We are excited to see what other features they will have to offer and will keep you updated on what’s to come.

Here is the link to the full post:

http://analytics.blogspot.com/2011/03/looking-towards-future-of-google.html#links

 ”The app is split into three sections; each features four scenes to interact with. It’s a good showcase but not a useful shopping tool.”

The free app is designed to showcase the new 2011 spring collection in a fun, interactive manner. The problem is it does nothing to entice the shopper to buy and  will unlikely be any sort of revenue driver.

“It feels like a showcase, though, rather than a genuinely useful shopping tool. Tap on the shop button, and you’re simply sent to the RLX section of Ralph Lauren’s website, rather than the  specific item of clothing that you’ve been looking at.”

Small usability problems like this negatively affect sales. If a potential customer sees something they like, they should be able to get to that outfit easily so they can buy it. Sadly, these are the types of features that we see many companies focusing their time and limited resources on, since they are visually stimulating and “fun” to implement. These apps and new technologies are so new, that companies are exploring the boundaries and testing the waters.

But, do these fun gimmicks really make a difference to the bottom line? Probably not. People will not keep coming back to your site and be a lifelong customer just because you have a clever game on your site that incorporates some of your products. Of course, Ralph Lauren will be fine shoveling out the money that went into building this little app. But, what about the small to mid-sized companies that want to keep up with the times? We see these companies spending thousands (or tens-of-thousands) on nifty virtual try-ons,  24 hour video streaming, and flash  introductions which bring no additional sales to the website, and in some cases can actually hurt business by taking focus off of making the sale.

Be aware of what is entertaining and fun for you vs. what is actually going to set you apart from your competitors in the e-Commerce world. Websites need proper SEO and SEM implementation to bring in qualified customers. Customers need simple ways to shop via correct website/app. usability practices. And,  businesses need to bring in the sales. Make sure these fancy new devices and exciting technologies don’t drive business down. Simplifying is sometimes the best way to stand out. 

See the Full Article Here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/appsblog/2011/feb/28/ralph-lauren-app-review

We’ve been waiting for ages for AdWords to automate some of the things that we can set up in advance – like making an ad with a special offer live on the day of a sale and then pausing that ad when the day is done.

Well, today they announced this very feature! We don’t use many automated tools here (we think generally speaking that automation works in Google’s favor), but we’re excited about this feature. No more staying up until midnight to turn on promo ads!

To read more about it, check out the AdWords blog:   http://adwords.blogspot.com/2010/12/adwords-rules-and-so-can-you.html

Here are some quick tips to help make sure you squeeze everything possible out of this moment. http://www.imerex.com/prepare_your_website_for_upcoming_product_mention_on_tv_show.php

Don’t let an opportunity  pass without make sure your website is ready!

Today we explore whether getting ranked on the first page of Google is really all it’s cracked up to be. Read on for the second in our series of three SEO misconceptions.

Misconception #2: If you’re on the first page of Google, you’ve done a good job with your SEO efforts.

When I began listening to the SEO conversation, there was a lot of talk about getting onto the first page of Google. So, naturally I assumed that if I typed in a specific keyword and the website magically appeared on the first page of Google, SEO efforts for that business or topic were successful.

What I’ve learned: Most any business can land on the first page of Google. That is not a measure of successful SEO efforts. Appearing in the SERP’s for keywords that drive incremental revenue, that’s what is important.

For example, if I type in the business name “Tallahassee Tim’s Tire Shop”, guess what pops up on the first page of Google? Tallahassee Tim’s Tire Shop. That’s great, but obviously, this user had already heard of this particular tire shop.

When someone searches directly for the name of a specific business, that business will most likely appear on page one of the search engine results pages (SERPS). The real test is whether that same shop appears when a person looking for a tire shop in Tallahassee types in the phrase “tire shops Tallahasee” and discovers your business. It’s the difference between searching for a generic product or service, and searching for a brand.

I have seen many business owners make the same mistake in one of two ways. They either believe that getting on the first page of Google under their exact business name means success; or they are lured into the illusion that being ranked under certain terms necessarily helps their business gain exposure.

What they don’t consider is if that effort in getting ranked actually helps profitability. As a business, it’s important to be ranked under keywords or phrases that help sell the most profitable products or services. Often businesses are lured by companies that get them ranked under obscure terms or terms that just have no search volume, so the ranking doesn’t improve visibility or sales and defeats the purpose.

The SEO series continues tomorrow with our final SEO misconception. Learn what it takes to create a keyword list that gets results.