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• PC users can easily select items and navigate your web page with the click of a mouse, but tablet users may find it more difficult. The tapping and swiping required to accomplish tasks on a tablet can make one feel “fumble-fingered” when trying to make precise moves. Make certain you tailor your page with larger buttons so users don’t wind up on the wrong screen when making their selection. Test your page to be sure it’s easy to use.

• The iPad doesn’t support Adobe Flash, so if your site relies on that tool, you’ll need to find an alternative for your tablet storefront.

• As the statistics from IBM reflect, more people sitting down with a tablet are ready to buy. Make the process from browsing to buying a simple one. The faster and easier the steps, the higher the likelihood users will stay with it, and complete the sale.

One in five small businesses plan to invest more resources in mobile ads and apps in 2012, are you one of them? And only 10% say they won’t be using social media for promoting their company. So get out your sunglasses, because there is a bright future for mobile marketing in Trinidad and Tobago.

With more mobile devices now being sold than PC’s, it’s no doubt that mobile is hot. But what should warm your marketing soul is that a Nielsen report shows the number of smartphone subscribers using mobile internet has grown 45% since 2010.

It’s not about jumping on the bandwagon, or throwing yourself into something simply because everyone’s doing it now. Getting involved in mobile marketing is simply expected. It’s not the flavor of the month.

Mobile marketing has gone mainstream, especially for retail. The way people use their phones has altered the retail landscape, with shoppers increasingly looking for coupons, deals, and price checks. When it comes to mobile behavior, Google reports some promising numbers:

* 79% of smartphone users use them to help with shopping
* 70% use their device in the store
* 77% contacted a business via mobile

So, hopefully you are warming to the idea of mobile marketing campaigns and what they can do for your business. There are some things to consider, though, for making the most of the strategy. First and foremost, have a mobile-friendly site. Online marketing experts understand the need for treating mobile devices differently from desktops when it comes to web design and messaging.

Try not to think of mobile as a stand- alone marketing tool… integrating other campaigns with mobile will create a consistent, multi-pronged strategy that will cover all the bases. Consider where people are using their phones. Often it’s while they are engaged in other activities, like watching television. Plan campaigns that can bring multiple advertising mediums together.

Before you begin crafting a mobile campaign, consider your focus. It’s very easy to get in the mindset of “what do we want to put out there?” Instead, consider, “what do prospects want to receive?”
Try taking the temperature of the consumer landscape… and remember that 40% of searches are related to location.

And the mobile tool will continue to heat up… a Research and Markets report this year says mobile phone search revenues are expected to reach 8-billion dollars by 2015. So now’s the time to take action. Get help with your mobile marketing in Trinidad and Tobago, or you might get left out in the cold.

As the year 2011 draws to a close, it’s hard not to look forward, or to hear about predictions of what we will see in 2012 and beyond. While online marketing is rapidly gaining ground, it is still relatively new, and so, experts see numerous possibilities for evolution in the field. So let’s take a look at one of the predictions for the future of social media marketing in Trinidad and Tobago.

According to Jeremiah Owyang of Altimeter Group, the future is a world of marketing uniquely through social, location based, and mobile channels. Eventually, he says, traditional advertising will no longer exist. Owyang claims the ultimate business goal for social media can be tracked by the “Social Business Hierarchy of Needs”.

In this 20 minute video, Owyang describes the levels of that hierarchy, and how they can ultimately take your business from being reactive, to being predictive. Being predictive enables businesses to give customers information when they want it, and how they want it.

The hierarchy starts with the basics, and moves towards that predictive level.

* Foundation

* Safety
* Formation
* Enablement
* Enlightenment

While we still may be years away from the social/location-based/mobile (SoLoMo) world that could revolutionize marketing, it’s not too soon to get started. Think ahead, and look into social media marketing in Trinidad and Tobago.

For more predictions on what may come for online marketing in 2012 from econsultancy, read here.

Leveraging QR Codes to Drive Traffic to your Website

QR (Quick Response) codes are those barcode-like images that can be scanned by smart-phones, which store more information as compared to conventional barcodes. They can be linked to URLs directly. For example, if you scan the QR code given below, it’ll take you to google.com.

This bar-coding technology is able to easily incorporate social media capabilities, custom landing pages and store text based information such as mailing addresses. These codes can be easily scanned by almost all iPhones, Androids or other camera enabled smart-phones which integrate barcode scanning applications. This will allow you to entice audiences with dynamic engagement strategies.

How your business can incorporate QR codes to build website traffic:

• Print Medium – QR Codes can be printed in newspapers/magazines, posters, CD labels etc, where the person scanning the code can reach the mobile website of the advertiser.
• Websites – These codes can be scanned from the primary website and in turn lead to the mobile website.
• Business Cards - Your potential clients and business associates can scan the QR code on your business card and easily add you to their phone contacts.
• Product Packaging -  Incorporating QR codes on the packaging of your products can help provide vital information such as customer care contact details, user manuals and other vital information.
• Direct Marketing and In-Shop Print Advertising - When used in your  print advertisements, mass mails or email signatures, QR Codes can help drive traffic and a consequent fan following to your social networking profiles on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
• Effective Event Management - You can print QR codes on tickets or invites of your event and link them to Google maps, RSVP pages and all other event related material.

Mobile marketing is inexpensive, immediate and personal. It’s a viable new way to create customer loyalty, increase awareness and boost sales. WSI can assist your business to optimise your marketing strategy leveraging this exciting new trend.

The above is an excerpt from our November 2011 WSI Inside Edge newsletter – to receive a copy of the newsletter contact us today.  You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter using the form on this page.

If you are interested in learning more about QR Codes and how to incorporate this media into your Digital Marketing Strategy in Trinidad and Tobago, give us a call today (868 390 9251).  Also, please share how you are using QR Codes to market your business.

Your competition is doing it. And with more and more mobile users out there, you need a solid plan for mobile marketing in Trinidad and Tobago. After all, it’s become quite an effective tool for engaging customers.

Forecasts show more businesses are planning to ramp up their investments in mobile marketing in 2012.

But just how do you make the shift towards marketing for the device? First, you will need to determine what sort of messages to aim at your target audience.
Knowing how to tailor your messages for the device is equally important. Here are some tips for developing a strategy customized for the smaller screen, and for insuring that your website is friendly for the mobile user.

* Understand that mobile and desktop are not the same.
* Take advantage of the notion that using mobile is a natural, current behavior.
* Make the message condensed… there is typically a 4 to 10 times reduction in space from a desktop.

* Navigation on your site should not be more than 2 to 3 actions beyond your landing page.
* Have quick load times – less than 30 seconds.
* Be brief, make a quick connection and call to action.
* Offer multiple channels to pull from offline to online (QR codes, URL, SMS)
* Be relevant.

Many are researching and purchasing while ‘on the move’. However, the convenience of grabbing a mobile phone to do the same when not out-and-about, seems to be quite appealing . Marketing Pilgrim found that the majority of smartphone shoppers actually do it at home. And for some retailers, the news is even better – most purchases are for digital products, followed by purchases for clothing and accessories.

So look into developing your mobile marketing in Trinidad and Tobago.

If interested in  Mobile Websites or Mobile Apps please call 320-9347
The internet is a great tool for knowing who is searching for you and what they are looking for. Web analytics on a website is important for you, the website owner, to be able to define internet marketing strategies and make well-informed marketing decisions. Web Analytics help you to see real time trends;e.g.  what is the preferred brand and the preferred model of the products you sell. Web Analytics also tell you where people are coming from and how they found you. Google search data will tell how many searches are done on a smartphone versus computer.
Here is how search works people type in a product or service that you sell. If your site is well optimized with keyword-rich content, you will show up on a google search. If your website is active (new content, daily backlinks) and hundreds of other algorithms, google will like you, and you will rank high. Last year people were concerned about ranking first. Today you need to occupy the whole of first page especially above the fold.
Here is how people buy: they search the internet for information, prices, deals, or location. Basically they research.  If you rank on the first page of google and are above the fold people are likely to come visit your site. If your site is user friendly/navigable and they are happy with the information you provide. They may buy now, call you, or come back later.
I did some research for mobile devices retail shops. Here is a comparative sneak peak of who is using their smartphone to perform a Google searche vs the traditional computer:

Here is the great news: for those of you who have a website, we at WSI Internet Marketing Trinidad and Tobago can get a mobile website up and functional in three weeks. For those of you who don’t have a website, we can get your mobile website up and functional in 6 weeks. For those of you who have mobile websites we can make mobile websites a bit more snazzy with mobile apps. People today love gadgets and gizmos. Mobile Apps make your site more functional. More functions mean more customer satisfaction.
Why do businesses need mobile websites? Globally, the percentage of mobile searches is on the increase. ‘Mobile searches have quadrupled in the last year, for many items one in seven searches are now mobile.’ (MobileStats2010 by MobiThinking News)

We talk  a lot on this site. We can talk till you are blue in the face or bored to death about digital marketing. But we are also ready for action. You take care of your business and we will mind your back. Who’s talking about you? What’s the competition doing? What markets should I be going after? Should I have a mobile website? Can I handle my own  Social Media Marketing?

If you have questions; we have answers. If you are ready to control your internet presence but don’t know where to start; we can show you the statistics .

Internet Marketing is different from previous offline marketing. You don’t have to hire a professional photographer. You don’t need to print. The marketing budget does not have to be 5digits and more.  One thing that is major is your commitment.  You need to be ready to commit your time. Your dollar commitment must be constant.

Call us for your free consultation.