Question

In the summer of 2000, a company called Digital Convergence launched the :CueCat, a mouselike scanner that would let consumers read bar codes in print ads and be whisked directly to advertisers' websites. For consumers at a computer, the :CueCat was billed a simpler alternative to typing in URLs. The clearer benefit for advertisers was that data from :CueCat usage could provide information about ad readership and responses. Each :CueCat device had a unique number, so dossiers could be complied on their owners.

Go online to search the fate of :CueCat. Prepare a one page paper that summarizes what you learned and discuss whether you think the demise of this device was a loss to marketers.

Address how else might they gather information similar to what the :CueCat would have provided.

Today, cell phones offer the ability to scan bar codes, for example to make purchases. How might marketers use this technology to measure the effectiveness of their brand promotion campaigns?

Answer 1

CueCat is a cute cat shaped barcode reader appeared about a decade ago the concept is that if you have a CueCat attached to your computer, if you seen a advertising in a magazine which have a barcode if you are interested in that advertised product you just need to go and scan that barcode with your CueCat and then your browser will direct you to that specific advertiser's website. This is how simply CueCat works.

CueCat was a miserable failure their investors lost about 185 US dollors. Because of their security breach sealed the CueCat's fate.

CueCat was a great helpfull technology for marketers because of their customers can easily reach to their advertised products and they can track the individual barcode and know which ads readers were responding to. because customers needs to register in order to use the services so the marketers can know who they are.. so the demise of CueCat is a loss to marketers

Now days affiliated marketing is a growing technic we can see a lot of websites are providing ads of good products and consumers can reach to the corresponding product just in a click on that ads which brings you to the advertiser's website.. this technic might be an alternative to CueCat.

Now days cell phones offer the ability to scan barcodes there are lot of ways that marketers can make use of these scannable codes. QR codes can be integrated into most marketing materials. And easily advertise their products and make use of marketing campaigns.