9 Facts Picked Up From Internet World 2012
Internet World London 2012 not only brought buckets of rain, it hailed down bucket loads of stats and facts that every marketer should know. In case you didn’t make it to the conference, we collected some of the most interesting facts presented, and are happy to share them here with you:
1. Never underestimate how much work people will put in to get an icon next to their name. In his presentation at Internet World, Conduit’s President, Adam Boyden (@adamboyden), spoke about gamification, explaining how the mechanics of gamification can be used to market a brand. He discussed how to motivate users to interact with a product/platform simply by rewarding them with an icon next to their name (as FourSquare rewards users with badges) – it works wonders!
2. In three years smartphones sales will top PC sales three to one. So if you still haven’t created a mobile app, and your site isn’t mobile-friendly yet, this little stat should finally push you over the fence.
3. The main things people are most likely to share on Facebook are: personal milestones, travel plans, buying show and concert tickets, and charitable donations. If you use social media to promote your brand, you may face the challenge of figuring out what your users will like and share. These four categories are the most popular amongst Facebook users.
4. Google+ circles are a great way to target and adjust your message per audience. Ian Carrington, Director of Mobile & Social Advertising Strategy for Google Mobile, touched upon the benefits of Google+, saying it’s a great way to share specifically-targeted content with different audiences. Check out Cadbury’s Google+ page for a peek at how they engage their million+ followers.
5. When making a purchase, 83% of customers trust recommendations from a friend over a written review. Yes, in this technologically advanced age, word of mouth is still the most influential way information is spread. Of course, the new word of mouth is social media, which is why it’s vitally important for brands and companies to have a strong social presence. Sure, it’s a great way to communicate your brand and messaging to your customer base, but it’s also a great to keep your finger on your audience’s pulse and stay aware of all the buzz (positive and negative) being shared about you.
6. You can measure social media ROI with sales, customer service efficiency, and brand equity. Your social media success can be difficult to gauge, but there are a few sure factors you can look at to determine whether your social media efforts really are effective. Have sales gone up with your increased social media presence? Are you now able to respond more quickly to customers via Twitter and Facebook? Have you achieved a clearer understanding of what users like and dislike about your company? Have you answered Yes to all of these questions? If not, you might want to revisit your social strategy.
7. Create an emotional bond with users + meet their expectations = they won't unsubscribe. You can successfully market to users with an email campaign by personalizing the content you’re sending out and letting them know when and how often to expect your emails. This creates an emotional bond, where they look forward to getting your email alerts.
8. Social media is a two-way communication tool. Sure, you should look to educate, engage, and entice your fans with your content, but it’s important not to be selfish when it comes to social media. Don’t use your social sites as a megaphone, but rather as a walkie-talkie, where you also listen to your fans and take part in the conversation.
9. Start distributing your app in smaller marketplaces – this can lead to popularity in the big marketplaces. Conduit’s Mobile Group Leader, Eran Zinman (@zzeran) spoke about what to consider before going mobile, noting that distribution should be top-of-mind before the creation of your app. Moreover, if you want to increase your app’s visibility, consider distributing it in smaller marketplaces, such as appoke, soc.io, and Slide Me, which can in turn lead to distribution in the big stores.
We had a blast at Internet World 2012, and – can you believe it?! – we’re back on the road again next week, heading out to New Orleans for International CTIA Wireless 2012. Our VP of Mobile Strategy, Ori Lavie, will participate on a Mobile Applications Track panel on May 8th at 1:00 p.m., so if you’re there, be sure to catch his panel.
Of course, you should also follow @Conduit for live updates from the show.
