Not sure if you have seen this but it is both funny and great 🙂
An interactive experience at the gas pump leads to 15 minutes of fame for him and his girl friend.
Some Bon Jovi and Eurthymics for you this morning – CC will love this 🙂
Enjoy the day.
Webman
Has been a difficult day for many today. System challenges, e-mail jail, moving parts and the like.
But the sun is out and spring is just around the corner.
Here is my favorite video of the week – I am quite sure this will make you smile.
Take a look and enjoy. I will be back on the blogosphere shortly.
Webman
Geez, it has been a while since I have posted. Pathetic really.
Sun felt great this morning. Here is a classic pick-me-up for you:
Found a terrific infographic on Big Data in Retail that I wanted to share with you – Enjoy
The Retailer’s Guide to Big Data.
Webman
Not yet but close.
Mobile apps has overtaken browsing on the desktop web, it’s starting to challenge television, Flurry says. The San Francisco-based mobile analytics startup says that consumers are spending 127 minutes per day in mobile apps, up 35 percent from 94 minutes a day in the same time last year. At the same time, desktop web usage actually declined slightly by 2.4 percent from 72 to 70 minutes.
This means that U.S. consumers are spending nearly two times more time in mobile apps than on the web. And this time spent is now starting to challenge time spent watching TV. Flurry estimates that the average U.S. consumer watches 168 minutes of television per day, based on data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2010 and 2011.
Check out www.flurry.com to learn more about mobile application.
Webman
So many devices, so little time. So guess what we now do; we use multiple devices at one time. Yes even men with trouble multi-tasking (At least that is what the ladies think) are utilizing more than one device simultaneously. Watching/listening to the TV while checking their fantasy teams on their tablets or smartphones while also on the web, social and texting channels.
Digressing for a moment, heard the first song ever played on MTV the other day. The Bugles – Video Killed the Radio Star – this was when MTV actually played music videos – Enjoy!
Last week, Google published some interesting data based on research into how consumers are using different devices together, called “The New Multi-screen World: Understanding Cross-Platform Consumer Behavior.” Headline for you – 90% of people move between devices to accomplish a goal. In other words, people may start reading an email on their phone,but finish reading it at home on their tablet.
Here are some really interesting statistics from the study:
Given these options, behavior has changed given the task at hand and has introduced the concept of sequential device engagement. Here is one example.
Nuggets:
What should a marketer do?
Optimize content for multiple devices. Consumers are increasingly accessing multiple screens in their day-to-day lives. It’s no longer enough to optimize your content for PCs/laptops. Mobile optimization on tablets and smartphones needs to be a priority. Furthermore, considering the popularity of sequential and simultaneous screen usage, it’s important for marketers to make their presence across multiple devices as cohesive and user-friendly as possible.
Context is critical. Users will choose a particular device based on contextual triggers such as location, timing, goals, and attitude. Therefore it’s critical to understand how your audience accesses your content so you can cater your marketing strategy to accommodate those specific use cases and behaviors.
Getting more and more complicated as it relates to engaging your customers to purchase your product, engage with you socially, have a two-way dialogue with your customer segments and find new prospects that will respond to your brand. To get great at this, think like your customers – walk through the device messaging sequentially and out of sequence. What do you see? Do you see a brand that is coordinated or fragmented? Did you have an experience that engaged you with the brand/product? If so, you are doing great. If not, you need to figure this out.
Webman
Last week we touched on some of the amazing technology we are now dealing with as consumers and business people. The touchscreens on our smartphones and tablet devices have enabled amazing things with regard to your creativity, productivity and overall engagement with the content on these devices.
These devices and the rapid emergence of social networks have provided an incredible amount of new advertising inventory for businesses to reach their consumers while also significantly increasing the difficulty of communicating with their customers. So what is a business to do? How engaged are consumers on these new devices and how responsive are they to advertising?
The IAB is the Internet Advertising Bureau and they have just published a new study about consumer responsiveness to advertising on touchscreen devices. Ads that appear on touchscreen devices like tablets and smartphones are showing some of the highest levels of engagement of all digital ads.
Before we delve into some of the detail, let’s pop it up a level and frame the different types of the mobile value proposition and consumer engagement.
Mobile value propositions vary by device type:
Mobile affects traditional media consumption in distinct ways. Two audiences are emerging – one that drives traditional media through mobile (so mobile complements or augments their traditional media usage); another that detracts (so mobile substitutes for or replaces traditional media). Almost half of tablet owners say having a tablet has had an impact (positive OR negative) on the amount of time they spend reading magazines and newspapers.
Here are some initial headlines from the report:
Size matters. Between tablet and smartphone users, the IAB found that those on tablets are actually more engaged in advertising. When asked if they engage with ads more than once a week — that is, click on an ad for more information — 47 percent of tablet users responded yes, compared to 25 percent of smartphone users. Tablet users were also more likely to “take action” on the ad (that could mean buying something, downloading something, filling out a survey, or visiting another site): 89 percent of tablet users took action versus 80 percent of smartphone users.
The medium is the message. Also, as we’ve seen from other tablet research, people are more likely to be using their tablets to read and consume entertainment media for longer periods of time, while smartphones are about short bursts of use. Those shorter bursts imply that users will be less inclined to spend time clicking around on ads than on the tablet. Among smartphone users, 47 percent of smartphone users say they “never” interact with mobile ads, compared to just 23 percent on tablets.
Context is king. The top three categories for mobile ads, as ranked by respondents, were the same across tablets and smartphones, although their rankings differed. They were coupons related to things users were already browsing; ads for products that were already being shopped for; and favorite brands (again possibly related to your browsing activity).
Much more information can be found in the 70 page report that was completed. You can download the full report at http://www.iab.net/media/file/IAB-Mobile-Devices-Report-final.pdf. More to follow on this once I can dig a little deeper into the findings.
Webman
People love to shop. Young people love to shop. They love to shop on-line, at retail stores and on-line at retail stores. What is that Webman? No, not standing on-line but connected to their 3/4G networks or to the wi-fi network that many retailers now have as a convenience for their shoppers. Shopping is changing rapidly and technology enabled and savvy shoppers are fundamentally changing retail shopping. The days of the in-store person walking over and saying “may I help you” are coming to an end. Another place where technology is and will be eliminating many jobs moving forward. Are we close to seeing the day where awesome customer service is actually self-service?
The self-service theme, which started years ago with checkout at groceries, has progressed to the point where shoppers can navigate entire stores without once having to say, “Just looking, thanks.” Companies are adding the technology now because it has gotten cheap enough to make it feasible and because Apple and other tablet and touch-screen makers are increasing their sales efforts. Stores also don’t want to risk losing those customers who are not content shopping from home but nonetheless prefer Pinterest recommendations, Zappos reviews and Fashism feedback to interacting with someone behind the counter.
More and more companies are using self-service kiosks in-store to provide information, tell you about the product and in some cases even dispense the product. One of the companies that I do consulting work for is an automated retailing company called Vigix. They are pioneers in creating incredible customer experiences through the integration of video, sound, couponing and product dispensing within a elegantly designed kiosk.
Nordstrom introduced an app in the fall that executives expected people would use remotely to order items while they were watching TV or waiting for a train. Customers used the app while shopping at Nordstrom rather than approach the sales staff. To accommodate this changing in-store customer, Nordstrom has added Wi-Fi to almost all its stores so its app will work fast. Is is also testing charging stations and clusters of iPads and computers.
Businesses have no choice but to accommodate consumers who are trained to do research on their own — and prefer doing so. Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland now gives suite visitors an iPad so they can order food and drinks directly from it, while Aloft Hotels, a Starwood division, has installed tablets instead of concierge stations.
At Land Rover, the addition of online tools for research has cut down sharply on dealer visits. In 2000, people, on average, made 7.5 visits to a dealer before placing an order. In 2010, that figure was 1.3 visits, with shoppers conducting 80 percent of their research on their own. The new technology is also being adapted by manufacturers who have been dependent on employees at big-box stores to sell their products but now see the opportunity for a direct line to the customer.
I sourced content from a recent article for this blog – Please visit the following link for the original article. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/10/business/younger-shoppers-using-technology-not-salespeople.html?_r=2
The world is changing faster than ever. Better hop on board the soul train!
Webman
We hear a lot about social media these days. It has now become fully woven into the fabric of our society. People use it to post something they like, breaking news, share an opinion, post pictures, lifelines and of course video. Businesses use it to promote their products, to improve their customer service, to “crowdsource” product development, to run sweepstakes and to create a direct line of communication to their customers. Politicians use it to raise money, tell you about why they are the best candidate, why you should vote for them or identify the location of their next rally or speaking engagement. Job seekers use it to network, identify who might be connected to their target companies and to manage their professional brand. When you watch a traditional newscast on TV, they now have segments about what Mary from New Hampshire tweeted or what was trending on Facebook. Think about how pervasive this really has become.
This social stuff has really become a part of our every day life. Hey, not that you were not social creatures before, but what has changed is the shear scale of your social networks. Friends from the neighborhood, school, business, your gym, your kids sports teams, neighbors, folks that you don’t know at all. Whenever you engage in social media you are broadcasting. You are your own television network, radio station, website, billboard and e-mail. You could name your channel WARMY (For my man Armand), WPUP (For the Pup), WMAY (For the Maysek’s); you get it.
Here are some interesting fun facts from Hubspot (www.hubspot.com) showing some interesting changes in our behavior – Folks are spending 7 hours and 46 minutes on average per month on Facebook.
Anyone remember My Space?
Looks like men can tweet and watch TV! (They are probably eating as well – Can you say multi-tasking?)
We are very social creatures and we are becoming more social. Where does anyone find the time?
Have a great day.
Webman
As consumers we are constantly bombarded with buy this, but that, huge clearance sale, 70% off, buy in the next 15 minutes and you will receive a second Chia Pet absolutely free, we will double your order if you act now and so on. We see thousands of advertisements per day. Think of all of that money being spent trying to get you to buy something you do not want or need. And then we wonder why the cost of all products has continued to escalate even as the economy has suffered and our paychecks have continued to shrink. OK, sing along time – words of wisdom from Mick Jagger:
When I’m drivin’ in my car
And that man comes on the radio
He’s tellin’ me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
I can’t get no, oh no no no
Hey hey hey, that’s what I say
I can’t get no satisfaction
I can’t get no satisfaction
‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no
When I’m watchin’ my TV
And that man comes on to tell me
How white my shirts can be
But he can’t be a man ’cause he doesn’t smoke
The same cigarettes as me
I can’t get no, oh no no no
Hey hey hey, that’s what I say
Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
Yesterday we focused on how the touch screen and mobile technologies have changed, providing us with more and more access to information. This also has provided advertisers with more opportunity to present you with product shopping options. Some retailers are doing some very cool stuff with changing the retail shopping experience. Here are just a couple of examples:
Home Plus, the Korean branch of Tesco, launched a series of virtual stores on subway platforms, enabling customers to make purchases using their smartphones while they wait for a train. So how cool is this. You are waiting for your train and you remember you need a few items at home. You walk up to this virtual wall of products, use your smartphone and place your order. The products are then delivered to your home at the scheduled time or maybe even ready for pick-up when you get off the train later that day – Sweet!
MyBestFit is a free service available in a number of US malls. Customers enter a whole-body scanner, before being advised which different brand sizes will fit them best. Given how every manufacturers sizes seem to be different, this must be a real time saver for the clothes shopper.
A number of retailers are also using automated retail solutions such as Bose and Qantas. These product dispensing kiosks are developed by Vigix, a venture backed company in Massachusetts. These kiosks can be used to dispense products, samples, coupons, interactive and 3D media among other very interesting retail applications. (Disclaimer I have a working relationship with Vigix- the opportunities for highly differentiated interactive retailing are awesome)
Just a few of many ways touch screens and technology is and will be changing the way we shop.
Enjoy the weekend.
Webman
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