Wednesday, June 25, 2014

SmartWatch Advertising Possibilities?

Today, the Google Wear platform was announced for it's smartwatches (source: TechCrunch): the design features swipeable pages as well as voice commands. TechCrunch reports that "The minimalist, always-on interface shows you the most important thing Google knows for you at the time, like the current status of an upcoming flight. " Is there an opportunity for digital marketers that is different from smartphone and the web?




For one, the tiny smartwatch screen may require display ads to be resized in order to deliver content in an effective way. With such a tiny interface - it is difficult to not annoy your customers by interrupting the screen with an ad that barely fits the content the user wants to view to begin with. 

Digital marketers will have to be savvy when investing in this new technology: seamless and non-intrusive ads will be key. Perhaps scrapping display ads altogether in a bid to create smartwatch ads that double as smartwatch apps will be the key strategy (such as Nike+ Running App). Companies may need to hold back their ad dollars to see if these products will be a hit with consumers first, before they dive into uncharted waters. It will take great efforts to create the need for a smartwatch -- particularly, convincing consumers on how it differs from the notification screen on your smartphone and whether the short time it takes to pull out your phone justifies the alleged cost of time saved using a smartwatch.

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