November 19, 2009 by ggackle
With smartphone penetration reaching nearly 30 percent of U.S. adults, it isn't surprising many are planning to use the mobile devices for their holiday shopping.
According to a Deloitte study, 20 percent of mobile phone users are planning to use the device for researching prices, finding product info, getting discounts/coupons and reading reviews.
The study also found 22 percent of consumers plan to shop primarily online this year.
Another survey, this one by BIA/Kelsey found nearly 19 percent of smartphone (i.e. iPhone, Blackberry, Droid, Android) owners are using their Internet-capable devices to search for local products and services.
The survey found most are searching locally for movies, other entertainment and restaurant information with only 4 percent actually purchasing something locally via their smartphone.
Social media going to the cows
Social media, according to wikipedia, "is media designed to be disseminated through social interaction, created using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. Social media uses Internet and web-based technologies to transform broadcast media monologues (one to many) into social media dialogues (many to many)."
In other words, word-of-mouth advertising on Internet steroids.
If you doubt the effectiveness of social media, particularly for national/international products and services, witness the Facebook success of Chick-fil-A with more than 1.2 million "fans."
The wildly popular Chick-fil-A Facebook site has now been supplemented by the restaurant chain's own microsite: EatMorChikin.com.
Looking at "the big" picture
Looking to escape the buzz of the shopping season? Or, just want to put the daily problems of business in perspective? Visit the Hubble Space Telescope site with its amazing new images of our galaxy and beyond.
