targeting

Google scoops up maker of data-rich coupon programs

Google said today that it has acquired Incentive Targeting, a maker of coupon programs tailored to shoppers based on their individual purchase histories.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Google said the company would become part of its mobile commerce efforts.

"We look forward to working with Incentive Targeting in our ongoing efforts to help consumers save time and money and enable retailers to deliver relevant discounts to the right customers," a Google spokesperson told CNET in an e-mail.

Founded in 2007, Incentive Targeting worked with retail chains and brands to design promotions, deliver them via coupon, … Read more

So where will people shop today that isn't Amazon?

Today is expected to be one of the biggest days ever for online shopping, but where will people be making some of their purchases may be surprising.

According to Deepfield, which provides technology to track and analyze network performance, some of the top Internet retailers are the usual suspects, like Amazon, while some others, such as Shopify, are more unexpected.

The company conducted a large-scale study of online shopping infrastructure over the past several months, using data from its ongoing study of Internet backbone traffic.

What it has found is that Amazon, of course, dominates Internet retail. About 14 percent … Read more

CNET makes picks for Target

We're pretty busy reviewing almost every device known to man here at CNET, so we don't write about ourselves very often.

So please indulge me for just a moment while I promote something new for CNET: starting now, we're putting our badge of approval and links to reviews on aisle signs at Target stores and on Target.com. The goal? To make our expert, impartial opinion easy to find for more people.

You're reading this now, so you already know where to find CNET opinions. But if you or a less-tech-savvy friend find yourself standing in … Read more

Is Thanksgiving Day the new Black Friday?

Forget Black Friday and be sure to slam a Red Bull at the Thanksgiving table this year. You'll need it to offset the effects of that turkey's tryptophan and be primed for some serious shopping following the feast.

That's right. Black Friday is now Black Thursday.

Toys "R" Us is among the retailers that will call employees in on Thanksgiving evening to open its nationwide locations at 8 p.m. and help fulfill shoppers' "hot toy needs," according to a release. HDTVs and tablets like the Tabeo for kids and Samsung Galaxy Tab series are just a few of the hot digital toys the stores will be pushing for a possible second dessert on Thanksgiving night.… Read more

Twitter predicts users' gender for targeted advertising

Twitter is trying to suss out which of its users are male and which are female. And so far, it's gotten its prediction science down to a 90 percent accuracy rate.

But, let me back up. Why in the world would the social network want to figure out the gender of its individual users?

Why for advertising, of course.

According to Twitter, the fairer sex might like to see a promoted tweet featuring cosmetics, while men would most likely ignore such advertising. All of this apparently matters when trying to generate ad revenue and monetize the site.

Unlike some … Read more

The 404 1,144: Where we switch up our 'za (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- A device to call your mom when you crash your bike.

- Stop the madness: 3D-printed headphones?!

- A jacket that hugs you for getting "Likes" on Facebook.

- Target adds QR codes to hot holiday toys for secret shopping.

- Also, New York is about to have QR codes everywhere soon.

Bathroom break video: Salt Lake from Lance follows up… Read more

Privacy experts to ask FTC to probe Facebook-Datalogix deal

In an attempt to find out which ads lead to purchases, Facebook is partnering with Datalogix, a company that compiles consumer purchasing data from retail stores. But the move has privacy advocates asking federal regulators to scrutinize the deal.

Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, told CNET today that he will ask the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the new Facebook-Datalogix deal and determine whether the business practice complies with the terms of a recent $9.5 million agreement Facebook reached with the FTC to settle privacy complaints.

"In light of the recent consent order with … Read more

Apple reportedly doled out fewer iPhone 5 units to other retailers

Apple may have reserved the lion's share of iPhone 5 handsets for its own stores, leaving other retailers in short supply.

Citing "store sales staff and other people familiar with the situation," The Wall Street Journal reported today that Apple's own stores seemed to have a healthy stock of iPhone 5 units to sell this past weekend. But other retail outlets had to grapple with a much more limited supply right from the get-go.

People at Best Buy, RadioShack, and Target told the Journal that they didn't even receive enough units to satisify pre-sales orders. … Read more

Bull's-eye! iPhone 5 preorders begin at Target

Target has just painted a bull's-eye on the back of the iPhone 5, and that's good for customers looking to reserve Apple's latest flagship ahead of its September 21 shipping date.

Customers can head to select Target stores -- the nearly 1,500 outlets with Target Mobile centers, to be specific -- to preorder the device. While Target hasn't shared how many units it has to sell, expect their stock and carrier choice to be limited.

Apple is selling the iPhone 5 in 16GB ($199.99), 32GB ($299.99), and 64GB ($399.99) capacities, and in … Read more

Facebook ad targeting to use e-mails, phone numbers

Facebook plans to roll out a new advertising tool that will let companies target their ads to existing customers based on their phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

The social network is launching the new tool next week and touts it as a way for businesses to reengage with customers who have already used their services, according to a Facebook spokesperson.

For those who may have privacy concerns over this exchange of personal information, the social network said the process is secure.

What this means is Facebook isn't giving any of your data away, it's taking existing numbers and … Read more