Marketing Tactics

Usage of Facebook’s social media platform continued to expand during the first quarter with mobile advertising now accounting for 59% of the company’s revenue.

Facebook’s revenues grew 72% to $2.5 billion from $1.5 billion and earnings increased to 25 cents a share from 9 cents a share with operating margins expanding to 43% from 26%. The company also highlighted the fact that mobile advertising revenue now accounts for 59% of total revenue compared to 30% during the same period the prior year.

New York -- Sunglass Hut has debuted a new retail brand, Shaded, in the form of a freestanding, open-air kiosk. Targeted at Millenials, the format puts an emphasis on interactivity, with a built-it photo booth that allows for on-the-spot photo taking and photo sharing. (See photos here.)

Mars Chocolate has rolled out the M-Ball, a peanut M&M's-shaped twist on the traditional soccer ball. The vibrant ball started making the rounds in the United States on April 15, and it comes at a time when soccer fandom is reaching an all-time high, the company said.

It may not rival the FIFA World Cup, but there’s nothing bigger than the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup when it comes to international youth soccer tournaments in the United States.

Now in its 35th year, the recently concluded youth tournament crowned winning teams from throughout the world who competed in eight age classifications. Other big winners at the event were eight U.S.-based community organizations who each received donations of $5,000 in sports gear on behalf of the winning teams.

Austin, Texas - RetailMeNot, Inc. has reached a strategic partnership agreement with General Growth Properties Inc. (GGP), a real estate investment trust focused exclusively on owning, managing, leasing and developing retail properties throughout the U.S. RetailMeNot will be the preferred digital coupon provider across GGP malls.

Leading Midwestern retailer Shopko has reopened its garden centers and has reiterated its commitment to environmental sustainability as the world marks this year’s Earth Day.

RetailMeNot has some interesting plans in store for mall goers following an agreement with General Growth Properties allowing it to serve as the mall operators preferred digital coupon provider.

Plans call for RetailMeNot to test new marketing formats and beacon technology in select malls that will allow RetailMeNot mobile app users to be served hyper-targeted offers. In addition, the company said it will work with General Growth Properties on various undefined initiatives to enhance the shopping experience at its 120 malls, increase traffic and drive sales for tenants.

Atlanta - InReality, a customer experience strategy and design firm, is offering a retail customer experience measurement tool called Reality Gap Analysis. Reality Gap Analysis delivers a quantifiable assessment of the gaps between a brand's self-perception and a customer's reality.