Black Friday proves to be a pivotal day for mobile and e-commerce

Black Friday has passed and was a resounding success for  the retail industry, especially where e-commerce is concerned. comScore. a leading business analytics firm, had predicted that Black Friday would be a major success for retailers that embraced mobile consumers, largely due to the growing popularity of mobile commerce. The firm has released a new report concerning the online sales that occurred on Black Friday. The report documents the performance of e-commerce and shows the economic promise that mobile commerce represents.

Report shows online sales surpass $1 billion

According to the report, e-commerce sales on Black Friday surpassed $1 billion in the U.S. The feat is largely being attributed to the willingness of consumers to participate in mobile commerce. While physical stores saw a great deal of traffic, online platforms did as well. Many consumers took to e-commerce as a way to avoid crowds, while others did so to get the best deals they could find. comScore notes that the performance of this year’s Black Friday is an overall increase of 26% from last year’s Black Friday.

Millions of consumers rely on online platforms for shopping

More than 57 million consumers visited e-commerce sites and made use of mobile commerce platforms. The majority of these consumers flocked to Amazon, where they were able to find an assortment of deals on products they wanted. Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, and Apple also saw a great deal of digital traffic on Black Friday. comScore notes that the fastest growing category of sales this holiday season has been digital content and subscription, as well as toys and consumers packaged goods. The comScore report shows that apparel and accessories were sold the most online during Black Friday, with computer hardware following closely behind.

Black Friday may add more momentum to mobile commerce

Black Friday was expected to be a time when mobile commerce would prove how viable it could be over traditional forms of commerce. The comScore report suggests that this has been accomplished, as both e-commerce and mobile commerce platforms were able to perform well for consumers. The success of Black Friday may encourage retailers to invest more heavily in mobile commerce in the future.

They may look black and white, but you need to find the grey area to get the most out of them.

If you have been looking into mobile marketing or even if you simply own a smartphone, then the odds are that you will already have seen QR codes for the first time, and you may even have scanned a few to see where they lead.

These mobile barcodes are popping up in advertising, signage, and product packaging everywhere.
The reason is that QR codes can quickly, easily, and very inexpensively help you to better engage with your customers. These simple black and white squares can be the key to bridging the gap between an offline and online interaction with a consumer.

With a properly placed barcode, you’ll encourage an individual to scan to find out more about your company, brand, or product. Then, provided you offer the smartphone user something relevant that he or she considers to be worthwhile, then you’ll be able to create a call to action and achieve very positive conversion rates.

The trick is not to mistake QR codes for a simpler way to enter a URL into a mobile device.

Though QR codes are a way to allow a smartphone user to simply scan and be automatically directed to a link, it shouldn’t simply be a pathway to a website. Successful use of these barcodes is dependent on engaging the customer, not simply presenting a web presence.

The following are a few of the most vital points you should consider if you want QR codes to help your business grow:

• Make sure that they link to a page or site that is mobile compatible and optimized.

• If they are being used for a specific promotion, link the barcodes directly to a page about the item, event, or service being advertised.

• Give the consumer a reason to scan and pay attention by offering an exclusive deal, such as an offer, mobile discount coupon, or other opportunity. Offers to obtain something for free or to save money are the most successful use for QR codes.

• Make sure your contact information is available, including click-to-call and a feature to find the nearest location. Once the consumer is interested, you don’t want to discourage him or her by creating a struggle to find you!

• Provide relevant and useful information in step by step “how-tos” or even video instructions demonstrating how your product can be used.

QR codes can be implemented rapidly and without great expense. They can be worked into existing packaging, signage or marketing materials and, as long as you give consumers a reason to scan, can make a significant difference to your business.