PayPal partners with 15 retailers in big offline push
PayPal may already be ubiquitous on the web, but the payments giant has its sights set on much bigger fish offline.
In an effort to bring PayPal purchasing to the masses wherever they shop, the company yesterday announced pacts with 15 major retailers in the United States that will give consumers the ability to pay for their purchases using PayPal.
10 interesting digital stats we've seen this week
I've rounded up some of the most interesting digital marketing stats I've seen this week.
Topics covered include the use of tablets and other devices while watching TV, search marketing budgets, mobile payments and Google+.
Only 16% of businesses use data to form a single customer view
While digital media has given businesses numerous channels to engage with their customers, only 16% of companies currently use that data to form a single customer view (SCV).
Creating a SCV gives businesses the ability to track customers and their communications and purchase behaviour across channels.
A survey by Experian found that while 72% of businesses recognise the benefits of using data to offer customers a joined-up multichannel experience, 84% aren’t able to use the data effectively.
More than two-thirds (70%) believe that a SCV would lead to cost savings, with 20% claiming it would help to reduce their bad debt.
What effect has Google+ had on search campaigns?
Since the full launch of Google+ last September, there has understandably been much speculation as to the impact it will have on search rankings.
Many SEOs have predicted that search engines will use social signals more and more, and the introduction of Google+ made that even more likely.
So what effect has Google's social network had on the job of the search marketer?
We asked more than 500 agency and client-side respondents for our UK Search Engine Marketing Benchmark Report 2012, produced in association with NetBooster ...
The EU cookie law conundrum in numbers [Infographic]
With the deadline for compliance with the EU e-Privacy Directive just two days away, we've rounded up some of the key stats in an infographic.
This embeddable infographic looks at marketers' and consumers' views of the EU cookie law, and our five-step plan for compliance.
This is a topic we've covered in detail, so I've also rounded up some of our recent articles and other resources on the EU cookie law.
Six clever examples of branded Facebook apps
Facebook apps are a good way for brands to engage with their fans in a way that doesn't feel like a hard sell.
They also have the added bonus of scraping lots of useful consumer data. However, apps aren’t necessarily right for all brands.
They need to be in keeping with the company's values and offer users something they want to engage with and share with friends.
Here are six examples of brands that have put Facebook apps to good use.
The Mirror's response to EU cookie law compliance
With just a few days left before the ICO begins to enforce the EU e-Privacy Directive, we are starting to see a few sites unveiling their approaches to compliance.
Two such sites are FT.com and Mirror Online, which are both using pop-ups to alert visitors to the sites' use of cookies.
As well as taking a look at the two news sites' responses to the EU directive, I've been asking Malcolm Coles, Product Director, digital at Trinity Mirror Group, about the Mirror's approach.
Building a multi-billion pound business online
The recent valuation of Facebook at $104bn, the purchase of Instagram (by Facebook) for a billion dollars, and even Rakuten’s investment in social network Pinterest shows that there is serious money to be made in online business.
We ask all our merchants to join the Rakuten University to help them maximise their online sales, but some of the principles taught here can be applied to any online business, however they sell.
Here are some invaluable tips for online business and retailers that we’ve learnt over the years...
88% of consumers consult reviews when making a purchase
Recommendations from friends are the most influential driver for UK shopping habits followed closely by consumer reviews, according to a new survey by Reevoo.
More than half of respondents (52%) said friends’ recommendations were influential, followed by consumer reviews (48%), advertising (24%) and advice from sales assistants (22%).
The survey also found that a massive 88% of consumers ‘sometimes or always’ consult a review when making a purchase, and 60% were more likely to purchase from a site that has customer reviews on.
Q&A: Google's Rick Jones on multichannel retailing
The growth of mobile as a marketing channel has provided a massive opportunity for retailers to connect with their customers.
However, it has also created new problems for brands trying to offer a joined up, multichannel experience.
Google’s industry head of retail Rick Jones is tasked with helping brands use digital to create a single customer view.
I spoke with him at last week’s E-commerce Futures Conference to find out his opinion on delivering an effective multichannel customer experience.
