ISIS Mobile Payments to Launch Nationwide?

ISIS is a mobile payments venture, a joint venture of multiple carriers in the United States including AT&T and Verizon Wireless among others.  This effort has been in the news the last year or two and all of it has been bad for quite a while now.  Their latest efforts signal a desire to change that and may signal something else as well.

ISIS has based their mobile payments solution on Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities that require a hardware addition to devices.  Google was an Innovator in this space including NFC support in to Google Wallet that has deflated recently.  In Android devices the OEMs have tended to include the chip.  Apple however has not supported NFC with its products.  Not yet that is.

If you hold an iPhone 4S and last year's iPhone 5 at the same time you quickly see a huge difference in form factor and weight.  The screen on the iPhone 5 is longer, creating more space behind the screen for "stuff" but it is slimmer and weights noticeably less than the previous year's model, the 4S.  My thinking is all of this effort from the 4S to the 5 was to free up space and weight so Apple could add in hardware in this year's model, likely to be named the iPhone 5S.  Would NFC be one of those additions?

The rumor mill says yes.

http://www.ibtimes.com/apple-iphone-5s-rumors-nfc-features-likely-more-iwallet-patents-release-public-1177801

So if ISIS is thinking along the same lines, and may have received signals from Apple, this press release makes sense as a move to begin building momentum for NFC overall and ISIS in the meantime.

http://www.paymentssource.com/news/isis-prepares-for-nationwide-rollout-of-its-mobile-wallet-3014954-1.html

One example of the positive news NFC has been receiving, suddenly, is the following on how NFC can enable Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) to speed their business and increase throughput.

http://www.mobilepaymentstoday.com/article/216383/NFC-technology-will-put-the-fast-back-in-fast-food-Commentary

This is the beginning of mobile payments.  Not the middle nor the end.  What will tomorrow bring?

J.W. Gant

**UPDATE**

ISIS is trying to create the sensation of beating drums leading the way to the future.  The news coming out is steady with major announcement following another and another.  Here is the latest:
http://www.paymentsnews.com/2013/08/american-express-serve-isis-announce-plan-to-link-mobile-wallet-platforms.html

This is an obvious attempt to turn around the public perception of ISIS, that has been almost all negative for the last 12 months, and create the appearance of momentum.

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0022 Loyalty & Technology

Personalization is the key component to mobile and everything we do with mobile.  Finally the individual's specific likes & dislikes can be dealt, eliminating the clutter and noise of mass volume marketing.  A personalized experience in an app, content relevant to the person behind the phone, information that matters, all become possible via mobile.

Loyalty programs now have the opportunity to take the next step in the evolutionary process and become relevant to the individual.

The folks over at Loyalty360 have produced an article describing this and have made it available on Dunnhumby.

http://www.dunnhumby.com/insight/using-technology-to-get-to-the-next-stage-in-the-loyalty-lifecycle/

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Businesses have an enormous opportunity today to propel their loyalty strategy into the next realm of customer engagement. This next realm is also the next stage in the loyalty lifecycle, one where the customer engages with a brand and a business emotionally. It is a loyalty closely tied with a customer’s identity, what they find meaningful and what they value. In this next stage, shopping at a retailer or purchasing a brand isn’t just about reliability or convenience. It enables a deeper, more fulfilling experience for the customer, and in return, the brand benefits from a fiercer advocate.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0021 Skeuomorphism

Back in May of this year I wrote a white paper on Skeuomorphic design.  This was published as a blog entry on June 20.
http://thagent.blogspot.com/2013/06/user-interface-design.html

A blog over on Econsultancy has taken this question up again following the announcement of iOS 7.

http://econsultancy.com/us/blog/63120-flat-web-design-and-skeuomorphism-the-pros-and-cons

Here is a snippet from that:

The emergence of flat design does not necessarily spell the end for realistic design. Skeuomorphism is very effective at communicating differentiation between items.

For example, Apple’s apps are extremely easy to identify with due to their individual styling whereas with flat design, incoherence is a potential risk. Is using different colours for items enough? 

This is a concern amongst the more level headed experts in the web design and development community; those who do not take a trend to extreme lengths just because it is the “in thing” at the time.

Should the same designers who have taken skeuomorphism too far attack flat design with the same ill-advised verve, the results could be disastrous.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0020 What is Mobile?

Back in April I wrote a white paper asking "Is it Truly Mobile?" that sought to clarify the definition of a mobile device.  Usage data helps to see a clearer picture.

That blog entry is here:
http://thagent.blogspot.com/2013/06/is-it-truly-mobile.html

As time goes by we are seeing more and more need to clarify this question.  Katie Petrillo over on MediaPost has delved in to the same question:
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/204866/can-we-clarify-the-word-mobile.html#axzz2ZVBVSdKh

This is an excellent read.

Here is a snippet of her blog "Engage: Moms":

In a digital marketing survey we send to brand marketers and agencies, we ask for the topics they’re most interested in right now. Mobile is consistently the most popular subject with this audience, and that makes sense to me. I see a huge number of blogs and articles on search, advertising, and commerce for mobile everyday. However, the question gnawing at my brain is, have we spelled out the meaning of “mobile”? 

Be sure to read her analysis of the question, and have a wonderful weekend.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0019 eBay Sales Climb

eBay is seeing an excellent return on its investment in mCommerce.  Their recently updated apps are often among the very best of retail apps on any given platform, iPad, iPhone, etc. and the sales results are improving as a result.

The value of merchandise sold on eBay Inc.’s U.S. marketplace, excluding vehicles, increased nearly 16% year over year in the second quarter to $7.3 billion, eBay said today. The growth was spurred by mobile commerce and momentum in the auto parts and accessories and home and garden categories. The U.S. marketplace sales for Q2 are nearly exactly the same as the first quarter’s sales and represent a nearly identical year-over-year percentage increase as in Q1.

Here is the article in full:
http://www.internetretailer.com/2013/07/17/ebays-us-sales-climb-16-q2

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0018 Back to School Mobile Style

Digital marketing campaigns are in their infancy in many ways as retailers experiment with the new tools and methods available to them.  Some exciting new campaigns are rolling out right now and one of the most interesting from a mobile internet perspective is coming from Victoria's Secret.

Their back to school marketing effort involves using push notifications to their iPhone and iPad app users to invite them to an exclusive event in stores across the country.

Here is the article in full:
http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/victoria%E2%80%99s-secret-shells-out-in-store-event-invitations-via-mobile

Here is a snippet from that article:

The specialty retailer sent out a push notification on July 15 to its iPhone and iPad app users to announce the Ultimate Shopping Night in-store event. In addition to educating consumers about the event through its app, Victoria’s Secret is also building up its loyalty program and tying social media into the marketing behind the event.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0017 Design and Programming

The designers and the functional creators of products need to understand and inform each other.  Design should not be performed in a vacuum and engineering should not either.  Rather, a close collaboration will result in the best products.

In the clothing industry, for example, the machines used to create the material may have certain limitations that can inform the design.  A stitch that changes every so slightly may dramatically increase the production process while still fulfilling 99% of the creative needs of the designer.  A team that works together to provide these knowledge transfers will provide that benefit to the company.  A team that does not will fail.

This article on CIO.com does an excellent job making the case for this thinking:
http://www.cio.com/article/736359/What_Every_Programmer_Should_Know_About_Design

Here is a snippet from the article:

Good design ... is about making the right tradeoffs for your customer and understanding the customer well enough to make those tradeoffs.

I hope this one provokes some thinking from the engineers out there as well as the designers.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0016 Windows 8 Strategic Flaw

Microsoft has been the standard for home personal computers for so long it used to be nearly impossible to imagine a PC without the ubiquitous operating system.

Times have changed.

The advent of the mobile internet has shifted the paradigm of the home user.  Apple's release of the iPhone followed by the iPad set a new standard for personal computing and the industry has seen a sea change sweep over the space with PC sales declining year over year and Tablet sales skyrocketing (Android had something to do with that as well).  What was Microsoft to do?  Their entire business model is dying.

Enter Windows 8.

I typically wait a bit behind the technology curve and let the earliest adopters, the innovators, work through the difficulties.  Windows 8 was released late last year and I acquired my first Windows 8 Pro tablet in early June of this year.  My selection was the Lenovo Tablet 2 pictured below.

Having used this for a couple of months now I can say I very much like Windows 8 Pro in tablet form.  Excellent really, and a deeper experience than I get with iOS.  Microsoft really is leading in design in the OS category ... in some ways.  The big issue that has arisen for me actually has nothing to do with my tablet.  It is the question of using Windows 8 on a desktop.  No way.  Not a chance.  Wouldn't like it at all.  I do have 3 instances of Windows 7 running in my home and I can't imagine trading out that for Windows 8 on those machines.

Thus the flaw in Microsoft's strategy.  They have poorly managed this move to tablets, almost as a knee jerk reaction to the iPad, with seemingly little thought given to desktop PC users.  The author of this article is on the same page as I and expresses the issue quite well.

http://techland.time.com/2013/07/15/the-flaw-in-microsofts-windows-8-logic/

A quick snippet from the article:

...PCs and laptops have bigger screens [than tablets and smart phones] and have used keyboards, mice and trackpads as input devices for most of their existence. It appears that Microsoft’s logic for Windows 8 has been that if touch is good for smartphones and tablets, it must be good for PCs and laptops, too. However, in our current research with PC and laptop users, we are sensing that this type of thinking, at least for traditional desktop PC and laptop users, is flawed.

The real question remaining is what the floor is for the decline in PC sales.  If the decline levels out before hitting bottom as tablet users fill their needs then a strong PC market will remain and will want an OS for their needs, not the needs of a tablet or a smart phone.  Windows 8 does not fulfill that need right now.  So Microsoft will be left with Windows 7 for desktop PCs, Windows Server, and Windows 8 for tablets and smart phones.  That breaks the strategic thinking put forth by Microsoft as they attempt to leapfrog Apple by creating one OS for multiple platforms.  

Problems, problems, problems.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

**UPDATE**

Here is one writer's take on the upcoming Windows 8.1.  "Stay far, far away".  He wants his desktop back.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2422161,00.asp

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0015 Performance Optimization

So much of performance optimization seems to be common sense for a technology professional used to regression testing, performance testing, and much more.  However, that thinking leads to taking it for granted and that can be a killer.

Performance characteristics on mobile platforms have many more dimensions than a mere computer program or even a web site.  Therefore, careful measurements and adjustments are critically important.  This quick read should get the thinking running in the right direction.

http://www.retailonlineintegration.com/article/optimizing-performance-native-mobile-apps/1

Here is a snippet from the article:

With consumers expecting fast, reliable app experiences now more than ever, they're often left with unfulfilled expectations. Overcoming performance issues and delivering fast, reliable apps requires a conscious effort throughout every stage of the design and development process. With the stakes so high, what are some techniques for optimizing performance for native apps? 

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Microsoft Reorganization

Make no mistake about it Microsoft is in a world of hurt fighting for life in the mobile internet era of computing.  The reorganization announcement yesterday confirms the transformative nature of the effort being put forth in Redmond, WA.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57593289-75/steve-ballmer-remakes-microsoft-one-more-time/?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Microsoft

The question that will remain unanswered for many months is whether the reorganization, even one that reduces energy-sapping internal turf battles, catalyzes any major, disruptive innovations, increased product velocity or newfound customer love to the company.

The launch of Windows 8 was not just an incremental change to Windows.  It was an effort by Microsoft to remain relevant in a world increasingly reliant solely on the internet for all goods and services.  The business models Microsoft have relied on for decades are dying and the company will die with it if it fails to change.

This one will be interesting to watch over the coming few years.  Can they innovate in meaningful ways to leapfrog their competitors such as Apple?  They may have to if the company is going to survive in the long term.  In the short term there is plenty of money in the bank so some gambles are possible, and major gambles as well.

While Microsoft was dominant, almost completely so, many of us were saying it would be healthy if we had real competition for Microsoft.  Now that the tables have turned isn't the same still true?  The market leader needs stiff competition to remain cutting edge and that translates in to more and often cheaper products for the consumer.  Good, good, good.

J.W. Gant

**UPDATE**

Excellent reading stating the opinions of an expert in corporate culture and the exact kind of changes Microsoft is attempting.  The bottom line?  Don't bet on success for Microsoft.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/521298/ballmer_chance_changing_microsoft_don_t_bet_it/?

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0014 Preference Management

A very important concept that goes to the heart of personalization efforts.

Preference Management.

This is the process of empowering your customer to establish certain contact settings.  This personalization allows customers to "opt in" as much or as little as they want.  If you don't provide this you are sure to upset some customers, some on both sides of the scale.

Here is the article:
http://www.cmo.com/content/cmo-com/home/articles/2013/7/3/click_yes_if_you_und.html

Here is a brief portion of the article:

Preference management is the active collection, maintenance, and distribution of unique consumer characteristics, such as product interest, communication channel preference, and frequency of communication. 

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0013 Crowdsourcing Grocery Shopping

Very interesting concept.  A San Francisco startup called "Instacart" uses crowd sourced grocery shopping fulfillment to provide a new method of online grocery shopping.

Full article is here:
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-07-10/instacart-crowdsourcing-your-grocery-shopping#r=tec-ls

Here is a snippet from the article:

The company’s app sends customer orders to about 200 independent Bay Area personal shoppers, who receive commissions based on the number of items and orders they deliver in their own vehicles. The app features detailed maps of local supermarkets and can direct the personal shoppers to specific aisles. Founder Apoorva Mehta says Instacart’s “secret sauce” is its fulfillment software, which allows the online retailer to combine orders placed at different times and fill them from different stores—supplementing frozen food from Trader Joe’s with fresh fruit from Whole Foods (WFM) and cereal from Costco (COST).

Here is the company web site:
https://www.instacart.com/store

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0012 Saks Embraces Omnichannel

Robots.

Mobility.

Email Marketing Campaigns.

Much more.

This article is loaded with interesting retail news.

http://risnews.edgl.com/retail-best-practices/Saks-Embraces-Omnichannel-but-Stores-Remain-the--Big-Kahuna-87299

Here is a bit from the article:

Saks Inc.'s $100 million CapEx investment, spread over four to five years, is part of an ambitious plan to transform the retailer's core IT platforms with the goal of creating an omnichannel retail enterprise, CIO/COO Mike Rodgers said at June'sOracle Retail CrossTalk conference in Chicago.

The impetus behind this strategic shift came from the top. The luxury retailer lost 30% of its business during the economic downturn, and according to Rodgers, CEO Stephen Sadove charged Saks leadership not to "let the recession go to waste."

A big part of the omnichannel shift that began in 2012 involved Saks reevaluating some of its long-held assumptions about its customers and their shopping habits. For example, the company assumed that its highest-value Diamond customers were primarily brick-and-mortar shoppers, but a look at the data revealed that those shoppers were engaged in all channels, from store to Web to mobile, Rodgers said.

That article also links to several more articles around the same topic.  Be sure to read them all if you have the time.  The new loyalty program.  The use of robotics.  The use of iPads for staff.  All extremely relevant.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Apple Guilty of eBook Price Fixing

For those who were paying attention at the time this may not be much of a surprise.  It seemed ... wrong to me as it was happening and I felt we were seeing collusion by multiple companies desiring to raise prices.  I felt it was bad for consumers and I still feel that way.

If you are in the same camp as I have been today's ruling is good news.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57593034-93/apple-found-guilty-of-e-books-price-fixing/

Here is a brief bit from the article:

The U.S. Department of Justice, which initially sued Apple and a handful of the nation's largest publishers last year, said Apple and the publishers had two objectives when making their deals: raise e-book prices and restrain retail price competition to hurt Amazon. Apple rejected the charges and said a guilty verdict could hurt how digital media deals are negotiated.

Not much more news in that story yet, though it will be updated as more comes out.  This story will continue to play out in the days and weeks ahead as damages are still to be determined.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

**UPDATE**

This ArsTechnica write-up tells a good part of the story:

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/how-apple-led-an-e-book-price-conspiracy-in-the-judges-words/

Earlier today, Apple lost a major case when District Judge Denise Cote ruled that the company led a conspiracy to raise e-book prices above those charged by Amazon. Cote's 160-page ruling, released this morning, offered some intricate detail on just how that conspiracy worked.

Cote described how Apple struck agreements with each of the five publisher defendants—who settled the case before trial—in order to push e-book rates higher than Amazon's. The negotiations happened in the seven weeks leading up to the January 27, 2010 announcement of the iPad.

**UPDATE #2**

More news coming through.  This is becoming a very good yarn in its own way.

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/07/apple_e_book_price_fixing_federal_judge_rules_in_amazon_s_favor.html

The battle for the e-book market was, at its heart, a fight between Steve Jobs’ and Jeff Bezos’ differing business philosophies. Amazon was bent on keeping prices low, even at the cost of profits. Apple, as ever, wanted to make sure that it could make a bundle on e-books. The iBookstore was Apple’s effort to do to Amazon what it had so long done to the rest of the tech industry: Beat it over the head with a combination of better software, hardware, and content. With the iPad, Apple hoped to create a device that would make Amazon’s Kindle obsolete, and give it the same dominance over books that the iPod had given it over music.

**UPDATE #3**

How does the ruling impact your wallet?

http://www.digitaltrends.com/apple/apple-e-book-fallout-what-it-means-for-your-wallet/

One likely scenario is that Apple will have to pay some customers who purchased e-books between 2010 and 2012 a little bit of money – some approximation of the difference between what you did pay, and what you would have paid had Apple not gotten all meddlesome on us.

More Later as this Story Continues

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0011 Great App Battles on the iPhone

Three best entries of the day today.  Busy time catching up after a long 4 day weekend.

July is a great time to be in New England if you haven't visited.  Now back to our regularly scheduled programming ... apps and more.

Very good article over on CIO.com about 16 apps battles, with over 32 apps, battling for dominance in various spaces.  This article covers maps, calorie counters, note taking apps, and much more.  Great read.

http://www.cio.com/slideshow/detail/109216#slide1

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0010 How NOT to Make an App

Wow.

What a mess.

Thinking about app design and development some decisions seem obvious to me.  However, these clearly are not obvious to everyone.

Here is a blog entry off of Ars Technica (well worth checking daily) on an app:
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/07/samsung-and-jay-z-give-the-internet-a-masters-class-in-how-not-to-make-an-app/

Just read this part if nothing else:

This app's very existence is vaguely bewildering. The number of permissions it asks for verges on parody. Its (previous) ability to spam up your social feeds is obnoxious. Its presentation is perfunctory at best. It does nothing to protect the songs from downloading and sharing—of course, this would have happened with Samsung's cooperation or not, but if the point was "exclusivity," then somebody missed a memo somewhere.

Ridiculous.  Good reading for anyone interested in the mobile app space, either users or on the creation side.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0009 mCoupons

Mobile Coupons.

Mobile commerce, sometimes called mCommerce, is coming of age but it isn't limited just to buying through an app on your smart phone.  Mobile coupons are proving to be a huge new ability as well and much more effective than previous coupon efforts such as traditional printed coupons.

The San Francisco Chronicle has a short story focusing on research from Business Insider Intelligence.

http://www.sfgate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/How-Mobile-Coupons-Are-Driving-An-Explosion-In-4539035.php

Here is a snip from that article:

Here's a brief overview of why retailers and brands are offering mobile coupons:

•  Driving digital revenue: Successful coupon campaigns can help e-retailers acquire customers and drive online sales. By 2014 the number of mobile coupon users is expected to increase to 53.2 million a year. At roughly 10%, the redemption rate of mobile coupons crushes that of print coupons, which hovers around 1%.

I hope your 4th of July break was a good one.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Picture of the Day - Entry 0001 Facebook and QR Codes

Some things just make you laugh ... and you want to share them.

If this is you, please keep reading my blog.

:-)

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0008 Best Buy's Fulfillment Process

The major brick & mortar retailers are in trouble.  Projections for the next 10 years indicate roughly 20% of their business will migrate to online supply sources.  If the entire 20% goes to Amazon.com that won't leave enough business for many of these large box retailers to survive.

What to do?

Best Buy is now suffering from problems related to the very strengths that allowed them to survive the Great Recession of 2008-9 while competitors such as Circuit City failed.  Size.  They were big enough that people had a diverse enough reason to come in to the store so business was good enough to keep the lights on.  Now, as sales slowly migrate to other supply sources, mostly online, the size of Best Buy stores may be working against them.

Their story and their efforts to become an omnichannel retailer is one worth following.

http://risnews.edgl.com/retail-best-practices/Best-Buy-Enables-Online-Fulfillment-from-All-DCs,-Pilots-Ship-from-Store87174

Here is a snippet from that article:

"Depending on the months, 2% to 4% of all of our online traffic does not result in a purchase because we do not have the inventory in our distribution centers, and we are telling online shoppers that the item is out of stock," explained Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly at the company's recent shareholders' meeting. "However, an estimated 80% of the time we actually have it in one or more of our retail stores."

Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Marketing & Mobile Solutions in the 21st Century

The Information Age is upon us.  Everything we do, what we do and how we do it, is being challenged and revolutionized.  Life in this era will become unrecognizable to those who lived solely in the previous age, the Industrial Age.

The mobile internet means people across the globe are always connected to this always on always present internet that provides information and sharing of data beyond imagining just a short time ago.  All in your pocket right now through your smart phone.

How has this changed marketing and how can mobile solutions help today's marketing efforts?

This white paper I wrote should help start the discussion:
Mobile for Pull Marketing

Here is the summary paragraph:

The advent of the mobile internet has changed the relationship between retail stores and the consumer: the consumer now owns the shopping experience.  Marketing’s role has not changed significantly: build the brand, inform the customer, and enhance conversion rates.  However the tools to accomplish these goals have changed and corresponding strategies may need to be changed as well.  Wal-Mart has enacted a “pull” marketing strategy tied heavily to mobile platforms to enhance the customer experience and combined it with a “push” logistics strategy.  Other retailers might want to follow their lead. 

Who will be the Mad Men (or women) of the 21st Century?

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

**UPDATE**
Chain Store Age . com has a related article.

http://chainstoreage.com/article/brian-kilcourse

Here is a snippet from it:

[Brian] Kilcourse [managing partner for Retail Systems Research] pointed out that despite the variety of channels used by consumers in their decision-making processes, only 5.6% of sales are actually made online. 
 
One substantial takeaway was the imperative to thus create a dialogue outside the four walls of one's store with the intention to bring the consumer inside. Additionally, employees equipped with mobile technology can help consumers make choices while accessing the same information online.

Pull Marketing is being increasingly recommended as a tool to manage the mobile internet age we are entering.

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0007 Wearable Devices

A wearable device is a piece of equipment that is connected in some way, and in some way connected back to the internet.  Google Glass is the most prevalent at the moment but Apple just trademarked the name iWatch in Japan setting off a buzz on the blogosphere yesterday.

Do we need a wearable device?

What can it do and what is the point?

The best article I've yet seen on this can be found here:

http://www.cio.com/article/735753/Finally_A_Full_Featured_Phablet_?page=1&taxonomyId=3061

While the article might seem to stray from this discussion a bit give it some time.  You'll see how it all connects and then you'll get a vision of what wearable devices might do for you.

Here is a concept image courtesy of PCWorld:

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0006 Using Mobile for Marketing

Happy Monday,

The Information Age is upon us and everything we do is transforming.  Marketing techniques that worked fine and were fine-tuned in the 20th Century are no longer as effective as the new capabilities provide.  How can mobile increase your ROI for your marketing strategy?

Here is a snippet of the article:

As a retailer, you know you have to capture prospects’ attention to make a sale. That's why advertisements use eye-catching graphics. But now more than ever, consumers tend to ignore traditional ads and focus instead on the screen in the palm of their hand.

An advertising strategy that leverages this tendency is likely to deliver dividends in increased sales, and a truly forward-thinking approach can produce other valuable benefits for both the customer and the retailer.  

Read the full article here:
http://www.retailonlineintegration.com/article/replace-old-school-marketing-techniques-mobile-technology-drive-roi/1

Hope you have great plans for this 4th of July week.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant