Verónica Maria Jarski says, “More than half (51%) of shoppers plan to purchase holiday items online, according to the following Yahoo infographic. Use the infographic’s search advertising tips to get on holiday shoppers’ wish lists. One big tip: Make sure your site is optimized for mobile. “Some 76% of smartphone owners plan to use their device for holiday shopping,” states Yahoo. Moreover, 88% of shoppers have researched a product online then purchased in a store. Also, be mindful of the busiest days of the season, such as Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday,... [...]

Jillian Kumagai says, “If your shopping fantasy is a week-long Black Friday sale, then you’re in luck: This year, Amazon is counting down to Black Friday with limited-time deals all the way up until the big day. While Amazon’s sales, like all major Black Friday sales, are heavy on tech gadgets, the mega online retailer’s variety is also represented this year from men’s shoes to cookware. The main thing you need to know is that they’re broken down into Daily Deals (available through Dec. 22) and 15,000 lightning sales that will be available until the Black Friday... [...]

Olivia Dello Buono says, “The holiday season is almost upon us! Aside from spreading the yuletide cheer, your customers have only one thing on their minds: shopping. This time of year marks a lucrative opportunity for small businesses: it’s forecasted that consumers will spend over $616.9 billion this season (that’s a 4.1 percent increase over holiday 2013 sales). Since we believe it’s better to give than to receive, we’re gifting you this handy list (don’t worry – we’ve checked it more than twice!) to help you engage your audience and optimize your holiday marketing efforts”. 12... [...]

Verónica Maria Jarski says, “Want to focus more on driving online sales? The following tips can help you rev up your online business—especially during the holiday season. One tip is to make sure your online store design is visually appealing. “Poor design drives customers away,” according to the following Referral Candy infographic. “Try working with tried-and-tested themes from established platforms.” Also, don’t overwhelm your existing and potential customers with email. Instead, be selective when you decide what to send. Email is a powerful tool that must... [...]

Suzanne Blackburn says, “The 2014 Holiday Marketer Report leverages the results of a survey conducted among marketers from regions around the world as well as performance data from the 2013 holiday season and consumer trend research to reveal the key holiday marketing trends, strategies and tactics that will define the 2014 holiday season. The following are five key global marketing trends and regional differences, among others, found in the report: Paid Facebook advertising will rival organic campaigns across other social networks, particularly in North America During the 2014 holiday season,... [...]

Todd McCormickValentine says, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — at least inside retail stores. Now it’s time to make sure your digital marketing is just as ready for the holiday shopping season. Gift-givers who aren’t already buying are at least making their shopping lists. If you can engage buyers with digital marketing during the pre-purchase research phase, you stand a greater chance of increasing conversion rates — both online and in-store. Just consider the following: 22 percent of consumers spend more money as a result of using digital, with just over... [...]

Monica Montesa says, “For some, baking cupcakes is simply a hobby. For others, it’s the foundation for a sweet business idea. At least that was the case for Joanne Jarin, founder of The Lucky Cupcake Company in Pipersville, Pennsylvania. “I started working for a local caterer under the wing of his pastry chef, [and] after a few years of learning and building my confidence, I left my job and started working on my business plan, selling cakes and cupcakes from my small home,” says Jarin. “That was almost 5 years ago, this May. I am now working on opening my second shop in Spring 2015 at... [...]

Arie Shpanya says, “Halloween is over, and you know what that means: Christmas carols, decorations, and holiday sales are now fair game. Sorry grinches, but shoppers and businesses are starting to get ready for the holiday season earlier and earlier, and there’s nothing that can be done about it. One thing that is in your control, however, is preparing for it. 2014 is expected to be the biggest holiday shopping season in years, so how can you get ready for it?”. Retail tech trends for the 2014 holiday season ‘Econsultancy’ Blog  [...]

Katie Oakes says, “The Internet of Things — everyday objects that connect to the internet and other smart devices — used to be reserved for ‘geeks’ and ‘techies.’ But as the holiday season approaches and more and more smart products are released into the market, interest in the Internet of Things is growing rapidly. In fact, since 2011, search activity for smart watches and fitness devices increased almost 80 fold, with a higher rate of peak during the 2013 holiday season.   But smart products aren’t just limited to wearables — interest is rapidly growing in home automation... [...]

Ayaz Nanji says, “More than half (53%) of US consumers say they will use a mobile device to research or purchase products this holiday season, according to a recent report from Burst Media. Among this group of active mobile researchers/shoppers, 59% say they will use their devices to assist in making holiday online purchases, and 46% say they will do so to help with offline purchases. Women are much more likely than men to say they will conduct product research on their mobile devices to assist in making an online purchase (63% versus 52%). One-third of consumers surveyed who research/shop... [...]