Study: ‘social local search’ catching on
Hitwise research director LeeAnn Prescott has released some data showing traffic to local directories employing user generated content (UGC) is growing faster than traditional 'yellow pages' (directory) sites.
Will Yahoo mash-ups save us from Hotmail?
Yahoo’s decision to open up its email API is great news for web mail users and is a great example of what Web 2.0 is about. How long will it be before a major retailer like Tesco follows suit?
WPP's Martin Sorrell on Google, China and the internet
Sir Martin Sorrell’s WPP has made a series of investments in the online space this year, most recently the purchase of a 10% stake in Spot Runner, the US-based online ad agency which had also attracted the attention of Google.
He told us why...
Ebay launches new UK shopping service
Auction website eBay has today launched the UK version of its new online shopping service, eBay Express. The site will sell both new and used goods at fixed prices.
All of the sellers on the site have been signed up to a professional code of conduct by eBay, to ensure that they all offer returns policies and guaranteed delivery dates.
The company hopes that the site will attract those shoppers who prefer a more more conventional e-commerce shopping experience.
Telecoms companies criticised for poor online customer service
New research has shown that online companies need to dramatically improve their customer service and offer more help to customers on their sites. Telecoms providers came off worst in the survey, with banking websites the best performers.
The survey, by eService provider Transversal, has revealed that customers often face waits of up to 2-3 days for their emails to be answered, a situation which is exacerbated by the lack of online help offered by some websites. Some 60% of customer emails are generated by the lack of available information on websites.
Internet crime feared more than burglary in the UK
A recent government study has shown that many people are put off from using the internet because they are wary of being targeted by hackers and identity thieves.
The government’s Get Safe Online study has revealed that more people are afraid of becoming the victims of cyber crime than they are of being burgled or mugged.
Bebo closes gap on eBay in UK
Social networking site Bebo could be set to take over from eBay as the UK’s most searched for site, according to a study by Hitwise .
The analyst group says the number of UK web searches for 'Bebo' has tripled in the past six months and risen by 17.6% in the past quarter alone.
Affiliates raise bar as channel delivers £2bn plus in UK sales
One of the key trends identified in our just-published 2006 Affiliate Marketing Buyer's Guide is the way that affiliates have raised their game to match increasingly sophisticated approaches by both merchants and affiliate networks.
Survey Shows Brits Spend £5,000 A Year On Gadgets
According to new research, over 60% of the UK population spends over £5,000 per year on gadgets and new technology.
The survey, released by Best of Stuff, claims that 30% of Brits own up to 15 gadgets, with mobile phones voted as 'top gadget' by 26% of respondents.
Tesco boosts web sales by 30%
Tesco has posted a 28.7% rise in sales at its online division, with revenues coming in at £554m in the first half of this year.
The supermarket giant, which dominates the UK’s online grocery sector, said profit at Tesco.com increased 43.1% to £33.8m, excluding the launch costs of its non-food operation Tesco Direct.
Social media: the best and worst of 2009
Email marketing: six steps to improving customer engagement in 2010
Web 2.0
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
