Google’s universal search results hit Adwords
More than two years after first unleashing the video plus box on search listings, Google has started to push the video unit into Adwords.
The video plus unit was first introduced to organic search results in early-2007, as part of its universal search results.
Now, entertainment companies including Miramax, Discovery and EA have recently been offered to use the video player to bolster their plain text Adwords ads.
Love your customer service staff, love your customers
There's an old adage about it costing five times as much to acquire a new customer as to retain a new one. So why – in these difficult times - aren't more businesses focused on reducing customer churn, and improving customer service levels, to generate more repeat business?
This is fundamentally a cultural problem for many companies. There needs to be a shift in the mindset of larger organisations, in order to keep both staff and customers satisfied. I'm not sure that the balance is right, and I'm hoping that the next decade will be all about retention and satisfaction, so here I'm going to lobby for love. I want you to give more love to your customer services staff, for they are at the forefront of your push towards boosting customer satisfaction...
The workaround: technology strikes back
People have been finding workarounds for poorly designed systems for many years. Although both the technology and the workarounds have become more sophisticated, the problem, and its solution, remains the same.
Many years ago, before web-based interfaces, we were asked to investigate why an online ordering system wasn’t delivering the promised productivity benefits. Our research, which involved videoing staff dealing with telephone orders and then interviewing them about the process, soon revealed the problem.
Take five seconds to test your call to action and USP
You may be focused on improving the conversion rate for your website, or simply wanting to ensure that your visitors can quickly get an idea of what you do and offer.
Whatever your goals, having a clear proposition and call to action are two areas that can have a positive impact on your business performance.
In this post I will be talking about a web application that you can use to help you and your business gain invaluable insights from end users.
Why you need to create video for the web
Advertising revenue is down, newspapers are struggling and as the economy takes a downturn production costs are up, at the same time online readership and revenue continue to rise. So what's the answer? Go where the eyes are.
Whether you are writing, taking pictures, shooting video or recording audio you can build communities with your content. But only if you take it online.
iPhone app review: Edinburgh Festivals Guide
Once a year Edinburgh’s population more than doubles with an influx of visitors arriving to take advantage of Edinburgh’s festival season.
A new iPhone app has many positive features to help punters through the maze of shows and venues, although some improvements can be made to support the user journey.
Q&A: Robin Brattel of Inapub.co.uk
Inapub.co.uk is a website that allow users to search and find out what is happening in their local pub, while landlords can publicise upcoming events.
The website was originally launched in 2007 by Robin Brattal, and has recently undergone a redesign. I've been talking to Robin about the site and the challenges of getting the project off the ground.
Create and use your personal QR code in five minutes
QR codes are smart barcodes that have a lot of potential to bridge the gap between online and offline marketing.
QR codes are image-based links to information. QR stands for ‘quick response’... instead of remembering and typing a URL / phone number you just take a picture of a QR code, and it does the rest.
In a nut, here’s how it works:
- You create a code (an image).
- Someone takes a picture of it on a smartphone.
- The code is deciphered via a QR reader.
- It becomes a link to provide the viewer with information.
In a moment I’ll show you how to set one up...
When did advertising become more important than published content?
An incident happened last week — I tweeted a caustic expletive directed at DoubleClick knowing that only my tribe would read the invective. What realization occurred that would have me throw political correctness out the window? It was the moment when I realized DoubleClick behaved as if their advertising was more important, perhaps more desirable, than the actual published content that I had clicked to experience. Or, maybe the ad platform/producer just isn’t aware of how their technology rubs up against other technologies...
Retailers need to focus on online customer service
When confronted with poor standards of customer service online, 94% of respondents to a survey said they would seek out a competitor or stop using the company's website altogether.
The survey, commissioned by nGeneraCIM, highlights the importance of meeting the needs of customers online, with 91% of UK web users saying thet customer service is important when buying online.
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
