Although many retailers are reducing their online marketing budgets, spending on social media is falling at a slower rate than spending in other online marketing channels. Moreover, amongst companies that are weathering the current economic storm and expanding marketing budgets, investments in social media are generally on the rise. This according to a new study released… Read More

It was just a matter of time for Facebook to step up its game to promote Facebook Credits to mainstream America in the real world. And what better way to do it than to have them available at nearly all of the 6,000 7-11 stores in the continental US? PayNearMe is the new product that… Read More

While some members of the U.S. retail industry are baffled by the online world of social media, a select few retailers are discovering that successful navigation in social networks can help them build their brand, find customers, and reach new markets without the help or cooperation of traditional mass media. As more people turn their attention… Read More

With 500 million people on Facebook, 150 million on Twitter and every Fortune 500 company represented on LinkedIn, many marketers are overwhelmed and overspent trying to engage their customers and prospects. You can’t outspend the big brands, and you can’t put more hours in than them, either. What you can do is play the game… Read More

IDC Retail Insights recently released a new report, which gives an overview of the main opportunities being created by social networks for retailing. This study also analyzes the various social phenomena developing on the Web 2.0, and how these can be used by retailers to gain a competitive advantage. See the article about the influence… Read More

As the Internet expands and the world gets smaller, retailers are looking for creative new ways to market their products and lure shoppers into their stores. At the forefront of the latest methods for broadcasting local news of sales, promotions and deals is groupon.com, a Website operating in more than 40 cities nationwide. The site organizes daily… Read More

The social sphere continues to demonstrate how word of mouth can positively and negatively serve retail brands, but its potential for search and gift guiding is coming to life in the months moving toward holiday. Online shoppers have indicated that they’re increasingly tapping social networks for gift ideas, as 27% of holiday shoppers last year… Read More

Social networking sites are attracting users at a rapid pace. In February, Facebook announced 400 million users, and Linked-In added its 60 millionth member in March, up from 55 million in December. Twitter has grown to more than 75 million. This means your customers are online and talking about you whether you’re in on the… Read More

Just as e-commerce businesses are getting a strong hold on utilising current social networking avenues, along comes another facet to consider in any social media strategy – location, location, location. No, we’re not talking mobile commerce but rather social media in the form of location based check in services such as FourSquare and FaceBook’s Places. See the… Read More