L&S Unscripted

Whether you’re toting around an iphone, Droid, BlackBerry or some other smart phone, you were most likely attracted to your device because of all of the capabilities and conveniences it has to offer. These days we can do just about everything from our phones, from locking our front doors to finding the best sushi restaurant in Seattle. These conveniences are mostly possible through mobile applications (apps). For those of you don’t use a smart phone, a mobile application is software created for a handheld device to perform useful or interesting tasks for its user, much like programs installed on a computer. Apps either come pre-installed or are downloaded by users.

So, what about the apps that aren’t as useful? What about the apps that might be downright useless? It seems that so many of the obvious mobile apps have already been created (i.e. restaurant finders, language translators, plane ticket bookers, etc.), that developers have turned their attention to more wacky pursuits. Here are my top ten interesting (and most unnecessary) mobile apps. Trust me, the list could have been MUCH longer. Enjoy!

1. isurgeon – Have you ever wondered what you would look like with a nose job? Well this mobile app allows you to simulate plastic surgery on your face.
2. Jersey Shore – I go back & forth on whether to love or loath this app based on the MTV show. This app offers clubbing tips, a nickname generator, fist pump challenges and it can even turn your phone into a glow stick.
3. Zit Picker – Need I say more?
4. ibath – Have you ever needed to run your bath water remotely? Here you go!
5. Fiat Uno Novo – This app allows you to learn everything you want to know and more about the Fiat car, in Portuguese.
6. Horsepower Calculator – Calculate the horsepower of your car from your phone … sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
7. Yorkshires – This app offers various recipes on cooking up the best Yorkshire pudding.
8. Type N Walk – Have you ever tripped while texting? Well with the help of this app, you can safely text and walk at the same time, because it shows where you’re going alongside your text.
9. Vanity – This app measures your attractiveness and rates your features. Wonderful!
10. Amazing Wal-Mart Jewelry Deals – No offense Wal-Mart, but really?

May 31^st was the official “Quit Facebook Day” according to quitfacebookday.com. Facebook has been under some intense scrutiny regarding its privacy policies in the last month. According to the site, there were about 35,000 people committed to quitting, but with more than 400 million active users, Facebook had nothing to worry about with the Memorial Day attempt.

Quitfacebookday.com also says “Having peer support helps, but the way to quit Facebook is not to start a group on Facebook about leaving Facebook.” Good point. With that said, I of course went on to check Facebook and there actually is a Facebook page named “May 31: Quit Facebook Day” with over 7,000 members who “like” it. After reading the posts on it is apparent people are following this page just to monitor the movement and have no interest in cancelling their Facebook account.

The media (and several lawmakers) would like Facebook to be more transparent in their privacy practices. We surveyed participants in the L&S Research Panel to see what those locally thought of this hot topic. We found that generally people are not aware of what Facebook is actually doing with their information, and they are not concerned about it right now. It appears the lack of concern can be attributed to users feeling they are in control of what is being shared with others. Not one participant was concerned with their information being shared with marketers, which is the main criticism privacy advocates have had with Facebook. So, users are either unaware of what Facebook has been accused of sharing or are indifferent.

We found that: 

• 70% of those surveyed do not feel any differently about Facebook despite increased scrutiny of its privacy policies.
• Only one person on the L&S Research Panel has actually committed to quitting Facebook.

Participants were also asked to describe their Facebook usage. Here are some of my favorite comments…

“I use it to stay in touch with friends. I like that I have myself completely hidden from those that I don’t want to share information with. I don’t like that I have to keep checking my privacy settings.”

“I am a little obsessed with it (Facebook), admitting it is good, right? ”

“(Facebook helps me) Stay connected to friends and family. I control who sees what information.”

“(Facebook is an) easy way to communicate and receive communication in mass. I do not like a couple of technical details and I think they need to be very careful with change. (Changing Fan to Like was not a good move IMO.)”

“It’s the surest way to reach many people because they check their Facebook account more often than email.  I don’t like all the extra games and apps”

“I use Facebook to connect with friends and family that I don’t necessarily get to see that often.  I love the fact that we can connect, but don’t like all of the gaming updates and I am concerned that my information (about me and my family) could get out there for anyone to see.  If that is the case, I would delete my page.”

Anti-Facebook groups will continue to surface, but for now average users seem content with the privacy policies and continue to enjoy the company’s services.

Lawrence & Schiller’s newest extra-miler arrived this week.

Alex Wollman – June 2010
Web Intern- Team Webworks
Alex grew up in Huron, SD. He will graduate next year from Dakota State University with a degree in computer science and math. Alex enjoys traveling and recently returned from a two-week art tour of Europe. His favorite stop on the trip was Assisi, Italy, a small village near Florence.

VIDEO: Watch Alex’s introduction.

Welcome to the L&S team!

With the soaring popularity of mobile EVERYTHING, we often recommend the use of Foursquare to our travel clients. It’s an engaging way for people to track the places they go and the things they do (or want to do).

But like many other social media avenues, Foursquare is built on a foundation of consumer, not marketer, activity and interaction. So it gets a bit fuzzy. How exactly do you encourage consumers to promote your business within a platform built by the people, for the people?

Well, there are several ways. First of all, Foursquare offers some simple things businesses can do to get in on the action. First of all, get listed as a location. Do a search for your business – if nobody has added it yet, there will be a link to add a vendor. Once you’ve created a profile for your business, you can create specials that Foursquare users can unlock based on their activities. For example, if a visitor checks in at your restaurant, they might get a free appetizer with the purchase of an entrée.

Tourism groups throughout the country are also using Foursquare as part of larger digital marketing efforts. The Pennsylvania tourism board recently rolled out a summer campaign called “The Fantastic Roadtrip-a-Matic”. The effort includes tips placed at 100 locations throughout the state, which visitors can unlock by checking in at these locations on Foursquare. Visitors can also earn Pennsylvania-themed badges based on their activities. A “PA 4 Score and 7” badge is earned by three visits to PA historical sites, for instance.

Currently the restrictions in Foursquare are minimal – anybody can enter a new vendor. There also aren’t a lot of restrictions on how organizations are designated – Pennsylvania, Chicago tourism, and other CVBs are set up as “people,” not vendors. As Foursquare grows in popularity, it will likely go the way of Facebook, where organizations now must be specifically designated as clubs, cities, pages, etc. Businesses would be wise to get in on the Foursquare action while it’s easy to do.

In spite of a recent increase in spending, the now three-year recession is alive and well, and Americans are still cutting back on traditionally recession-proof products. Although people are eliminating things like toilet paper, cigarettes and porn from their budgets, recent data shows they’re holding on to some surprising necessities, like portable computers, high-speed Internet and coffee. Here are a few items that Americans deem essential in today’s society.

Portable computers. According to recent articles, even the homeless are online, most with their own laptops. What’s more, shipments of notebooks have skyrocketed over the last three years, with sales in 2010 likely to double what they were in 2007.

High-speed Internet access. Many people have cut back on TV, phone service, electricity, and clothes dryers, but they haven’t cut back on high-speed internet. By 2013, it’s predicted that all Internet connections in the U.S. will be high-speed.

Smart phones. Overall sales of cell phones dipped for the first time ever in 2009, but sales of smart phones rose by 7 percent, according to TIA. Like laptops, smart phones have become a lifeline for most Americans.

Education. Data doesn’t indicate the exact amount families spend on schooling, but many families say they’ve given up other things in order to protect their kids’ education. In fact, private school enrollments fell by less than one percent from 2008 to 2010, and college enrollments have gone up over the last three years.

Movies. Although ticket sales dropped slightly in 2008, they bounced back in 2009, hitting a five-year high.

TV. According to a survey done by consulting firm Deloitte, the typical American watches nearly 18 hours’ worth of shows on a home TV each week, which is two hours more than one year earlier.

Music downloads. The need for mobility applies to music, too. Although CD sales fell by 21 percent in 2009, music downloads rose by nearly 20 percent.

Pets. Though Americans have cut spending on themselves, spending on pet food, supplies, grooming, vet care and clothing has been rising by about 5 percent per year, which may be attributed to the “humanization” of pets.

Alcohol. While Americans have backed off the more expensive alcohol, they haven’t stopped drinking. Beer and wine sales have increased over the last three years.

Coffee. Americans have cut back on the $5 daily lattes, but they’ve been compensating by brewing more of their own coffee. According to a recent survey by the National Coffee Association, 86 percent of coffee drinkers make their own at home, which is up from 82 percent a year earlier.

The “essentials” for Americans have changed and so must marketing techniques. Americans are finding their entertainment and information in a variety of places. As marketers we must understand what’s important to budget-conscious consumers and utilize that knowledge to communicate our message.

This post was condensed from the Yahoo! Finance article, “10 Things We Can’t Live Without.”

“Hi you’ve reached the Smith’s; we aren’t able to come to the phone right now because we no longer have one. Please try our cells…”

If our landlines could talk, this is what they might say.  Of course it is no surprise to many that the number of landlines per household is on the decline, as cell phones take over in the world of telecommunications. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), one out of every four American families does not have a landline. Furthermore, the demographic of those foregoing a home phone were largely young adults. This is due to the fact that most young adults grew up in a household where cell phones became commonplace.

These days it’s hard to walk down the street without seeing someone using a cell phone. Whether talking, texting or browsing the Web, cell phones are everywhere, and are just as much a part of us as our teeth, hair or some other body part. It’s no wonder the masses have gravitated to the use of mobile devices when it comes to communicating. Making calls alone is no longer the standard. The need to send text messages, update statuses and post messages on people’s Facebook walls are the norm. More importantly, mobile devices are exactly that … mobile. These are all things the old home phone just can’t do. Let alone check e-mail, view the weather forecast or find directions.

So how is this changing the face of marketing today?

Companies can no longer rely on connecting to customers through the use of landlines. Research surveys and sales campaigns will no doubt fail if making your numbers means contacting customers solely by home phone. Though most people continue to be leery of handing out their cell phone numbers to companies, research shows that this notion is slowly eroding. In fact, according to a study that was conducted by ABI Research in February of 2010, roughly 45% of respondents indicated they would accept promotions via their mobile phone if they had some control over the messaging process. In contrast, only 36% indicated they would be open to receiving mobile messages during an earlier study. The public is becoming more open to being reached on their mobile phones.

The integration of mobile and Web marketing is becoming increasingly important as all of these channels mesh into one or at least can be accessed from one convenient device. Having a presence on Facebook and other social media networks, utilizing banner ads, incorporating an e-mail strategy and even implementing a text messaging campaign are sure ways to target just about any audience these days.

Bottom line, if you’re debating what to spend your next marketing dollars on, think twice about traditional landlines and investigate opportunities in mobile marketing.

Some new faces are gracing the halls of Lawrence & Schiller. Several new hires and interns have joined the 5280 team recently. Two media coordinators, a financial specialist and a public relations coordinator are the newest full-time employees.

New Hires
	Ryan Gardner – March 2010 Financial Specialist – Team Synergy Ryan grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from Augustana College. He enjoys playing golf and tennis and spending time with his fiancée, Laura Walton.VIDEO: Hear Ryan’s introduction.
	Lindsey Haskins- May 2010 Public Relations Coordinator – Public Relations Team Lindsey is from Pierre, SD, and attended Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. She graduated a few weeks ago with a degree in public relations and business administration. Spending time with her fiancé, TJ Philips, and being outside are activities Lindsey enjoys in her free time.VIDEO: Learn more about Lindsey.
	Krista Kayser - May 2010 Media coordinator – Team Synergy Krista crossed the border from her hometown of Mankato, MN to become an Augustana College graduate. Motorcycling with her husband and playing with their ten-week-old son, Joseph, are some of her favorite things to do.VIDEO: Meet Krista.
	Maggie Saugstad - May 2010 Media coordinator – Team Synergy Maggie, originally from Madison, SD, spent one year at Dakota State University before completing her degree in business administration and marketing at Colorado Tech. She enjoys going outdoors to do yard work, camp or play kickball with her seven-year-old daughter, Savannah. VIDEO: Hear Maggie’s story.
Interns
	Les Cotton - April 2010 Production Artist Intern – Team Fuse Les is originally from Volga, SD, and graduated from SDSU with a degree in graphic design and fine art. Outside of work he likes to draw and do anything creative. VIDEO: Listen to Les’ introduction.
	April Gregory – January 2010 Multimedia Intern – Deadwood Office April grew up in Lodge Grass, MT and graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in photojournalism and art history. In her spare time, April enjoys outdoor activities such as fly-fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing and camping. She is excited to be photographing for L&S and is enjoying learning more about marketing.VIDEO: Learn more about April.
	Katie Kuyper - April 2010 Media intern – Team Zen Wizards A Sioux Falls native, Katie graduated last May from Augustana College. She is an avid movie fan and couldn’t live without her DVR.VIDEO: Meet Katie.
	Elizabeth Spaans - May 2010 Account Service and Copywriting Intern – Team Fuse Elizabeth grew up in Stickney, SD, which, for those who are rusty on their South Dakota geography, is a small town near Mitchell. She recently graduated from Augustana College with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. After work she enjoys reading and photography. VIDEO: Hear Elizabeth’s introduction.
	Tracy Hamann - May 2010 Account Service and Copywriting Intern – Team Synergy Tracy is originally from Sioux Falls and graduated just a few weeks ago from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. One of her favorite activities is shopping. VIDEO: Get to know Tracy.

Welcome to the team!

This weekend marks the unofficial kickoff to the summer season. Grilling, outdoor get togethers, family, friends & socialization are all components to the Memorial Day weekend festivities. I have assembled a little “how to” guide for this weekend’s holiday – social media style.

1. Google search the history of Memorial Day to learn about the origins of the holiday.
2. Read through some cooking blogs to figure out the latest trends in grilling or summer desserts, such as grillmaestro.com, getyourgrillon.net or simplyrecipes.com.
3. Wish all your Facebook friends a “Happy Memorial Day” or set up a Facebook event to celebrate the weekend with those friends.
4. Hit up the Memorial Day sales, but first make sure to print off all of those email coupons and offers.
5. Check in to the various locations you visit over the weekend via Foursquare.
6. Share some of the highlights of your weekend by posting photos or videos on your Twitter account.
7. Most importantly, take some time to disconnect, relax and really enjoy the kickoff to a great summer season!

Have a great Memorial Day!

A variety of companies — from the likes of Google and Microsoft to hospitals and doctors’ organizations — have stepped up efforts to promote electronic medical records (EMR). EMRs allow health systems, like Sanford Health, to create a single storage point for a patient’s personal health information and the elimination of redundant questions and additional paperwork.

Despite the movement to streamline the volumes of manila folders holding patient records, adoption of EMR technology is primarily dependent upon the medical professionals, namely the physician.  While doctors and medical personnel understand and value the importance and efficiency of EMRs, studies cite cost, reimbursement, and privacy issues as challenges to overcome.

“Patient Keeper“, a recently enhanced mobile application, “automates a physician’s duties such as viewing patient data from electronic records systems, ordering prescriptions or lab tests, and recording charges for services.” These are all tasks they might otherwise do manually or on another computer, so the firm’s software gives doctors the chance to do their work from virtually anywhere.

Over 23,000 clinics, including Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, IA, use the software on a variety of mobile devices such as the BlackBerry, laptops, PCs and now the iPad.

30 films and counting.

That’s how many entries Greg Johnson has received for the first Reel Dakota Film Festival, September 24-25 at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, SD.

“I’m getting submissions every day now, one from Belgium today, and others from Canada, the United Kingdom and Spain,” reports Johnson, the Festival’s founder. “We’ve even gotten one from Hong Kong!”
Read the rest of this entry »

If there ever was a site that should have a mobile app, it’s TripAdvisor. Well, now they do. The enormously-popular travel ratings site boasts over 35 million comments and travel reviews. The new TripAdvisor mobile app was announced this week, and with it, users can browse reviews, find flights, get GPS directions and more via their mobile phones. So far, there are versions for iPhone and Palm Pre, and Android is coming soon.

For users without app-friendly phones, there was also a mobile site launched in March. Mobile visitors to www.tripadvisor.com are automatically re-routed to the mobile version of the site.

Now if they could just make and app that does my laundry, I would be sold. But this is a good start. Happy travel-apping!

From Beiber Fever to Miley and the Jo Bros, teens are showing the rest of the world just how powerful and influential they really are. While we recognize this power, Socialwise is paving the way for financial literacy. This publicly traded company has started offering a few different services aimed at capturing the buying power of this young, potent group, while also instilling responsible spending habits.

Socialwise also aims to facilitate communication between tweens and teens and their parents. The first offering is BillMyParents™, an online service that teens can use when making purchases via the web. This service gives teens the ability to shop online, all the while allowing parents flexible control of the accounts and available funds.

Secondly, the BillMyParents™ Debit Card offers yet another payment option for those under 21. Again, this service still allows for parents to have control of the funds, but provides a little more freedom to the younger demographic for in person and online purchases.

Furthermore, Socialwise has partnered with social networking giants, Facebook and MySpace, to reach more of the market and allow for more eCommerce.

This is a genius idea and offering for this relatively unscathed market. Banking institutions have a great opportunity to expand into this market and harness the potential it possesses.

Thinking back to my adolescent buying days, I really could have used one or both of these services. And I am sure my parents would have appreciated it as well.

Traveling through airports, one trend that’s hard to ignore is the rise of the NEW vending machines. Vending machines are certainly nothing new – they have been the sure stop for soft drinks and snacks for years – but recently there’s been an emergence of smart brands tapping into the power of the unmanned retail outlet. A couple years back, I recall seeing iPod and DVD rentals pave the way, followed by a few innovative channel managers like skincare giant, Proactive. Lately it’s a new variety of merchandise at your fingertips. I had a layovers today in Denver and Dallas/Ft. Worth and a few that popped out: Sephora, Best Buy, RosettaStone and even a flower shop.

Don’t underestimate the power of vending machines as a new channel for your brand. Think about it: swipe, click, receive. Not much overhead in that sales funnel.

Keeping 400 million people happy is no easy feat. Mark Zuckerberg, the mastermind behind Facebook, can certainly attest to that. Zuckerberg has to brace himself for a great deal of heat after each and every little tweak made to the site.

Facebook is an ever-evolving social platform that has an unbelievably strong and widespread user base. However, each time something is added, changed or moved around, an almost inevitable - and usually ridiculous - outcry immediately ensues.

This go around, the issues are regarding privacy. I have personally observed several status updates in regards to deleting accounts or being upset over these issues. But, in all actuality and rational mindedness, we need to take a step back and look at what we opted in to and have been putting out there.

Facebook is a FREE social networking utility, one where you post information to be shared with your peers and connections. Users need to be aware that what they post is certainly not private, nor should they have posted it if they intended it to be.

A large portion of the privacy issues relate to businesses marketing to users based on their conversations, interests and discussions. I feel this is brilliant and love having this personalized messaging based on what I do and say. It really is no different than Amazon suggesting books related to past purchases.

Technology, including social media, is all about evolution and change. Being a part of it involves embracing and yearning for new offerings and services. The progression I have seen on Facebook in my five or so years with the service has been smart, strategic, innovative and user-focused.

I eagerly anticipate what is to come with the platform and hope that at least a few more of the over 400 million users do as well.

Starbucks (SBUX) is everywhere, right?  You can barely get around without running into one – at strip malls, hotels and even in grocery stores. And if you’re like me, the day just doesn’t start right without the treat in a green and white cup. .  But despite a sometimes-negative reputation for over-exposure, in today’s adage.com article, Starbucks loyalists “drink only 3 of every 10 cups at the chain,” which in turn points to a even more surprising fact, Starbucks holds only about 5% market share.

These stats, while interesting, point to the larger strategy of marketing in today’s world. Even though the creative marketing “brand” is alive and well, Starbucks is also honing in on sales metrics, using research and data to drive towards the future.  In addition to ensuring a consistent product and a high-quality customer “experience,” the next SBUX move to gain market share and increase sales is based upon the numbers.

As a marketer, do you know how often your most loyal patrons utilize your products or services over competitors? Where is the forecasted growth in your market? How does the latest consumer spending uptick in luxury goods impact your strategy?  Do you have a strategy to increase those numbers?

Expanding product lines and reformatting grocery offerings are a large part of Starbucks’ plan to obtain its goals. By understanding that four of every five cups of coffee are consumed at home, the company knows that they need to go beyond its retail stores to gain a larger customer base.  Taking a lesson from one of today’s best brands, leveraging quality analytics, measurements and return-on-investment analysis is fundamental in guiding strategies and tactics for effective marketing to grow and expand customer base.

Sidenote: If you’re a true Starbucks customer (or loyalist), check out this site to find out your true Starbucks personality.

Have you ever woken in the night just to hop on Facebook and see the latest happenings? Canceled a lunch date with a friend via Facebook wall? Experienced anxiety from the temporary inability to check your Facebook? Had a feeling of euphoria after seeing that you have 7 new friend requests, 3 event invitations, 4 likes on your new display pic and 5 wall posts?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, chances are you have Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) – a newly recognized disorder by psychologists. FAD stems from Internet Addiction Disorders and is the most common in the family of disorders.

Classified as a mental health disorder involving feelings of withdrawal, emotional disturbances, and interference of daily life, FAD is a more serious condition than we actually realize.  This new disorder can be somewhat debilitating and can really take a toll on a person’s social life. Many people have replaced good old fashioned face-to-face communication and interaction with virtual social networking.

I cannot deny the sheer popularity, multi-functionality and enjoyment that social platforms such as Facebook offer. However, finding that healthy balance of real, human interaction with virtual communication is vastly important. Social media is current and going to be a significant part of our future, so it must be embraced, just not excessively. As they say, everything in moderation.

And as ironic as it may sound, as I wrote this post, I had 2 Facebook notifications on my BlackBerry. Which leads into another topic of discussion and addiction disorder – BAD. I will save that for another day, as I have some social networking to catch up on…

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_addiction_disorder

Two interesting articles came across my screen today – both pointing to the hold that mobile communication has on our daily lives. However, annoying as the constant interruptions may be, it appears that we are willing to engage in digital communications, 24-7-365.

The first Advertising Age article reported the surprising findings from a recent Retrevo Gadgetology report. The report asked consumers “Would you answer a text when you’re “on the john”? Some 22% of online under-25-year-olds agreed they “could be interrupted.” Would you answer a text during sex? If you’re younger than 25, one in 10 of you would.  It’s a fascinating article about the control we allow our digital gadgets, and conversations, to have on our lives and relationships.

Ironically, while we may think that it’s the “younger generation” that is much more relaxed about the interruptions, a recent study by the Pew Research Center cites that teen cell phone owners are more likely than parent owners to get irritated when a call or text interrupts them. Nearly half of teen cell owners (48%) agree with that statement compared with 38% of their parents.

So with all these opinions, is mobile communication an erosion of common sense etiquette or just a natural extension of the conversations we have each day?  Its an interesting debate, but no matter what the outcome . . . its good to remember that you control your cell phone, not the other way around.

The usage of smartphones is increasing at a brisk pace, and so is mobile banking. A recent study by Mercatus shows that banks that offer mobile banking services can increase new customer acquisitions by nearly 60 percent. But why exactly is that?

Today’s society is fast-paced, convenience driven and desires to do everything on the go. So it only makes sense that banks offering convenient services such as mobile banking are reaping the rewards. Having the ability to access personal financial information via mobile devices allows for great flexibility and expediency. Consumers who opt in to this service no longer have to worry about being able to transfer funds or make a payment – they can now do it anywhere, at anytime, via their mobile device.

This study also shows that when choosing a bank, consumers prioritize mobile banking over the availability of online banking, easy access to ATMs and nearby branches. Consumers would rather have the option to bank from their mobile phone than have a bank branch or an affiliated ATM near them.

The fact that having mobile banking options plays such a large role in choosing a banking institution speaks largely to the reality that businesses need to stay fresh and on the cusp of digital and mobile offerings for consumers.

Other fascinating findings from this study include:

• Costs of acquiring customers decreases by as much as 20 percent based on the efficacy of mobile banking related marketing.
• Mobile users can be serviced at a 20 percent lower cost than a traditional bank patron.
• Mobile banking consumers tend to fall in the 18-39 year old range, as well as a higher income bracket.

So, not only can mobile banking be a rather lucrative offering for banking customers, but it can also lower costs associated with those customers. Mobile banking is the way to go – have you joined the revolution?

The following comes from www.DaugaardForGov.com:

Take one of your family car trips and freeze it in time. Now look around, what do you see? I see my dad, with a perm, yelling into a gigantic bag phone. I see a huge VCR and TV, made “portable” only because we set them in the aisle of our Econoline van so we could watch movies in transit. I remember navigation by tattered atlas, McDonald’s billboards and gut instinct.

The gadgets, gizmos, time-wasters and time-savers of the American road trip are a time capsule of sorts. While the game stays the same – getting a group of participants with varying levels of enthusiasm to a chosen destination all in the name of fun (without killing one another) – the players change dramatically. Here are some of the latest and greatest updates, sure to fan up your dad’s shortest 1980s jogging shorts:

Old School: Word of Mouth

New and Improved: Foursquare

What It Is: Foursquare lets users report their location in real life (a specific café, museum, attraction, etc.) through the website or via text or mobile phone app. They can connect with friends and share travel recommendations and reviews. The program challenges members to “check in” at specific locations and share tips or reviews on that location. Posters can earn points or “badges” for checking into locations.

Take Advantage: Provide specials via Foursquare. Encourage your best customers to “check in” and tell their friends what they like about you.

Old School: Rand McNally Atlas

New and Improved: Google Local

What It Is: Google’s local business listings are what generally appear at the top of a Google search alongside a Google map. For instance, a search for “Omaha steakhouse” brings up seven first-page results at the top of the Google page, all marked on a map alongside. Travelers can also search and get direction on their mobile phones.

Take Advantage: If your business isn’t already on Google maps, go to Google Local Business Center and get signed up. If you already have a profile, make sure it’s updated. Look for mobile sites (urbanspoon.com, for instance) that cater to your type of business and list yourself.

Old School: Portable TV/VCR/DVD player

New and Improved: iPad

What It Is: The iPad is a light, handheld computer device that can be used much like an iPhone or laptop. Though just launched a few weeks ago, the iPad already boasts over 1,000 applications with which travelers can access movies, tv shows, books, maps, games and more. There are game applications such as Scrabble, so you don’t have to worry about losing game pieces, and educational applications for the kids, such as the U.S. States & Capitals app. The iPad is sized so that it’s more portable than a laptop, but with a bigger screen than an mp3/video player or mobile phone, and with more functionality than a straight up DVD player.

Take Advantage: Get listed on lodging/attraction/dining websites that push their content through an iPad application, so travelers can find you on the road.

Old School: Travel Agents

New and Improved: Online Booking Sites

What It Is: Online booking sites like KAYAK, Orbitz and Travelocity provide an avenue for researching, creating and booking a multi-faceted travel itinerary (hotel, rental car, flight, etc.)  from your phone or computer.

Take Advantage: If you have bookable inventory, you can get it listed on these sites for a commissioned fee. See what kind of presence you have on review-based, informational travel sites (Tripadvisor.com, Yahoo Travel) and make sure there is an accurate description and good photos posted. While visitors can’t book from these sites, they often research in these places before booking.

Old School: Pen-and-Paper Bucket List

New and Improved: Lifepoints

What It Is: A Facebook application that allows users to check off interesting things they’ve done and accrue points. As an added bonus, you can redeem life points for cheap and free stuff.

Take Advantage: List your attraction or thing to do within the Lifepoints app on Facebook. Search for your business or community within the Lifepoints application – if nothing comes up, use the “Add an Experience” button to create an interesting one for your business – something like, “Survived the Macho Nachos at Stadium Sports Bar in Spearfish”. Then tell all your Facebook friends to stop in and nab their points.