Internet Marketing and Digital Strategy Blog
Internet Marketing
Kindle versus Tablet
Jan 24th
I recently got the International Kindle as a gift, even though I had been researching and waiting for the Apple Tablet, maybe to be launched on the 26th. I get asked a lot about the Kindle and why I got one prior to the launch of the tablet, aside from the fact it was a gift. From my perspective in comparing the Kindle to the tablet these are 2 very different propositions, and cannot really be compared:
For the Apple iPad tablet, I assume the following:
- Larger version of the iphone. The interface is tried and trusted and integrates with iTunes and the App store, why not?
- Great interactive screen, scrolling menus, as with the iPhone
- Average to bad battery life
- Access and use of iTunes and the App store etc.
- Main use will not be to replace your laptop but rather extend your Internet access, i.e. lap browsing while watching TV or waiting for the train, reading websites while lying in bed, ever tried to do that on a laptop? and having access to the web outside of the office
- This will no doubt drive the move further toward cloud computing. If you have a mini or a laptop and a desktop you will be familiar with the issues around managing multiple files and emails on different hard drives. Reading emails on your lap on a tablet will be easy. Urrggh more emails less spare time…
- Drive new and better Apps, which will work better on a larger screen
- Bad solution for typing long documents with the on-screen keyboard
- The tablet will find new uses of its own, no doubt with peripherals attached
Enough guessing. Hopefully my fairy godmother will find it in her heart to buy me one.
For the Kindle, I can tell you the following:
- Its a book, albeit an electronic book, bit its a book and a good one at that
- If you carry around books to read while travelling, if your read a lot, if you want to stay on top of global news this is the device for you More >
Flow Down Economy
Jul 11th
The global financial crisis means the economy will flow down. While things look bad there are opportunities out there, just not where you maybe looking. If you sell things that people really don’t need, then this may not be for you.
- While hair dressers might be doing it tough, sellers of hair treatments and dye are doing very well as more people do their hair at home to save money
- While weekend getaway hotels might be doing it tough, flower deliveries are up as people choose cheaper options to treat their loved ones
- While air travel is down, regional hotels are getting the business as people stay closer to home
- People are moving away from media advertising to search marketing due to the ROI and from paid toward more SEO based approaches. Social marketing is big, why do you think?
In every industry there is a flow down economy. Are you tapping into yours?
How is your GFC?
I meet a number of business owners, corporate managers and CEO’s and the first question usually how is business? In other words, we seem to be doing OK, are you guys doing OK? With all the bad news around, we are not sure if things are good or bad. On average I would sum up responses and the feeling toward the economy as such:
- So far we seem to be tracking OK, given the bad economic news
- We are not rushing out to hire and have not replaced certain people
- Revenues are in a range of 10% up to 10% down on prior year
Keep in mind these companies are generally still profitable and thus engaging my services or about to. I accept sometimes people are frugal with the truth. So if you are reading this and doing it tough I accept there are real issues out there in certain industries. If you look at the Classifind job index, that also tells part of the story.
Consider your business model?
1. Marketing & sales
- Have you reconsidered who your customer is, your customer profile?
- Have you considered whether your customer needs have changed? They may still be buying but for different reasons.
- Have you considered new customer markets on a needs basis, and how to reach these people?
- Are you still paying to market to the wrong target customers?
- Where is the current spend and are you tapping into it?
2. Customer service
- Where is your customer service dollar being spent, still on the upper end? Are you servicing customers who are no longer buying? More >
Ten things every CEO should know
Jun 30th
Reading George F Colony’s Blogcalled the Counterintuitive CEO on how what CEOs will face next with respect to the recession and how it will act a s a gateway connecting 2 different era’s got me thinking on the top things CEOs should be considering to get them through this gateway or portal with business intact.
- There is always opportunity. It just looks different, maybe now it is less abundant, but it is there. Opportunity + Planning = success. Testing ideas online is cheap.
- There is no such thing as an unprofitable business. Just unprofitable business models.
- Stay clean, squeaky clean. The digital trail never dies. Manage your life and your associated online reputation carefully.
- Invest in your digital properties and digital footprint. Proactively managing your online customer and future customer base is key. Make sure your selection processes for vendors and software are sound.
- Educate yourself on all things digital. Take a course. Invest some time. Understand search engine marketing (SEM) and especially search engine optimisation (SEO) and how it applies to your business. More >
Online Trends worth watching
Jun 9th
Internet Marketing Trends
- Mobile: Developing a strategy including frameworks for future mobile media consumption and usage. Begin testing mobile products in narrow verticals, using existing content and media. Gain a foothold in the market, while minimising investment.
- Digital media content and the mapping of this content to Google vertical databases for relevant high traffic search terms. Increasing the presence of relevant digital media across the sites, including video, audio, images and other user generated content and structuring these correctly within the website.
- Development and use of widgets to solve real user needs. Widgets can be included in igoogle, various social networking sites and made available for download for inclusion on other websites.
- Deliver localised search results to key target markets
- Google Maps: Google maps believe around 80% of searches can have a geographic anchor and as a result maps will continue to grow. Maps are being rendered in Universal for certain searches.
Why these will be important?
As organisations grow in their online presence, those with traffic, quality content and relevant digital media will have the ability to develop a significant Internet footprint and to dominate certain categories. The law of economics will ensure less sophisticated organisations disappear.