Tag Archives: Google

The GAAFers

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BRIC, MAVINS, PIIGS and GAAF

Back in 2003 the acronym BRIC was used by Goldman Sachs when talking about the economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China combined. The report speculated that by 2050 these four economies would be wealthier than most of the current major economic powers.

In 2010, the Business Insider used the acronym MAVINS for the six surging countries Mexico, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria and South Africa. It was suggested that these combined economies could equal 60 percent of America’s current economy by as early as 2020, over 200 percent by 2050, and then continue growing thereafter.

Also in 2010 the PIIGS acronym was used to refer to the five Eurozone nations, which were considered the most vulnerable to financial crisis: Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain.

Let me start a new one: GAAF. This is an acronym for Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook. These companies have an influence level above many countries and economies that are more significant than those of some states. What the GAAFers do makes a real difference.

ZMOT = Zero Moment of Truth

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ZMOT ZMOT = Zero Moment of TruthLast night my wife was researching information about children and broken fingers. As I had attended a round table with DigitalMR earlier that day, and had taken their reading recomendation, I recognised this as a Zero Moment of Truth (ZMOT).

Like many things in marketing, ZMOT in itself is not the most amazing concept. But wrapped together with industry insight, data and real world opinions this is a great piece of work.

Whether we’re shopping for corn flakes, concert tickets or a honeymoon in Paris, the Internet has changed how we decide what to buy.  At Google, we call this online decision-making moment the Zero Moment of Truth – or simply ZMOT.

via A Modern Marketing Strategy – Social Media Marketing & ZMOT from Google.

Download the free ZMOT eBook, it really is a good read. I’ve found that I am already modifying and improving my focus on a couple of contemporary issues.

Incoming search terms:

  • zmot moment of engagement

Google jumps into online-law business with Rocket Lawyer

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Traditional lawyers may not like it, but venture capitalists are pouring money into one of the last industries to resist commoditisation on the Web. Google Ventures today announced it is part of a group that infused $18.5 million into Rocket Lawyer, which bills itself as the “fastest growing online legal service.”

via Google Jumps Into Online-Law Business With Rocket Lawyer – Forbes.

Incoming search terms:

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Ticketfriend launches end-to-end contactless ticketing system

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A young sales technology company has launched a new ticketing solution allowing users to buy and redeem tickets through a tap of their smartphone.

Dublin, Ireland-based ticketfriend, a ticket sales and event promotion company, has since 2009 provided a space for users to buy, sell and promote tickets to events through their Web site. With the refinement of near field communications (NFC) technology over the years, the company has made a decision to move into mobile contactless ticketing, and it has just launched a new app specifically for use with Google’s Android operating system. NFC allows users to tap their smartphones to another device to make a purchase or exchange information.

via Ticketfriend launches end-to-end contactless ticketing system | TicketNews.

Jack Dorsey’s Square raises US$100m

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Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s technology company Square, which enables e-payments anywhere, has raised US$100m in Series C funding, valuing the company at more than US$1bn.

The marketplace for mobile device payments is beginning to open up and last week Google chairman Eric Schmidt said the market could be worth US$1trn within a few years as various platforms, including near field communications (NFC) and iOS-styled browser payments, make it easier and simpler for people to buy goods and services electronically.

via Jack Dorsey’s Square raises US$100m – Start Ups – Start-Ups | siliconrepublic.com – Ireland’s Technology News Service.

Google planning payment test in New York and San Francisco

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Google Inc. plans to start testing a mobile-payment service at stores in New York and San Francisco within four months, letting shoppers use their phones to ring up purchases, two people familiar with the project said.

The company will pay for installation of thousands of special cash-register systems from VeriFone Systems Inc. (PAY) at merchant locations, said one of the people, who requested anonymity because Google’s plans haven’t been made public. The registers would accept payments from mobile phones equipped with so-called near-field-communication technology.

via Google Said to Plan Payment Test in New York, San Francisco – Bloomberg.

So, who said Google were not a competitor in the payments sector? As I’ve been saying for a while, Facebook, Google and PayPal are all players that could, and probably will, disrupt and transform the payments market. Their ability to work in the prepaid sector is of real interest.