| All of the pundits are trying to predict the next online | | | | Online Retail |
| trend and telling everyone that they know what to | | | | According to comScore, the 4th quarter of 2009 |
| expect or what they think will be coming down the line. | | | | marked the sign of positive growth in the year with |
| In actuality, the prediction business has never been | | | | both retail and e-commerce showing gains. comScore |
| harder to keep up with, whether the newest online | | | | also stated that a social media is becoming an |
| trend will be an expansion to mobile platforms, social | | | | important driver of commerce, where social media |
| media marketing, or the evolution of new search | | | | influenced 28% of holiday purchases. |
| engine optimization techniques. | | | | A recent report from FFP Global states that:online |
| A recent article focused on the Latest Web Design | | | | shopping is moving from a transaction mentality to one |
| Trends for 2010 would be and how they would evolve | | | | that embodies discovery, entertainment and social |
| as the year progressed. This article will focus and | | | | bonding experience. |
| attempt to identify the latest online trends that | | | | The report goes on to list five key e-commerce trends |
| businesses will face in 2010. Whether it is the creation | | | | for 2010: |
| of a Social Media Marketing campaign, developing an | | | | Smarter Mobility: Smartphones have continued to |
| effective E-Commerce campaign, creating a Mobile | | | | grow due to their wider screens and applications. |
| Website are just a few of the trends that businesses | | | | Mobile phone and handheld devices will see more |
| can develop for a business looking to meet the | | | | applications to help drive ecommerce sales. |
| challenge of 2010. | | | | Fulfillment Rules: Retailers will begin to consider |
| Mobile Web | | | | "regional fulfillment centers" due to rising fuel costs and |
| If your business is not aware that more people are | | | | the demand for quicker delivery times. |
| using Smartphones, you should learn quickly and realize | | | | Customer Service: Consumers will begin utilizing an |
| that their use is on the rise. However, few businesses | | | | ever increasing number of communication channels: i.e.: |
| have actually developed mobile websites that are | | | | texting, accessing information, free expression, |
| designed for handheld devices, such as an iPhone, | | | | immediate feedback, etc. All of these pose a challenge |
| Google's Nexus One, etc. The use of mobile devices | | | | that e-retailers must take seriously. |
| and the applications available also allows individuals to | | | | Relevancy is Virally Important: E-retailers are |
| connect to their social network sites like Facebook, | | | | starting to become more than suppliers of goods and |
| Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, etc. | | | | services and must proactively develop a personality |
| As mobile users purchase gadgets with larger | | | | that market segments can accept. They must listen; |
| touchscreens and internet browsers, the mobile space | | | | actively engage in conversations with their current and |
| will become bigger and small to medium sized | | | | potential customers and more. |
| enterprises need to jump on the bandwagon. If a | | | | Business Intelligence meets Business Process: In |
| business' website is not accessible through a | | | | 2010, businesses will need to commit to the information |
| Smartphone application or other handheld device, your | | | | in their data banks to create marketing and sales |
| visitors will become frustrated and find some other | | | | business processes to help provide them a |
| business that does have a mobile website, making you | | | | competitive advantage. |
| lose traffic and potential sales. | | | | According to a recent Razorfish report, |
| Overall satisfaction between Smartphone users and | | | | 65% of consumers report having had a digital |
| traditional mobile phone users has shown a significant | | | | experience that either positively or negatively changed |
| increase among Smartphone users, according to a | | | | their opinion about a brand. |
| recent J.D. Power and Associates press release. | | | | Additionally, |
| Satisfaction among consumer Smartphone owners | | | | 97% of that group said that their digital experience |
| has increased by 14 index points (on a 1,000-point | | | | influenced their decision whether or not to purchase a |
| scale) from just six months ago, while satisfaction | | | | product or service. |
| among business owners has increased by 43 index | | | | Consumers seem to be evolving to the point where |
| points from 2008 as these devices have become | | | | the best of both worlds is what they are looking for |
| more stylish, customizable and user-friendly. | | | | when it comes to shopping online. They want great |
| Among traditional mobile phone owners, overall | | | | service and value combined with an overall smooth |
| satisfaction has declined by six index points from April | | | | transaction from the very beginning of the transaction |
| 2009, likely as a result of heightened awareness | | | | all the way to delivery of the product or service. |
| among traditional mobile phone owners of advanced | | | | Businesses also seem to benefit from having the |
| features available on Smartphones. | | | | perception of a direct relationship with the customer |
| Smartphones and mobile devices provide individuals | | | | that is making the purchase. |
| the ability to access the Internet and use them the | | | | Online Reputation Management |
| same way a laptop can be utilized, creating an opening | | | | Most businesses have a website, but even a business |
| for users on the go. | | | | needs to realize that the website could be subject to |
| SEO - Search Engine Optimization | | | | bad publicity. Any business in the online space needs to |
| Back in the day, SEO experts would use search | | | | realize how fast rumors and allegations can be |
| engine optimization tactics to get a website on the first | | | | disseminated in the digital age. Several companies |
| page of the search engines. With the coming of 2010, | | | | have had their reputations tarnished within hours from |
| that will become harder due to the advent of | | | | the activities of disgruntled employees, a poorly |
| personalized and real-time search. | | | | constructed advertising campaign and more. |
| Twitter started the trend when by designing the first | | | | Online Reputation Management is the process of |
| real-time search engine. Users that search for a | | | | managing a businesses search engine results and |
| certain term will be updated with the latest and newest | | | | protecting their brand reputation. This involves |
| "tweets" as they are submitted. | | | | marketing and public relations management combined |
| Recently, Google introduced its own real-time search | | | | with search engine marketing. |
| function complete with indexed tweets. Microsoft's | | | | Online Reputation Management enables businesses to |
| Bing search engine made a deal to show tweets in | | | | both protect and manage their brand as well as their |
| search results and Yahoo! recently announced that | | | | reputation becoming actively involved in the outcome |
| they have struck a formal partnership with Twitter | | | | of search engine results. |
| allowing you to tweet directly from your Yahoo! | | | | The development of proactive social media platforms |
| homepage. | | | | along with risk mitigation strategies will become |
| This is not to say that businesses should run out and | | | | standard fare for those companies looking to protect |
| begin a real-time search strategy, it will take some time | | | | and enhance their brand and reputation. |
| for users to fully understand and begin to integrate this | | | | Mobile Marketing |
| trend into their everyday lives, but there is real potential | | | | According to Mobile Marketing Watch, a recent report |
| here. | | | | published by the UN indicates that mobile subscribers |
| The utilization of on-page optimization factors will still | | | | comprise 67% of the world's population. A recent post |
| apply though Google will start returning results with | | | | on the Huffington Post, Chris Curtin and Bob |
| personalized search and real-time search will surely | | | | Greenberg offer a look into the impact mobile will have |
| play a part. The objective for any business is to still get | | | | on business. |
| on the first page before becoming a factor in a users | | | | Mobile marketing involves the process of marketing to |
| personal search results. | | | | people through their mobile phones or Smartphone |
| Matt Cutts, Google's head of Web spam, has | | | | devices (I know what you are saying, but stay with |
| mentioned that site speed may be a new ranking | | | | me). Mobile marketing is slowly moving into the |
| factor for 2010. | | | | mainstream and small businesses have been slow to |
| Businesses should work to ensure that their website | | | | warm to the idea of engaging consumers on mobile |
| load time is as fast as possible. Some factors should | | | | devices, 2010 looks to have the potential to change |
| be proper HTML, clean CSS and JavaScript | | | | that thinking. |
| (externalize any code), there are a number of | | | | With the increasing demand for mobile applications and |
| resources that can help you determine how fast your | | | | web-browsers due to the iPhone, Google's Nexus One |
| site is: | | | | and others in 2010, businesses will begin to provide low |
| HTML Validation | | | | cost mobile marketing solutions such as mobile |
| CSS | | | | websites; location based marketing, mobile e-mail |
| Page Speed Firefox extension | | | | marketing and more. |
| Closure (compiles JavaScript into compact, high | | | | Web Content/Blogging |
| performance code.) | | | | The growth of the Internet has allowed businesses to |
| Social Media | | | | publish their own content about their business or |
| In 2009, Facebook and Twitter were the social | | | | industry. This includes blogs, pictures and even videos. |
| networks of choice and 2010 will see an even greater | | | | A business blog can be a valuable corporate tool for |
| surge in their popularity. Both of them will begin to | | | | communicating with customers and employees |
| introduce new features, including paid accounts for | | | | allowing them to share their knowledge and expertise |
| business. | | | | about their industry and are sweeping across the |
| Businesses need to pay attention to social networking | | | | business community. |
| sites and the trends on these sites. While most | | | | Presently, there are a number of blog software |
| businesses have a page on Facebook, the creation of | | | | programs available for businesses that want to start |
| a social media strategy across all social networks | | | | blogging. The following software companies, |
| should not be an option. An effective social media | | | | Blogger.com, TypePad and Movable Type offer easy |
| strategy is not only vital to the health of a company | | | | blogging tools to get you started in your business blog. |
| but also into its ability to develop an online user-base. | | | | Blogging offers an inexpensive way for business |
| As online activity moves towards social media, | | | | owners to get their company name on the Internet. |
| marketers need to be aware that social media can be | | | | Simply write your thoughts, link to resources and |
| used to build brand awareness, develop buzz (will this | | | | publish your blog. Updating a business blog provides a |
| be trademarked by Google?), and generate leads. In | | | | business to share their expertise and knowledge with |
| 2010, businesses must adapt to social media or get | | | | customers and potential customers. |
| leapfrogged by their competition. | | | | |