iAds is Apple’s new brainchild, which takes the principle of in-search advertising and applies it within the app, according to an article in Mashable.

Jobs ran with the idea as a way to fix a common problem with traditional ads, which he said is the combination of interaction and emotion. A user would explore an iAd for the movie Toy Story by clicking the ad and watching trailers, playing games and even buying products through the ad.

Go mobile, or go home, right?

Photo via apple.com

That time has come.

For the past three years, Hulu has delivered premium video content that caters to both consumers’ and advertisers’ needs. This free media content turns a profit through advertisements. Hulu has the added benefit of having less advertisements than television.

The Hulu Plus application allows brands to expand to mobile and portable devices, such as the iPhone and iPad–with a catch. The plus version requires a $9.99 monthly subscription fee, which provides users with entire series and seasons of content in HD.

Mobility is a great thing.

Photo via businessinsider.com

About Ehrlich Communications

Ehrlich Communications is a content-driven marketing and P.R. firm. EC runs media relations, messaging and online programs for market-leading brands across all industries. The firm’s team members distill, package and communicate clients’ messages to their target audiences to drive sales and brand favor.

Status updates and rankings keep people engaged because they’re both interactive and competitive. So, Foursquare is bringing those qualities to the real world, actualizing users’ loyalty with real clothing badges.

By leveraging its popularity with this merchandise, the growing social network is giving enthusiastic fans a way to display their loyalty, according to an article in Mashable. The seller, Nerd Merit Badges, calls them “real-world merit badges,” which prominently display your rank on your shirt, bag or any other material you choose to stick them on.

The marketing initiative could lead to a new channel of licensing for Foursquare, such as on coffee mugs, T-shirts and other items.

We’d like to try them on for size!

Photo via mashable.com

One of the coffee chain’s undercover stores–15th Ave. Coffee and Tea–plans to add wine and beer from Pacific Northwest vineyards and local brewers this fall. These changes accompany the store’s renovations, which include an indoor-outdoor fireplace.

Coffee has always been the mainstay of the chain, but its latest offerings and marketing initiatives with breakfast sandwiches and, more recently, VIA have emphasized the fast-paced lifestyle. Fine wines and hand-crafted beers appear to re-emphasize the brand’s long-standing value of fine quality.

Next up: coffee and wine-tasting room?

Photo via http://www.seattlepi.com

With social networks expanding exponentially, casual gaming developers have a captive audience from a wide-range of demographics–perfect for in-game advertising.

Casual-gaming developer Zynga is the perfect case study, with its flagship title FarmVille drawing in millions of Facebook’s 400 million users.

But casual gamers get bored. When Zynga noticed a steep decline in FarmVille’s once 250 million users, it decided to change things up.

FrontierVille integrates the basics of FarmVille with an Oregon Trail Twist and has already brought in 5 million active users in just two weeks.

Reining in users is never an easy task.

Photo via fastcompany.com

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, announced this week the site will include location-based features soon, according to an article in Mashable.

The site’s new addition will use data from existing networks like Foursquare, Brightkite and Gowalla to develop its API.

One concern for the new development is privacy — the social networking giant just spent the last few months calming its 400 million users’ concerns about privacy.

And, while it’s confirmed Facebook plans to include these features soon, it hasn’t revealed just how it will work. Geo-tagging could apply to any thing from pictures to “checking-in.”

Will Facebook’s users be on board?

Photo via http://blog.karachicorner.com

Nearly 30 percent of FIFA’s revenues come from sponsorship deals, so, naturally, the governing body of the World Cup fights to protect its loyal sponsors through its rights-protection program.

This year, Budweiser is a primary sponsor — and stakeholder in the organization.

When the “Bravaria Beer Babes” disguised themselves as Denmark supporters only later to reveal their orange mini-skirt outfits advertising the beer company, FIFA stepped in by throwing them out and filing charges.

Like it or not, Bravaria Beer is now known worldwide.

Well, it got us talking, right?

Photo via http://industry.bnet.com

For years, Starbucks’ exclusive contract with AT&T solicited customer loyalty by locking visitors into weekly, monthly or year-long WiFi plans.

Now the coffee giant is opening up its wireless offerings with a new marketing plan — distinctive partnerships with media giants to provide value-add content beginning this fall.

It’s all on the Starbucks Digital Network. This gateway page seizes the opportunity to expand the Starbucks brand while also providing customers with free access to paid sites like the Wall Street Journal,  The New York Times, iTunes, For the next few months, customers will have to settle for the first two hours free through AT&T.

What better way to keep your customers tuned in with free downloads and targeted content?

Starbucks patrons, rejoice!

Photo via watblog.c

About Ehrlich Communications

Ehrlich Communications is a content-driven marketing and P.R. firm. EC runs media relations, messaging and online programs for market-leading brands across all industries. The firm’s team members distill, package and communicate clients’ messages to their target audiences to drive sales and brand favor.