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Across the country, consumer desire for digital content has not slowed down. Whether it’s watching online video, surfing the internet or checking email, people are spending huge amounts of time engaged digitally. A new study has been released that shows us just how much time U.S. consumers spend with online content on a weekly basis.
The consumer demand for instant information underscores the importance of mobile search for marketers. No longer do consumers wait until they are back at a home computer to make plans, buy products and connect with friends—instead, consumers are reaching for their smartphones to take action right in the moment. According to a study conducted between March and April 2012 by The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, smartphone and mobile device-connected consumers are falling under a new “culture of real-time information seekers and problem solvers.”
The maturation of the mobile phone market has put a powerful shopping tool in the hands of an ever-growing number of consumers. And recent research shows that they are taking full advantage of it. One in five respondents has made an online purchase on a mobile phone…
Consumers love their tablets and consider them a great vehicle to research and purchase products. Many consumers feel that the functionality and portability of tablets actually drive them to make more purchases. By unitizing all the functions available via tablets, your business could likely see increased sales.
The L.A. Times has reported on a new study courtesy of Bitly that indicates when the best time to post links on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr – the three largest social media networks today.
Facebook: Anytime around midday during the week, with the study indicating Wednesday at 3pm is the peak time.
Twitter: Between 1pm and 3pm Monday – Thursday is the optimum time. Anytime after 8pm is typically not as maximum – neither is Friday after 3pm.
Tumblr: Almost the complete opposite – Fridays after 4pm and evenings in general are the optimum time to post on Tumblr.
Source: L.A. Times
Consumers have demonstrated a voracious appetite for online content that shows no signs of abating. In November 2011, research firm JZ Analytics conducted a survey of US internet users for semiconductor manufacturer Broadcom and found that nearly 87% of respondents consumed 11 hours or more of online content per week at their workplaces or homes, whether surfing the internet, watching online video or checking email.
The portability and functionality of tablet computers are just two of the factors that have made them so popular. In yesterday’s post, we chronicled research that showed most tablet use takes place in living room. Combine that with information that shows peak tablet use takes place during the evening hours and it’s just more the evidence that tablets are an important second screen in user’s lives. A recent study shows us how consumers are using tablets as purchase decision making devices.
Marketers seem to have an ever-growing number of ways to drive customer engagement on brand websites. In a March 2012 online survey of US marketing professionals, trade publication Chief Marketer found that the most popular tool in digital campaigns was tried-and-true email marketing, which 78% of respondents said they used. Email newsletters were the No. 2 tactic (59%), followed closely by a social network presence (58%). This year, for the first time, Chief Marketer asked respondents if they hosted original video content on their sites or on aggregator sites like YouTube; one-third of respondents said they did.
When the little ones get bored or cranky, moms are likely to pass their mobile devices to their kids to keep them busy with videos or games. The practice has become so common that one-third of children under age 4 have used smartphones. The lesson for marketers is clear: appeal to both moms and kids in messaging.
Online video ads
There was a time when the world of online video was dominated with video of cats, dogs, babies and things that used to be mainly seen on “America’s Funniest Home Videos”. But now, product and advertising videos are common place and consumers are seeking them out. The amount of time consumers spend watching online video advertising is astounding.