So here's my roundup of the trends and developments in marketing that have happened since last year that you and your small business need to know about.
Mobile. When thinking about new changes in marketing, the most important word to remember is mobile. More than half of Americans (56%) now own a smartphone. And in the last year alone, the number of U.S. adults who own tablets -- like iPads, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Google Nexus -- has nearly doubled, so that now over a third (34%) own a tablet (from only 18% in 2012). (Source: Pew Internet & American Life, 2013).
Top Gas Utility Companies To Watch For 2015: IAC/InterActiveCorp (IACI)
IAC/InterActiveCorp engages in the Internet business in the United States and internationally. The company�s Search segment develops, markets, and distributes various downloadable toolbars; provides search, reference, and content services through its destination search and other Websites, including Ask.com and Dictionary.com; and aggregates and integrates local advertising and content for distribution to publishers on Web and mobile platforms, as well as markets and distributes mobile applications through which it provides search and additional services. Its Match segment offers subscription-based and advertiser-supported online personals services through its Websites comprising Match.com, Chemistry.com, OurTime.com, BlackPeopleMeet.com, and OkCupid.com, as well as through mobile applications and Meetic-branded Websites. The company�s ServiceMagic segment offers Market Match service that matches consumers with service professionals; Exact Match service, which enables con sumers to review service professional profiles and select the service professional that meets their specific needs; and 1800Contractor.com, an online directory of service professionals. This segment also offers Website design and hosting services. Its Media and Other segment operates CollegeHumor.com, an online entertainment Website that targets young males; Vimeo, a Website on which users can upload, share, and view video; and Pronto.com, a comparison search engine. This segment also engages in the creation of video content for various distribution platforms; and operates as an Internet retailer of footwear and related apparel and accessories, as well as focuses on multimedia business. The company was formerly known as InterActiveCorp and changed its name to IAC/InterActiveCorp in July 2004. IAC/InterActiveCorp was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Mani]
IAC InterActive Corp. (NASDAQ:IACI) should see improved margins and revenue from its Match business as subscriber growth could be boosted by favorable secular trends and new monetizing opportunities.
- [By Brian Stelter]
I hesitated, but she insisted that I come to the headquarters of Barry Diller's IAC (IACI) for an in-person demonstration of the product, which she called an "online TV platform." Once I was there, I understood. "Surprisingly high-quality signal," I scribbled in my notebook. "Place- and time-shifting!"
- [By Lawrence Meyers]
Rather than pick the obvious candidates, I also like to look for great stocks to buy that might not be on most investors��radar. Here are three such stocks to buy:
InterActiveCorp (IACI)InterActiveCorp (IACI) is Barry Diller�� conglomerate of internet companies, not terribly different from John Malone�� Liberty Interactive (LINTA). The strategy for IACI stock has been to wait for a leader in a given sector to emerge and then buy it up, or at least a portion of it. These businesses either have a history of generating lots of cash flow, or have the potential to do so.
- [By Chris Isidore]
Newsweek, the news magazine whose print version was abandoned late last year, was sold in August by IAC (IACI) to another all-digital news company, IBT Media.
Top Internet Companies To Invest In 2014: Propell Technologies Group Inc (PROP)
Propell Technologies Group, Inc., incorporated on February 04, 2008, offers enhanced oil recovery technology and services. These services are offered through its wholly owned subsidiary Novas Energy USA, Inc., through commercial application of a Plasma-Pulse Technology.
The Company�� technology is designed to be suitable for oil wells as deep as 12,000 feet. Novas�� Plasma-Pulse Treatment is an Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology and process. The treatment uses no chemicals.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Although oil prices ended the year at multi year lows, now would be the time to take a closer look at�small cap gas compression or enhanced oil recovery (EOR) stocks like�Usa Compression Partners LP (NYSE: USAC), CSI Compressco LP (NASDAQ: CCLP) and Propell Technologies Group Inc (OTCBB: PROP) before oil and gas prices inevitably rise again. To begin with, natural gas compression services are used to transport natural gas and specifically to get�natural gas from low-pressure wells into gathering systems, storage and processing facilities�as well as to maintain production as reservoir pressure declines. Compression services�are also used to extract gas from�unconventional natural gas sources like shale plays. Meanwhile,�so-called enhanced oil recovery or EOR is just a generic term for the techniques used for increasing the amount of crude oil that can be extracted from an oil field with potential methods including steam flood and water flood injection�or hydraulic fracturing�(so-called fracking). Naturally, demand for compression services and EOR technologies would be impacted by oil and gas commodity prices.
- [By James E. Brumley]
Truth be told, oil giant Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) and major oil player Denbury Resources Inc. (NYSE:DNR) aren't likely worried about little ol' Propell Technologies Group Inc. (OTCBB:PROP)... at least not yet. Their lack of concern may end up being a big mistake, though. Propell Technologies Group has developed a new piece of oil well technology that can rejuvenate a struggling oil flow that might just make names like Denbury Resources and Halliburton green with envy.
- [By John Udovich]
Although oil prices are at multi year lows, now�might be the time to start taking a closer look at�small cap gas compression or enhanced oil recovery (EOR) stocks like TETRA Technologies, Inc (NYSE: TTI), Exterran Holdings, Inc (NYSE: EXH) and Propell Technologies Group Inc (OTCBB: PROP)�as oil and natural gas prices will�inevitably rise once again. To start with, natural gas compression services are�needed to transport natural gas from low-pressure wells into gathering systems, storage and processing facilities�as well as to maintain production as reservoir pressure declines. In addition, compression services�are used to extract gas from�unconventional natural gas sources like shale plays. As for so-called enhanced oil recovery or EOR, its�a generic term for the techniques used for increasing the amount of crude oil that can be extracted from an oil field with these potential methods including steam flood and water flood injection�or hydraulic fracturing�(so-called fracking). Naturally,�demand for compression services and EOR technologies are impacted by (the temporary)�low oil and gas commodity prices and so are the share prices for publicly traded stocks in the space.
- [By John Udovich]
Mid cap oil services stocks Dresser-Rand Group Inc (NYSE: DRC) and�Flowserve Corp (NYSE: FLS) and small cap Propell Technologies Group Inc (OTCBB: PROP) are all direct or indirect players in the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) sector among other niches. Of course, it might seem strange to be talking about oil services or enhanced oil recovery stocks when the bottom has fallen out from under the price of oil but consider the following two charts from WTRG Economics�and Gasbuddy.com:
Top Internet Companies To Invest In 2014: eBay Inc.(EBAY)
eBay Inc. provides online platforms, services, and tools to help individuals and merchants in online and mobile commerce and payments in the United States and internationally. Its Marketplaces segment operates ecommerce platform eBay.com; vertical shopping sites, such as StubHub, Fashion, Motors, and Half.com; and classifieds Websites, including Den Bl�Avis, BilBasen, Gumtree, Kijiji, LoQUo, Marktplaats.nl, mobile.de, Alamaula, Rent.com, eBay Anuncios, eBay Kleinanzeigen, and eBay Annunci, as well as provides advertising services. The company?s Payments segment offers payment and settlement services for consumers and merchants on and off eBay Websites and other merchant Websites. This segment operates PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to send and receive payments online and through mobile devices; Bill Me Later that enables the United States merchants to offer, the United States consumers to obtain, credit at the point of sale for ecommerce and mobile tra nsactions; Zong, which allows users with mobile phones to purchase digital goods and have the transactions charged to their phone bill; and BillSAFE that enables customers pay for purchases upon receipt of an invoice. Its GSI segment offers an ecommerce services suite for enterprise clients that operate in general merchandise categories, including apparel, sporting goods, toys and baby, health and beauty, and home; and marketing services comprising full-service digital agency, enterprise email marketing, mobile advertising, affiliate marketing, advertisement retargeting, and in-depth analytics services. The company also offers X.commerce platform that provides software developers access to the company?s applications programming interfaces to develop functionality for various merchants; and Magento Connect, which allows developers to market and sell add-on functionality and solutions to merchants that use a Magento storefront. eBay Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquarter ed in San Jose, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
A potentially more lucrative source of growth could come from Groupon's attempts to bolster its fairly new payment-processing business. Despite its huge potential, however, payment processing is an immensely cutthroat industry, with eBay's (NASDAQ: EBAY ) PayPal having taken the lead with its well-established service, while up-and-coming start-ups like Square try to disrupt PayPal's model. Groupon will have to demonstrate a clear advantage over current and future players in payment processing in order to win a fair share of the lucrative business, and that's a tough order in the current competitive environment.
- [By Damian Illia]
As promised in a previous article, today I will look into the E-Commerce King: Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) as an option to eBay Inc. (EBAY).
Growing the Old-Fashioned Way
Top Internet Companies To Invest In 2014: Google Inc.(GOOG)
Google Inc. maintains an index of Web sites and other online content for users, advertisers, and Google network members and other content providers. It offers AdWords, an auction-based advertising program; AdSense program, which enables Web sites that are part of the Google Network to deliver ads from its AdWords advertisers; Google Display, a display advertising network that comprises the videos, text, images, and other interactive ads; DoubleClick Ad Exchange, a real-time auction marketplace for the trading of display ad space; and YouTube that provides video, interactive, and other ad formats for advertisers. The company also provides Google Mobile that optimizes Google?s applications for mobile devices in browser and downloadable form; and enables advertisers to run search ad campaigns on mobile devices, as well as Google Local that provides local information on the Web; and Google Boost for small businesses to participate in the ads auction. In addition, it offers And roid, an open source mobile software platform; Google Chrome OS, an open source operating system; Google Chrome, a Web browser; Google TV, a platform for the consumers to use the television and the Internet on a single screen; and Google Books platform to discover, search, and consume content from printed books online. Further, the company provides Google Apps, a cloud computing suite of message and collaboration tools, which includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Google Sites; Google Search Appliance that offers real-time search of business and intranet applications, and public Web sites; Google Site Search, a custom search engine; Google Commerce Search for online retail enterprises; Google Checkout to make online shopping and payments streamlined and secure; Google Maps Application Programming Interface; and Google Earth Enterprise, a firewall software solution for imagery and data visualization. Google Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Douglas A. McIntyre]
Microsoft has elected to stick with a strategy which has only worked partially. The Xbox, despite Microsoft’s efforts, remains a gaming machine, although its broadband enablement lets to act as a streaming media device and hub for other data which runs in and out of homes.�Microsoft can claim it has an open system–a Switzerland of sorts–which allows consumer to have access to a broad array of content services for companies like Hulu and Google’s� (NASDAQ: GOOG) YouTube. It may be a mistake that Microsoft has not lined up its own movie service and content library�to compete with Netflix, Apple, and Amazon. (Editor’s note: Xbox has a cable like pay per view service) But, in a parting decision, CEO Steve Ballmer�elected that chasing content distributors in an arena where�firms like Netflix�have already won the consumers loyalty is a poor idea.
- [By Jeff Reeves]
But if you want to roll the dice on a risky but high-reward play, consider telecom giant Yandex (YNDX). This company is actually based in the Netherlands, but operates the leading Russian web portal, with search and email services. It�� essentially the Google (GOOG) of Russia.
- [By Tim Melvin]
Of course, the gyrations of momentum traders are always something to behold.�But when we look at stocks like Google (GOOG),�we’ve seen tens of billions of dollars added to the market cap in just a very short time. There is simply no rational way to come up worth any reasonable, or even unreasonable, estimate of business value for either of GOOG stock.
- [By Evan Niu, CFA]
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) took a shot at earning political goodwill when it said that its Nexus Q would be assembled in the U.S. When the Nexus Q was unveiled last year, The New York Times promptly ran a profile on it, and the immediate timing (same day) gave the impression that Google had traded exclusive coverage for positive press. Big G was tapping a domestic contract manufacturer instead of an Asian one, and most of the components were also made in America.
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