Research Smeesearch

Moving...

2008-02-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Hello all,I've decided to move Research Smeesearch away from Blogger. I just don't like it and consequently I find myself dreading the drudgery of posting here.I am moving Research Smeesearch to Tumblr. Tumblr ROCKS.So, check out new material and the odds and ends that I find during daily research here: RESEARCH SMEESEARCHPeace Out,Marcy

Customer Expectations

2007-11-06T16:56:00.000-07:00

From the E-tailing Group: Online shoppers want smooth shopping, free delivery and bargains Online shoppers find site search the most useful element of a retail web site by a wide margin, says a new consumer survey from Chicago-based consultants and researchers The E-tailing Group Inc. In fact keyword search, rated “very to most important” by 80% of consumers in the survey, and advanced search

Holiday Shopping Predictions 2007

2007-11-02T12:49:00.000-06:00

Had a request for some data about top categories for Holiday 2007 this morning....so, I'll play "sharesies" and post the nuggets here:HOLIDAY 2007 PREDICTIONS: Forrester Research: 2007 Online Holiday Retail Sales To Hit $33 BillionMonday October 15, 5:20 pm ET CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--US online retail sales this holiday season will reach $33 billion, a 21 percent increase over last year

I've been a bad, bad blogger...

2007-10-28T22:58:00.000-06:00

Geez! It's been a while since I've posted here on ResearchSmeesearch. I could offer up tons of excuses as to the circumstances surrounding my absence - the chief one of course would be that I've been absorbed with work and have been knockin' back the workahol like crazy. But I think I'll use the writing energy to actually post.I found this quote today that really resonated with me:"Consumers

Let us use our brains!!!

2007-08-03T23:58:00.000-06:00

via Creating Passionate Users

It's called Transparency...look into it.

2007-07-28T19:12:00.001-06:00

A friend shared a post from the guys over at BlueLine that I just loved. It starts out with -Sometimes, it seems, getting people to see the beauty in putting their marketing dollars toward finding their clients and creating a dialogue with them is a little like getting an alcoholic to switch to Kool Aid; they know it would be better for them, cost them less in the long run and they would not run

Top Email Days

2007-07-23T12:18:00.000-06:00

Interesting...I wouldn't have thought the day after Christmas would be No. 1. Also thought "tax day" was interesting.Holidays Are Popular for E-Mail Marketing - eMarketer:The biggest day of the year in 2006 for US retail e-mail marketers was the day after Christmas, according to E-Mail Experience Council data cited in Marketing Charts. More than 53% of retailers tracked in the study sent e-mail

Widgets Big with UGC Crowd - eMarketer

2007-06-28T09:59:00.000-06:00

I've been sayin' (along with everyone else) that widgets are where it's at. In the list below via eMarketer, I see a couple of favorites Slide and Photobucket (used Photobucket to create the video in the post just below this one in fact). I have to admit there are others on that list though that I've not explored and some that I haven't even heard of...so, I'll have to check 'em out.Widgets Big

We Celebrate!

2007-06-27T23:19:00.000-06:00

I have the distinct pleasure of working for a really great company. Here's some video of the cool people that I work with being recognized for an amazing amount work and a job well done on our CMS build. Personal Shopper ROCKS!

Web Wins for Women Shopping Online - eMarketer

2007-06-27T09:38:00.000-06:00

via eMarketerWeb Wins for Women Shopping OnlineWomen visit fewer sites to learn what they want. Over half of US female Internet users ages 25 and older say the Internet is their main research source for checking out potential product purchases, according to Burst Media's "Online Insight" report, published June 2007.The Internet was named far more often than other methods. Around 10% or fewer

Reviewing Social Shopping Sites

2007-06-26T17:55:00.000-06:00

Get Elastic posted a great list of social shopping sites a while back. I've been in the process of reviewing them. I've just started, but my take so far is as follows:Stylefeeder: Totally love the experience, really easy to get set up and they have a fun and engaging site. Easy to install plug in for Firefox captures the url and photo of the item you want to add to your "feed" - this

Facebook vs. MySpace...no contest

2007-06-26T17:48:00.000-06:00

This via my fav must read on a daily basis - Download SquadYour social network preference might say more about you than you realize. This blog essay lays out a strong case that Facebook is beating Myspace on a socio-economic level, if not just yet on a pageview/users level. It makes sense. Facebook started as a college and university only platform, which right off the bat adds a significant gap

Song of the Day

2007-06-21T23:29:00.000-06:00

Winds of Change...they're blowin'

2007-06-14T21:18:00.000-06:00

Movin' from Finance to Marketing...this should be interesting. Marcy leaves the "Office of Strategery".Wish me luck! Email me at marcyannekessler at gmail - you know the rest. Cheers!

Personalizaton

2007-06-14T17:09:00.000-06:00

I was asked about Personalization today and specifically this question: If you had a crystal ball, where would you see personalization in 2010?And I answered thusly...I feel that the level of personalization online is directly linked to the level of trust being established between businesses and consumers and it will have reached a whole new level by 2010. The level of trust needed for truly

Google Getting Creepy?

2007-06-12T09:40:00.000-06:00

I don't know. I'm just not sure where I land on this yet. Google has built some amazing trust and loyalty. I'm greatly dependent on my Googling ability in the work that I do, but do I want them enabling the world to visit the windows of my house? I'm caught in the middle. I love details, I love all information at all times. I guess in living a life online I've accepted that the planet is

Under 7, and packin' CE

2007-06-07T15:07:00.000-06:00

This is interesting. Hmmm. My 7 year old daughter is certainly in the group that's packin' some serious CE. For Christmas this year she got a cell phone, MP3 player, digital camera and just recently got her own laptop. She's also recently started her own blog. She's become much more interested in "geeking out" at the computer than watching TV.This via emarketerChildren Younger Than 7 Use

Tag-Based Customer Reviews

2007-06-05T10:01:00.000-06:00

Check this via DMNews, patent pending Tag-Based Customer Reviews from Power Reviews - improves natural search.Lillian Vernon recently launched tag-based customer reviews from PowerReviews on its Web site at www.lillianvernon.com.The PowerReviews’ customer review service uses a patent-pending tag-based approach that offers Review Snapshots designed to make it easier for shoppers to reach a

Widgets, widgets, widgets

2007-06-04T11:52:00.000-06:00

Pop quiz: What technology is on the cusp of changing the face of Internet advertising as we know it? Answer: Widgets.Read more here.

Google snags Feedburner

2007-06-04T11:18:00.000-06:00

Via DMNews: "Search engine Google Inc. has acquired FeedBurner, a provider of media distribution and audience engagement services for blogs and RSS feeds.Web-based tools help bloggers, podcasters and commercial publishers promote, deliver and profit from their content on the Internet. This acquisition makes sense for Google given that it is constantly looking for ways to identify and offer new

Dad's Day Data

2007-06-04T11:00:00.000-06:00

via Center for Media Research Dads Are Recognized With Almost Ten Billion Dollars of Gifts This YearAccording to NRF's 2007 Father's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, consumers are expected to spend $9.9 billion on dads this year, with the average person spending $98.34 on the holiday, up from $88.80 last year. Men will still be spending more than women this year with men planning

Social Networking and Ecommerce - Download Squad

2007-06-01T23:17:00.000-06:00

Social Networking and Ecommerce - Download SquadBlogging important for our business? Uh, yeah.

I'm a Virtual Girl in a Virtual World

2007-06-01T22:44:00.000-06:00

via BloggersBlogGartner Says 50 Million in Virtual Worlds by 2011Gartner is predicting that by 2011 80% of Internet users will have a "second life" or a presence in a virtual world. A GigaOm article puts the figure in the 50-60 million range. The press release also lists these five laws for companies trying to participate in the virtual world.. First Law: Virtual worlds are not games, but neither

CBS Buys Last.fm

2007-06-01T10:24:00.000-06:00

CBS Corporation is buying the popular music social network Last.fm. The BBC says that the $280 million price tag makes CBS’ Last.fm aquisition the largest UK Web 2.0 acquisition ever. The BBC also says Last.fm was founded five years ago and has 15 million users. CBS Leslie Moonves liked Last.fm’s young demographics and its rapid growth rate. via BloggersBlog

Social Boomarking Site List (over 150), Tools, & Podcast

2007-05-31T21:58:00.000-06:00

Social Boomarking Site List (over 150), Tools, & Podcast

Test Post using Post2Blog

2007-05-30T23:45:00.000-06:00

Test Post using Post2BlogWhoo-ah! It works like a charm.

It's official, eBay pays $75 million for StumbleUpon - Download Squad

2007-05-30T23:26:00.000-06:00

It's official, eBay pays $75 million for StumbleUpon - Download SquadOne of my favorite web services, StumbleUpon (basically like social Googling) gets scooped up. I just hope eBay doesn't screw with it - as in hope this doesn't happen "if they just start injecting eBay auctions willy nilly into stumble results, they'll pretty much break the community they bought as members begin to evacuate the

Fox unit confirms Photobucket, Flektor buys | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

2007-05-30T12:29:00.000-06:00

Fox unit confirms Photobucket, Flektor buys | Tech news blog - CNET News.com: "It's official: MySpace.com parent company Fox Interactive Media has formally announced its agreements to acquire image-sharing site Photobucket and slide show mashup creator Flektor. Financial terms of the purchases were not disclosed by Fox Interactive Media, which is a division of media giant News Corp."

Gift Cards Big for Grads - eMarketer

2007-05-30T10:09:00.000-06:00

Gift Cards Big for Grads - eMarketer: "Gift Cards Big for GradsMAY 30, 2007Gift cards and cash will be the most popular graduation gifts this year, according to the '2007 Graduation Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey' conducted May 2-9, 2007, for the National Retail Federation (NRF) by BIGResearch. The survey also found that Americans will spend a projected $4.5 billion on graduation gifts in

Jeff Han: Unveiling the genius of multi-touch interface design (on TED)

2007-05-30T10:08:00.000-06:00

Quote

2007-05-30T10:04:00.001-06:00

"You're not going to see value unless you create value." -- Lee Odden, TopRank Online Marketing.

Just Like Minority Report - how cool

2007-05-30T09:46:00.000-06:00

via Online Media DailyRemember "Minority Report"? If you're in the ad business, you do. The Tom Cruise blockbuster had ad execs everywhere cooing over hand gesture technology and deliciously targeted, personalized advertising. It turns out that Bill Gates and Microsoft remember the flick, too. Today, the technology giant is taking the cover off an expensive tabletop technology that relies on

Women are not just looking, they’re buying online, survey shows

2007-05-29T23:58:00.000-06:00

In another indication that consumers are increasingly comfortable shopping on the Internet, 96% of women who shop online say they have made at least one purchase online in the past year. 57% of respondents said they both research and buy online, while 31% said they browse online but purchase in stores.The telephone survey of 427 adult women was conducted in February by Consumer Reports National

Ice your Competition with a Cool Return Policy

2007-05-29T23:51:00.000-06:00

By Michelle MegnaMay 16, 2007Though online sales continue to grow, there's still room for improvement, specifically in five areas, including site merchandising and return policies. Those e-tailers who address these issues can maintain an edge over the increasingly crowded field of competition, according to a report issued yesterday by Forrester Research, Inc.'s e-commerce analyst Sucharita

Security Concerns Hinder Online Buying

2007-05-25T10:54:00.000-06:00

MAY 23, 2007 Some just don't mix credit cards and the Internet. Eight in 10 consumers who had a preference said they would spend more online if they had a safe and convenient alternative to credit cards, according to Javelin Strategy and Research's "2007 Annual Javelin Consumer Payment Poll," commissioned by PaymentOne.Respondents said they would spend $100-$1,000 more annually with alternative

One Third of Internet Users Swayed by Social Content

2007-05-25T09:55:00.000-06:00

One in three internet users say that their purchase decisions are swayed by sites with social content, according to a January 2007 survey conducted by JupiterResearch for iProspect. The survey, which was commissioned to explore how consumers use social networking sites, defined a social networking site as one that allows users to post their own content, including sites with user-generated product

Facebook | blogs.ZDNet.com

2007-05-25T09:49:00.000-06:00

Search engine launched to help mothers-to-be

2007-05-25T09:23:00.000-06:00

By Giselle AbramovichMay 25th, 2007Kevin Burke, a marketing professional launched www.lightiris.com, a Web site designed specifically to enable expectant and new moms to get information and questions answered on motherhood.New motherhood means new challenges, uncertainty and many decisions that could often be overwhelming for new mothers. The site is meant to address the challenges of new

Facebook in MySpace's Face

2007-05-25T09:12:00.000-06:00

SAN FRANCISCO, May 24 — With an ambitious strategy for expansion, Facebook is getting in MySpace’s face. Noah Berger for The New York Times Facebook, the Internet’s second-largest social network, was originally popular on college campuses, but over the last year it has opened its dorm-room doors to all, and its membership rolls have exploded at triple-digit growth rates. Now Facebook, based in

eMarketer.com - Reviews Boost E-Commerce Conversions

2007-05-25T09:04:00.000-06:00

"Reviews Boost E-Commerce Conversions"MAY 25, 2007Online reviews written by fellow shoppers help convert consumers who research shopping decisions online, according to a January 2007 study by MarketingSherpa and Prospectiv.Nearly six in 10 respondents 'strongly' or 'somewhat' preferred sites with peer-written product reviews, while only 14% did not trust such reviews.Results were the same

PPC Fraud: Every Click Counts...Or Does It?

2007-05-24T12:32:00.000-06:00

"Paid Internet advertising has soared in recent years, and it appears there's no end in sight for this trend. According to research by J.P. Morgan, spending on all forms of online advertising will reach $19.2 billion in 2007, with pay-per-click (PPC) advertising at Google, Yahoo and the other major search engines accounting for half, or $9.6 billion. eMarketer Inc. projects that the PPC industry

Returns Info

2007-05-24T10:35:00.000-06:00

Almost 40% of Internet shoppers are not satisfied with the process for returning items they purchased online, according to a new survey. Their biggest areas of dissatisfaction: Paying shipping costs for returns and standing in line at a post office........PriceRunner also delved into the frequency of returns and found while 51.1% indicated they had never returned an item purchased online, 16.7%

Returns stats

2007-05-24T10:28:00.000-06:00

Here are some key metrics to support the return optimization business case:• 85% of customers say they will stop buying from a retailer if the returns process is a hassle (Harris Interactive)• 95% of customers say that they will likely shop with a catalog or internet retailer again if the returns process is convenient (Harris Interactive)• 40% of shoppers don’t buy online due to returns

Women Shoppers

2007-05-23T21:28:00.000-06:00

ShopSmart: Women spend 1.2 hours per week shopping onlineHow much time do you spend shopping online? The team at the Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a survey for ShopSmart magazine, and came up with some interesting results. Among the data they uncovered: Most online shoppers (57%) do both their product research and shopping online. Women spend an average of 1.2 hours per

Returns Wisdom

2007-05-23T21:19:00.000-06:00

Many Happy Returns?Rules for Happy Shoppers Returns are an inconvenience for the customer NOT for the merchant.The return process should be easy for the customer.Customers can make returns if they are not satisfied.The customer should not be punished for making a return.If you own a business, returns are a fact of life!

e-tailing stats from top 100 merchants

2007-05-23T20:42:00.000-06:00

4Q 06 Mystery Shopping Summary Conducted by the e-tailing group, inc. Feature or Functionality e-tailing 100 4Q '06% Penetration Seasonal Marketing