The profit model for just about any website revolves around ad dollars. The more viewers a page has, the better their chances get that companies will start paying to reach its users. When you have one of the most wildly popular sites with a cult-like following, chances are you stand to make millions, which is exactly what Twitter is hoping for.

By now, you’ve probably seen them. Twitter started unveiling the first ads last Tuesday with companies like Starbucks, Virgin America and Best Buy as the first to test the waters. To start, the ads were rolled out to 2%-10% of users, then that number would begin to increase. Initially, Twitter ads will appear at the top of user searches, but over time, they may actually appear in the stream of posts users see when they login.

Advertisers and users have been waiting for this day as past reports have stated that Twitter Chief Executive Evan Williams has been hesitant to offer advertising for fear of annoying users (as if Twitter can get any more annoying). Advertisers have been doubtful that Twitter could derive an advertising model to compete with Google, but nevertheless they will try.

According to the Wall Street Journal, “Twitter’s ad-matching and pricing formula is a work in progress. The company will start by charging marketers per thousand impressions of their ads. Over time, it plans to move to a more complex model, charging based on how users interact with the messages. The Twitter spokesman said it will not show ads that don’t receive a certain “resonance” score, based on factors like how many people clicked on or forwarded the ad.”

Only time will tell how well this advertising model will work. My opinion is that it is going to be incredibly successful or flop miserably. There will be no in between.

Posted by: Lauren

Screen Innovations (SI), the leader in projection screen technology, recently announced the signing of Caster Communications, Inc. as it public relations agency of record. Caster has begun to implement a national PR campaign to broaden awareness of Screen Innovations and its products.

“We are very excited that our growing business has allowed us to hire Caster Communications,” said Ryan Gustafson, president of Screen Innovations. “Caster knows the marketplace better than anyone else and their knowledge and experience will help take SI to a whole new level.”

Based in Austin, TX, Screen Innovations is the leader in projection screen technology. SI develops the most advanced projector screens that effectively address evolving consumer demands for performance, value, and visual appeal-each strategically aligned with today’s demanding high definition HD projector screen trends.

SI’s exclusive technology for Black Diamond has changed the home theater landscape by delivering dramatically higher picture quality at sharply competitive prices. Black Diamond simultaneously enhances contrast, color saturation, depth of field, and video immersion in both bright and dark environments. This represents a quantum leap forward in combined performance and versatility.

Caster Communications provides public relations and marketing services for a wide array of companies and brands engaged in the custom installation channel. Caster’s unique experience in this space provides Screen Innovations a partner who understands the unique nuances of marketing in specialty channels. For more information about Screen Innovations, visit www.screeninnovations.com

Posted by Amanda | Follow me on twitter

I have to admit, I am a little obsessed with the Winter Olympics this year – maybe because there is almost nothing good on TV this time of year or maybe because I am a little in awe of the strength and talent of the competing athletes.  Maybe because I am a sucker for cheesy inspirational music accompanied by a montage of triumphant athletic moments.  Who can say.

So it goes without saying that I, like the rest of the world, was horrified to watch luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili crash violently into a metal pole during a practice run hours before the opening ceremony.  I was also horrified to see the video being played over and over again – but that’s another post entirely.

Our local affiliate, NBC WJAR Channel 10, was covering the opening ceremonies and during commercial breaks, ads from local furniture store Cardis Furniture began to run.  Their ads tend to be comical in tone and the one they released on this particular night aimed to be the same – except that it missed the mark completely.  The ad featured the three spokespeople and company founders – Nick, Ron and Pete bobsledding down a hill and then crashing, landing on a mattress (of course).  Harmless out of context, but in light of the situation and given the severity of the real life crash that had occurred earlier that day, the ad seemed tasteless and somewhat irreverent.

The ad ran three times during the opening ceremonies before calls and emails to both Cardis and NBC WJAR Channel 10 came pouring in calling for the ad to be pulled.  Shortly following, Cardis issued a formal statement of apology on the affiliate’s website:

“Prior to the Opening Ceremony, a tragedy happened at the Olympics as an athlete lost his life in the sport of luge,” the statement read. “We were unaware of this incident until seeing the pre-opening coverage. Unfortunately, an animated commercial that we prepared several months ago, aired during that coverage, following the story of the tragedy. Similar versions of this commercial have been used in prior Winter Olympic seasons. Now knowing of this tragic loss of life, we realize this commercial should have never aired and we are sorry that it did. We have taken it off the air. Our thoughts and prayers are with the athlete’s family and teammates. On behalf of Nick, Ron and myself, we truly apologize.”

While no one can blame Cardis for the timing of this ad, it’s safe to say that the cute attempt at furniture humor backfired big time and the company spent more time apologizing for the unfortunate coincidence then selling mattresses.

Posted by: Ashley / follow me on Twitter