Michael Leis

Email has become the elephant in the room. For just about every single business and education institution, the utter dependence on email as a primary communications and knowledge sharing channel is putting a quiet stranglehold on every aspect of operation. Email as a problem space goes so deep and so wide, it’s difficult for most [...]

I was recently charged with understanding whether teen girls age 15-17 would be interested in a Desktop Widget for a large consumer brand (names withheld to protect the innocent). What I found was a virtually perfect match for this target’s psychological development stage, their comfort level with multiple technology devices, and a way to satisfy [...]

We are proud to offer our congratulations to Anthony Capozzoli and Unabellavista.com on the successful launch of Diretto, the UBV widget. From Facebok to MySpace, iGoogle to Apple Dashboard, and everything in-between, Diretto is chock-full of everything that makes the Unabellavista site and book and podcasts so great. He’s got a fantastic talent for weaving [...]

The drums are beating slow and low with the smoke from yesterday’s iPhone announcement clearing away to reveal WidgetWebExpo on the horizon. Next Monday (June 16) and Tuesday (June 17) in NYC, WidgetWebExpo has developed into the monster truck rally for thought leaders on Widgets, portable technology, and social media. You’ll pay for the whole [...]

Well, as I said way back in November, Bud.tv isn’t anything without a widget strategy. So when I got this email from them saying a new widget was available, I jumped right over to check it out. And I must say that somehow, they managed to make a widget that is simultaneously wonderfully simple, and [...]

Here’s a look at a few ways your brand can take advantage of the users you’re currently not talking to. How much is your brand missing out by not employing a widget strategy? There’s no easy answer to that, but since comScore starting tracking an audience of close to 300 million users, most brand managers [...]

If you find yourself asking, "Why do I need a widget? Or is it a gadget? What is the difference between a desktop widget and a Web widget? What do I — and don’t I — know about widgets?" Then you’ve come to the right place. The premiere installment of our new series of free [...]

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be presenting What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? What does a widget campaign look like from an agency perspective at this year’s WidgetWebExpo in NYC this June 16 and 17. Here’s the description: How can agencies make widgets work for their clients? It’s part business solution, part campaign, and all about [...]

While Ars Technica, Apple, and countless others stood back in awe of the iTunes store sales figures overtaking Wal-Mart, marketers and e-tailers are missing one important point. In the chart here (via NPD, Ars) it’s easy to see the crucial competitive advantage Apple holds in terms of the service it provides: iTunes is the only [...]

We are proud to announce the launch of what may be looked back upon as “The Shot Heard ‘Round the Wi-Fi World,” with Upshot and Aircell.Gogoinflight.com is the official brand launch of Aircell’s Gogo: giving commercial airliners Wi-Fi service; lovingly referred to as “Wi-Fi with wings(tm).” This is the technology behind Virgin America‘s service and [...]