Chart of the day: 1 in 2 are shopping online via mobile

Global Web Index' latest research confirmed that online shopping has now become a mobile-first activity. This change indicates the changing behaviors towards online shopping as more users turn to mobile. According to Global Web Index mobile will 'pave the way for location-based retail, AR shopping experiences, social commerce, and mobile payments to take on a more prominent role in the consumer’s path to purchase'.   Source: Global Web Index  Sample Size: 72, 529 internet users aged 16-64 Recommended Resources: Mobile Marketing Strategy Guide …

The best digital marketing tips from 2017 at the 3XE conference

The 3XE Search – Digital Marketing Conference, was one out of a series of three educational conferences focused on different aspects of digital marketing. The event took place at Croke Park, Dublin, home to Gaelic Athletic Association, it provided an eye-catching and functional venue for the conference. Focusing specifically on Search marketing the day consisted of presentations from leading digital professionals from all over the world, broken up with selected workshops on how to plan and implement your digital marketing campaigns. The 3XE Digital series has grown massively over the last few years and has become a must-attend event for digital marketers. With a total of 15 presentations covering all elements of Search, the expert advice we picked up was second to none. A key theme throughout the day was the changing way in which consumers use search and the introduction of…

The pressure is on for today's marketers who are on the hook to demonstrate real value for every campaign.

Perhaps that's why affiliate marketing has become the go-to strategy for driving sales and brand awareness; it is, after all, one of the most easily measured strategies. It's no wonder experts predict it will generate $5.37 billion this year, a 12 percent jump from 2016. Measurable tactics make marketers' jobs easier because they can monitor in real time what’s working and which partners are delivering the greatest return on investment. And the most effective affiliate campaigns involve cross-channel strategies that are closely monitored and optimized at every opportunity.

Why affiliate marketing works

There are literally thousands of options for establishing and measuring affiliate campaigns. But whatever methods you choose, the goal is always the same: driving traffic and sales. Traffic doesn’t come free, and with so many brands vying for people’s attention, it’s increasingly difficult to break…

Chart of the Day: Do you know how to convert your audience into buying customers this Cyber Monday?

It seems that Cyber Monday is only thought of as the 'little sister' of Black Friday, but last year Cyber Monday brought in $3.45 billion in sales. So, how can you influence your audience to buy your products? What is it they're looking for? Sometimes offering a % off discount on products and services simply isn't enough because they can wait until discounted sales happen again for Summer, New Year or even Christmas campaigns. Research by Global Web Index shows the features that would increase the likelihood of a consumer buying a product online.

When shopping online, which of these features would most increase your likelihood of buying a product?

79% of respondents stated that free delivery would be their main influence. Often we find ourselves buying products in online sales, but the delivery charges are almost as much…

Updates to inform your social media marketing strategy

Welcome to our weekly summary of what's happened in social media this week. This week we look at Instagram let you request to join a friend’s live video, Pinterest secret Santa and how you can now Invoice buyers through PayPal via Messenger.

Instagram let you request to join a friend’s live video

Users can now request to join a live stream that they’re watching and, if accepted, can start broadcasting live as the host’s guest. Instagram launched the feature this week. To access this simply tap the “Request” button in the comments section. You’ll see a confirmation that your friend has accepted your request, and you will automatically join the live stream. Instagram said: Going live together is the best way to connect in real time and have fun with friends, even when you’re not together. With this update, friends have even more ways to quickly join…

Google+ is Google’s own social network, enabling brands to build relationships with prospects, customers, and other businesses

Similar to other networks, you can share information and images, promote yourself as an individual and, if used correctly, Google+ can be a powerful social media marketing tool. The importance of Google+ should be assessed on an individual basis, as it is based on your unique appeal. If it is thought to be of benefit to your brand, it should be used as part of your overarching social media strategy.

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What is Google+?

Google+ is Google’s flagship social network, allowing users to connect easily and often, through interests and friendship. It’s not an independent service – instead, it is integrated and connected through all Google services as part of the ‘ecosystem’. Interactions with individuals or companies are based…

5 steps to using a personalization program to increase online sales

Using the right process and the right tools for personalization is essential in making sure you achieve your conversion rate goals. Our team at Smart Insights has collaborated with the team at Monetate, creators of the Monetate Intelligent Personalization Engine, to create this practical infographic, detailing the key areas of focus for a fully optimized personalization programme.

The 5 personalization techniques

Using a strategic approach to personalization structure is imperative. The infographic recommends 5 personalization steps and a process to follow, for a successful personalization programme that increases online sales: Selecting goals most appropriate to your funnel stage - Selecting the right measure(s) is vital when looking at what part of the conversion funnel you are wanting to optimize. Apply testing optimization Segment for greater lift Apply 1:1 Machine Learning for individualized experiences Incorporate optimization, segmentation and 1:1 to achieve your goals …

Chart of the Day: However, email attention spans are increasing

Concentrate, my little email geeks First of all, let's give goldfish a bit of credit. It has been proved that Goldfish do not have a 9-second attention span, it's a complete myth. And yes, they do in fact have a larger attention span than humans. Slightly Awkward. We are all guilty of it. We have so many distractions in this digital world. In fact, even while writing this, I have got distracted twice already. I'm currently listening to "white noise meditation" music and currently very focused... ooh something shiny!

What about email?

You will be pleased to learn that email is an entirely different kettle of fish (so to speak). The average time spent reading an email has increased to nearly 7% in the past 6 years. In 2016 the average time spent reading…

A newly launched SaaS will be up against hefty competition and numerous potential customers who have seen it all before.

The owners and administrators of the service can get a quick leg up by following a few tried and true SaaS growth strategies. Compare your strategy against the checklist below, and you’ll be better prepared to achieve your marketing goals for launching your SaaS. [si_guide_block id="100244" title="Download Premium Resource – Product launch Playbook" description="Launch a product using RACE planning to structure your marketing activities. A marketing playbook defines the key messages, types of communications, best practices and optimisation techniques that should be used to maximise return-on-investment for different marketing objectives."/]

1. Get a Plan Together

Too many SaaS marketers try to wing it. They assume they’ll be able to form their plan as they go. They put out a campaign, check the analytics, test the…

Chart of the day: Pound for pound, TV advertising provides the biggest return

According to an independent study commisioned by Thinkbox and conducted by Ebiquity and Gain theory, Television advertising provides the biggest return on investment compared to other forms of advertising. TV ads created 71% of advertising generated profits, whilst online display only created 1%. The average ad-generated profit created by TV ads was £4.20. In the age of digital, TV advertising still dominates return on investment, but it's also providing a far higher return than radio and out of home ads too. TV ads provide the biggest return, providing a safe option for advertisers, however, it's also the most expensive form of advertising, even if a dip in advertising revenues has led to networks charging slightly less for advertising. Recent research by Nielsen has also found that half of US-TV…