The launch of Apple iPhone started the smartphone revolution few years back. And since then, several other technology heavyweights including Google have joined the mobile bandwagon. As a business or marketer, why should you explore mobile as a marketing channel? The so-called mobile marketing revolution is around the corner, how and why should your business be a part of this game-changing phenomenon? Let’s find out. The source of most of this information is http://abbyservices.com/has-alavert-been-discontinued.

Ubiquity

Research giant IDC says smartphones and tablets are expected to outsell computers in the next eighteen months. I personally believe that the USP of mobile phones is their ubiquity. From a marketer’s perspective, it’s always the case of the more, the merrier and mobile phones offer a far broader target audience as compared to any other media. More than 5 billion people worldwide carry a mobile phone, nearly five times the current internet population, therefore as far as customer outreach is concerned, there is no other channel which can even remotely match cell phones.

Mobile Apps

It is expected that nearly 25 billion apps would have been downloaded by year 2015. The mobile apps industry has grown at a scorching pace in year 2010 and this year is expected to be no different. Several businesses have stepped up their marketing efforts by launching mobile apps on leading platforms such as iPhone, Android, Blackberry and others. Apple App Store, Android Market, Nokia’s Ovi Store and other app stores have helped several businesses promote their products and services to millions of smartphone users worldwide.

If you are a retail business, exploring the mobile apps segment can help boost your marketing efforts.

Mobile Social Networking

Mobile social networking is increasingly gaining traction amongst business users. Location-based services such as Foursquare, Gowalla, Facebook Places and others offer a lucrative marketing proposition for businesses. As a business, it helps you market your products and services to a target audience in geographical proximity. As an end user, it helps you get great deals and discounts from businesses. Therefore, it’s a win-win situation for both businesses and end customers.

Mobile Internet Marketing

A large number of people use their smartphones to access the internet. The mobile web segment is bigger than ever and it’s continuing to expand at a rapid pace. From a business perspective, there’s a wide variety of mobile marketing platforms available at your disposal. Google offers AdMob and AdSense for mobile applications while Apple offers the innovative iAd platform for your marketing needs.

There’s room for everybody

Despite the so-called explosion of mobile phones, mobile marketing is still a relatively untapped market. While it’s true that a number of businesses across all verticals have already joined the mobile marketing bandwagon and a larger number are contemplating to make the move sooner than later, the USP of mobile marketing is that it offers a huge subscriber base and there’s room for everybody (including your business).

I personally believe that mobile is the most underutilized marketing channel. It is widely believed that 2011 will be the defining year for mobile marketing. Is your business ready for the next big mobile marketing revolution? Please share your opinion by leaving a comment below this post.

Budget size is closely correlated to the amount of measurement conducted by B2B companies. For example, only 24% of B2B marketers with annual budgets lower than $25,000 formally analyze metrics, compared with 85% with budgets larger than $2 million. More info on this at https://kokorugs.com.

Key findings include:

• Annual growth in US B2B online marketing spend is forecast at 8% in 2010 and is set to reach 14% by 2012
• B2B advertising spend on social media and lead generation sites is forecast to grow at an annualized rate of 21% and 17% respectively to 2013
• Online accounted for 7% of the B2B marketing mix in 2008. This is set to reach 12% by 2013
• Two thirds of B2B marketers believe that online must be complemented by traditional marketing activities
• Only 50% of B2B marketers formally analyze metrics to judge ROI – but those that do find online marketing more effective

Other key B2B forecast-related findings issued by AMR:

• US online B2B ad spending is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 12% from 2009 to 2013, reaching 14% growth in 2012 and 2013.
• Online B2B growth will be driven by recovering marketing budgets and structural shifts in budget allocations. Following the 2009 declines, online budgets are expected to recover at a 4% CAGR through 2013.
• B2B ad spending on social media and lead generation is forecast to increase by double digits through 2013, at annualized rates of 21% and 17%, respectively.
• Magazines will lose market share and decline at a 5% CAGR through the period.
• Online is expected to account for 12% of the B2B marketing mix by 2013.
• Two-thirds of B2B marketers say online must be complemented by traditional marketing activities.

About the data: Findings are based on in-depth interviews with marketers and media owners, and the analysis of proprietary survey data from over 1,000 B2B marketers in the second quarter of 2010, conducted by strategy consulting firm AMR International.

The Google homepage is one of the most poorly search engine optimized websites on the Web. If you search for “search engine” (There are 6 million such searches every month.) then Google appears way down the list on the second page of search results. Alta Vista (the king of search engines in the mid-Nineties) appears third. Google is doing a lot wrong.

SEO experts from SEO Gold Coast tell their clients that Google loves content. Well, not on its own homepage it doesn’t. Last time I counted there were 39 words on the entire page, and not a single one of them contained the phrase “search engine”. It gets worse. If you look at the title tag for the Google homepage it says “Google”. That’s all. Just Google. That has got to be one of the worst title tags ever written.

In the world of search engine optimization, Yahoo is a much better homepage. It has hundreds of popular words and over a hundred links. Search engines just love Yahoo. So, why is Google so appalling at search engine optimization? They don’t need it, you might say. They’re Google. Yes, but Google wasn’t always a giant. It was started by two students and from the very beginning it had a really simple homepage.

So why is Google so successful? Because it understands one very important rule:

Bringing people through your website is more important than bringing people to it.

It is more important to focus on helping people complete the task they came to your website to complete than simply bringing lots of customers to your website.

The ultimate search engine optimization and marketing strategy is to try to help your customer complete their task quickly and easily on your website. In an age of social media, happy customers tell other customers. Happy customers are more likely to link to you.

Jill Whalen is one of the most sensible people you can listen to when it comes to search marketing. In a recent article she talked about the truly horrible practice of writing “SEO articles.” According to Jill there is a widespread belief that “writing keyword-stuffed articles is somehow an SEO requirement. They don’t know why they might need these articles — only that, for whatever reason, the Google Gods want them. And so they write articles that nobody would be interested in reading, but which are stuffed chock-full of the keywords for which they would like Google to show their site. And then they wonder why it’s not happening for them.”

Jill goes on to explain why writing purely for the search engine is such a bad idea. “If you were looking to buy Product Part A, which page would you rather find in Google? The one with the product part information, the price, choice of color/size, information on how to purchase it, and an ‘add to shopping cart’ button? Or the one that tells you the history of said product part?”

Always optimize for the searcher (the customer), not the search engine.

You’ve likely heard of LinkedIn, the business-oriented social networking website that many people use for keeping in touch with business associates, clients, and former colleagues.
But is this LinkedIn’s only use? Or can you use it in other ways to grow yourself professionally and help your organization to network more effectively?
In this article, we’ll explore how to use LinkedIn for personal, professional, and organizational development, including how you can use it for networking and recruitment, and for keeping up with trends and news in your industry.

What is LinkedIn?

Linkedin is a business-focused social networking site that launched in 2003. Its main purpose is to help people network professionally. The basic service is free.
The site lets you find other business associates, clients, and colleagues whom you already know. You “connect” with them through the site, and they then become part of your network.
Once you’ve connected with a person, you will then have access to their list of connections – this is called your “extended network.” You can request an introduction to people in your extended network through your mutual contact.
LinkedIn also provides other features including the ability to set up and join groups, and a jobs section where members can advertise open positions or apply for jobs.

LinkedIn Definitions

Here are a few useful terms you should know when using LinkedIn:

Introductions – Introductions are when a third party introduces two people who weren’t currently connected. For instance, your colleague Sue and your client Dan don’t know each other. You think Sue could help solve a problem that Dan is having with one of his projects, so you introduce Sue and Dan through LinkedIn. Introductions are simply a way to bring people together on the site.
Connections – Connections are other registered users who you know personally on LinkedIn. Although you can invite anyone to be a connection, they will need to set up an account to use the site.
Second-degree connections – These are the connections that your connections have. For example, you’re friends with Bill, who is directly connected with his boss. Bill’s boss is a second-degree connection for you.
Third-degree connection – Any connections from your second-degree connects are third-degree connections. So, Bill’s boss’s connections would be your third-degree connections.
Profile page – This is your personal page on LinkedIn. All registered users with LinkedIn can view it (unless you set it to be a private page). Your profile page can list your education, past work history, current and past projects, groups and associations, and more. Users can also forward your profile page to contacts on their lists. You can also make your profile page “public” so that anyone (even people not on LinkedIn) can view it.
Recommendations – Your connections can write recommendations, or testimonials, for your profile. These can be a powerful testament to your business and professional skills.

Professional Use

There are several ways to use LinkedIn to help you grow professionally:
Networking – LinkedIn allows you to network with people and professional organizations in your industry. This helps you stay up-to-date with industry trends and share information with others who do similar work to you.
In addition to networking with people in your LinkedIn extended network, you can also set up and join specific groups to discuss ideas and share industry news. This is a great way to build your professional network further.
Asking and answering questions – Many people use a service on the site called LinkedIn Answers as a kind of think tank or open brainstorming session. By offering your expertise to those in your network, you establish trust and improve your reputation as an expert.
You can also use your profile’s status update to ask questions to people in your network, or share news or insight. (Your status feed on LinkedIn works in a similar way to a Twitter timeline.)
Research – You can use LinkedIn to find out more about the people and organizations that you do business with.
For example, imagine that you’re about to meet with an important potential client. You do a quick search on LinkedIn and discover that the person went to the same university as you. In fact, you know several of the same people. You now have a valuable conversation starter that will help you build rapport with the client.

Tip 1:
Remember that your boss, and others at your organization, will be able to see your LinkedIn profile. If you update it extensively, you might want to let them know in advance. People new to the site may confuse your profile with an online resume, so you don’t want them to think that you’re looking for a new job!
Tip 2:
It’s an obvious point, but it’s one that people forget: don’t get carried away while sharing information. Make sure that you respect confidentiality, and don’t give away information that could harm your organization.

Organizational Use

You can also use LinkedIn in the following ways to help your organization grow:

Increase visibility – LinkedIn gives your organization increased visibility for its brand, products, and corporate goals. Potential customers, clients, and suppliers can research your company on LinkedIn to see if they’re interested in doing business with you. This is especially useful if your organization sells services or products to other businesses.
Conduct research on other organizations – LinkedIn also works the other way. You can use the site to research your competition, potential partners, or new suppliers.
Tell your company story –  Special applications, like video, allow you to create a multimedia experience with other users. (Setting up a profile for your organization will be useful here.)

Tip:
Make sure that organizational use of LinkedIn is aligned with your organization’s overall strategy, and its other communications.

Recruitment

You can also use LinkedIn for recruitment and job-hunting.
For example, if you’re looking for a new team member with a particular set of skills, or prior experience in a certain industry or company, you can post jobs on LinkedIn, or search for specific people who have the skills and experience that you’re looking for. (Check people’s profiles first to make sure that they’re happy to be approached with new job opportunities.)
You may find this more effective than more traditional recruitment methods, depending on the position you’re looking to fill, and your industry.
Many potential recruits also use LinkedIn as a research tool. For instance, suppose a person had two good job offers. Which organization will be a better match for them? What will their new boss or colleagues be like? What is the corporate culture like? LinkedIn can help them to find out.
So, as well as keeping your organization’s profile up-to-date, also make sure that you own personal profile reflects yourself and your organization positively.

LinkedIn Etiquette

Remember these guidelines when using LinkedIn:
Use introductions carefully – Success on LinkedIn relies heavily on reputation. Be careful when you ask for, or make, an introduction, and do so only if you truly think everyone can benefit.
Always tell the truth – When discussing where you’ve worked and what you’ve accomplished, be honest, and don’t oversell yourself.
Don’t gossip – Don’t spread any company or personal gossip through LinkedIn. You never know who’s going to read it, or where it will end up.
Be professional – LinkedIn is used mainly for professional networking. So, stay professional at all times. Use other sites like Facebook for personal posts.

Tip:
If your organization approves, add your LinkedIn profile page address to your email signature. When you email colleagues, clients, and suppliers, they’ll see your link – and if they’re on LinkedIn, they may connect with you. This will further expand your network and exposure.

Key Points

LinkedIn is primarily a professional networking website. Although some people use the site for job searches and recruitment, it mainly helps you to get in touch with past colleagues and potential clients, and expand your professional network.
With tools like LinkedIn Answers and groups, you can establish trust with those in your network and improve your reputation, while keeping up-to-date with industry news and trends.
LinkedIn can also help your organization increase visibility for its products and brand, and can provide information on other organizations such as potential partners, customers, and competitors.

Internet retail sales now account for approximately 10.5 per cent of all retail sales. This is the highest proportion since the series began. In comparison, in November 2009 this proportion was 7.9 per cent.

On average, weekly internet retail sales in November 2010 totalled £660 million compared with the average weekly value for all retailing at £6,300 million (excluding automotive fuel).

Month on month changes

During the period October to November 2010, the average weekly value for internet retail sales, non-seasonally adjusted, grew by 37.5 per cent. In comparison the average weekly value for all retailing grew by 10.2 per cent.

Year on year changes

Between November 2009 and November 2010 the average weekly value for internet retail sales, non-seasonally adjusted, grew by 36.6 per cent. In comparison the average weekly value for all retailing grew by 3.4 per cent.

Historic

Over the past five years the last Monday in November and the following week has seen a peak in retail sales made over the internet. This period is not included within these statistics but its impact will be seen in the December 2010 data released on 21 January 2011.

Coverage

The ONS experimental internet sales statistics used is part of the Retail Sales (RSI) statistics. Retail sale of goods made over the Internet are collected and included as part of the monthly turnover data provided by businesses. RSI is a monthly survey of approximately 95 per cent of the retail sector in terms of turnover in Great Britain.

Bringing the online and offline worlds together is a rich source of opportunity for publishers, combining the tangible benefits and convenience of physical ownership with the opportunity to deliver up-to-the-minute content. Bringing this concept to the restaurant guide, Italian 2Spaghi.it has launched the SpagoGuida 2011, a physical directory of restaurants that links to online reviews.

The guide is available from the company’s website for EUR 15.90, and offers listings of over 1,000 restaurants throughout Italy. Each listing is provided with a QR code, which — when scanned by a smartphone with the appropriate software — links to that restaurant’s page on the 2Spaghi.it website. These pages are populated with user-generated content, providing the reader with the latest opinions from the 2Spaghi.it community and allowing them to provide feedback on their own experience.

There are over 50,000 restaurants listed on 2Spaghi.it — a fact that highlights the limitations of printing a traditional guidebook. However, rather than focusing on the limitations of the format, the challenge for the creators of SpagoGuida will be to offer their users the best of both worlds…

Website: www.2spaghi.it/spagoguida/

But it’s a great time for reflecting upon where you’ve been and where you want to go with your small business. Use 2011 as the year to bring your business up to speed – technology is just the thing to help propel your business to the next level.

Here are 3 ways to thrust your small business into Super Success mode in 2011:

1. Market with mobile. If you haven’t started thinking about putting a mobile marketing program together, now is the time. Mobile is definitely where the action is. But oddly very few people have caught on. Be a trail blazer in your market and watch the dollars roll in.

2. Think video. If you are not yet using video to market your company, start now. Video will get you more traffic and more prospects than you can imagine. And you don’t have to be a Hollywood producer. For Christmas, treat yourself to a Flip camera and a tripod. Put together a list of twenty frequently asked questions (you know the questions that your consumers are always asking?) For each question, make a one to two minute video you’re your ‘expert’ answer. Post each video on as many video sharing sites as you can. Including YouTube of course.

3. Claim your Google Places listing. If you’re a local business, go to Google Places and claim your business listing right now. Be sure to include your address, phone number, store hours, the credit cards you accept, photos, video and a coupon. Don’t let your neighborhood competitor beat you to the punch.

Although simple, these 3 steps will help you get your business of to a successful start in 2011. Don’t stop here – use them as building blocks to grow your small business and see more profits and leave a comment with your 2011 business resolutions.

The figures show that the gap between the two browsers started narrowing in March 2010. However, it appears that the real winner over the past year has been Chrome, this a long with a vpn from https://diebestenvpn.at/ has been the go to. Google’s browser ended 2010 with almost 10% extra marketshare than it started the year with. The main casualty of Chrome’s rise was Internet Explorer, which lost 7.32% during the year, according to StatCounter’s figures.

Internet Explorer remains dominant in the US according to StatCounter’s figures, with 48.92% of the market. It’s likely that Internet Explorer’s decline in Europe is a direct result of the “Browser Ballot” Microsoft is now forced to include in European copies of Windows. Under the rule, designed to stimulate competition in the browser market, Microsoft is required to give users a choice of browser rather than simply offer IE as default.

However, that might not be the only factor at play here. The figures echo a similar pattern we recently observed in stats from rival web statistics firm Clicky. Those worldwide numbers showed Chrome gaining rapidly, although in that case it appeared to be eating Firefox’s marketshare. Google has heavily promoted Chrome offline as well as on and its advertising push may well be helping push its share upwards in Europe.

Of course, these figures can only ever be taken as a snapshot of the browser market. Both StatCounter and Clicky’s figures only include traffic data from their own customers’ websites. Still, with StatCounter’s sample exceeding 15 billion page views per month collected from across more than 3 million websites, it’s big enough to pay attention to.

What browser do you use and why?

Are we heading towards the ultimate convergence of search engines and social media? Can the so-called socialization of search results help your business? Is your business’ social media presence as important as your Page Rank? How do you leverage this lethal combo of search engines and social media for your business? Let’s find out.

Search is changing

There’s little doubt that search is changing, it’s becoming more social and more personal. It’s no longer the uncharismatic experience of typing in some text, looking at the results and being done with it. It’s now about how to transform the search results to be contextually related to a user’s social media presence. Whether its tweets those show up in Google Search results or the Liked Search results on Bing, search is getting personalized.

Tweets

Given Twitter’s mammoth and ever increasing user base, it’s unsurprising that all leading search engines including Google and Bing index tweets. For a business, this represents a fantastic opportunity to tweet their way to top search results on leading search engines. For consumers, it’s beneficial as they can directly impact their web search results.

What do you think of the revamped Twitter Business Center? Please share your opinion by leaving a comment below this post.

Facebook

Microsoft says that nearly 4% of its search queries are related to finding people. Therefore, it decided that integrating Facebook Profiles in search results is the best way to let users find the right person without a lot of effort. While Bing does the job of redirecting users to your business profile, it’s only half the battle won. Having an active and well maintained Facebook profile is important in order to make that redirection count.

Social Connectivity

From a business perspective, you must make a conscious effort to enhance your social connectivity by linking your site to engage with leading social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. For example, following a standard authentication scheme such as oAuth would allow customers to login using their Google, Facebook or Twitter credentials to your site. This would allow users to conduct Google searches, access their Facebook account and be logged in to your business website without having to explicitly logout.

It’s often said that human beings are social animals. All our needs have a social aspect attached to them and internet search is no exception to that rule.

What do you think about the socialization of search engine results? Do you think it offers a valuable business opportunity? Please share your opinion by leaving a comment below this post.