@BasilPuglisi

Content & Strategy, Powered by Factics & AI, Since 2009

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Platforms Evolve: From Messenger Ecosystems to Mobilegeddon and LinkedIn Learning

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Social Platforms Become Full-Service Ecosystems

This month marks a transformative leap for three of the web’s most dominant platforms. Facebook opens its Messenger app to third-party developers, enabling integrated services, bots, and a new vision for how businesses communicate with users. Meanwhile, LinkedIn makes its boldest move yet—acquiring Lynda.com, signaling a pivot from résumé platform to career-building hub. And Google rolls out its mobile-friendly algorithm update, known as “Mobilegeddon,” reshaping the way we approach search and web design.

These aren’t isolated updates—they’re signals. The age of single-purpose platforms is over. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google are evolving into multi-layered ecosystems where utility, education, and accessibility converge.

Messenger: The New Business Channel

By opening Messenger to developers, Facebook is doing more than extending a chat tool—it’s creating a full-stack platform. Imagine users booking hotels, shopping, or receiving customer service—all within Messenger. This is messaging with function, not fluff. For marketers, the opportunity lies in creating bots or micro-services that solve problems quickly and contextually. The brands that adapt fastest will meet their audience where they already are—mid-conversation.

LinkedIn + Lynda = Social Learning at Scale

LinkedIn’s acquisition of Lynda.com signals that the professional platform is no longer just a digital résumé. It’s now an education hub. Professionals can now showcase not only *where* they’ve worked, but *what* they’ve learned—and how they’re growing. This is a direct alignment with the Factics approach: content must be rooted in data, experience, and strategy. For career-minded users and business owners alike, the merge opens new doors for showcasing expertise and development.

Mobilegeddon: The UX Reckoning

On April 21, Google begins rolling out its mobile-friendly update—immediately impacting the search rankings of non-responsive sites. This is no small algorithm tweak; it’s a mandate. If your site isn’t built for mobile, you’re losing visibility. The update reinforces what we’ve been saying for over a year: mobile-first isn’t optional—it’s fundamental.

From design to speed to experience, everything about your web presence must now be aligned with mobile behavior. Responsive isn’t enough—it must be intuitive, fast, and useful.

Strategic Insight: Integrate Where Attention Lives

• What’s your story? Your brand isn’t just a product or service—it’s how you interact, solve, and evolve across platforms. 
• What do you solve? Messenger and mobile design let you address problems in real-time, where your audience already is. 
• How do you do it? By embedding yourself into conversations, experiences, and learning paths. 
• Why do they care? Because when you’re present in their daily flow, you’re more than visible—you’re useful.

Whether it’s through a smart Messenger chatbot, mobile-friendly service landing page, or educational content shared on LinkedIn, modern strategy means showing up in real time with real value.

Fictional Ideas

Imagine Jordan, a solo entrepreneur who runs a digital tax consulting business. He builds a Messenger bot that answers basic tax questions, books appointments, and links to useful Lynda.com tutorials. He embeds that bot on his Facebook Page and website. As clients use the service, Jordan promotes related blog posts on LinkedIn Pulse, demonstrating his knowledge and offering free checklists. His audience grows because he’s not shouting—he’s serving. His strategy? Platform presence, educational value, and mobile-first interaction.

References

Facebook. (2015). Facebook Messenger Platform. https://messengernews.fb.com/2015/03/25/introducing-messenger-platform/
Google. (2015). Official Google Webmaster Central Blog. https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2015/04/helping-more-mobile-friendly-search.html
LinkedIn. (2015). LinkedIn to Acquire Lynda.com. https://news.linkedin.com/2015/04/lynda
TechCrunch. (2015). Facebook Launches Messenger Platform. https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/25/facebook-messenger-platform/
The Verge. (2015). LinkedIn Buys Lynda.com. https://www.theverge.com/2015/4/9/8374895/linkedin-lynda-com-acquisition

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn on the Move as Mobile Search Continues to Climb

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Mobile Search Becomes the Default

Mobile usage is no longer a prediction—it’s a reality. More than half of all digital traffic now comes from smartphones and tablets, and mobile search is steadily overtaking desktop as the default. This shift is not only impacting how users access content, but also how platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn adapt their user experience and advertising tools.

Google’s impending mobile-friendly algorithm update (already being discussed by SEO professionals) signals that websites must optimize for mobile or risk losing visibility. Mobile-first isn’t a suggestion—it’s a strategic necessity. Businesses must rethink their content layouts, image sizing, and call-to-action placements to match how users interact on the go.

Facebook Tightens Organic Reach, Boosts Video

Facebook is continuing its push toward a paid media model by reducing the reach of unpaid posts from brand pages. Organic impressions are declining, especially for promotional content. Simultaneously, Facebook is favoring native video over YouTube links, encouraging brands to upload directly for autoplay in feeds.

Short, mobile-friendly videos are driving more engagement than static images or links. It’s a classic example of Factics in motion—when you back your digital efforts with real data and pair it with the right tactics, your message lands. Smart marketers are using under-60-second video clips to drive traffic, offer value, and prompt action.

Twitter Adds Group DMs and Native Video

Twitter is broadening its functionality by rolling out group Direct Messages and native video capabilities. These updates align with the platform’s effort to become more conversational and multimedia-rich. Businesses now have new tools to engage both publicly and privately, and the addition of native video (up to 30 seconds) brings more flexibility for storytelling.

It’s another case for strategy over volume. Just because you can post a video doesn’t mean you should—unless it teaches something or builds trust. Our Teachers NOT Speakers mindset applies: content must educate, demonstrate, or guide. Otherwise, it’s just noise.

LinkedIn Becomes a Publishing Powerhouse

LinkedIn has opened its publishing platform to all users globally, turning it into a legitimate content marketing tool for professionals. It’s no longer just a résumé platform—it’s a stage for thought leadership, industry insights, and professional storytelling. For businesses and consultants alike, this is a chance to lead with value and build influence inside a trusted network.

Publishing on LinkedIn aligns perfectly with the Factics methodology. Use data, case studies, and proven practices to offer real value in your posts. Strategy matters. Posting on LinkedIn is not about “likes”—it’s about credibility, conversation, and conversion over time.

References

Sterling, G. (2015). Google: Mobile Search Now Surpasses Desktop In 10 Countries Including US. Search Engine Land. https://searchengineland.com/google-says-more-searches-now-on-mobile-than-on-desktop-220369
Constine, J. (2015). Facebook To Slash Pages’ Organic Reach. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2015/01/02/facebook-organic-reach-2015/
Perez, S. (2015). Twitter Launches Group DMs And 30-Second Native Video. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2015/01/27/twitter-launches-group-dms-and-native-video/
LinkedIn. (2015). Publishing on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/publishing-on-linkedin/
StatCounter. (2015). Mobile and Tablet Internet Usage Exceeds Desktop for First Time Worldwide. https://gs.statcounter.com/press/mobile-and-tablet-internet-usage-exceeds-desktop

Mobile Video Meets Content Overload: Winning Attention

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The Content Race Hits a Wall

By early 2014, it was clear: the digital content arms race had reached a tipping point. Everywhere you looked — blogs, whitepapers, videos, infographics — brands were pumping out material at a breakneck pace. But something was off. Engagement metrics began to decline. More content no longer meant more results.

The term “Content Shock”, coined by Mark Schaefer just months earlier, wasn’t just a theory anymore — it was a reality.

Content Shock in Action

Schaefer (2014) predicted that as content supply continues to grow exponentially, the finite human capacity to consume it would collapse ROI. His prediction found backing quickly:

– In 2011, the average Facebook page post had an organic reach of 16%
– By early 2014, that number had dropped below 6% for most brands (Constine, 2014)
– YouTube saw over 100 hours of video uploaded every minute (YouTube, 2014)

The firehose was on full blast — and audiences were drowning.

Strategy Shift: Rise of Mobile Video

Yet even in the noise, attention could still be earned. The shift came on mobile — and it came through video.

Google reported that 40% of YouTube traffic was now coming from mobile devices. Facebook began auto-playing muted videos in feeds, and Twitter introduced native video uploads. Audiences were tuning out blog posts but leaning into motion, visuals, and voice — all from the palm of their hand.

This wasn’t just a content format change — it was a behavioral shift.

Factics in Action: Cutting Through the Noise

This is where Factics matters — where you move from trend-chasing to data-backed tactics. Here’s how brands succeeded in 2014’s content shock environment:

1. Create Value-Dense Mobile Video – 15 to 60 seconds of purposeful content, optimized for mobile loading and square or vertical formatting
2. Repurpose Long-Form Content – Break webinars, interviews, and blogs into visual snippets and storylines
3. Publish Natively – Don’t just post links. Upload video files directly to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
4. Embed Subtitles – Silent autoplay became the norm. Closed captions helped deliver the message without sound
5. Teach, Don’t Tease – Every piece of content should leave the viewer smarter, more informed, or more capable

Factics means you’re not creating content for content’s sake. You’re building strategic education, not filler.

Teachers NOT Speakers: Educators in a Noisy Market

In a time when everyone was pushing content just to stay visible, we took a different approach. Teachers NOT Speakers was never just a slogan — it was a discipline.

I wasn’t interested in being a keynote voice. I wanted to be the one giving the room tools they could walk out and use immediately. Every conference, every post, every video was a chance to demonstrate how, not just talk about what.

And that’s why Digital Ethos stood out.

“Digital Ethos was never about volume. It was about value — helping people make sense of the overload by giving them real insight, not just more noise.”

We didn’t chase visibility. We chased usefulness.

The Takeaway

April 2014 was a turning point — not because content died, but because passive content stopped working.

Audiences began filtering harder. The winners weren’t louder — they were more intentional.

✅ Create with purpose
✅ Deliver real value
✅ Show, don’t just tell
✅ Back it up with data
✅ Teach, always

Because when attention is scarce, Factics wins.

References

Constine, J. (2014, April 3). Facebook Admits Organic Reach Is Falling Short, Urges Marketers to Buy Ads. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2014/04/03/facebook-zero-organic-reach/

Schaefer, M. (2014, January 6). Content Shock: Why content marketing is not a sustainable strategy. Businesses Grow. https://businessesgrow.com/2014/01/06/content-shock/

YouTube Press. (2014). Statistics. https://www.youtube.com/intl/en/press/

Mobile-First is No Longer a Trend — It’s the New Normal

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2013 is closing out with a major shift in how people use the web. For the first time, mobile traffic is overtaking desktop traffic for many websites — not just for casual browsing, but for e-commerce, social media, and even B2B engagement.

According to recent data from comScore, mobile devices (smartphones + tablets) now account for over 50% of total digital media consumption in the United States. And that number is expected to rise sharply in 2014.

This isn’t just a design challenge anymore. It’s a complete rewrite of how we think about content, marketing, and user experience.

The Data Behind the Shift

Here’s what the industry is seeing:
– Facebook reports that nearly 70% of its users access the platform via mobile, and 49% use mobile-only.
– Google’s internal data shows that mobile-friendly sites see higher engagement and conversions.
– Retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Amazon are seeing a significant portion of their holiday traffic come from smartphones and tablets — with Amazon citing that 56% of holiday shoppers browsed deals on mobile devices.

What This Means for Marketers

If your site is still designed “desktop-first,” you’re not just behind — you’re losing customers.

Consider these action items:
– Design and test content for thumbs and scrolls, not mouse clicks.
– Speed is everything. A 1-second delay in load time can reduce conversions by 7%.
– Simplify forms and calls to action for mobile users.
– Prioritize content hierarchy: Put the most important content at the top, make text readable, and ensure tap targets are easy to interact with.

Social Media’s Role

Social platforms are almost entirely mobile environments now.

– Twitter’s mobile user base reached 75% in late 2013.
– Instagram is a mobile-only experience — and its advertising rollout (see last month’s post) is built around this model.
– Even LinkedIn has rolled out a major mobile update to support better engagement and messaging on phones.

What does this mean for your content?
👉 You must design for small screens, fast feeds, and quick actions.

Micro-content, like snackable headlines, short videos, and clear visuals, is essential. Your post may only get a few seconds of attention — make them count.

Mobile SEO and Local Search

The mobile shift also has huge implications for SEO and local visibility. Google has updated its ranking signals to favor mobile-friendly pages. If your site isn’t responsive or adaptive, you risk losing organic traffic.

Local search is also increasingly mobile-driven. Over 60% of local searches now come from mobile, especially for restaurants, services, and events. If you’re not optimized for local mobile search — think Google Maps, reviews, and click-to-call — you’re leaving revenue on the table.

Final Thoughts

As we wrap up 2013, the writing is on the wall: “Mobile-first” can’t be a buzzword anymore — it has to be the foundation of your digital strategy.

If you’re planning your 2014 campaigns without leading with mobile, you’re planning for the past, not the future.

References

comScore. (2013). U.S. digital future in focus 2013. https://www.comscore.com/Insights/Presentations-and-Whitepapers/2013/2013-US-Digital-Future-in-Focus

Facebook. (2013). Q3 2013 earnings report. https://investor.fb.com/

Google Think Insights. (2013). The mobile playbook. https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com

Amazon Press Center. (2013). 2013 holiday shopping insights. https://press.aboutamazon.com

Nielsen. (2013). Mobile consumers in a multi-screen world. https://www.nielsen.com

10 Ways to Use Foursquare for Business

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Foursquare is a location-based smartphone application which offers check-in service to customers, marketers and businesses alike. You can use this mobile application to check-in to venues and share with your friends where you are, and obtain info about those places.  Based on your updates, the application might assign you merit badges. It’s an interesting social concept for consumers and at the same time, a strong business tool that can be potentially used for creating brand awareness and profits. Hence if you want to leverage your business, this platform platform is worth looking at for several reasons. To do this, you’ll have to understand how it works. There are 10 ways to use Foursquare for business. To help you get an idea about promoting your own business through this platform, there are a few tips discussed below.
How to use foursquare for business
To begin with, check your business on Foursquare. If your business is not there, add it and then, claim it on the listing. Connect your Twitter account with the listing. This process is quite simple. Once this is done, you can proceed further to use Foursquare for business promotion. In this endeavor, following things can be done:

  1. Create interesting deals to draw in customers. Deals can easily be created if you have claimed your business on this platform. You can give special discounts to those users who checks in to your business, for instance – announce to give 10% off on one’s next merchandise shopping. However, just ensure that your deals are special and creative so that new customers get attracted and keep coming back to you.
  2. Design reward-based programs on Foursquare for loyal customers to retain them. If deals help you draw new customers, rewarding those who are regular visitors to your business is useful in winning their loyalty. It can create a bond between your customers and the business and entice them to come back to you. Your reward-based programs should be smart and intelligently devised, for instance – a program asking one to check in 5 times in 15 days and win a surprise gift.
  3. Use Foursquare to collect demographic details of your customers. Through this platform, you can know the average check-in rate of a customer, his/ her age and gender, check-in timings and where he or she is sharing the check-in details – on Facebook or Twitter.
  4. Another interesting way to use Foursquare for business promotion is to get feedback from your customers about your business. Customers can leave their comments or tips about a particular venue they visit. You can use their feedback to bring improvisation in your business.
  5. Foursquare is a powerful medium to advertize your business for free. When you claim your business and optimize the listing by adding authentic contact details and website, you increase the chances of promoting your business across various social networking sites which are used by millions.
  6. If your business doesn’t have a physical presence, you can use Foursquare to set up a page instead of claiming a venue. Foursquare page is not much different from a Twitter page. Those who follow your business on Foursquare can obtain information about you from there.
  7. You can enter a partnership with other brands which are physically present to derive optimum benefit. For instance if you are a book publisher, join hands with a local bookstore to increase the reach of your business.
  8. Design Foursquare event at your venue to boost massive check-ins and brand consciousness.
  9. You can encourage your staff to join Foursquare and check-in at your venue there whenever they report to work. This will also help spread awareness about your business among their friends and followers.
  10. You can also share useful tips on Foursquare to engage with your customers and thereby, attract their attention to your business.

These are few ways to use Foursquare for business. You can use these and other innovative techniques as well to make success out of your business.
Edoardo Piccolotto, is an Internet Marketing and Strategic Consultant that provides specific strategy advices to business that want to use internet to generate new business opportunities. Follow him on twitter @epiccolotto.

QR Codes on Gravestones to Access Memorials

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Walking through a cemetery is often eerie and rather uncomfortable, especially knowing there were people who lost their lives and were buried in the ground beneath you. It’s not unusual to wonder about those who are deceased and what their stories were. When looking at gravestones you know their names and their life span, but who were they really? What did they do with their lives and what were they known for. Soon these questions will be answered with as little as a scan of your cell phone.
QR codes, the two-dimensional barcodes that have grown to be extremely popular over the past few years, are making their way now onto gravestones. Starting in the UK and quickly moving to America, gravestone producers are offering the addition of QR codes to direct those interested to an interactive memorial for the person who has died.
These interactive memorials can include anything from pictures, videos and contributions from family and friends. There are even people now who are creating their own memorials so that they can structure how it’s laid out and how they’re remembered.
Imagine being able to structure what people see in your memorial, what your last thoughts were and what messages you’d like to send to family and friends. This also creates easy access to family tree information, making it much easier than digging for birth records in the future.
Of course with new technology such as this, there are bound to be challenges. The idea of putting a QR code on a structure that’s made to last for hundreds of years creates a number of difficulties. You can go to any graveyard and see how different recent gravestones look compared to stones that are hundreds of years old. As a gravestone weathers and changes over time, a QR code can become much more difficult to read and scan. Textures like sandstone and granite will change and the codes you have etched into them will change as well.
Another challenge you run into with adding these codes to gravestones is the technology itself. While the QR code technology has been around for a couple decades already, it’s never a sure thing that it will be around in another 10 to 20 years. With technology always evolving, another two-dimensional technology could replace the QR code, making the current QR codes obsolete and unreadable.
By creating a memorial for someone online, this creates another issue regarding the website URL. With the Internet constantly evolving, URL technology could very well change within the next several decades. This puts you at risk of losing all of these records over time. While the current technology appears to be here to stay, you never know what the future holds for us and what advancements will be made to completely change the way we do things today.
The idea of preparing for your own death may be morbid, but it’s a reasonable thought process. Rather than being remembered for a tragic accident, a health condition, etc, why not shape exactly how you want to be remembered and implement that as an interactive memorial. This way, the next time someone’s walking through a graveyard and sees the QR code on your gravestone, they have the opportunity to learn about who you really were, not just when you passed away.

Patricia Goldbum is a freelance writer focusing on technology. As a business owner, Patricia has just implemented barcode stickers and labeling to stay on track and keep her business organized.

The First 5 Apps for Professionals on the iPhone 5 [OPINION]

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Even as a longtime iPhone user, the excitement of getting a new phone is palpable. I just picked up my iPhone5, making me among the first to get the new iPhone at the flagship Apple store in San Francisco.
The larger screen is great for apps, which I’m eagerly downloading now. Apparently I’m not the only one who is app-happy. The average number of apps installed per smartphone has jumped 28 percent in 2012. No wonder, really. We’re on the go so much, and there’s a seemingly infinite array of apps to save time, money, and (for me at least) some sanity.
I’ve got a well-rounded list of must-have apps: two to be productive, two to travel smarter, one to stay informed.
Mobile productivity
Apps are the key to mobile productivity, and DocuSign Ink (of course!) was the first app on my new phone. Version 2.0 works with iOS6 and the iPhone 5. You’ll want it too, so you can sign documents—from permission slips for school to contracts from the office—while you’re standing in line at the grocery store. Skip the print, sign, scan, email routine. We use it at work to get sign-off on documents from nondisclosure agreements to contracts to purchase agreements. 
As busy as we are, who couldn’t use a little brain assist to keep things organized? Evernote promises to help you “remember everything.” I use it to capture anything from good ideas to the grocery list—and then rest assured I won’t lose it before I need it.
Travel smart
If you’re on the road or in the air much, TripIt is the app to have. Forward all of your confirmation emails (air, car, hotel) to plans@tripit.com, and you’ll magically get one consolidated itinerary that’s easy to share with colleagues and family. It even adds local maps, weather, and event information. I don’t travel with a stack of printouts anymore, just TripIt.
If, like me, you find it challenging to keep track of expenses on the road, get an app like my download #4, Concur. I use it throughout each trip to snap photos of receipts, which are then automatically added to my expense report—thereby dramatically improving my reimbursement rates.
Stay informed
These days, on-the-go is far from out-of-touch. I got Flipboard to read the latest happenings from my favorite social sites, all happily assembled in one place.
What’s on your “Day-One Downloads” list?  Let me know in the comments. I’m always on the lookout for new apps to download.
 
About the Guest Blogger:
The article was provided by Robin Joy, Vice President, Online & Mobile at DocuSign. You can follow the company and all the latest news on twitter @docusign.

Snaptag Versus QR Codes

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QR codes have been a new and unique source of executing mobile marketing campaigns in recent times. Many seem to not only enjoy participating by using them, but have actually begun to look for offers from those with QR codes and may even have begun to ignore those that do not have them at all.

What is a QR Code?

QR is short for quick response and that is exactly the purpose of the QR code. These codes take an element of data from transitory media and sends it to your mobile device. The code will give you details about that business, item, or even discount information on products and services.

QR Codes are more useful than a standard barcode in that they can store a more data and a wider variety of it. QR codes commonly include URL links, text, coordinates and more.

How Does This Benefit Businesses?

Most marketers are well aware that mobile marketing is becoming increasingly more important, almost by the day. No method of advertising could be easier than one that consumers reach out for, instead of being asked to look. QR codes allows those consumers who prefer not to be barraged with overt marketing tactics to choose where they will show interest in a product or service.

There is really no limit to the options that can be embedded in a QR code.

  • Running a restaurant? – Embed a great recipe, a buy a meal get one free discount, a special on this evenings dessert.
  • Authors – Add a QR code to the back of your book that enables a consumer to get extra features or hidden endings to your script.
  • Good health practices – Doctors, or other medically related practices can add good tips and tricks for healthy living to their QR codes, update them every month for innovative creativity in the medical field.

Vital Aesthetics Arrive to QR Coding

Traditionally, QR codes have retained a Rorschach look to them, leaving the responsibility on the advertiser to make sure consumers know whose QR code they are scanning. However, with Snaptags, QR codes and increasing brand awareness have meshed nicely. Snaptags have traded out that whole inkblot look for a code ring that serves the same functional purpose.

Who is Using Snaptags?

Because of the applied branding ability on Snaptags not previously available on QR’s, we can now see who is actively using them.

Picture c/o http://www.socialsnaptags.com/

Snaptags Cons?

Although Snaptags no doubt win out in the aesthetic element, there are other issues that can make Snaptags less beneficial than they appear. Many venture because of the supporting copy, Snaptags are not as easily accessible as QR codes. Snaptag stands by the fact that all advertisers would need to do is determine the required supporting copy, but this does lend itself to the inaccessible accusation.

Many current QR code advertisers agree that if a mobile marketing campaign is managed correctly, the aesthetic element of the Snaptags versus traditional QR’s is hardly advantageous.

Sources:

Mobile Growth in Retail: Cyber Shopping 2011

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What is known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday was extended this year to 10 days, with online retailers continuing their discounts throughout the week. What do the online shopping numbers for post-Thanksgiving sales tell us about the state of online shopping?

It’s important to remember that the data is recent and fresh, many analyzers point out. The real numbers will not be available until all the stores report their sales numbers.

Black Friday

  • 226 million shoppers visited stores and shopped online in the 4 days of the Thanksgiving weekend, compared with 212 million a year ago.
  • The average spending rose as well, to $398.62 per shopper, up from 365.34 last year.
  • Overall sales climbed 6.6% this year and stood at $11.4 billion. Up nearly $1 billion from last year. It was the largest amount spent in one day since 2007.

“Black Friday has evolved from an early morning shopping activity to a late night entertainment,” says Ellen Davis, spokeswoman at The National Retail Federation. “A lot of people stayed up until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. to go shopping, and then went to bed.”

Not everyone.

  • Online shopping on Black Friday jumped 26% to $816 million. Compared with $648 million this past year, such a big jump is unprecedented. The year to year growth in 2010 was only 9%.
  •  50 million Americans visited online stores. The most visited were Amazon.com, Wall-Mart, Best Buy, Target and Apple.

Online sales increased much more than the store sales, with stores open at 10PM Thanksgiving day, pepper spraying and bone crushing included.

Cyber Monday:

The strong sales continued into Cyber Monday.  This past Monday was crowned ‘the biggest online shopping day ever.’

IBM’s Benchmark research firm published these numbers:

  • Spending online was up by 33% from last year.
  • The average spending per customer was $198 per order, up $5 from last year.
  • People are using tablets and smartphones to shop as well. Traffic from mobile devices was 10.8% of online commerce.
  • What is even more impressive is the sales using mobile devices were up to 6.6% from all online sales, an increase from 2.3% in 2010.

Experts say the numbers point to the fact that Americans are growing more and more comfortable with online shopping. The mobile shopping increased thanks to companies embracing the tablet, with 5.2% of tablet shoppers making a purchase.

Considering the top 50 online retailers, J.C. Penny, Apple and Symantec performed the best as for availability and response time.

 

Sources:

New Google Newsletter and Mobile Adwords Features

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Google Adwords launched new features in September 2011. These new features are geared towards making site clicks and even subscriptions to site newsletters or blogs easier to accomplish. Being able to get signed up to internal site options from the external source of a Google browser could go a long way in increasing traffic for those who utilize these methods.

AdWords Subscribe Option

Adwords now provides an option to allow Google search engine users to subscribe directly from a PPC ad. The option to subscribe to newsletters or email lists can be displayed on top or side ads.

All ads are displayed with “Privacy Info” that lets the viewer know that information shared in the input boxes will be shared with the advertiser.

Mobile Landing Pages

A recent study found that 61% of mobile browsers are not likely to return to a site that does not provide a good mobile experience. In response, Google initiated a shift in their policy that will now reward mobile sites with good optimization. Users with good mobile optimization who promote their sites with Google Adwords will now receive better performance. The ads created will drive traffic at a lower cost if they directly link to your site that is optimized for mobile users.

How Will This Affect Me?

If you are a business owner, whether or not you use Google Adwords, the time to optimize your site for mobile users is now. Even without the use of Google Adwords to promote a site, knowing that over half of mobile browsers will never return to your non-optimized site should be enough to push you into sprucing up your site to accommodate users on mobile devices. Getting rid of flash heavy content is a great step towards optimizing for mobile usage.

How Do I Optimize My Site for Mobile?

Google has offered a few suggestions to help you get your site optimized for mobile usage.

  • Keep the layout and design simple
  • Prioritize your content
  • Use markedly mobile features
  • Make your site easy to convert

If you want to know how well your site functions on mobile devices, grab your device and load up your site. If it is frustrating for you to navigate, you may want to make the changes required to encourage mobile use of your web pages.

Sources: