Monthly Archives: April 2015

Indian Social Media Trends in 2012

Indian social media grew by leaps and bounds in 2011. Indians witnessed the true power of social over the course of the year – whether it was bolstering the IAC movement in India or MTV India being awarded the best social media TV program by Mashable. It has been a year of amazing social media campaigns but also a year of great fiascos. I feel social media momentum will only grow more in a country where 70 percent of the population accesses the Internet through mobile. There will be even bigger success stories in 2012, but what will they be? I have listed some trends that I believe will shape the social media business in India over the next 12 months.

Mobile goes social: It is a known fact that most Indians browse the Internet via mobile, and 2012 will see even more fondness to pocket devices. A large percentage of Indians are spending time on social networks using their mobiles, with the biggest chunk comes from non-metros. Expect mobile to add some extra zing to the Indian social media market in 2012. $100 mobiles powered with Android have already made it possible for Indians to browse the Internet quite cheaply. Are we going to witness brands now focusing more on mobile apps rather than web apps? This was a thought also expressed by Preetham Venkky in a recent chat.

B2B and corporate gear up: The B2B arena will gear up, and we will see not only professional networks opening up but also see large enterprises will walk the extra mile to embrace Enterprise 2.0. I have always felt that LinkedIn has been inside a shell, as its more of a corporate network. But this year, I think it will be more social and allow its API to be used by more developers. This would be great news for the Indian market considering how many people use Linkedin here. We are already seeing companies such as Standard Chartered opting for Enterprise 2.0 with the help of Kreeo. I think in 2012, we will see more companies being social, dropping their logos, and providing a platform for employees, stakeholders, and customers to engage.

Social commerce: New e-commerce sites are popping up all over the place in India, and they’re being funded pretty quickly too. Some pundits assert that it is a bubble but for the time being, there is money in that bubble. We have also seen the growing fondness towards Facebook, so a gradual evolution of e-commerce to social commerce seems like a logical next step. We have already seen lot of e-commerce brands such as Fashion and You, Flipkart, Fetise, and MyGrahak, doing an amazing job on social media. However brands will also have to understand that social commerce means far more than creating a Facebook fan page. They will have to provide fans with a positive experience, keeping the social aspect in focus, evolving from just liking and commenting on products.

Blogs and brands: Brands have kept their distance from blogs in the past, but 2011 saw some brands testing the waters more. Red Bull started a blogger hunt contest for F1, and we also saw the Snexy.in campaign that used blogs very effectively. IndiBlogger, India’s biggest blog network, made sure that it kept running contests all year round. Brands such as Tata, Dove, KFC, Samsung, and HP also tried creating a relationship with bloggers via contests. I have always believed that bloggers can be your best brand evangelists. Blogging is far from dead, and it will evolve further in 2012.

Forums will be back: I think social media is cluttered right now, and the content overload often detracts from the experience. Could it be that 2012 will see a resurgence of forums. We recently saw Pluggd.in launching its forum for the startup and entrepreneur community. I have engaged a couple of times and found some very interesting discussions. Forums have like-minded people and are moderated; they have more focused discussions and less spam. I hope PO is planning one too!

Video consumption increases: In 2011 we saw the launch of both BoxOffice and then Movieplex, from Internet giant’s Google and Yahoo respectively. After the Kolaveri di [2] snowball I am sure every artist and Bollywood personality would want to make his or her video viral. India is a market that is not going to be behind in 2012 even though we have infrastructure problems in the country, so expect video to be the next big thing.

The idiot box goes social: Television channels connecting to fans via social media is a common trend, but 2011 saw television serials being telecasted on social media. In December, we saw the rebirth of the movie review show Chicks on Flicks, aired on Facebook. Sony PIX had stopped airing it on TV, and from now on it will show movie reviews on the day of the release. I believe this will be followed by others in 2012.

Social media outsourcing: Last time when I spoke to Adhvith Dhuddu, he predicted that 2012 would see lot of social media outsourcing work coming to India. I think many bigger brands will opt for social media outsourcing as this will also allow them to scale. But how exactly can social media work be outsourced? Certainly there is some risk in some areas, but at the same time there are many mundane tasks that can be outsourced.

ORM becomes important: With more and more brands opting for social, brands will need to be more careful about their online reputation. 2011 saw Vodafone Dhaval Valia fail in this area. Having witnessed such catastrophes, other companies will be trying to avoid these kinds of mistakes in 2012.

SMEs become more social: I have always believed that social media can be a game changer for SMEs. In 2011 we saw some amazing social media work from Faasos, Shopo and more which may become case studies for their competitors. SME’s will be more open and innovative on social media over the coming year.

What is Payment Gateway?

Payment Gateway: A payment gateway is a service that approves the payments for Ecommerce Store, Online Retailers and Service contributors. It is the equivalent of a physical point of sale terminal located in most retail outlets. Payment gateways protect credit card details by encrypting sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, to ensure that information is passed securely between the customer and the merchant and also between merchant and the payment processor.

A payment gateway facilitates the transfer of information among a payment portal and the Front End Processor or obtaining bank. When a customer orders a product from a payment gateway-enabled merchant, the payment gateway achieves a variety of tasks to process the transaction such as a customer places order on website by pressing the ‘Checkout’ or equivalent button, the merchant then forwards the transaction details to their payment gateway.

Benefits of Using Magento Open Source Shopping Cart Software

There are a number of open source e-Commerce solutions such as PrestaShop, VirtueMart, osCommerce, Zen Cart, X-cart and so on. But Magento has become one of the most frequently used open source solutions. This is due to several reasons; firstly it has user friendly interface and enormous usability that can suit all online store owners’ requirements appropriately.

Magento is the most power packed Open Source shopping cart software that is most convenient for both the shop owner as well as customers.

Now come across at the major advantages that Magento has over the other open source software. 

• Magento is e-commerce software that offers with numerous options and supports covered one page checkout. The users of Magento can hoard time while making the option of their products by merely using the dropdown menus in Magento. With dropdown menus, a user can usually pick a product alternative, prices alternative, and colors alternative and so on easily from one page itself.
• Magento allows the users to create fair assessment between the products and thereby, select the one that is best appropriate for their needs. Not only this, but all the clientele can also make an evaluation of the products that is bought is from here. A review helps the expectations purchasers to know about a particular product in a appropriate way and hence, guide them in buying the right product.
• Magento also supports various shipping addresses for the online shopper’s convenience within a single transaction. Hence, it is most well-matched way for shopping bringing in good profit to the store owners as they can make available these kinds of unique advantages while making the purchase. This also makes sure that the international clients are satisfied too.

Essential Tips for Online Retailers

If you are an online retailer you no doubt will be aware of the value of marketing your website in the correct way to drive sales and loyalty. However there are several simple ideas that are overlooked when it comes to marketing your business in the minds of your user.

1. Focus on Customer Service: By providing a world class customer service you can stand out from your competitors.  You can give the ultimate in customer service by understand their needs, wants, desires and of course by always always being friendly.
2. Be Customer Focused: It isn’t enough to give the best customer service, you have to have a team which eats, sleeps and breathes an ethos of putting the customer first. The team should never be about profit or time keeping (though someone should be responsible for this) they should always be driven by the customers – after all without customers you have no business.
3. In Retail, the key is Detail: Oh, so corny. But you will probably remember it for that reason. What I am trying to say is dot your i’s and cross your t’s. Make sure product details and specifications are correct and upto date, the same with your images and any feeds you have. Detail will enhance your websites rankings naturally (it’s great content), put you above your competitors (better descriptions than them) and ultimately increase revenue (GOAL!!!).
4. Establish your Brand and your company Values: Sounds a little odd to mention values, but it really isn’t. Most companies have a natural ethos, some have a mission statement, others just float on by with values in their heads – either way they all have a set way of working and idea of what they want to achieve, these are their values. In E-commerce your first value should be “the customer comes first” then maybe “quality of products” is second etc … make a list of your 10 key values. By clearly defining them you are defining your business and how it operates, this can make you stand out from the crowd.
5. Put Quality in everything you do: Make sure everything that you do, your team does and you supply is the best it possibly can be. Do testing on everything your team does and you supply. You and your company should always strive to provide the best service everyday and each & every time your team interacts with a person (your website counts as part of your team).
6. Get the best from your team: You should now begin to understand that you need to get the best out of everything, and this could mean lots more training of staff to ensure they give their best. But what else can you do to ensure they always give their best? One of the best ways to incentivise a team is to reward them with a bonus for reaching a target or a commission on each sale. But be careful this kind of thing can lead to pressure sales tactics and this is a big “no no!”.
7. Do Not Procrastinate!: Sitting on your hands humming and ahh-ing gives your competitors an advantage because you are not moving forward, you become a spectator sat on the fence. So get down before you give your backside some splinters, make a decision and go with it – if it doesn’t work try another way. What ever you do, the world is moving fast, so don’t stop moving!
8. It isn’t quantum physics: Selling things has been happening since the dawn of man, well it started with bartering as we see it today. Anyway to be blunt, people buy an item from you, you are selling it at cost+margin make sure you do the maths and you are making a profit. There is nothing like a business loosing money to bring team spirit down with a bump.
9. Get and Use, Facts and Information: Basically this means analyse any data about your site you can get your hands on, and your competitors if you can. Use the information to define and refine the shopping experience for the user. By analysing the information you can diagnose potential problems and fix them before it becomes a problem. You can also see “hotspots” and replicate them to make the most of your site’s real estate.
10. Enjoy Yourself!: The journey that is SEO is one that means you have to work hard, but you should also play hard. Take yourself and your team out whenever you can, there is nothing like a few drinks down the local (pub) to get colleagues nattering and increase team spirit and it will help your team to bond and grow together. It also means you will end up with a team that is well rounded and loves their boss, because they respect their staff and treat them well.

Google in talks with retailers for ONE Day delivery service to take on Amazon

In another foray into commerce, Google is working on a delivery service that would let people order items from local stores on the Web and receive them at their homes or offices within a day. The service is in an early testing phase, and it was described by three people briefed on the project who were not authorized to speak about it publicly before it was announced. It is part of a bigger, strategic effort by Google to move beyond its core search business by helping people buy things, not just find them.

Other parts of this strategy include Google Wallet to make payments by cellphone, Google Offers for daily deals, apps that show location-based mobile ads and product search for local stores. The idea behind the new delivery service is that people searching for products online or on their phones could buy something from a retailer beginning with the local branches of nationwide chains, and could then take the next step – delivery – through Google.

Google does not intend to build stores or warehouses or become a retailer itself, two of the people briefed on the delivery service said. Instead, it is talking with potential partners, including retailers and possibly couriers. The service is the latest example of how the biggest tech companies – including Google, Apple and Amazon – are trying to branch out and, in the process, blurring the lines between their businesses.

For example, Apple’s iTunes business is formidable, and much of its success in selling phones and tablets, which compete with Google’s Android and Chrome devices, comes from its retail stores. And shoppers increasingly search Amazon directly, instead of looking first for products on Google, in part because of Amazon’s Prime program, which offers free two-day shipping for a $79 annual fee. Amazon also operates AmazonFresh, a local delivery service focused on groceries, in Seattle.

“Google is arguably at a competitive disadvantage because consumers view Amazon and maybe eBay as guaranteeing overall a higher-quality shopping experience, and retail ads are almost half of Google’s business,” said Eric Best, chief executive of Mercent, which does online advertising and e-commerce on Google, Amazon and other sites for 400 brands.

Google wants to use mobile phones and the Web to connect shoppers with merchants, both online and offline, and benefit by selling ads to merchants, one of the people briefed on the project said. Eventually, Google hopes, the delivery service would be integrated into Android mobile devices and Google(PLUS), another person said.

If Google decides to move forward with it, the service would start in a few cities, including San Francisco and New York, one person said. It is unclear whether Google would take a cut of the revenue from sales or make money only on merchant ads. Google does not take a portion of payments with the Google Wallet mobile app, but it does earn money from sales of Google Offers.

Online Video Ad Budgets Expected To Rise Sharply In 2012

Here’s some good news for web video publishers and producers. Online video advertising budgets are expected to jump sharply in 2012. Brand advertisers who purchased online video ads this year are projected to spend 47 percent more next year. These numbers were released this morning in the second annual “Video State of the Industry Survey” by Adap.tv and Digiday.

For advertisers that didn’t purchase any video ads so far this year, 84% say they will include digital video in their campaigns in Q4 2011 or 2012.

Advertisers say they are most likely to shift spending away from display and print ads to fund the increased online video spending. While some have feared online video might start replacing TV ad spending, the report claims television ad budgets, especially for cable, are safe for now. A majority of advertisers say online video ads are a direct compliment to TV, not a replacement for TV ads.

The report, which surveyed nearly 600 advertisers, publishers, and video technology providers, says rates for interactive video ads are up an average of 19 percent over last year.

Some other key findings:

1. Brand engagement is the top online video campaign objective.
2. Sharing video via social networks is an important return-on-investment metric for buyers.
3. Rich media overlays, pre-rolls, and content integration are the favorite ad formats.
4. Page-roll, expanding video banners, and post-rolls are the least favorite.
5. Video ad spending on the iPad is up 18%, the highest among all devices.
6. Average CPM for Premium content, broadcast content online: $21-$30
7. Average CPM for Mid-Tier, professionally produced content: $11-$20
8. Average CPM for User Generated Content: $0 – $5

A webcast about the findings will be streaming at Noon ET at www.digidayvideo.com. There will also be a Twitter-based Q&A at 1pm ET via @Adap.tv with the hashtag #StateofVideo. When the webcast ends, the report will be available online at www.adap.tv.

The business and technology of online video will also be the big topic today when the Streaming Media West conference kicks off in Los Angeles.

Google AdWords Bid To Call: Cost-Per-Phone (CPP)

Google has announced a new option to bid differently for phone calls versus clicks to your web site with Bid To Call charged on a cost-per-phone call (CPP) basis.

So if you are willing to pay $5 for a phone call but only $1 for a click to your web site, you can now specify so.

The ad position for these are are based on the quality score and CPP price. The algorithm is Ad rank = (max CPC bid x click quality score) + (max CPP x phone call quality score).

How do you set this up?

You need to select the option to use a Google forwarding number when you set up Call Extensions. Then you must enter a Max CPP bid in order to activate bid-per-call.

Then when someone sees your ad and calls you, Google will charge you the CPP price:

Top 10 Consumer Mobile Applications for 2012

Ecommerce Site Design Tips

Following these basic guidelines will help make your site not only attractive, but also easy for customers to use – and that means easy to buy from you.

1. Carefully research your own favorite ecommerce sites. Creatively adapt the most compelling marketing and ecommerce design techniques to enhance your site’s effectiveness.

2. Your home page is your site’s – and your business’ – online front door. It’s essential that it make a good first impression on visitors. Make sure it clearly presents the following basic elements that customers are always likely to look for:

• Your company name, logo, and tagline prominently displayed.Take full advantage of the opportunity to showcase your brand identity.
• Contact information. Don’t make it difficult for visitors to find your phone number, e-mail address, mailing address, and fax number.
• A link to an “About the Company” page for customers to quickly learn who you are and what your business offers.
• A site menu listing the basic subsections of your site. Keep this menu in the same place on every page throughout your site to make it easy to navigate.
• A “What’s New” section for news, announcements, and product promotions. Frequently updating this area will encourage customers to return often.
• Your privacy statement, clearly describing your business’s policy for protecting customer’s personal information.

3. Make it easy for customers to navigate your site. As you build your site, try to minimize the number of clicks it takes the customer to go from your home page to actually being able to make a purchase. Four to six clicks is a useful rule of thumb. Make sure links make sense, so customers know what to click to find what they’re looking for. Don’t make your navigation buttons or links too dominant an element in your site design: instead, focus on product information.

Where to Find the Right Web Host VeriSign’s Secure Site ISP Program’s Premier Partners include the industry’s leading ISPs and Web hosting companies, such as:

• Interland
• Digital Insight
• Rackspace
• Affinity
• Digex

4. Keep things simple. Don’t fill up your site with graphics, animations, and other visual bells and whistles. Stick to the same basic color palette and fonts your company uses in other communications, like your logo, brochures, and signage. Ensure that images and graphics serve to enhance, not distract from, your marketing goals. Make sure the text is easy to read – black letters on a white ground may not be terribly original, but they are easier on the eyes than orange type on a purple background.

5. Keep download times short. Test pages to make sure they’re not too heavy with graphics that will slow load times – and minimize the size of your images when possible. Zona Research estimates that most Web pages take anywhere from three to eleven seconds to load, depending on the user’s modem and Internet connection (remember: many ecommerce customers shop from home using slower connections). Most users click away to another site or log off if a page takes more than eight seconds to load, costing ecommerce businesses billions in lost potential revenue.

Dos and Donts in Ecommerce Web Page Design

Web design is the backbone of an ecommerce website. It plays a crucial role in the success of a site. It is also important from SEO point of view. This is the reason why it is of utmost importance to pay proper attention to the design of the site. When it comes to an ecommerce website, the importance of custom web design increases manifolds. For an ecommerce website, it is imperative to have a visually appealing and professional web design. This is why it is important to hire a good web design development service to get a good web design.

It need not be told that designing an ecommerce website is a bit different as well as demanding. It is required to be designed keeping in mind the target audience. In fact, it is very important to ensure the success of the site. The prerequisites for the success of an ecommerce website are high productivity, usability, and functionality. Visual impact is highly significant and productivity and convenience comes after that. There is no dearth of web development services offering different types of web design services. However, not all that glistens is gold. One has to be extremely careful while selecting a web development company.

So how can you make sure that your ecommerce web page design becomes a success? Discussed below are some of the dos and don’t s of ecommerce web page design.

Dos

1. Do make the design simple and concise.  It is important to realize that simplicity and concision are the stepping stones towards success. These two factors help to give you an edge. Instead of stuffing too much and irrelevant information, which visitors find really annoying, simply provide the required information in a nice manner. Keep the site structure neat and simple. The focus should be on providing only the relevant content and information.
2. Navigation plays an important role. Make it convenient for the visitors to navigate through the site. A complex design results in difficult navigation that confuses the visitor. When confused, the visitor will switch to some other site. Ensure that the navigation of your site is highly user friendly. One of the good ways to turn your visitor into a customer, place a ‘buy now’ link that helps a visitor to close the deal right there. This really helps and researches have also proved it.
3. Make sure that you have the working links. One of the biggest frustrations for the visitors for an ecommerce website is the broken or wrongly directed links. It is highly imperative to ensure that each and every link placed on your site leads to the right place.
4. Keep the language simple. There is no point trying to impress customers using bombastic language. They are there to buy products not to review the quality of content. Ecommerce website is all about providing lucid and required information to visitors that helps them to make instant purchases. Therefore, keep the language simple and clear.

Don’t s

1. Do not develop a site that takes time to load. Most of the times, people end up stuffing too much of images, audios and videos to make the site attractive. But they only contribute in making a website really slow. A slow loading website annoys the customers. Hence, avoid using unnecessary and irrelevant audios and videos.
2. Do not make the interaction a challenge for your visitors. When it comes to shopping online, visitors love to make purchases from an interactive site. You should provide your contact information to them. It would encourage them to make the purchase.
3. Do not install unnecessary software. Keep the things simple. Do not make customers download and install software for viewing your site. This makes them run away.

All the above mentioned points will definitely do the trick for you. Follow them in the right manner and it will help you come up with a perfect ecommerce web  design that will definitely bring success for your website.