Consumers like technology. It’s that SIMPLE. And, it’s not even about technology that can be bought and sold – it’s about technology used in the places where consumers buy.
According to Fujitsu Australia, “almost half of consumers would increase spending with a retailer, providing that the retailer had invested in the latest smart technology.”
The study done by Fujitsu asked consumers a broad range of questions dealing with spending habits in respect to technology. Naturally, the internet and retail websites were touched upon. Apparently, well over half of those responding to questions commented that they would be more likely to deal with a retailer who offered an easy-to-use website as an alternative to brick and mortar store locations. This is not to say that the website should replace the actual store.
In following with international trends, Australian consumers are asking grocers and other retailers to offer handheld assistants to make the shopping experience more efficient. This would be a great way for retailers to attract busy clientele who prefer convenience, and might be willing to pay a premium for the service.
Obviously, the goal of retailers must always be to deliver to customers the quality of product and services that the consumer desires. Today’s market place is a bit different than that of the past, with consumers demanding convenience and stating that price considerations are actually now coming in second to available technology and the value of convenience.
Many business owners hear the phrase public relations, and they think that it matters only for large companies with a national or global presence. I am here to tell you…
PR matters to every business!
To begin, let’s look at what Public Relations is. It’s simply a technique for getting other people to accept whatever it is that you are telling them. And, quite honestly sometimes that packaging of an idea is MUCH more important than the idea itself.
Consider for a moment, the way that politicians use image consultants to dress up the way they are perceived by the public. In general, these image consultants ignore the political issues being addressed by the politician and focus on appearance, speaking ability and overall image.
Now, think about how an image consultant might approach your business. Do you portray an environment where the employees matter? Do you practice environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques? Is your company image flashy, and does your advertising grab the attention of passers-by? You will notice that I did not mention the services or products that you offer, even once.
PR is all about image!
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Direct Mail is NOT a Dinosaur Tactic! Here’s Why…
Not every consumer uses the internet. A large percentage of those who do have little trust in what they find online. On-line catalogs simply do not have the same effect as paper!
As consumers become more concerned over identity theft and marketing scams, you are probably wondering if direct mail advertising will continue to work for your business – or if you should even consider the technique at all. Well, much like everything else the answer remains “it depends”. While this may not be the answer for which you were looking, the success and effectiveness of direct mailing depends on the return on investment at the end of the campaign.
As a business owner, you most likely already know that any marketing campaign which does not return at least 5% on your investment is simply not effective. Does this mean that one unsuccessful campaign should deter you from trying again? Probably not. However, here are some factors that you will want to consider when putting together your next direct mail campaign.
Remember that once you find a technique that works, you should definitely keep using it until it’s no longer effective!
Reply Postcards are NOT a thing of the past…
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