc."

                                                                (don't we look good here?)

Corey Pool is a member of the Shoutz, Inc. marketing team. His days consist of app testing, report writing, video making and editing, plus making sure there's a fresh batch of coffee. He makes the BEST coffee. Without Corey you could say the team would definitely be dragging. So naturally I sat down and asked Corey a few questions, for our 2nd weekly Teamsday Tuesday post, over some fresh made coffee. (And it was delicious as always.)

1.If you could go back in time where would you go and why?

"I would time travel back 11,000 years. Why? To catch a Saber-Toothed Cat and bring it back to the present. I would domesticate the cat and we could go on long walks on the beach. Perhaps I could ride it into the sunset." Corey has an obsession with cats, to say the least.

2. Which movie titles would you use to describe your life?

"Young Frankenstein, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep"

3. If you won the lottery what's the first thing you would buy?

"I would buy my mom a new car. For sure. A PT Cruiser with "Lambo Doors" (these exist, google image search it)."

     I did:

          4. If you were granted 3 wishes what would they be?

"I would wish for the ability to transform into a flying tiger, to have lots of money (perhaps $1 Trillion?), and to have coffee with my deceased grandfather." 

5. If you could interview anyone, dead or alive, who?

"My grandfather. He was a bomber pilot during World War II. I would give anything to discuss the war and it's lasting effects on him. But since he passed away when I was young, I never had the chance to discuss more mature aspects of the war as a whole." 

6. What advice would you give to a younger you?

Shoutz, Inc. is still thrilled after being nominated for an American Gaming Association Communications Award last week. The conference is held in Las Vegas from September 23-26 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. G2E is the Global Gaming Expo held by the American Gaming Association every year since 2001. G2E is one of two major gaming expos where people in the gaming industry come together for new product releases, idea sharing, award ceremonies, and a lot of fun.

This is the fist year Shoutz, Inc. completed an entry for the AGA Communications Awards, and also the first year we are nominated. Shoutz entered the Best Mobile Marketing category for our mobile app, LotteryHUB.

LotteryHUB is an application for Apple, Android, and Windows phones that connects players with their state lotteries and multi-state Powerball. Live streams of the Powerball drawings can be viewed on LotteryHUB, the only mobile app to offer this service, along with the ability to check winning numbers, check your state draw numbers, see lottery related news and watch videos. 

The marketing process to achieve 160,000 LotteryHUB downloads in just 2 months was an effort achieved by the Shoutz, Inc. marketing team. This morning I sat down with Shoutz Marketing Director, Jamie Smith, to learn more their marketing approach. 

“We utilized the tools we had at hand and the whole team rallied together,” Jamie said. She also credited the record breaking $600 million Powerball jackpot, “that jackpot really helped us to gain the attention we needed. Everyone was talking about Powerball, it was trending on social media and it was in the news. We just had to be smart and plug the app where it would get a lot of attention.”

 And it did! LotteryHUB soared up the Apple App Store and Google Play ranking charts. On Facebook mobile app installs had a .5 CPI and the twitterverse was blowing up. “We put our heads together and tweeted people talking about the Powerball. This was important to really create brand recognition with the Powerball audience. When they saw Powerball we made sure they saw LotteryHUB.”

 Not only did the marketing team use social media, but also really pushed LotteryHUB using Google Adwords, and that was genius. LotteryHUB ads were placed all over lottery and Powerball related sites. When people searched for Powerball results they saw LotteryHUB, and links lead them to a landing page, which prompted downloads.

“It was crazy. In 24 hours we received 30,000 downloads. We were very, very happy with the results we were getting,” Jamie said. “And we are really lucky to have such great developers and a tech team to produce such an awesome app.”

All in all this marketing effort by the Shoutz, Inc. team really pushed LotteryHUB to the top.

Shoutz, Inc. is excited to announce our nomination for Best Mobile Marketing at the AGA Communications Awards taking place September 25, in Las Vegas.

     It's our first ever, Teamsday Tuesday! Every Tuesday will feature a different member of the Shoutz, Inc. team.

     First up is the Director of Marketing, Jamie Smith. She is the manager of the marketing team, located in Austin, TX, and helps keep us all on track. The word I would use to describe Jamie is devoted. She is devoted to working hard and getting results, she even works on weekends!

     Every Tuesday will feature a few, random, interesting questions for a member of the team. Here's Jamie:

                   1. What song best describes your work ethic?      "Born to be Wild- Steppenwolf"

2. What is #1 on your bucket list?      "Take an MBA class & meet the Today Show team" (she has 2 #1s? Devoted.)

3. Which two celebrities would you pick to be your parents?      "The parents from Failure to Launch, Al and Sue. Played by Terry Bradshaw and Kathy Bates."

4. If you were President of the United States, what law would you pass first?      "Awesome question...High school students in every school private and public must take two technology courses. 1- Introduction to Systems 2- Understanding the Internet and How to be Responsible on It"

5. What is your favorite lottery game?     "Powerball"

Just a few days ago rumors started flying about the new Apple App store rating algorithm. Although Apple has yet to confirm, Techcrunch is reporting the new algorithm for the App store ranking will rely heavily on after download app engagement. This means the algorithm will no longer be featured on app installs, but instead how much after install action the app is seeing.

 There are a number of ways to engage app users after the initial download. One way is to constantly update your app with new content. This keeps the user coming back for more to see the latest news, videos, or additions to the app. Li-at Karpel Gurwicz, marketing director at Conduit Mobile, suggests keeping it looking creative and making it easy to use. Also the addition of special deals and promotions available through the app exclusively will help get users more engaged.  Another way is through the use of push notifications. These send like a text message to the app user and will immediately take them to the app when the notification is opened.

 With the new ranking system for the App store it brings up the question, what’s the best way to measure an apps success? Is it downloads, number of uninstalls, daily users, etc? I think Apple is definitely on to something with this new (rumored) updated algorithm. The main function of an app is to bring some kind of experience to the user, and what better way to measure that than to keep track of how much the app is being used.

 Director of Marketing at Appboy, Cezary Pietrzak says, “65 percent of people abandon an app within three months, which means that marketers are not thinking about their apps as real business.” With the new App store ranking developers will be forced to update their apps on a regular basis to provide users with something new and to keep them engaged for longer than the usual three months.

 On behalf of Shoutz Inc’s own LotteryHUB app, this updated algorithm would be wonderful. LotteryHUB offers all the key points needed in an app to create engagement. Updated daily content, promotions, and exclusive videos.

     A real test of success in the marketing world is a simple one: retention.  How well does your content stack up in relation to other competitors?  In reality, it doesn’t have to be measured all the time in purchases, clicks or focus groups.  If your content is unique, unusual, and meaningful, you can bet that people are going to notice.

     We are told that the trickiest goal is to “break through the clutter,” but I think sometimes people make it out to be more difficult than it is.  Not every person has the same creativity, and creativity works in many ways, whether it’s the way you deal with clients, the way you draw that piece of art for a campaign, or the method in which you write the copy.  Everyone has different creativity, and as a result the way people get into their “creative zen” differs.  That’s why I am a big fan of the creative process activity.  

    What does it look like?  I mean that depends.   The Creative Process Illustrated by Glenn Griffin captures the ideas of how some of advertising’s greatest minds achieve their ideas.  My personal favorite:

“…what” is likely what many of you are thinking.  This could just be scribble in random directions, how is it creative?  But if you knew what it was for it would make sense.  The point is that the creative process for this guy can start in so many weird turns, twists flips and loops, but ultimately there is one clear path that it gets narrowed down to.

    How about this on the opposite spectrum?  Something very analytic and clear cut:

          This may speak to some of you analytical people out there who just prefer things laid out.  There’s nothing wrong with that and it’s people like you who balance out the abstract creatives in the office.  The truth is you need both types to be a successful team.  You need those who are willing to take risks, and those who are there to ensure that you do what is expected and attainable.  

 Can New York City, Chicago, or even Los Angeles really remain the tried and true centers for advertising?  Or will new hubs of advertising form around the country?

 My guess is that the advertising movement will move inward…with places like Austin and Denver becoming major hubs that could very well someday rival the rule of Madison & Vine. 

 Why #1: Everyone Thinks of NY When They Think of Advertising

 I mean there’s no doubt about this.  Coming from a family of advertisers, my mother, aunt and both my sisters work or have worked in NYC, including big name firms like Grey Global and 360i.  Now just imagine all the people they know who are in advertising, plus those people’s friends, PLUS the fact that major agencies like BBDO, DDB, Leo Burnett, Wieden & Kennedy are also all there, PLUS all the media hype advertising gets with shows like Mad Men and boom!  NYC means advertising. 

 Why do I think then, will NYC reign not last forever?  Because since NY is considered a hub, graduates flock to it yearly to find jobs, and many soon find themselves unable to get their foot in the door.

Only the top firms get indoor swimming pools.  You go Mr. Draper. 

Why #2: It’s Expensive   

It seems like every sitcom or drama show takes place in NY and everyone is living so comfortably on their salaries as detectives, teachers, or in the case of Chandler Bing…a Transpondster (not even a word).   But in reality an apartment like the one in Friends would cost an arm and a leg.  New York City is expensive, as is Chicago and LA and combined with the skyrocketing costs of rent with the lack of available jobs and you have a problem.  I’d like some segmentation in my apartments…and enough breathing room.  Simply put, the rent is too damn high.    

 So what do I see this do?  I see people out of college start moving westward for cheaper rent and more jobs.  In Austin the average one bed one bath near downtown could range from $600-$1600 depending on the neighborhood with the max probably being something close to $2000 if you want to actually be downtown.  In New York, to find a one bedroom less than $2500 would be a catch that you could never let go of.  Not only that, but imagining office space for an advertising start up could be unfathomable to me.

Why #3: Firms Are Opening Up Elsewhere

 The last thing that I think could be the death of the Madison & Vine monopoly is that successful ad agencies are likely to become anchors in their own regions.  GSD&M is likely Austin’s most reputable firm, CP&B is in Boulder, Martin Branding is in Richmond, etc.  These firms are world renowned for clients like Volkswagen, Old Navy, Southwest Airlines, AT&T, and more and they are located in the less crowded but very hyped up cities that are growing.   

 What I see happening is at some point, those employees could break off, start their own firms (or work in small ones) and they will start grabbing onto regional clients, which will propel them to success.   It’s a formula that seems to work, and in the process could help add employment, but also population booms.

When I was younger, I always got excited about the idea of Take-Your-Child-To-Work Day.  I mean here was essentially a day off from school; you get to hang around with your parents at work, then write some paragraph about what your parents do and why the day was cool.  Now most kids in my town had parents who likely worked in hospitals or office spaces with neat views. My Dad was an entrepreneur and was a stickler about interior design for his office.   To put it bluntly, he did not believe in the standard cubicle space.   My father always spent quite the sum of money making sure his office was comfortable, and it makes sense.  In an office environment, having a creative and inviting workspace can mean all the difference in morale and productivity in your employees. I mean think about it.  Would you really want to work here?     

Or would you want to work here?

You can’t tell but behind those coffee machines is actually a free soda fountain (I have a contact in that office)

 The point is that the only thing I could imagine doing in the first picture is cycling between filing TPS reports and then clawing my eyes out.  There is no ambience, no fun.  It’s very reflective of what the company stands for, which is an atmosphere of productivity.  However by contrast the bottom picture shows a company that understands an important truth: your office space is your second home.  You want to feel comfortable in it. 

 The cool thing about being in a youth-driven industry is that people are quick to adapt.  The era of the cubicle-style office space is slowly coming to an end in favor of more relaxed and motivating environments.  Fluorescent lights turn to lampshades and mood lighting.  Cubicles are turned into open bullpens where you can see all and not just a screen.  Break rooms have turned from tables and chairs to soda fountains and in the case of 360i, basketball hoops and video games.

 To some all this may seem like the grounds to create a lazy and unproductive office, but in reality your employees will do work, they just want to know that the guys upstairs care.  Not only that, but your office is equally important to impressing you employees as it is to impress your clients.  Clients visiting a hip office space (especially if it’s a market towards younger audiences) will appreciate the extra mile gone to make the space livable.  Here at Shoutz, Inc. we may not have soda machines, but we have two things that make the office fun: white boards and a giant moose head.  It’s those little things that make this office so fun.  It’s the small messages people leave, it’s the way people congregate around Elky (I named him…).  All of it creates a culture of inclusion, and that only serves to make me work harder. 

I have this belief that I am meant to travel the world.  Of course if one were to ask where I’ve been, the list would be pretty short, I mean the most exotic places I’ve probably been to are Aruba and Cancún, but despite the lack of amazing locales on my bucket list of places to visit, I believe this year is going to be where it all starts.

Last week for example, I finally decided that I wanted to pursue a study abroad program for next summer.  Being of primarily Austrian-German descent (throw a little Russian and Romanian in there), I figured that I would start off my world traveling in Munich, the heartland of the German soul.

I bring this up in a post now because I recently saw an advertising piece by Heineken that blew my mind, and it was related to traveling. 

Watch the commercial video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NyVO5fP8-0

 They challenge people in JFK Airport to take the adventure of a lifetime for free!  But there is a catch:

You do not know where you are going until you decide you’ll take the trip, and you must leave as soon as your trip is decided.    

So, provided Heineken is excluding countries with less-than-adequate safety, you could wind up somewhere like the northern Boreal forests of Finland, or the verdant island of Bora Bora both of which would be, sweet.  

I consider this to be the epitome of good advertising because it’s doing what all advertising should do: it is challenging people to leave their comfort zones.  It’s not advertising Heineken the product, it’s advertising Heineken the message.  They are challenging people to be adventurous, and in the process Heineken hopes that people may decide to be adventurous with their beverage. It’s tapping into the human condition, which is that people have this innate desire to explore, but because of restrictions life throws at us, we hardly get to act on it. 

This Heineken video should remind all of us that advertising and marketing is not just about providing information, it’s about delivering an experience.  It should be felt, heard, seen.  It should touch us emotionally.  It should call into question what we believe to be truth or the status quo.  It should challenge us to be adventurous.  Those types of ads are what people will remember, and in this business if you’re not memorable, you’re not anything. 

    “Good advertising does not just circulate information, it penetrates the public mind with desires and belief”