How does the new Republic mobile site shape up?
Republic launched its first mobile commerce site this week, becoming the latest fashion retailer to do so.
From the various mobile site and app reviews I've written, consumer surveys and more I've compiled a checklist of key points to create a usable mobile site. (Please suggest any others I may have missed out).
I've been comparing the new Republic site against this checklist...
Mobile commerce: ten reasons to choose the web over apps
While plenty of retailers have released mobile commerce apps, and some of them are excellent, I think the future lies with creating mobile websites, and this should be the first step into mobile commerce.
This doesn't mean that apps don't have their place, but retailers should look to mobile commerce sites before they create an app. This is the approach taken by both M&S and John Lewis, and it makes sense for other retailers.
Here are ten reasons to opt for the mobile web as a first step...
F-commerce is here. Make big wins if you play the game right.
A few months ago, I wrote about how a large chunk of e-commerce’s future is extremely likely to lie with Facebook. The recent announcement of half a billion active members should be enough to have any e-commerce or marketing professional chomping at the bit to seize the opportunity, get engaged and start selling.
Surprisingly though, there seems to be a lack of exploration into the existing possibilities...
Report: multi-channel retailers ignoring mobile, for now
The future is mobile. At least that's what many suggest. Yet multi-channel retailers are largely ignoring mobile right now.
That's according to a report from Multichannel Merchant. It found that, as of February 2010, four out of five multi-channel retailers surveyed were not doing anything in the realm of mobile commerce.
Six enlightening mobile commerce presentations
To tie in with the launch of Econsultancy's Mobile E-commerce Best Practice Guide this week, I've been finding some interesting presentations on the subject from the excellent Slideshare.
Presentations include a recent Taptu report on the future state of the mobile web, a look at some mobile commerce sites from US brands, and a fascinating look at the mobile commerce market in Japan, which offers some useful lessons for retailers in Europe and North America.
Ten reasons why you need a mobile commerce site
Econsultancy has just published a Mobile E-commerce Best Practice Guide, which outlines some of the best practices currently in use on mobile commerce sites and apps, and provides recommendations for making the mobile user experience as smooth as possible.
To tie in with the new guide, here are ten reasons why retailers need a mobile commerce site...
How to use Google Voice to increase reorders
I just received an email from nutritional supplement retailer Jigsaw Health, about a new program they offering their existing customer base.
After speaking to President and Co-Founder Patrick Sullivan Jr, I learned that 80% of their monthly revenue comes from returning customers (and they don't even offer an auto-ship program).
How? By setting up Google Voice so that repeat customers can place orders via text message. Let's take a look at how this works...
The year of mobile: fact or fiction?
Will 2010 be the year of mobile? It's the perennial question and it's certainly getting closer. Improving handset technology and increased demand for the mobile internet are propelling the industry forward. Econsultancy's new Mobile Marketing Buyer's Guide explores the various developments that are removing the barriers to growth.
Mobile commerce: best practice tips
Mobile commerce is still in its early stages and, while there are very few m-commerce sites in the UK, 5% of the Top 500 US online retailers have them, with more on the way.
Translating the desktop shopping experience to mobiles isn't easy, and keeping it simple and usable is important for users with small screens and often slow internet connections.
With this in mind, I've come up with a few best practice tips for mobile commerce based on the sites I have seen...
Q&A: Simon Joseph of Jessops on multichannel retail
Simon Joseph is Head of Group E-commerce at Jessops, where he is also responsible for Direct, Customer Services and B2B. He has previously worked as E-commerce Director at eXpansys Plc, and at DSG and Argos.
I caught up with him to find out how Jessops has adapted to multichannel retail, in advance of next week's Future of Digital Marketing event, where he will be taking part in our retail panel.
