Marketing Pilgrim

We know that iPads are becoming increasingly popular here in the US, but now they’re taking over in Europe, too.

According to shopping search engine Shopzilla, the iPad is the new “it bag.” In other words, it’s the trendy, fashionable item that every shopper wants to own.

In their recent survey, they found that 6% of shoppers already had a table and 20% were thinking about buying one this year. Here in the US, 12% of consumers already have a device and 25% plan on buying this year. (Count me in that 25%!)

When it comes to online shopping with a tablet, 61% said it was as easy to use as their personal computer. That ease of use and the portability is the reason 53% of respondents said they use the device to shop and browse with a friend. Only 27% report co-shopping with a smartphone.

Over the past year, Twitter has actively introduced a variety of ad messages into their system. Promoted Tweets and Promoted Trends are the two most popular, but each of those is designed to hang around on the fringes of the main feed.

Now, rumor has it, that Twitter is looking to insert ad messages into the Twitter stream. Twitter says it’s them being bold and where that will lead them is anyone’s guess.

TechCrunch did an informal survey on the idea and the results weren’t as negative as you might expect. Some would like the option of paying for the service in return for having ads shut off, while others see it as a necessary evil. There are, after all, not many free lunches.

In response to the FTC’s letter telling them that the commission is conducting a probe into Google’s business, the search giant has put together its first response. As you might expect they are playing it cool.

From the official Google blog:

At Google, we’ve always focused on putting the user first. We aim to provide relevant answers as quickly as possible—and our product innovation and engineering talent have delivered results that users seem to like, in a world where the competition is only one click away. Still, we recognize that our success has led to greater scrutiny. Yesterday, we received formal notification from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that it has begun a review of our business. We respect the FTC’s process and will be working with them (as we have with other agencies) over the coming months to answer questions about Google and our services.

I remember the first ad buy I ever made. The year was 1996 and I was purchasing a 3”x2” ad in the independent newspaper the Houston Press. I had never bought an ad before and the experience was exciting knowing that my ad would be read by thousands of people who just might purchase the services of my employer, a local ISP in Houston. Now you might ask why I wasn’t buying ads for that campaign online. Well, the answer is simple. That’s not where the local customers were. Oh how times have changed.

The Evolution

Different strokes for different folks right? Well, with social media that holds true as a study conducted by Regus shows. eMarketer provides the following chart examining the success in social media levels in a variety of countries

What the next chart shows more than anything is not so much about how social media impacts revenue but more so how the overall economic climate does.

While we all want to see information that confirms our thoughts on the success of social media it is critical to remember that social media is not a standalone deal. It is part of how we communicate overall with customers. Social media cannot overcome poor economic conditions but it can influence people in ways that have not been available in the past.

If you need a RAIDMAX Blackstorm ATX-615WU Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, have I got a deal for you. Here’s the thing though, you have to buy it now and I mean now. Once they’re sold out, it’s over. I’m not talking 24 hours, I’m talking about in the next hour and you don’t want to miss out, so buy now.

Now — is a powerful thing and electronics retailer Newegg is leveraging that power by pushing their “Shell Shocker” deals as mobile alerts. Responsys is the company behind the mechanics of it and their Chief Marketing and Sales Officer had this to say: