Author: Dan Gendro

eBay looks to kick start holiday season

| November 13, 2012

 

eBay sets eyes on Thanksgiving day to launch mobile commerce campaign

Online retail giant eebay mobile marketingBay is gearing up for the coming 2012 holiday season by appealing to mobile consumers. The retailer has long been attuned to the wants of consumers with mobile devices and their interest in mobile commerce. eBay is preparing to launch an ambitious and massive campaign to kick start the holiday season by offering mobile consumers a huge number of deals and discounts for products they may be interested in. The retailer plans to launch this campaign just as consumers finish dinner on Thanksgiving day.

Retailer unwilling to wait for Black Friday to begin offering deals

Typically, retailers wait until the day after Thanksgiving to launch major savings and deals. This day, commonly known as Black Friday, is the most important day for the retail industry, as the business they do in that 24-hour period can generally make or break a sales year. A new national survey from Edelman Berland shows that the majority of American consumers finish their Thanksgiving dinner at 5:23 p.m. Eastern time. Instead of waiting for the following day to launch Black Friday, eBay will be launching its campaign just as consumers finish their dinner.

Early start may net eBay success

The retailer will be offering a massive number of deals for mobile consumers, hoping to entice these consumers to participate in mobile commerce. Using the eBay mobile application, as well as other platforms, consumers will be able to make purchases directly from the retailer, as well as its auction branch. eBay expects to find major success with this campaign as it will be one of the few, if not the only, retailer to begin the holiday retail season so early.

Retail industry poised to take advantage of popularity of mobile commerce

eBay will not be the only retailer looking to engage mobile consumers. Others in the industry have taken note of the growing popularity surrounding mobile commerce and have begun looking for ways to engage people. This holiday season may prove just how popular and effective mobile commerce can be for those that are still on the fence concerning the issue or those considering it to be a passing fad.

Juniper Research predicts the growth of augmented reality applications

| November 9, 2012

 

Juniper Research report paints a promising 2013 for augmented reality applications

A new report from Juniper Researchaugmented reality technology paints a promising future for augmented reality applications. Augmented reality is growing in popularity as an interactive technology and has been taking the mobile world by storm. The technology has won favor amongst consumers and marketers because of its dynamic capabilities. It has also begun making its way into the mobile commerce industry, though its uses therein have been sparse and limited in scope thus far. Over the next year, augmented reality applications are expected to see massive growth.

Augmented reality applications to generate more than $300 million in global revenue

According to the report from Juniper Research, augmented reality applications will generate more than $300 million in global revenue by the end of 2013. Traditional pay-per-download applications will be a major contributor to this growth, but retailers are beginning to become more interested in augmented reality and offering services using the technology to consumers for free. The report notes that retailers have been spending more on in-app advertising in 2012, a trend that is expected to pick up momentum throughout 2013.

Retailers growing more serious about augmented reality

In-app advertisements have long been an effective marketing tactic to engage consumers that make use of mobile applications. By adding augmented reality into the mix, these advertisements are made much more engaging, allowing markers to provide consumers with more dynamic digital content. Retailers have taken note of the potential that the technology has in this regard and are beginning to experiment with offering augmented reality content to consumers The report suggests that many retailers consider augmented reality as the key to getting in touch with a new generation of consumer.

Low awareness may hurt engagement potential

Juniper Research does caution against the low awareness many consumers have regarding augmented reality. Though the technology is growing in popularity, much of the attention it receives comes primarily from tech-savvy consumers that are already comfortable with the kind of interactivity it offers. Those that are not familiar with augmented reality are not likely to be enthralled by the technology, so retailers and other companies interested in the use of the technology may have to consider ways to raise awareness.