Traditional Trumps Social Media Influence in Canada

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Consumers in Canada prefer information from traditional sources over digital media when researching purchases

According to a September 2011 online survey by the Canadian Council of Public Relations Firms (CCPRF), internet users in Canada preferred product information from traditional media like newspapers (86%), TV (83%) and radio (78%) over digital media sources like blogs (29%), Facebook (21%) and Twitter (15%).

However, consumers ages 18 to 34 were approximately twice as likely as those ages 35 to 54 to trust social media sources for product information, according to a CCPRF press release.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Most online marketers assume the best place to find their audience is...well...online.

 

I've got news for you:

"Just because you're in front of your computer all day doesn't mean your customers are, too."

• They're not lingering around their email all day waiting with baited breath for your next "thrilling" message...
• They're not burning up Google for hours and hours on end...
• And they're not desperately seeking YOUR website.

Oh sure, some are, but let's get real.  Most of them (including me) are:

 

• Waiting to pick their kids up from soccer practice...
• Standing in line at the grocery store...
• Or out browsing around shops.

 

In other words, they're not sitting in front of their computers at all...

...But they ARE on their mobile phones!

Here are some facts to get your attention:

 

Mobile users outnumber computer users 4 to 1...

People are on their computers about an hour a day on average...

But people have their mobile devices with them 24 hours a day - and rarely turn them off.

 

Want to be where your customers are?

Then you need to get your marketing "mobile-ized".

 

A database of your customers mobile phone numbers is the most valuable thing you can have

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fer 2011

Despite the growing popularity of Facebook, Twitter and email on smartphones, the humble text message continues to thrive.

According to research by professional services firm Deloitte, more than 50 per cent of smartphone users text every few hours or more, with 84 per cent sending a text message at least every day.

The report said despite the emergence of other mobile communication platforms, text messaging is likely to remain an important way in which people use their smartphones in the future, and that operators should consider how to maintain the appeal of the text message and to view it as complementary to social networking.

The survey found that younger smartphone owners, aged between 18 and 24 years, are the most prolific users of texting, as well as the most likely to use social networks - suggesting that text messaging and social networking are not mutually exclusive.

Furthermore, the report noted the importance of text messaging as a gateway to data communication: "Operators should also consider text messaging's role as an introduction to data communications. For most users, of all levels of sophistication, the SMS will have been, or will be, the first type of data service used. Avid text message users are likely to also become enthusiastic users of mobile email, instant messaging and social networks."

The study also reported that mobile advertising has the potential to become a more important advertising medium, as it currently only forms a small fraction of the $500bn advertising sector, generating $3.5bn in 2010. Deloitte forecast that, globally, less than $1 of advertising revenue would be spent per mobile subscriber each year.

Mobile advertising offers the most versatile advertising platform, according to Deloitte, as users can follow links to websites or make a call to the advertiser.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the iWord system, you can send texts up to 450 characters and you should include your mobile website in it where people can check availability, book and pay.

 

How does your website look on a mobile phone?  Click HERE to check it out.

----------------------------------------------------------

 

“Mobile is a tremendously exciting sector,” said Karin von Abrams, eMarketer senior analyst. “On November 29, for example, Tesco Direct released research suggesting that 10% of UK consumers would be doing their Christmas shopping via mobile this year. And 45% of nearly 4,000 people polled by Tesco said they struggled to find the time for holiday shopping; many of these will likely use their mobile phones to check out options, even if they actually buy online or in store.

“On the same day, Lightspeed Research reported that 44% of consumers it surveyed would be happy to use a mobile app to plan—and potentially book—their holiday travel.

We expect 2011 to be a truly transformative year for mobile throughout Europe, as millions of consumers adopt these new behaviours.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hoteliers, if you don't capture mobile numbers of those coming into your hotel for whatever reason they are there for, you are missing out on potential business. You MUST create a mobile database.

Let us help you create that database and advise you how to grow your business and also adapt your website so it can do all it should on a mobile phone

Our service is a pay-as-you-go system and we do not have any set up fees or monthly charges.

 

   Go to www.iword.ie   and complete the free sign up or text Peter@iword.ie or call Peter Fry on 0870623466