Silicon Valley Trip - Class of 2014
Google Corp.
Mountain View, CA
Ad Words, Software, SEO, Google Glass, Google +, Cloud Computing. The organization is specializing in Internet-related services and products. Role within the cluster framework - Google has a critical role within the cluster framework. Google has purchased and partnered with other organizations for research, advertising, and other activities. And position within their niche industry - Google + is a niche product because the search engines look for specific key words embedded in the site. The main objective is to dominate the search market by giving authors/blog writers more visibility, traffic and exposure.
FreeWheel
San Francisco, CA
FreeWheel is integrating Adap.tv's programmatic reserved technology, so advertisers can use their proprietary data to buy select online video ad inventory from premium content providers. Role within the cluster framework - FreeWheel is expected to continue serving outside clients, particularly the networks that the cable company has partnered with for its own TV Everywhere services. This way the organization has access to various segmentations. Pposition within their niche industry - (video ad platform) FreeWheel has become the go-to ad-serving platform for many TV networks that stream their content online.
Remind
San Francisco, CA
Remind gives people the ability to create messages, enter or change appointment reminders, then go back and view the message logs. E.g school teachers might be sending reminders to their students or parents. Role within the cluster framework - Promotes the power of free messaging. The organization takes advantage of the growing mobile trend. People are on the go these days, so the company tries to fit in to this behavior. And position within their niche industry - Research has indicated that in business about 20% of people do not even show up. For additional facts and company overview, please clickhere. Remind.com meets their audience's niche needs by providing a unique way of messaging and reminding.
Trulia
San Francisco, CA
Trulia is an online residential real estate site for home buyers, sellers, renters and real estate professionals. It lists properties for sale and rent as well as tools and information needed to be successful in the home search process. Role within in the cluster framework - The company has a critical role in the cluster. Not too long ago, the company has launched a $45 million national ad campaign on television, radio, the Web, and mobile devices. The company's Chief Marketing Officer indicated in an interview that the organization wants to take advantage of a hot real estate market coupled with a wave of house-buyers willing to make the switch to mobile browsing. Please refer to the original article located here. And position within their niche industry - niche markets are property specific. These included waterfront, location, amenities, but personal interest categories are emerging as great sources of new business.
GroupOn
Chicago, IL
This organization offers daily deals to restaurants, other type of service providers and retailers. It features gift certificates which are usable at local or national companies. Role within the cluster framework - The mobile trend is also portrayed here, although the company's traffic does not necessarily come from mobile devices. Making the coupons available to smartphone users "on-the-go" probably helped to drive people who bought Groupons on the website to then redeem them using their phones. Having made these deals available on mobile devices almost surely had an impact on exposing new users to the Groupon site through social media channels. And position within their niche industry - "Deal of the day — deal sites", pushing for daily deal on mobile devices. This way the company's daily deal-like features may serve as an attempt to tap into another market.
Orbitz Worldwide, Inc.
Chicago, IL
Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. is an organization that operates a web site used to research, plan and book travel. It is headquartered in the Citigroup Center in Near West Side, Chicago, Illinois. Role within the cluster framework — Encourages cluster-specific efforts to attract suppliers and service providers from other locations and adjacent industries. The company is focused on the mobile trend. And position within their niche industry - They are focused on differentiation. Currently, people make their own travel arrangements, which for the most part, may work fine for them. Orbitz, however, came up with a new niche booking site, designed for "unmanaged" business travelers who make reservations on their own; usually that means either a self-employed person who is employed at a small organization or a small sized entity. If the business travel is "managed", big corporate departments take advantage of travel discounts based on annual purchases with airlines, hotels and car rentals.