How can retailers appeal to mobile users in store?
The use of mobile phones for offline shopping has increased dramatically over the past few years, and even if consumers aren’t actually making a purchase with their mobiles, they are often using them to research products and prices while shopping.
According to a recent Toluna / Econsultancy survey of UK consumers, 13% of respondents had made a purchase on their mobiles, and 19% had used them to compare prices and look at product reviews while out shopping.
So what can retailers do to adapt to this challenge?
How to boost sales and grow profits with voucher codes
Voucher codes have rapidly grown in popularity over the past few years. There have been a raft of sites launched to allow people to share codes and it seems that many e-commerce sites are offering them as part of their digital strategy.
How should online retailers handle discount codes?
While voucher codes can be an excellent method of acquiring customers, but there can be drawbacks, namely reduced profit margins and the potential for checkout abandonment.
Distributing discount codes via affiliates and email campaigns can be an effective strategy, but are some retailers giving away discounts they don't need to simply because shoppers see the code entry box on the website?
A post on the excellent GetElastic blog has a few suggestions for how online retailers can minimise the use of these codes during the checkout process, and I've been looking at some examples from the UK...
VoucherCodes.co.uk wins four a4uAwards
VoucherCodes.co.uk picked up four awards at last night's a4uAwards ceremony for the affiliate marketing industry.
Econsultancy's Research Director Linus Gregoriadis was among the judges who praised VoucherCodes.co.uk's platform and its 'smart and transparent approach to working with partners.'
Q&A: Greg Le Tocq on the VoucherCloud iPhone app
VoucherCloud is a new iPhone app which provides discount codes for mobile users, the first mobile app to offer such a service.
The app was developed by Bristol-based company Invitation Digital. I've been talking to Director Greg Le Tocq about the new app...
Voucher Cloud: iPhone app review
Voucher Cloud is an app developed by Invitation Digital that allows users to get discount vouchers straight to their mobile, as well as locating nearby businesses with special offers.
It's an excellent idea, and one which removes the need to print out vouchers to use discount codes offline. So does the app measure up?
Q&A: Matt Bailey on affiliate marketing trends
Matt Bailey is chair of the IAB's affiliate marketing council and head of affiliates at i-level which was named best digital media agency at the a4uAwards earlier this year. He talked to us about the latest trends in affiliate marketing and why some well known networks might struggle.
How to deal with discount codes in the checkout process
Coupons and voucher codes can be an effective acquisition and marketing tool, especially in the current economic climate, but are there drawbacks for retailers in terms of abandonment rates?
In a recent US cart abandonment survey, 27% of consumers said they had left the purchase process to look for coupons elsewhere. The survey did not make this point clear, but it's likely that many were prompted to search for discounts after seeing the promotional code box during the checkout process.
