Mobile Commerce – Over 10M UK Consumers in 2010

In a recent survey held by Tealeaf it was found that there were over 10 million UK consumers that conducted a mobile transaction in 2010. This simply just re-enforces the fact that 2011 will be the year that mobile commerce really takes off.

Although there were so many actions performed online via mobile devices the majority of consumers still experienced problems which suggests that mobile usability needs to improve and quickly.

Lets have a look at some of the stats and actions performed via mobile devices:

• 63% have used their mobiles for shopping
• 37% to conduct financial transactions
• 34% for travel bookings
• 23% for insurance payments or purchases

Here is a list of the problems encountered:

• The most common issue was receiving error messages (34%)
• While 25% found apps or websites difficult to use
• 25% had problems logging in
• 20% said their credit card wouldn’t go through

Here is how consumers reacted to these problems:

• 29% would abandon the mobile transaction and try later on a computer
• 16% would become more likely to buy from a competitor
• 17% would email or log a complaint with customer service
• 13% would abandon the transaction at the app/site and try a competitor instead

Now after having a bad experience on a companies mobile site 66% of respondents said they would be less likely to buy from that company again. So in order to stop your business losing customers you better ensure that a consumers mobile experience is as good if not better than online.

Plus with the rapid growth of the mobile market which is already 5 times bigger than the PC based market, companies need to clearly improve their mobile strategies and websites.

You need to make sure make sure your mobile consumers have a positive user experience through good usability and customer support. For more information on mobile marketing text NETPUNCH to 60777 or call us on 01519321074 and we can discuss how to take your business mobile.

To read the full report click here

SMB’s Tips on Owning Your Local Web Presence

In today’s noisy online environment many small to medium sized business owners do not know where to allocate their time or budgets when it comes to marketing their business online. Here is a really helpful graphic which breaks down what it takes to create a successful local online presence for your business. A very important part is focus and your focus should be where you have the most control.

There are multiple elements that work together and help SMB’s own their local web presence. Plus all these elements need to be controlled due to the fact that the internet evolves at a rapid rate and business owners need to be aware and manipulate their strategies accordingly.

Have a look at the diagram below to get a better understanding of what it takes to own your businesses local web properties:

Pics courtesy of: http://www.blumenthals.com/index.php?web-equity-infographic

For more information on local internet marketing fill out the form and we can give you a detailed breakdown of how well your business is listed locally… Also please leave your comment below?

Using QR Codes To Boost Your Business

Firstly, a QR code stands for quick response code and they are expected achieve widespread use this year because consumers want instant access to relevant content and QR codes can be used to enable this.

Although QR codes are a relatively new phenomenon here in the UK they have been around and in use in Japan for over a decade already.

Now there are many uses for these QR codes such as:

• Sharing – You can create a QR code that can link to any piece of content like a URL, Video or special offer
• Building Community – You can create a code that gets people to LIKE your Facebook page or connect on LinkedIn
• Calls To Action – You can create multiple special offers and send consumers directly to each offer
• Going Mobile – a QR code can also be used to build subscribers on a mobile marketing list

Now you may be asking where can you use QR codes in your business? So here is a couple of places where you could add a QR code to help boost your business today:

• On your business cards
• On all your marketing materials, flyers, posters, menus etc.
• You can add to the sides of your van or trucks
• Place them in the windows of your business premises

Another place QR codes are already in use is in Google Places, when you have claimed your local listing you can create a special offer coupon and within your places account that coupon will create a QR code which will send consumers directly to that special offer.

Now this represents a huge opportunity for business owners and the potential is HUGE because QR codes are bringing people together through technology with a good user experience.

So with this in mind what ideas do you have to drive your business forward with QR codes in 2011? Please post your thoughts in the comments section below.

Free Marketing Analysis for Your Business

Free Marketing Analysis for your business. We will review your website and business, compare it to industry benchmarks and give you a blueprint and suggestions to improve your profitability immediately.

Call us NOW on – 01519321074

I would just like to tell you why businesses like yours are changing their advertising strategy. Actually, ‘why’ they are making these changes is perfectly clear. Simply put the ROI is much higher.

More Customers > More Leads > For Less Cost!!!!

When people want to find something, buy something or research a purchase they jump on the internet on their Computer or Mobile Phone and do a search. If they don’t see your business in the results, they wont know you exist and wont buy from you. It’s that Simple!!!

Whatever you are currently paying for newspaper, radio or other such traditional advertising know this, that your money will go much further online.

Unlike any other type of traditional advertising

• Internet Marketing – Can be tracked for results: number of searches, clicks, page views etc. So you will know straight away whether it is bringing you business and…
• Internet Marketing – is safe, trackable and is by far the highest ROI compared to any other advertising medium. PLUS
• Mobile Marketing – is the future there are 5 billion mobile users compared to 1.8 billion internet users almost 3 times bigger in market size.

OK so now you may be asking yourself WHY does my business need local internet marketing so lets have a look at some of the stats:

• 82% of people searching online actually purchase their product offline at a local business
• 43% of all searches on the Google are local which include a city, county or post code.
• 90% of all purchases are made within 50 miles of a persons home
• 25% of all commercial internet searches are users looking for local businesses
• Over 50% of all purchases are proceeded by an internet search
• Internet advertising for a local business in 2008 = 3 billion in 2010 it was = 13 billion
• There are 2.6 billion local searches a month
• There are 51 million smart phone users
• And When on a Mobile device: local business results show up based on GPS

So what does this have to do with you?

Well without a web presence you have 0% chance of connecting with local consumers performing online searches looking for the services or products you haver to offer.

Remember what we do has not changed BUT how we do it has changed forever! Consumer behavior has changed and your business needs to adapt and embrace the future. There has been a fundamental shift in the way people are now communicating.

Think about it quickly what are the 3 things consumers take with them when they leave the house they always have their keys, wallet and MOBILE phone.

So for the first time in history business owners can now reach their target market anywhere, anyplace and anytime through the power of local internet marketing.

Marketing online is merely positioning your business in front of those people when they are researching a specific service or product and compelling them to action.
Now our no cost marketing assessment is a not a sales pitch.  We know exactly why you’re website is not performing and we’ll tell you.  We’ll tell you how many people are searching for your product or service on Google.  We’ll tell you how strong the competition is.  We’ll even give you some reports that you can keep.  We promise we’ll never put pressure to buy our services or sign a long term contract, that goes against all of our philosophies.  It’s simple, that if you ever purchase online marketing services, we want the chance to earn the right to your business.

Call us now at [0151 932 1074] or fill out quick enquiry form to book a FREE assessment

PPC – Local Advertising Made Easy

Last year Google added a new feature called ‘local extensions’ to help businesses who are already using online advertising to drive traffic to their brick and mortar locations. This feature allows you to include information such as your business name, address and phone number in your existing text ads.

When a potential customer performs a search, their location or search terms are dynamically matched to your business locations, and your most relevant location appears within your ad on Google.com and Google Maps.

So if you are already spending money with Google Adwords make sure you add this very clever feature to your current campaigns to boost your traffic and increase your reach in your local market…

Making local advertising easy: upgrade your local business ads to location extensions – Inside AdWords:

3 Simple SEO Tips For Local Businesses

One of the biggest misconceptions in the world of online marketing is that you need to be one of the BIG boys with a massive budget to do really well. That in fact is simply not the case and in today’s current economic climate small local businesses really need to embrace the internet to help them grow and become the leader in their market place.

Here are 3 simple steps to follow which will help your websites performance:

1. Create Content – Content is ‘KING’

The internet is made up of content and the more unique content you have got the better your chances are of getting found by a potential customer. Start getting creative and think about ways you can re-purpose any existing content you already have to re-distribute online.  Here are some tips on creating content:

• Record everything and transcribe it (meetings, brainstorming, sales pitches etc..)
• Turn support emails into pages on your site
• Start shooting videos of everything!!!

2. Optimise for Local Search

By simply adding a location into the title of your website you can boost your local search engine rankings and drive leads through the power of local search. Now 1 in 3 of all searches online are now LOCAL so this represents a huge opportunity to target these local search terms you can place your services in front of people who are already searching for what you offer.

3. Be Personal and become SOCIAL

One of the biggest advantages local businesses have over huge corporations is the fact that your business has a personal voice. Since the explosion of social media you can establish a personality for your business and connect with your market on a personal level through video marketing or social networking.

For more information on the internet marketing services we offer or how they can help you grow your business please fill out the form provided or feel free to call us now

For some more really good ideas to promote your business check out: Small Business SEO – 7 Essential Tips for Success – Online Marketing Blog:

Web Video Marketing Embrace The Net

Internet Marketing Services, we deliver results which keep our clients ahead of the pack. Video marketing is becoming a key element online in 2010.

Twitter Eye TV Partnerships in 2010

According to reports Robin Sloan the former media strategist of Current TV will now be working for Twitter. His main role will be to handle all media partnerships with a range of organisations from popular web channels to huge TV networks. Twitter want to incorporate live feeds next to the live shows.

By doing this they will be able to tap into the profitable advertising revenue generated through TV. In many ways it is a perfect synergy because the TV networks will get realtime feedback and the advertisers will get highly focused and targeted placements.

Another factor which will help companies take the plunge into social media is that every campaign can be tracked, optimised and improved. Twitter has already started to feature in Google’s Local search when the user is signed into their Gmail account.

If Twitter can pull this off it will become the centre of all marketing activities online and on TV.

• Are you on twitter yet?
• If not why not?

Please follow JJ Currie on Twitter

I would love to hear your thoughts, please comment below?

What Kind Of BOSS are You?

Now that 2010 is already one month old if you had to take stock of your business and the role you play in the performance of your team and the results of company. So if you were to be brutally honest with yourself ‘What kind of boss are you’?

Are you overzealous, have poor preparation, bad motivational skills if you have answered yes to any of these questions you could very well be a bad boss!

click here for the Top 10 Bad BOSS Traits and see if you are not towing the line yourself. 2010 is going to be the year when innovative and companies with a clear vision of where they are going will strive so as the BOSS make sure you know you are not letting your team down. With the rise of virtual assistants and outsourcing you need to be organised and stay on top of everything set real timebound goals and targets.

By setting realistic targets and then encouraging good work when targets are met can increase productivity amongst the team and get things moving nicely.

• One key factor to remember is that respect is earned, so earn it!!!

Happy 2010 Lets make it rock!!! – Please post your comments below?

Bad Bosses feedback from Twitter.

Social Media Top of the Pops for 2010

There has been some really interesting news breaking in the last few days and the results published in the ‘2010 Digital Marketing Outlook‘ report found that up to 81% of the top businessmen who took part expected a rise in funding for digital marketing taking away from other traditional marketing channels in 2010.

With the power and traffic that business’s can attract if they start utilising social media and displaying their message and persona in front a huge audience of fans is simply awesome. So even in these trying economic times digital marketing has been steadily growing by providing customers with huge returns on their investments.

Here is a table of the results published:

So as you can see the top marketeers around the world reckon social media is top of the priorities for 2010.

So are you currently incorporating social media in your business? And If not WHY not?

• You should get cracking now is the time   On your marks, Get set, TWEET!!!!

Please post your thoughts below I would love to hear your thoughts???

PS. Follow me on Twitter or Facebook lets hook up!!!

Next Page »