Business and Marketing

TouchCommerce introduces a way for offline line ads to instantly engage with consumers via live chat.

Live chat specialist TouchCommerce is introducing a solution called TouchMedia that the company says will end an interactivity problem for consumers and an attribution problem for marketers.

TouchMedia is specifically designed to equip the substantial amounts of offline media used by brands with easy ways for consumers to interact with those brands. On TV, radio, direct mail, or even billboards, a keyword or QR code or Shazam-like audio identification is provided to let people instantly engage in live chats to pose questions or place orders.

“You're looking at an ad for a new car on TV or on your tablet and you send a text and are automatically put in touch with a live agent that knows everything about the product,” says Yann Motte, SVP of strategy and business development at TouchCommerce. “In the consumer world, it's all about simplicity: Text the keyword, click the link.”

Equally important, stresses Motte, is the reporting capabilities provided to marketers. “Attribution is always a problem. We can work with our clients on what types of keywords to use and how to spread them across segments,” he says. “You can have a much more targeted message and chat agents can be automated and have the ability to push content, video, coupons, or nearby store locations.”

In a press release, TouchCommerce said the introduction of TouchMedia was a response to a pressing need for more cross-device solutions in an omnichannel world.

Business Breaking News: 15 Signs You're a Great Boss

Every boss has a different opinion of what makes a great leader, and it's often hard to see how your employees view you. So how can you tell if you're actually a good boss?

Business News Daily asked business owners and leadership experts what qualities make someone a good manager. From trust and respect to personality and leadership tactics, every little trait adds up to make a strong leader.

Not sure how you stack up? Here are 15 signs you're a great boss.

You possess a strong desire to see your employees develop and succeed.

"When we get a great employee, we want to keep them where they are because they are so productive, despite it likely not being in their best interest [over the] long term. Try to look at things from their perspective, and mold the position you have for them into something that they can continue to grow into. If they've stopped learning and developing, they won't stay with you for very long. Sometimes, you can support their growth within your company, and sometimes, the next logical step is for them to move on to another opportunity." – Evan Carmichael, founder, Evancarmichael.com

You have a sense of self-mastery.

"Self-mastery is about knowing who you are as a leader, what your personal vision is for yourself and your life, and what your own leadership style is. A good leader needs to understand his or her own performance dynamics before making demands on others. Mastering your own sense of self and knowing how you best use your own mental energy, as well as your own strengths and weaknesses, helps you be a more thoughtful and aware leader." – Jeri Denniston, certified strategic management professional, Haines Centre for Strategic Management

You are candid. 

"Great bosses give feedback — the good, the bad and the ugly. You know that spinach leaf that gets stuck in your teeth after lunch? Don't you want someone to tell you about it? Your direct reports want feedback, and it's crucial in making your team as productive as possible." – Brad Karsh, president, JB Training Solutions

You are relentless.

"Besides getting things done and meeting performance objectives, you must shepherd your people through every hard turn. Your principal rewards for success are keeping your job and receiving even more responsibilities and challenges. The best bosses keep chipping away at a huge pile of tasks — some interesting, others dull but necessary." – Maynard Brusman, consulting psychologist and executive coach, Working Resources

You are a transformational leader.

"[A good boss has] the ability to transform employees from self-centered performance to organizational goals. This is demonstrated [by] the boss's ability to know the employee; understand the employee’s needs, wants and motivators; and transform this into the attainment of organizational goals." – Robin James, co-coordinator, William Rainey Harper College Management Department [Are You a Good Boss or a Bad Boss? Here's How to Tell ]

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