New Media An Important

Place To Be Seen

The most recent BIGresearch Simultaneous Media Survey shows that, while traditional media still rank on top in the influence of purchases, many are declining in influence and some are showing double digit losses over the previous year. At the same time, says the study, many new media options are showing double digit growth. For example, when compared to a year ago, Instant Messaging and Blogging experienced double digit growth for purchase influence of electronics while Broadcast TV and Cable showed a double digit decline.

Not only is influence of new media growing, it is much more influential among minority groups, says the report. Influence of new media is higher for Hispanics and African Americans across all new media forms compared to all adults. Alternatively, influence of new media for Caucasians is lower than the general market for all types.

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Consumer Confidence, Where Did it Go?

As we look at “our” business strategies for 2008, it becomes increasingly clear we must be, not just smarter, but wiser. God has given us two ears and one mouth, this was not be accident, but by design.

Listen to what your customers and clients are saying. Learn to read between the lines. This is a time where tactical planning begins to look a lot like a tactile super bowl.

Even though markets may reduce in size, it doesn’t mean they’re going away. Tactile relationships just may save your day. (more…)

 Mobile Web Has a Long Way to Grow

For years, the Mobile World Congress has issued the promise that the mobile Web will one day be more like the traditional Internet that we access from our PCs. But GigaOm notes there’s too much variation in operating systems and end devices, which makes it hard for developers to build applications for a mobile phone. In other words, a shakeout needs to occur, a leader needs to emerge.

But there’s a greater problem, here: according to Wikipedia, U.S. smartphone (loosely described as a phone with PC-like functionality) penetration is only expected to hit 10 percent this year. Most of these handsets have different interfaces: touch-screen, scroll wheel, stylus or keyboard. This requires different operating systems. There are six vying for control of that market: (in order of market share) Symbian OS, Linux, Windows Mobile, RIM BlackBerry, Palm OS, and Apple’s OS X.

What we have here is a market maturity problem. For starters, smartphone penetration has a long way to grow. Once it reaches 30 or so percent, leaders will emerge in the handset and OS markets. Then software developers can create more and better programs that scale, and advertisers will have a sizable audience and quality programs to buy space on. But we’re talking years, not months. - (more…)

85% Of World’s Online Population Shopped On The Web

According to the latest Nielsen Global Online Survey on internet shopping habits, more than 85% of the world’s online population has used the internet to make a purchase, increasing the market for online shopping by 40% in the past two years.

Bruce Paul, VP, Customized Research, Nielsen US, said “When The Nielsen Company conducted its first global survey into internet shopping trends two years ago, approximately 10% of the world’s population (627 million) had shopped online. Within two years, this number has increased by approximately 40% to 875 million.”

Globally, more than half of internet users have made at least one purchase online in the past month, according to Nielsen. (more…)

Understanding the numbers: Drake Morton Recommended

It’s a Wrap

2007 Numbers are In

comScore, in a recently released report, The 2007 U.S. Internet Year in Review highlighting the major trends in U.S. Internet activity, finds that that top gaining properties and site categories featured some of the top Internet brands, including Google, Facebook, Wikipedia and Craigslist.

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Drake Morton recommended read:

Gas Prices Changing Consumer Habits

A new study from The Nielsen Company finds that 49 percent of U.S. consumers are reducing their spending to compensate for rising gas prices, up four points from June 2007. 70 percent of consumers are combining shopping trips and errands, and 41 percent are eating out less, and 39 percent staying home more often. (more…)