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Category: Retail & eCommerce

eCommerce, Online Retail & Retail News

  • New Facebook Collection Ads Dramatically Boost Sales for Advertisers

    New Facebook Collection Ads Dramatically Boost Sales for Advertisers

    Facebook’s Collection Ads have helped millions of companies boost their sales and drive discovery.

    The social media giant initially opted to go with image ads. But with video ads proving to be better at conversions, Facebook Collection Ads were soon launched. Collections Ads appear on the user’s News Feed and can showcase a video, a photo, or a slideshow with four affiliated images.

    Collection ads resemble a landing page. When users tap on the ad, they’ll be able to access a video or a fullscreen Canvas ad that shows more content. Businesses can pair their Collection Ads with other Canvas templates depending on their brand’s objective.

    More importantly, these ads have proven to be very lucrative for businesses. One company reportedly earmarked $177,000 for a Collection Ads campaign and received $1.2 million in sales. Big name brands like Adidas and Tommy Hilfiger had also reduced the cost of their Facebook marketing campaigns by as much as 40% while seeing their sales ROI doubling or tripling.

    Facebook has been particularly keen to point out how effective their ads have been for retailers during the recent holiday. The company reportedly saw mobile conversions rise to 64% on Cyber Monday last year. That was a major improvement from the 43% increase it had in 2016. Facebook says this boost in conversions is due to their Collection and Dynamic Ads.

    While Facebook’s ad offerings were undoubtedly a big factor, several companies believe it’s not the only reason why their holiday campaigns were a success. One such company, Wayfair, revealed that it did use Facebook’s Dynamic Ads and acknowledged that it was partially responsible for the brand’s 53% sales growth during the Thanksgiving holiday. However, Wayfair’s vice president of marketing, Bob Sherwin, also pointed out that their brand also has a very strong and loyal customer base and that they are always in touch with their customers. Because of that, Wayfair has also made it a point to work with other social media platforms like Google and Pinterest.

    There are many other companies who followed the same approach of using Facebook ads while also utilizing Instagram and other platforms. However, the majority also admit that Facebook Dynamic and Collection Ads did help in reaching more people during last year’s big shopping seasons.

    Facebook is hoping that retailers and other businesses will utilize what they learned during the last major holiday and simulate it with their other ads.

    Nada Stirratt, Facebook’s vice president of global marketing solutions in North America, says marketers should think about how they can further use Facebook and sister company Instagram to drive in-store and online sales for the whole year.

    Facebook is apparently hoping that video will play a bigger role in future ad campaigns. According to Stirratt, there’s a multitude of ways for companies to flex their creative muscles when using short-form video on mobile devices. Marketers would also do well to start thinking about video as more than just a branding tool. Video can also be a force to reckon with when it comes to merchandising.

    [Featured image via YouTube]

  • Will Amazon Acquire Target in 2018?

    Will Amazon Acquire Target in 2018?

    While Amazon currently accounts for roughly 45% of all online retail sales, the pursuit of a strong offline retail presence is part of Amazon’s long-term business strategy which is why they may now be considering an acquisition of Target. Obviously, Amazon is strong in almost all categories of online shopping, but with The Whole Foods purchase and Amazon Go, this may be the beginning of their entry into a large presence in brick and mortar commerce.

    Gene Muster, principal of research-driven Lotus Ventures, has good reasons to believe Amazon is ready to hit the streets and will be targeting a name brand retailer in 2018. Amazon’s goal is to reach more upscale consumers in order to continue both sales growth and new memberships in Amazon Prime. (Fortune)

  • Amazon Will Soon Add Alexa to Wearable Devices

    Amazon Will Soon Add Alexa to Wearable Devices

    Amazon’s digital assistant is branching out. In a January 5 announcement, Microsoft revealed a new developer kit aimed to help device manufacturers integrate Alexa’s functions into their wearable devices, which will essentially create a new, mobile version of the popular digital assistant.

    For years, Amazon seemed to be content in restricting Alexa as s speaker-based digital assistant. It was a smart move then as, obviously, it is a lot easier to interact with the AI via voice command and receive its response in audio as well. However, the tech giant concluded that restricting it to a speaker-based functionality is also limiting its market reach. Thus, Amazon introduced a host of Alexa compatible electronics such as the Amazon Fire TV, Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat, and even the Ecobee Smart Light Switch.

    But apparently, even connecting all devices in your home is not enough for the very helpful Alexa. Now, Amazon is targeting a host of devices that people, especially the fit and wellness crowd, usually take with them even when going out just for a stroll—their wearables.

    On Friday, Amazon announced a new set of developer tools called the Alexa Mobile Accessory Kit. As described by the company, the new kit is “a new way to bring Alexa to portable, on-the-go devices such as wearables, headphones, smart watches, fitness devices, and more.”

    Actually, the kit is already being used by a handful of businesses that already have various kinds of partnerships with Amazon. These include Bose, Jabra, iHome, Linkplay, Sugr, Librewireless, Beyerdynamic, Bowers, and Wilkins. With the kit now available to a broader set of device makers and solutions providers, it may hasten the development of new Alexa compatible mobile devices.

    Bose, for instance, is already laying down plans to test, design and build solutions which will be powered by Alexa’s AI. According to Bose Director of Product Management Brian Maguire, “Bose is excited to add a remarkable new Alexa experience for our customers. Accessing Alexa’s music, information, and a vast number of skills on our headphones will become easier than ever, and we’re looking forward to bringing our collaboration to life.”

    For device manufacturers such as Bose, Amazon’s offer to use Alexa in bringing AI to their devices is indeed an attractive offer. Since Bose does not have a digital assistant division of its own, using Alexa’s features will increase the competitiveness of its Bluetooth speakers against similar AI-powered offerings such as the Apple AirPods and Google Pixel Buds.

    [Featured image via Pixabay]

  • 3 Trends That Will Change How We Make Payments in 2018

    3 Trends That Will Change How We Make Payments in 2018

    The year 2018 is poised to be an exciting time in the payments industry as new trends and technologies emerge.

    The previous year actually witnessed some major changes in how payments were made. Consumers were introduced to new transfer methods and the PSD2 push as the demand for safer, smarter, and faster transactions reached critical mass.

    It actually feels like 2017 was just laying the foundation for some significant changes in the payments process, and this year is when all the promised developments will finally come to fruition. To that end, here are three trends that could change how payments are made this year:

    Improved Security and Enhanced Data Protection

    Security is even more critical now that more channels have been opened for consumers to pay bills and receive money. Businesses will be paying more attention to cybersecurity, compliance, and fraud prevention in 2018 as any missteps in this area can seriously undermine their business and relationship with their customers.

    Due to the massive data breaches that happened in previous years, it’s safe to assume that fraudsters will take advantage of any new personal information they receive about consumers. Because of this, payment tokenization and the rise of “omnichannel tokenization” is expected to become more mainstream this year.

    Tokens are unique and their use can be restricted to a particular merchant, device or transaction. This enables merchants to isolate threats and prevent fraud. However, the rise of tokenization would also mean that Token Service Providers will also gain greater importance in payment processes.

    Rise in Demand for Chinese Wallets

    Image result for wechat payChina is slowly making its presence known in the realm of financial technology. Companies like WeChat have already made serious forays in the West in a bid to court more users. China’s social media icon has already rolled out the payment platform WeChat Pay in the UK since last year. It now has plans to put up a headquarters in the country as well. WeChat’s parent company, TenCent, has already established an office in the US as it works to expand its service in the country.

    The adoption of Chinese wallets and payment systems is one trend that would definitely stand out this year, as more Chinese tourists and businesses are expected to hit the US and the EU.

    Merchant Pay Will Become More Popular

    Despite a slow start, digital retail wallets are expected to have an upsurge in popularity this year. More and more consumers will use a merchant payment apps to ensure faster purchases while in brick-and-mortar stores. Digital wallets integrating scan-and-go technology will allow shoppers to scan products using their smartphones, checkout in-app and leave the store, thereby doing away with the frustration of dealing with the checkout line. In cases when checkouts are still required, digital wallets can support different payment technologies, like Bluetooth, NFC, or QR Codes.

    Retailers can also use digital wallets to improve customer relationships and provide meaningful value-added services. The majority of consumers are motivated by VAS, but the challenges of redeeming points or activating coupons can be daunting, resulting in billions of reward currency remaining dormant or unclaimed. Offering simplified VAS in a retail wallet can help drive sales and improve consumer loyalty.

    Consumers can expect a vastly different billing and payment experience in 2018. But whether these changes will come in the form of digital wallets or tokens, the theme will remain the same—being able to pay wherever and whenever you want.

    [Featured image via YouTube]

  • Amazon Sold ‘Millions’ of Alexa Devices Over the Holidays, Brands Will Need to Focus More on Voice Advertising in 2018

    Amazon Sold ‘Millions’ of Alexa Devices Over the Holidays, Brands Will Need to Focus More on Voice Advertising in 2018

    The recent holiday was a happy one for Amazon, if the company’s latest report is anything to go by. The eCommerce giant alleges that “tens of millions of Alexa-enabled devices” were sold worldwide during the 2017 holiday season, making it a breakout year for the voice-activated digital assistant.

    Alexa Ruled the Holidays

    The Amazon report was decidedly low on hard data but high on self-promotion. It was not surprising though, as the company won’t be releasing its actual financial status from the recent holiday until January when it unveils its fourth-quarter revenue. However, it’s clear from the report that Amazon did a pretty good job hawking its own devices.

    The Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice remote and the Echo Dot were bestsellers on Amazon over the holidays. The Echo Dot, however, holds the distinction of being the top seller “from any manufacturer in any category across all of Amazon.”

    The former is a streaming device that allows the user to search for their favorite shows and other information using voice commands. Aside from easily finding interesting shows in the genre they want, users also enjoy the fact that the Fire TV Stick doesn’t need the latest TV model in order to work.

    Meanwhile, the Echo Dot is a hockey puck-shaped, voice-controlled device that uses Alexa to manage smart home gadgets, make calls play music and a host of other skills. Products like the Echo Buttons and the Echo Spot were also sold out this season. These gadgets are also part of the Echo family, with Buttons designed specifically for family games while the Spot is the perfect alarm clock that does more than tell time.

    Alexa’s dominance was corroborated by the fact that the software for the voice-based assistant was the most downloaded app on both the Apple App Store and on Google Play. Real-time data also indicated that people started downloading the app on Christmas, probably as soon as they unwrapped their presents and saw they got an Echo device.

    Aside from the millions generated from the sales of Alexa-enabled gadgets, Amazon also had one amazing week that saw a staggering 4 million consumers signing up for Amazon Prime. According to the retailer’s report, these were people who either opted for the free trials or who outright paid for full memberships.

    The report also revealed interesting tidbits, like the 70% rise in worldwide use of the Amazon mobile shopping app. There were also more than a billion items ordered from the multitude of independent retailers on Amazon’s Marketplace. These retailers accounted for half of the products bought on the Amazon site in recent months.

    Voice Advertising on the Rise

    Amazon’s success with Alexa this past holiday season has given it a major advantage over Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, Microsoft’s Cortana, and others in the market for smart speakers and voice-based assistants. This achievement was undoubtedly helped by Amazon revitalizing its Alexa-backed Echo devices and from third-party gadget manufacturers integrating the digital assistant into their products.

    More importantly, it cemented Alexa as the de facto choice of companies as more focus is given to voice advertising. Marketers are expecting the voice trend to really be felt in 2018 as more businesses invest in the creation of voice interfaces. And with Amazon corralling 70% of the market for voice-activated smart devices, it’s easy to see why Alexa would be in the forefront of this burgeoning technology.

    Brands now face a unique challenge in 2018. They need to find out the distinct capabilities and benefits of various hardware while offering their users a consistent experience. Brands who also want to make a mark using voice apps would also need to develop a way for consumers to discover them, particularly as voice assistants have no visual interface. This means that new ways of browsing and searching will probably be introduced.

    [Featured image via YouTube]

  • Amazon Set to Take on Facebook and Google in Digital Advertising Market

    Amazon Set to Take on Facebook and Google in Digital Advertising Market

    The digital advertising scene is about to get very interesting in 2018. After experimenting with various advertising products in the past, Amazon is now ready to make its presence felt and is seriously planning to challenge heavyweights Google and Facebook.

    At the moment, digital advertising revenue is virtually a duopoly between ‘The Big Two’—Facebook and Google. This is not surprising since advertisers have long been flocking to them in droves because of the potential that their ads might reach the billions of users of the two platforms.

    However, reports are now saying that Amazon is now ready to make waves and shake up the current power structure of the digital advertising arena.

    According to a CNBC report, Amazon aims to bolster its market share by looking for additional ad revenues within its e-commerce search feature and video products. Also, there are talks that the company is mulling over the possibility of selling beyond Amazon sites and products. Citing unnamed sources, the report added that Amazon is working out a partnership deal with third-party mobile advertising companies such as Kargo for an advertising product that covers both TV and mobile platforms.

    While Amazon has yet to respond to queries regarding its advertising business plans, industry watchers noted that the company is revving up hiring for its advertising division. This observation supports CFO Brian Olsavsky previous disclosure during the Q2 earnings call last July where he mentioned that Amazon was hiring more ad sales staff.

    At the heart of all the corporate warfare is a gargantuan market that has not shown any signs of slowing down. The size of the global digital advertising business in 2017 alone is estimated at $209 billion. By 2018, analysts project that the industry will experience a 13 percent growth to balloon to $237 billion.

    But if Amazon were to fulfill its grand ambitions in becoming the third member of a triumvirate, it will have some serious catching up to do. At the moment, it only accounts for 2 percent of the $80 billion U.S. digital advertising market while the Big Two (Facebook & Google) combined, account for more than 70 percent of the total market.

    [Featured Image via Amazon]

  • Amazon’s Whole Foods Purchase Raises Demand for Same-Day Grocery Delivery Services

    Amazon’s Whole Foods Purchase Raises Demand for Same-Day Grocery Delivery Services

    Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods was met with wariness and a not-so-unexpected round of hostility from rival supermarket chains. There was little doubt that the company’s foray into grocery retail would have made a big impact on the industry. What’s surprising, is how the buyout is also opening doors for suppliers and grocery-delivery startups like Instacart and Shipt.

    It didn’t take long for Amazon’s $13.7 billion deal with Whole Foods to disrupt the grocery retail industry. The first and most obvious impact was the pressure that supermarkets like Kroger felt when Amazon began lowering prices at Whole Foods. However, after having its shares rattled by Amazon, Kroger was able to regain investor confidence by partnering with Instacart and several other grocery delivery services, allowing it to outpace Amazon over the past three months.

    Corporations like Target and Walmart also hurried to hammer out deals of their own. In fact, Target announced on Wednesday, that it would acquire Shipt for $550 million. The delivery startup already saw a 60% upsurge in orders since Amazon’s Whole Foods takeover in June. It’s now expanding its reach from 30 U.S. markets since 2016 to 70 before year’s end.

    Instacart, a company that had described itself as the American grocer’s ally against Amazon, admittedly had a challenging time pushing its service before Whole Foods was purchased. But according to Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta, that all changed after Amazon’s acquisition, as retailers started calling them insisting that they launch in as many stores as possible. Now they have 165 retailers, a far cry from last year’s 30.

    Independent retailers are also seeing an upside to the Whole Foods deal. The rising interest in local food and the fears local producers have over losing their market to Amazon could force small and independent retailers to develop systems that allow for a mix of different products.

    The Good Food Merchants Collaborative, a group of around 22 independent groceries, is planning to roll out a cooperative buying system that will offer competitive prices for consumers and help expand the buying power of small retailers. To that end, these small grocers are hoping to tap into local food producers, since they have stronger ties to the community and consumers. It’s an interesting gamble, and one that could have a big payoff. Research has shown that consumers are also looking to independent grocers for local food.  

    [Featured image via Whole Foods Market]

  • 5 Things You Should Know About Marketing to Baby Boomers

    5 Things You Should Know About Marketing to Baby Boomers

    Millennials have been on the radar of most marketers the past few years. While this is a large and potentially Image result for baby boomer disposable income 2018lucrative demographic, the most powerful group, at least when it comes to spending, is still the baby boomers.

    Marketers understand that about 70 million people from this generation will be entering retirement over the next ten years. However, there are things that make baby boomers unique. For one, they are an affluent group and retirement gives them a lot of free time to shop and flex their spending powers. According to Forbes, boomers will inherit about $13 trillion over the next 20 years.

    Companies should then be adjusting their marketing tactics to reach this large group of consumers. Here are five things you should know about marketing to baby boomers:

    1. Baby Boomers Don’t Like to be Called ‘Old’

    Just because baby boomers are mostly retired doesn’t mean they want to sit home and watch TV all day. Many people of this generation have the financial means and the desire to pursue the activities they didn’t get the chance to do when they were raising kids or part of the workforce. These retirees plan to travel to exotic locations, go on safaris, and skydive. While the marketing tactics you’ll need to use to get their attention may be different from other demographics, don’t assume that certain products and services won’t appeal to them just because of their age.

    2. Baby Boomers Enjoy Reading Good Copy

    Marketers should remember that baby boomers enjoy reading, so using trendy acronyms or Internet shorthand on Image result for senior reading tablet 300x300ad copy will not be appreciated. Boomers want to see information clearly printed out, so don’t be afraid of old-school, text-heavy advertising methods.

    A better approach for this generation is copy that’s straightforward, instead of today’s creative bells and whistles. Ad copy for boomers should address every possible question they might have. All the relevant answers and details should be included in direct mail ads, brochures, and on websites.

    3. Baby Boomers Don’t Like to be Rushed

    Aside from being more receptive to traditional marketing styles, baby boomers are also very careful when making purchases. Unlike the more flighty millennials, boomers consider each purchase an investment and will take time to study every product before making a decision. Their static budgets also mean this group is more careful about spending outside their limits.

    Boomers need to trust the brand. They need to fully understand the product, identify with other users and develop a rapport with the seller before making a purchase. While salespeople and marketers might be able to close a deal with a younger demographic with just one or two calls or emails, they would probably take a longer time handling senior consumers.

    4. Baby Boomers Prefer a Personal Touch

    Retirees have more free time on their hands which makes them more inclined to have lengthier social interactions with family, friends, neighbors and even salespeople. This opens a singular opportunity for a sales team to create sincere relationships with these potential clients.

    Sales teams should be prepared to invest time with a boomer. After all, the person at the other end has the luxury of time and willingness to listen and absorb your product’s features and value. 

    5. Baby Boomers are Tech Savvy

    Marketers should remember that baby boomers grew up with technology. This generation has made use of a plethora of different technologies since the introduction of the first black-and-white television set. This makes them unintimidated by more recent technologies like the internet or social media. In fact, the baby boomer generation spends as much time online as they do watching television. Studies show that 96% of baby boomers use search engines, 95% use email, and 92% shop for products and services online instead of shopping in stores and shopping malls.

    Boomers TV Usage Chart

    Graphic via dmn3.com

    Statistics also show that baby boomers are the fastest growing age demographic on Facebook, with an 80% rise in users between 2010 and 2014. By marketing your business to this generation through the web or social media platforms, you increase your chances to interact and do business with them.

  • 4 Ways to Make Free Shipping Profitable for Your eCommerce Business

    4 Ways to Make Free Shipping Profitable for Your eCommerce Business

    One of the most crucial decisions an eCommerce business has to make is whether to offer free shipping. If the retailer does opt to provide free shipping, then other equally important decisions have to be made, like what kind of go-to-market process will be implemented.

    An online retailer’s free shipping policy can boost conversions, but it can also add to expenses. Luckily, there are several strategies open to a company.

    Here are four ways that can make free shipping profitable for your business:

    Image result for flat rate shipping1. Offer Your Clients a Flat Rate

    One of the best ways to make good use of free shipping is to offer a flat rate for all packages, or flat rates for total orders and weight ranges.

    However, this method requires intensive planning and preparation. The company has to figure out the average cost of shipping. This is to ensure that they do not overcharge or undercharge clients. When they do come up with the right cost, the price will likely be a little over or under the actual shipping cost. But this discrepancy would even out eventually.

    Retailers considering a flat rate should be aware that they would need to conduct several tests to see which would work better – pricing by weight range or order totals.

    2. Add Shipping Cost to the Product Price

    Integrating the shipping cost to the product price will also work in the company’s favor. Consider the following options:

    • Offer 1: $50 for the product + $5 for shipping
    • Offer 2: $55 with free shipping

    The majority of consumers would undoubtedly favor the second option. Studies have shown that the conversion numbers for the second offer were double that of the first offer. This method also works very well for unique products and items that are hard to find.

    So how does one incorporate the cost of shipping into the product’s price? One way is to change the price of items below the free shipping threshold so that it would include part of the expected shipping cost. For instance, you can add 13% of the expected shipping cost to items priced at $10. So from $10, the product will now cost $11.30. With this strategy, you get to offer free shipping while recouping part of the cost.

    Image result for ground shipping3. Substitute Service Types

    Thousands of online retailers have found that ground shipping is the most affordable option, so this is the most common type used in free shipping. But retailers should make it clear to customers that this is not overnight shipping and that an additional fee will be charged if they want to expedite the process.

    Ground shipping can actually reduce your shipping expenses by as much as 50% and most can easily meet 2-day expedited shipping requirements. If the product is to be delivered somewhere near the office or distribution center, then you can use the cheapest ground option available, meet the delivery window, and save money.

    Don’t be afraid that your clients will be put-off by the 2-day wait. Nearly all online buyers are willing to wait longer for a product as long as shipping is free.

    4. Exclude Specific Products From Free Shipping

    Another way to reduce the negative impact of free shipping is to exclude specific products from the service. Companies can exclude large and heavy items with high shipping cost and products with low margins from free shipping. They can also just offer the free service exclusively to high volume products with low shipping costs.

    Do not look at free shipping as a financial black hole. Savvy retailers can utilize free shipping as leverage to boost conversions and average orders while reducing any negative impact it might have on revenue.

  • Target Lets You Pay With New ‘Wallet’ Mobile Payment System

    Target Lets You Pay With New ‘Wallet’ Mobile Payment System

    It appears that Target is still not keen on accepting Apple Pay as a mode of payment in its onsite stores. In a recent post, America’s second-largest retailer announced that it had rolled out Wallet, its own mobile payment system that is now active as a feature for Target’s iOS and Android apps.

    The arrival of the Wallet feature has actually been long anticipated by customers. Talks about Target launching its own mobile payment have been around since 2015, but the company waited till January 2017 to confirm its plans.

    With the introduction of Wallet, Target customers will now have the option of seamlessly checking out their in-store purchases with the use of their smartphones. They’ll also be able to update points and use discounts with Cartwheel digital coupons.

    Reportedly, the Wallet feature found in the Target app is similar to other in-store payment options like Wal-Mart Pay. However, Wal-Mart Pay uses QR code for scanning items, Target’s system is barcode-based.

    For it to work though, it seems that shoppers will need a REDcard—a Target-branded debit or credit card packed with special offers. Target, however, wants more customers to shop with Wallet and is already working out a way to get them to use the feature even if they don’t own a REDcard.

    The main incentive for using Wallet is that checking out for in-store purchases would be faster. This is achieved because customers can now check out for payment as well as apply Cartwheel deals with a single scan of the in-app barcode.

    It should be noted that while Target does not accept payments using Apple Pay for in-store purchases, items bought from Target’s online store can still be paid using Apple’s payment platform.

    [Featured Image by Target]

  • 5 Brands That Used Influencer Marketing to Raise Their Profile

    5 Brands That Used Influencer Marketing to Raise Their Profile

    Influencer marketing is more than just a marketing buzzword these days. More companies are utilizing this marketing method to boost sales and grow their brands.

    For those still confused about what influencer marketing is, it’s simply the act of promoting or selling products or services via influencers, or people who have the ability to affect a brand. Where the main influencers before were celebrities and industry leaders, today’s influencers are more varied. Nowadays, top brands are seeking out bloggers, food critics, makeup mavens and celebrities who rose to fame on platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

    Brands that Benefited from Influencer Marketing

    Influencer marketing provides a lot of benefits. Brands can reach the relevant demographic and enjoy high levels of engagement. It’s also affordable and can help retain a brand’s authenticity. Numerous companies have already successfully leveraged these people to give their brand a boost.

    Clinique for Men

    Clinique is renowned for its hypoallergenic skincare for women. When the iconic cosmetic company launched a men’s line, they raised product awareness by partnering with a disparate group of male influencers from various professions. These influencers consisted of filmmakers, outdoorsmen, stylists, and lifestyle bloggers, each representing a group of men who would be interested in using Clinique for Men. Every post used in the campaign was unique and defined the influencer. For instance, surfer Mikey de Temple posted a photo of himself wearing his surf gear, with his surfboard in the background, along with a Clinique product.

    Clinique’s campaign was golden for several reasons. One, the company’s choice of influencers were so diverse that it expanded the product’s reach. Also, the posts integrated the product smoothly into a setting that was so natural to the influencer. This helped create a more organic interest in Clinique’s men’s line.

    Fashion Nova

    One brand that has truly embraced influencer marketing is Fashion Nova. According to the company’s founder and CEO, Richard Saghian, Fashion Nova is a viral store that works with 3,000 to 5,000 influencers. Its aggressive marketing efforts rely on lots of model and celebrity influencers, like Kylie Jenner and beauty vlogger Blissful Brii. The former has 93.8 million followers on Instagram while the latter has 93 thousand subscribers on YouTube. These two influencers alone have garnered millions of engagements, likes, and comments for the company.

    While other brands go for low-key but very relatable influencers, Fashion Nova went for the celebrities. While this will obviously net a company high-levels of engagement, it can also be costly. But as Fashion Nova has proven, it’s a worthwhile investment.

    Lagavulin’s Whiskey Yule Log

    This is a magnificent example of how an influencer marketing campaign made a product culturally relevant to a generation. Young people might not have a taste for single malt whiskey, but Lagavulin’s 2016 campaign featuring Nick Offerman changed that. Offerman’s iconic Parks and Rec character, Ron Swanson, is known for his love of whisky. Lagavulin’s 45-minute video took inspiration from YouTube’s yule log videos and simply showed Offerman quietly sipping and enjoying his whiskey next to a fireplace.

    The campaign was a success because Lagavulin found the perfect influencer for its brand. Offerman’s character proved to be a critical match for the target audience. As a matter of fact, the campaign was so good that it won an award for Best Influencer & Celebrity Campaign.

    Zafferano

    Zafferano does not have the same name recall as Nobu or other famous restaurants. But this Singapore-based establishment is a prime example of how social media can be used to boost audience engagement. The company tapped 11 Instagram influencers who are popular in the lifestyle and food category. They invited them to the restaurant for a special meal and in turn, they shared photos of the dishes on Instagram. The influencers also described the dishes and their dining experience. Details like price and availability were also included.

    Zafferano’s campaign is notable because of the experience it created for the influencers. This, in turn, helped them come up with authentic and sincere reviews. Since the campaign had such a genuine feel, it encouraged followers to interact and engage with the posts.

    Zara

    Clothing powerhouse Zara was one of the most profitable companies in 2015, and that’s partly because of its successful influencer marketing campaign. The company’s social media marketing campaign got some help from several top fashion-forward Instagrammers. The Instagram posts shared by these popular influencers showcased Zara’s clothing lines and their followers used these photos to get ideas on what’s currently trending as well as tips on how to work a particular style.

    Related image

    Zara’s campaign was a success because the company handed the control over to the fashion influencers, the people that customers looked to for fashion advice. The content that was used in the campaign was subtle and useful, which made it even more valuable to the influencers’ thousands of followers.

    [Featured image via YouTube]

  • How to Get Shoppers to Download and Use Your Retail App

    How to Get Shoppers to Download and Use Your Retail App

    Now that the holiday season is fast approaching, retailers are doing everything they can to attract consumers. But what they’re not doing is getting consumers to shop using their retail apps.

    According to the latest Pulse of the Online Shopper report from UPS, four out of every five shoppers around the world have used a retailer’s app. The numbers are not so surprising as the rise of millennial shoppers mean that more purchases will be done on a mobile device.Image result for time spent on app by us consumer 2017

    It’s a fact that people are on their mobile devices longer now and a huge chunk of that time is dedicated to shopping-related tasks. For instance, 72% of the time is used to track an order delivery while 69% is used to compare prices among various retailers. But despite these impressive numbers, a small segment of consumers are actually using a retailer’s mobile app, much to the consternation of these companies.

    Reasons Why Shoppers are Not Using Retail Apps

    The sad truth is that while many shoppers are willing to download retailer mobile apps, they are quickly abandoned or forgotten. Here are the reasons why:

    Shoppers Don’t Know Their Favorite Retailer Has a Mobile AppRetail Mobile Apps

    It would appear that one major reason why shoppers are not using retail apps is that they’re not aware their favorite shop has one. Business Insider mentioned that 64% of American consumers are in the dark about this issue. This is a big blow for retailers who have focused time and money on mobile apps because they give higher conversion rates than mobile browsers.

    It’s imperative for retailers to find a way to get around this visibility issue. Failure to do so will lead to the industry’s stagnation and can cause companies to miss out on the $285 million that consumers are expected to spend on mobile purchases by 2020.

    Consumers Prefer Using Retailer’s Website

    The UPS report also revealed that 53% of shoppers around the world prefer using a brand’s mobile website rather than the mobile retailer app. As a matter of fact, only 8% of shoppers actually use a retailer’s app in-store. The main reason for this is that these apps do not offer anything different from the brand’s mobile site. Shoppers want retailer apps that will give them a better shopping experience but they usually just receive the same incentives or discounts that they would get from the mobile site.

    Shoppers are Worried About Online Security

    It’s not surprising that a lot of people (31% according to the UPS report) are wary of using retailer mobile apps because of security concerns. Shoppers are worried because they don’t know how the stored information retailers will receive will be used.

    Retails Apps are Difficult to Use or not Working

    An app that’s not user-friendly or doesn’t work will definitely cause users to lose interest. This particularly holds trueLeading Reasons that US iPhone Owners Delete Retailers' Mobile Apps, May 2016 (% of respondents) for retailer apps. The problem is compounded by retail brands not investing enough in these apps, with multiple companies outright dropping their retail apps from the App Store or from Google Play. Meanwhile, other retailer apps have not even been updated since 2016.

    There are also complaints about how retail apps are not optimized for mobile devices or how shoppers can’t access these apps in-store because of connectivity issues. One survey showed that 92% iPhone users deleted retailer apps because the program was too slow or it crashed or froze.

    What Can Retailers do to Improve App Download and Use

    While it’s a sad fact that many companies have not been able to utilize retail apps to their full advantage, luxury brand Gucci have figured out how to make sales through their app.

    Gucci has invested heavily in its retailer app and has used it to successfully integrate customers’ online and offline shopping experiences. Just recently, the fashion giant unveiled a new feature called the “Cabinet of Curiosities.” App users would have to scan a mobile sticker in Gucci’s store window displays to activate digital artist Ignasi Monreal’s latest masterpiece. Once done, shoppers can check out the brand’s 2017 gifts selection. Gucci is also using fun elements like stickers, emojis, and VR videos to attract consumers and boost the odds of securing direct purchases.

    If retailers want to emulate Gucci’s success, there are certain steps they can take to optimize their retail apps:

    • Push for Wish Lists: Entice app users by offering deals that they can’t find on the mobile website or anywhere else online, like exclusive Wish Lists. Providing customized gift ideas, complete with price alerts and stock numbers could interest consumers into using the retail app.
    • Reward Loyal Customers: Make your hard-core customers feel even special by giving them special information or early access to seasonal deals. This will stoke their desire to keep using your app and continue their dedication to your brand.
    • Give Easy Access with Touch ID: Making it simpler and easier for customers to access their Wish Lists, Shopping Cart or Checkout will draw more in more users. Integrating a Touch ID feature will help with cart conversions.  

    Getting your customers to download your business app and make purchases is a challenge. However, identifying your app’s weaknesses and employing effective strategies to make it fun and useful to the customer could yield the boost in revenue your business needs this holiday season.

    [Featured image via Techno Softwares]

  • 5 Ways to Use PopUps to Drive eCommerce Conversion

    5 Ways to Use PopUps to Drive eCommerce Conversion

    Popups – you either love them or hate them. But no one can deny how essential they are to eCommerce businesses. When used correctly, popups can give companies the conversions they need.

    Understanding PopUps

    While a lot of people find popups annoying and blame them for disrupting their website visits, successful bloggers, top SaaS companies, global online publications, and premiere eCommerce brands all utilize popups.

    The reason is simple – popups work really well. And one reason why they are so effective is due to today’s typical consumer attitude. Most consumers have short attention spans, minimal brand loyalty, and are often looking for products that give the utmost value. Popups can engage people in a compelling manner through visible call-to-action and incentives.

    The SkinnyMe Tea company is a prime example of the power of popups. The Australian-based business came up with an email popup that gave shoppers a promo code for a 10% discount, provided said shoppers subscribed to their newsletter. These customers clearly saw the value in the offer and email sign-ups increased by 758%. Aside from the padded email list, the company also saw a 50% rise in conversions for the duration of the campaign.

    skinnyme tea Shopify Plus email list growth

    5 Ways to Use PopUps to Boost Conversion

    Many other eCommerce businesses were also able to use popups successfully by thinking outside the box. Here are five ways to use this type of advertising to boost conversion rates and sales.

    1. Offer Something Extra With Your Welcome Popup

    It’s vital for eCommerce businesses to try and convert new visitors to either social followers or email subscribers. Even if the visitor doesn’t end up buying initially, the odds become better if you can get them to return, either with a newsletter or some form of social media interaction.

    One way to do this would be to have a well-designed popup that asks them to like the company’s social profile or to submit their email address. Once done, the visitor will be rewarded with a promo code for a substantial discount.

    1. Reduce Cart Abandonment Rates With a Catchy Exit Popup

    Cart abandonment slows revenue down and hinders conversion rates. But exit-intent popups can do a lot in deflecting customers from their intention of leaving the page without finishing their order.

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    It’s a good bet that most of your customers are interested in buying but are wary of clicking that final button because of the price. This could also cause prospective clients to check out the competition. If you want to prevent lost sales from these customers, try enforcing exit-intent offers that blatantly interrupt their leaving. Maybe you can prevent them from leaving prematurely by offering special discounts or giving away a free product if they continue with their purchase.

    1. Use Specially Triggered Popups to Upsell or Cross-Sell Products

    Amazon is a prime example of how beneficial upselling or cross-selling is to online retailers, and this technique could be enhanced further with the use of popups. You can design ones that are triggered when a customer searches for a particular product. For instance, a customer shopping for new Levi’s might encounter a popup suggesting boots that look good with that style of denim.

    You can make it even better by offering discounts for the cross-sell or upsell product. This gives the customer an incentive to buy another product that would go well with the item that they’re already purchasing. This is an inspired way to boost sales, as selling to current customers is easier than trying to convince new customers to buy something.

    1. Subtly Push Customers into Action with Time-Sensitive Popups

    Another useful strategy is to create time-sensitive popups that will give customers a push into taking immediate action. For instance, a company can implement a popup that offers a $10 discount and free shipping if the customer can complete their order at a certain time. Aside from providing a sense of urgency, it also gives the customer an incentive to complete the checkout process.

    1. Use Popups to Inform Customers of Shipping Policies

    Shipping is one of the main concerns of online shoppers. Unfortunately, customers are not in the habit of scrolling to the end of the page just to check out the company’s shipping policies. So if you’re shipping to their location, it’s best to use a popup to let the customer know that in advance. Auto geolocation technology can be used to detect and identify the customer’s IP address. Once that data has been ascertained, a popup can be triggered that informs the client of their shipping options.

    Image result for geolocation popup example

    Don’t drive your customers away with run-of-the-mill popups. Find creative ways to harness the power of these little windows and use them to enhance conversion rates and boost sales.

  • Blockchain: How Will it Impact Digital Marketing?

    Blockchain: How Will it Impact Digital Marketing?

    The marketing industry generates billions of dollars every year. After all, every company needs ads and various marketing strategies in order to reach their target consumers.

    Forrester, a leading market research company, even said that by 2021, digital marketing costs will reach $120 billion. Unfortunately, about half of ad traffic is created by bots. It’s a decidedly dishonest practice, especially when you consider how much money companies put out just to reach prospective clients. But this practice might soon come to an end once businesses have a greater capacity to focus on specific customers.

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    Graphic via Techspot.com

    It’s a good thing then that digital marketing is very dynamic and open to change. It easily adapts to new technology and the shifting perceptions of customers. At the moment, there’s one tech advancement that has the potential to change digital marketing (and the world) like never before – the blockchain.

    What is Blockchain?

    Blockchain might seem too technical for most people to fully grasp, but it’s a fairly simple concept. The technology is essentially a public ledger that stores and distributes data. More importantly, everyone that uses blockchain can see and share all its data and by doing so, each user plays a role in keeping it updated and transparent.

    The system works by keeping data stored in a chain-like pattern and the transaction history is stored in “blocks.” Information stored in a blockchain can only be added to. It can’t be changed or copied. If someone were to attempt to change the history or hack the system, the ledger would have to be updated on all the users’ computers. Considering the number of users in a blockchain, this would be almost impossible to do, making the service very secure.

    How Will it Impact Digital Marketing?

    Blockchain is often linked to cryptocurrency. It’s decentralized nature, the freedom it offers, and heightened cybersecurity features makes it perfect storage for virtual money. However, blockchain also has a major impact on digital marketing.

    It Will Take Out the Middleman

    There’s always a middleman in digital marketing which means businesses only get half the value of what they have paid. Blockchain can do away with these intermediaries and help create better value for marketing campaigns.

    Related image            Related image

    Graphic via Linkedin.com

    With a blockchain, companies can forego the ad buy process and just target their prospective customers directly by paying them to view the ads. Businesses can use “microcurrencies” that customers can avail of once they’ve proven that they have watched the ad. The Brave browser has already started this, using their Basic Attention Token (BAT) to ensure that companies only pay for the ads that have been viewed by a real person.

    Trust is Built With Transparency

    One concern that companies have with online advertising is that it’s virtually impossible to know if the stats provided are accurate. There’s no way to check if the counted site clicks or followers are real customers, or even real people, for that matter. After all, ad companies can hire “clickers” or use bots to boost ad stats so distributors can charge higher fees.

    Blockchain will definitely have a significant impact here. Since the system is encrypted and transparent, companies can easily check if those viewing their ads are part of their target audience or not.

    Improves Accountability

    There’s nothing more disheartening than spending your hard earned cash on a counterfeit product. Blockchain can lessen the odds of this happening by improving merchants’ accountability in every step of the supply chain.

    Blockchain’s vaunted digital ledger system enables transparency that cannot be tampered with. Customers can check details like where the product came from, if it’s legit or fake, whether it’s bought from a physical store or an online action. Simply put, blockchain empowers the customer and improves their buying experience.

    There’s no question that the idea behind blockchain is a powerful one. The technology has the potential to impact cryptocurrency, digital marketing, and customer experience. The system is still in its infancy but is expected to see significant growth in the coming year.  

  • Should You Outsource Digital Marketing for Your Business?

    Should You Outsource Digital Marketing for Your Business?

    For most companies, digital marketing is essential to growing and retaining their customer base. Unfortunately, a lot of businesses are in the dark when it comes to implementing and managing this type of marketing strategy. As a matter of fact, an informal poll conducted by Smart Insights revealed that half of the businesses that use digital marketing don’t have a working marketing plan to go on.

    But before you hash out the details on when and where to launch your digital campaigns, you’ll first need to figure out who will get the job done for you. There are two approaches to tackling this problem: go in-house or outsource.

    The Case for In-House Digital Marketing

    A lot of companies take advantage of the abundant resources, current online technology and available information on strategies and techniques to manage an in-house digital marketing group. After all, there are several advantages to going this route, most important of which is saving money. Hiring a third-party marketing agency can be relatively expensive considering you’ll need to cover their costs as well as their “markups”. Another advantage would be having a dedicated team who knows the company’s specific goals and are working on a documented digital marketing plan. 

    However, one major problem that an in-house team often encounters is the steep learning curve employees without the relevant skill set face. More often than not, this would cause a slower ramp-up time for marketing campaigns. It’s also a sad fact that more than half of in-house digital marketers are ineffective because they learned about the system on-the-job, and did not undergo any official training.

    Choosing to Outsource Digital Marketing

    Outsourcing your digital marketing needs can be very beneficial, particularly if this task is not your forte. Tapping the services of a digital marketing group can give you several advantages, like having a team of experts readily available. This means that you won’t have to worry about a marketer going on a vacation or taking a sick leave. Your marketing needs will always come first, regardless of whether there’s a holiday or not.

    One big advantage of using a digital marketing agency is the insight it can give your business. Employers are often so consumed by the day-to-day running of the company that they don’t have time to understand the business more deeply, like studying what brings prospective clients to the site or how to optimize the company’s online presence. An unbiased set of eyes will give you a new outlook on how to handle your marketing needs. These marketing experts are also likely to be more up-to-date on the latest techniques and strategies being utilized in digital marketing circles.

    Perhaps the most important benefit outsourcing your digital needs give is that you get to focus on what’s crucial to your company. Businesses who opt to outsource do so in order to keep the marketing process separate from the company’s core operations. By being distinct, the marketers have more freedom to develop and execute winning marketing strategies and keep up with changing business needs.

    Graphic via Quartsoft.com

    Should You Outsource Your Digital Marketing Needs?

    Before you make a decision on whether to outsource your digital marketing needs, take the time to determine what you really need in terms of marketing. You should also consider the following when you begin your search for an outside marketing agency:

    • Your Company’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Knowing what your KPIs are will help narrow down what you need help with and what the marketing agency can do for you. KPIs will influence the strategy the agency will suggest, as conversions, traffic, cost and revenue per lead are key KPIs for businesses. Which means this is the first question any reputable digital marketing company would ask. Consider it a red flag if the agency doesn’t inquire about it. Conversely, you should also ask digital marketing specialists what they think about your KPIs and how to optimize it. A good company would help you pinpoint weaknesses in your current marketing strategy and introduce new ideas and strategies to help you get the best results for your business.
    • The Digital Agency’s Track Record: Don’t take recommendations at face value. Do your due diligence and check the marketing company’s track record. Ask what types of clients they have handled before and their success record. Most agencies would have case studies and a portfolio on hand. But bear in mind that some clients do ask for non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). However, agencies that can’t provide a single client to show or refer should not be taken seriously.

    While there are other factors to consider, the bottom line is that outsourcing your digital marketing needs would depend on what you actually need. If you want to hit targets consistently and predictably then maybe an in-house team is the way to go. But if you want to focus all your energy on the core aspects of your business, then a digital marketing agency can save you time and offer more flexiblity.

  • Millennials: Why Your eCommerce Business Should Focus on Them

    Millennials: Why Your eCommerce Business Should Focus on Them

    Millennials are now the biggest demographic with disposable income in the US today. This is the generation born between the 1980s and 1990s. Statistics show that Millenials will make up the majority of the US workforce by the year 2025, which also means that most of them still have their prime earning (and spending) years ahead of them. Thus,  eCommerce businesses with sound marketing strategies focused on this demographic should yield steady returns for the next few decades.

     

    Millennials also have a distinct psychology from the previous generations. How they were raised and the technology they learned growing up definitely affected their buying habits. Here are some other reasons why eCommerce businesses should concentrate on this segment:

    They are an Influence to be Reckoned With

    There are about 80 million Millennials in the US today. Aside from being the biggest segment of the population, representing trillions in sales, they are also a force to be reckoned with in terms of influence on brands and what the next generation of shopping will be like.

    Being the children of the technology age, Millennials are dependent on their gadgets. Not only are they constantly connected to their devices, they also influence the next generation’s use of these gadgets as well as their shopping habits. eCommerce marketers should recognize that when they target Millennials they are also targeting their sphere of influence as well.

    It should also be emphasized that Millennials are very involved with the brands they like. They’re very active in searching for reviews, reading feedback and providing their own as well. They’re also open to giving positive and negative feedback on almost every product they use, as can be seen by their propensity to fill out surveys on customer experience, the products they want and the content they consume. 

    Millennials Demand Value for Money

    Growing up during the recession has caused these group to be more careful with their purchases. This means that they are prone to taking their time and evaluating the value of the product. They will take to social media to look for reviews and ask pertinent questions to find out more about a product they are interested in.

    This generation is also wise about getting the most out of their hard-earned money. They will look for deals, promos, and discounts and are not ashamed of using coupons. They would even wait patiently for a flash sale or an auction just to get more for their money. While they would often forego unnecessary expenses, Millennials are famous for window shopping online. They can spend hours clicking on sites, looking at products.

    They are Always Online

    Hours Millennials Spend Online

    Graphic via Content Science Review

    Never forget their need to be and do things online. Being raised on technology means they know the power they have at their fingertips and are only too willing to use it. This is why brands who were too slow to embrace online shopping are now being left in the dust. This generation loves to check things out online first before buying anything. So companies who want to cater to them should focus on marketing online over other all other types of marketing mediums.

    Image result for how much do millenials shop online

    Graphic via Social4Retail

    Capturing the Interest of Millennial Consumers

    It’s obvious that Millennials have a different approach to shopping. This is why online retailers must find a way to relate to them and capture their loyalty and their dollars. Since this generation has an active online presence, your business should be felt online too.

    Using conventional marketing tactics won’t work here. It’s vital that you engage with them honestly and realistically. This means providing content with the same behavioral, emotional, and psychological benefits that turned them to social media. Place yourself in the running by providing high-quality images that provide ideas and inspiration and make sure they’re optimized for sharing and for mobile.

    It’s also a good idea to make pricing a priority. Millennials are always looking for good deals. So pushing a marketing plan that incorporates promos, discounts and coupons are a good bet. Add some free shipping and you’ll be able to drive traffic to your site.

    [Featured image via Graphica YouTube]

  • 5 Ways Retailers Can Beat Amazon This Holiday Season

    5 Ways Retailers Can Beat Amazon This Holiday Season

    There’s no denying that when it comes to holiday shopping, Amazon is the company to beat. The past few years saw the retail giant’s sales figures going up, especially during the holidays, as thousands of consumers opt to shop online because of convenience. As a matter of fact, the internet retailer accounted for 33.8% of online visits during the last two months of 2016.

    While retailers and small businesses can’t hope to match Amazon’s numbers this year, they can still do something to beat it at its own game. Here are ways that retailers can get a leg up on Amazon:

    Capture Consumers Attention During Vital Shopping Days

    Amazon will always be in the minds of countless shoppers during the holiday season, mainly because of convenience and fast delivery. So how can retailers compete with this? By finding a way to capture the consumer’s attention and imagination. One of the best ways to do this is to come up with a marketing campaign that highlights the company’s values in order to target loyal and high-converting clients.

    Image result for #optoutside

    Companies like REI did this by closing its doors on Thanksgiving and Black Friday and encouraging customers to spend the day outside instead with its #optoutside campaign. The movement inspired state parks to waive their entry fees and saw companies like Subaru and Outdoor Research teaming up REI to promote outdoor recreation. And even though REI closed its doors on Black Friday, the campaign generated a 26% boost in online traffic on that day.

    Treat Each Shopper as a Unique Individual

    One of Amazon’s weaknesses is its one-size-fits-all approach to its consumers. This means everyone gets the same deals and prices. But retailers can go in the opposite direction and show consumers that their unique and individual needs are taken seriously. They can come up with customized offers for different types of shoppers, like loyal consumers, senior shoppers or first-time buyers. Retailers can also ensure that the content and offers in their email ads are designed for each particular group of shoppers.

    Streamline Your Shopping Cart

    There’s no question that the ease that someone can order from Amazon is a contributing factor to its popularity. In order to compete in the same league as Amazon, retailers should take a critical look at their shopping cart and see what their customers’ experience. They should pay particular attention to details like the number of steps it takes to fill their cart, the number of decisions that the customer must make during the checkout stage (ex. gift wrapping, shipping) and whether every step is necessary. Retailers should consider whether some steps can be streamlined by combining decisions and actions. After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than spending more than 10 minutes just trying to pay for something you want.

    Offer Worry-Free Shipping and Returns

    Free shipping is now the norm.While this might be a huge obstacle for some companies, there’s no denying that it’s what customers are now expecting from online retailers. There’s no better way to drive your customers to Amazon than by having high shipping costs during the holiday season. But aside from implementing this strategy, retailers should also ensure that they push this message to their consumers, like through the company’s homepage, pop-ups and social media ads. Promoting free shipping to your website’s visitors will also give them an additional incentive to browse through and hopefully purchase something.

    Retailers should also take advantage of Amazon’s less than stellar reputation when it comes to returns. Designing a system where shipping and returns won’t become a thorn on the shopper’s mind will definitely give a retailer an edge over Amazon.

    Provide Special Touches

    Image result for gift wrapping

    Customers will definitely love the special touches that companies offer, particularly during the busy holiday season. A simple gift-wrapping service or a program for storing items purchased ahead of time and to be delivered close to the holidays will be appreciated. Knowing that the company has taken the time to make life easier during this busy season will be more than enough to keep them coming back.

    Amazon might be an eCommerce behemoth, but small retailers can still hold their own against it. Remember that the best way to compete with such a big company is to look at the details it neglects and to give customers a truly personalized experience.   

    [Featured image via Pixabay]

  • Facebook and PayPal Collaborate to Allow Peer-to-Peer Payments

    Facebook and PayPal Collaborate to Allow Peer-to-Peer Payments

    Facebook is making it easier for users to send and receive money. Online payment giant PayPal announced that Facebook users can now make peer-to-peer payments via Messenger by using their PayPal accounts.

    The agreement between Facebook and PayPal will also make it easier for the social network’s users to fund online purchases or send money even if they cannot provide credit or debit card information. The peer-to-peer payment started going live on October 20, 2017, but is currently only available for users within the United States. At the moment, it is not yet clear if the service will be made available for users located in other parts of the globe in the future.

    The new feature can be accessed in the same manner as setting up a credit card or debit card payment method by simply tapping on the plus icon to access the Payments option.  Users will then be presented with two methods to choose from—cards or PayPal. Choosing PayPal will link you to Facebook Payments, which doesn’t require credit card or debit card information.

    PayPal’s entry as one of the social media platform’s payment option is expected to boost Facebook’s status as an eCommerce hub. Online transactions within the social media platform are already on the rise with around 450 million active users per month.

    The online payment system is continuing its thrust to be the payment system of choice for online transactions. Recently, PayPal also partnered with the popular messaging app Skype, making it possible for users to send money even in the middle of a chat, a useful feature for those living a mobile lifestyle.

    [Featured Image via PayPal]

  • Microsoft Plans to Bring Cortana to Skype

    Microsoft Plans to Bring Cortana to Skype

    Prepare for your Skype experience to be a little more productive. Microsoft has started integrating its digital assistant Cortana into Skype.

    However, don’t be surprised if Cortana is not showing in any of your Skype sessions just yet. Apparently, Microsoft is rolling it out gradually which means that the digital assistant may not be available to all Skype users simultaneously, The Verge reported. However, integration will be made available for both iOS and Android devices in the coming weeks.

    So just how helpful will Cortana be once fully integrated into Skype? You can think of it as your invisible—but hopefully, not-too-intrusive— smart friend that supplies you with the information you need to keep the conversation going with your real friends. You know, things like movie times, restaurant hours, movie reviews and pretty much everything you can find out for yourself if you bother looking it up on the web, according to PC Mag. The integration of Cortana will allow users to perform a search engine query without stalling their conversation on Skype.

    “Looking for information often requires interrupting the conversation, even if briefly, and switching apps to find what we’re looking for and bring it back into the conversation,” explains Skype’s blog post. “But shouldn’t technology make our lives easier and truly bring the answers we need to our fingertips?”

    Cortana’s integration into Skype is not exactly news; Microsoft already revealed the plan more than a year ago. While Skype users will no doubt find the integration useful, it was not explained why it took so long to implement the plan after it was announced.

    Meanwhile, there are reports saying that Microsoft may soon be challenging Amazon’s highly successful Echo, an established product in the smart speaker niche. Unveiled earlier this year, Microsoft’s Cortana-enabled smart speaker may hit the markets soon, according to a Business Insider report.

    The latest hint comes from an early Microsoft store listing which shows the smart speaker priced at $199. The speaker is developed in a partnership with Harman Kardon, an audio equipment manufacturer which Samsung acquired earlier this year.

    [Featured Image via YouTube]

  • Alibaba’s Cloud Revenue Skyrockets, Company Aims to Surpass Amazon and Microsoft

    Alibaba’s Cloud Revenue Skyrockets, Company Aims to Surpass Amazon and Microsoft

    Alibaba is nipping at the heels of top cloud companies Amazon and Microsoft. While the two still reign supreme in terms of revenue, the Chinese company leads the pack in terms of growth as Alibaba’s cloud revenue more than doubled in 2016.

    According to market research firm Gartner, Amazon Web Service (AWS) profits rose 45.9% in 2016, raking in about $9.8 billion from the previous year’s $6.7 billion while Microsoft’s Azure grew 61.1% and saw revenues of $1.6 billion from $980 million. Meanwhile, Alibaba’s cloud sales rocketed to 126.5%. That means Jack Ma’s company raked in $675 million in 2016, more than doubling its $298 million profit in 2015.

    Google follows Alibaba on the list and also saw their revenues doubled from $250 million to $500 million. Rackspace comes in at fifth with a revenue surge of 2.2%.

    Image result for alibaba 2017 iaas market share

    Gartner’s study focused on one key cloud computing segment – infrastructure-as-a-service or IaaS. This segment is comprised of data storage, basic computing and networking services that businesses can rent as required. It should be emphasized that cloud-based business programs like Salesforce are not included with IaaS.

    The IaaS market is growing by leaps and bounds. It generated $22.1 billion in 2016, an impressive leap from the previous year’s $16.8 billion.

    Cloud framework is a rising consideration among businesses, including Fortune 500 companies. Most are evaluating whether it’s better to utilize offsite cloud data facilities to run business software instead of running or expanding their own data centers.

    The Gartner research also revealed that the total market for IaaS service rose 31% in 2016, with profits rising to $22.1 billion from 2015’s $16.8 billion. It comes as no surprise that Amazon has a big slice of the market at 44%, while Microsoft has 7.1% and Alibaba accounts for just 3%.

    However, that might all change. For while Alibaba is a powerful entity in China, the company’s Aliyun cloud service is already flexing its muscles in North America and other markets like Australia, Germany, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. The addition of new data centers in these countries will solidify Alibaba’s position outside its home country in the years to come.

    The research firm also posited that Amazon’s growth will be curtailed or the company might even see its market share going down because of the intense competition the company is facing from Azure, Google and Alibaba. Aside from these companies growing, the non-hyperscale providers will also be looking for ways to add more value to their services.

    It’s clear though that Alibaba is really gunning to surpass Amazon’s AWS sector and become the top supplier of cloud services. At least, that’s the impression that Simon Hu, the president of Alibaba Cloud, gave during the company’s Computing Conference in Hangzhou.

    The South China Morning Post reported that Hu acknowledged that they have used Amazon as a benchmark and that Alibaba now has products that surpassed their rival’s. Hu also expressed confidence that Alibaba Cloud’s technical capabilities are at par with AWS.

    Other factors working in Alibaba’s favor are China’s booming internet economy and the country’s massive internet population. These are things the company knows is responsible for the opportunity it now has to push past its competitors.

    While it’s clear that Alibaba will continue to push for dominance, some sectors are undoubtedly wondering about IBM’s performance. The renowned company is glaringly absent from the top companies in the Gartner research.

    However, the research firm explains this omission is due to the majority of IBM’s offers falling into the software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) category, a market where it actually has a high ranking. IBM’s lack of IaaS provisions also means its cloud service will grow at a more sedate pace as IaaS is expected to zoom past whatever growth SaaS and PaaS will develop in the next five years.

    [Featured image via YouTube]

  • Google, Target Form Alliance to Take on Amazon

    Google, Target Form Alliance to Take on Amazon

    A war among titans is silently brewing in the online retail arena. Recently, Google announced a partnership with Target, a move that could signal the start of Google’s challenge to eCommerce giant Amazon on its own turf.

    Amazon is a serious threat not only to traditional retailers such as Target but to the search engine king Google as well. While Google might be the leader among search engines, many people are heading to Amazon first when looking for a particular product online. According to a Kenshoo survey, Google maintains a relatively small edge over Amazon when it comes product searches.

    Which of these online sites are you likely to use to help you find product ideas and information before making a purchase? Facebook - 27%, Retail Websites - 36%, eBay - 38%, Amazon - 72%, Google - 85%

    Image via Search Engine Land

    In an effort to widen its lead on product searches, Google has set in motion plans to keep Amazon at bay. It has steadily formed alliances with a number of retailers, to collectively put up a stand against a common enemy.

    Google announced on Thursday that it will be expanding its year-old delivery deal with Target. Previously available only in New York City and California, the two companies agreed to provide coverage nationwide, according to The Verge.  Shoppers can now order products carried by Target through Google Home smart speaker.

    Of course, the arrangement between Google and Target is seen as a direct challenge to Amazon’s service that allows customers to easily order what they want from the online retailer using voice commands through Echo. Though it may be difficult for Google to fend off Amazon in the segment, the company hopes that by partnering with a host of well-known brick-and-mortar stores, people might start seeing Google Home as an alternative to Echo when it comes to voice-activated shopping. And with the growing number of stores joining the alliance, the breadth and variety of products available via the service might be able to compete with Amazon’s dazzling array of options.

    Aside from Target, Google already has a similar partnership with Walmart.  In August, the company gained access “hundreds of thousands of items” being sold by the Walmart, Adweek reported. Google also managed to secure agreements with other big retailers such as Home Depot.

    What is interesting to note is that the Google and Target deal will likely employ either augmented or virtual reality to lure customers into the service according to a Recode. The speculation is based on the press release given by Mike McNamara Target’s digital chief.

    “Target and Google teams are working on … building experiences that digitally replicate the joy of shopping a Target store to discover stylish and affordable products,” McNamara previously announced. Of course, the details are yet to be revealed but it will be interesting to see just how the search giant utilizes an emerging technology like augmented reality to further its business objective.

    [Featured Image by Mike Mozart/Flickr]