What should be above the fold on an e-commerce site?
As a number of usability studies have shown recently, the fold on a webpage doesn't have to be a barrier to users, and people are willing to scroll down to see more.
However, the area above the fold is the first thing visitors to your website will see, so what should be above the fold? Here are a few suggestions, with e-commerce sites in mind...
App review: thetrainline for iPhone
Rail ticket retailer thetrainline has just released a new free iPhone app, which allows users to check UK train timetables and plan journeys.
With the only competition being the Rail Enquiries iPhone app, which retails at £4.99, then it could be a popular app. I've been taking a closer look...
TV Everywhere has a lot to learn from Hulu. Not that it will listen.
Network television is moving forward with TV Everywhere, its plan to move television content online, but it looks like there are more than a few aspects of television broadcasting that executives are not willing to forgo — namely the ad load.
At the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing Summit in Denver this week, cable executives made it clear that TV Everywhere will not be a "Hulu for cable."
And why would it be? Hulu works.
Google is about to teach GPS companies the pain of free
Mobile navigation systems have been one of the most profitable purveyors of mobile content, with subscribers paying an average of $5 to $10 for mobile GPS access. But Google announced today that it will be launching a free turn-by-turn mobile navigation system next week. And the news ought to have navigation companies worried about their future.
Google's system will launch next week on Motorola's Droid phone and will eventually roll out to other phones, including the iPhone. Can GPS companies compete with free?
Don't call it a comeback: The display market turns 15
Today marks the 15th anniversary of the display ad. The first banner ads were run on Hotwired.com (the first digital offshoot of Wired magazine) on October 27, 1994. And according to advertisers and marketers at Digiday's DPAC4, display advertising is ready to rise again.
After being battered by search advertising and dwindling click-through rates, display ads are experiencing a resurgence of sorts. At the Digital Publishing and Advertising Conference in New York on Tuesday, speakers on The State of Display II panel were in agreement that display ads are back.
The impact of negative consumer reviews is growing
As consumers gain more outlets for expressing their views online, brands are becoming less concerned with reaching out to professional writers to spread the word about their products. But while getting a positive review from a professional writer may have much of a sales impact, negative consumer reviews are becoming increasingly problematic.
According to Brand Reputation, 84% of the consumers they surveyed are more likely to look for online product reviews than they were just a year ago. And those who have had a negative experience are five times as likely to tell their friends. Brands can do a lot to monitor this shift and arrange their resources accordingly.
When Microsoft pulls out of Family Guy, who loses?
It is not the end of the world as we know it. Microsoft caused a bit of an uproar last week when it announced plans to sponsor a full episode of FOX's "Family Guy." (TechCrunch called it The End of Television.) But the software giant hadn't quite thought that plan through. Or, you know, watched Family Guy.
After seeing a preview of "Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show," Microsoft decided it would not promote Windows 7 with its proposed sponsorship. FOX still plans to air the show on November 8th and is looking for another sponsor. So who's the biggest loser in this situation?
Mobile app review: Amazon
Online retail behemoth Amazon launched the UK version of its iPhone app this week, allowing users to search and shop from their mobiles.
I've been trying out the Amazon mobile app...
iPhone moms are waiting for the right marketers
Mothers of young children are a rapidly growing segment of the smartphone population, and considering how important the demographic is in household purchasing decisions, marketers should take note of how they're using their phones and the mobile space generally.
According to mobile ad network Greystripe, “iPhone moms” (female iPhone owners with young children) use mobile media more than other iPhone users. But from previous studies, we know that moms also don't take to iPhone ads. What's a marketer to do?
Travelocity brings search into its display ads — and increases ROI
Display ad campaigns have proven to boost brand searches online and even increase sales. But finding the right mix of search and display advertising can be tricky for advertisers. In the case of Travelocity, the popular travel website has moved towards using real-time search data in its display ads.
It seems like a simple enough strategy. The result? A 203% increase in bookings online. How'd they do it?
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
