To Mobile Shop or Not to Mobile Shop... Is There a Question?

With the hustle and bustle of Black Friday behind us, it is clear that shopping by mobile phone was not only widely used but endorsed.

According to allbusiness.com this year, retailers such as Sears, Gap, and J.C. Penney launched sites designed specifically for mobile browsing. J.C. Penny used its site to promote gift ideas by sending out text-message alerts, while Sears launched its first mobile-designed Web destination in November. Best Buy’s mobile portal includes a search box and drop-down store locator so you can not only compare prices at a rival retailer but you can find out if a Best Buy location is near you. Best Buy Mobile provides images of items, ratings, and in many cases reviews.
Black Friday saw greater use of mobile phones by consumers to zero in on and make purchases, industry data reviewed by Dow Jones show.

From a very small base last year, mobile online payments through PayPal surged nearly 650%.

With Google’s recently purchased AdMob, which targets advertising on mobile devices, and now has also acquired Teracent, a firm focused on online display advertising. Small business will soon be able to advertise with the major players in this new marketing arena.

‘Tis the Season to Go Mobile.

Google is developing a new application layer protocol designed to speed the movement across the web. It's called SPDY. Yes, that is right say it with me, SPEEDY.

Unveiled Thursday with a post to the Google Research blog, this "early-stage" research project is specifically designed to reduce latency via things like multiplexed streams, request prioritization, and HTTP header compression.

HTTP today is used in a way that it wasn't designed for. According to leading experts, HTTP is very efficient at transferring an individual file. But it wasn't designed to transfer a large number of small files efficiently, and this is exactly what the protocol is called upon to do with today's websites. Pages with 60 or more images, CSS files, and external JavaScript are not unusual for high-profile Web destinations. Loading all those individual files mostly takes time because of all the overhead of separately requesting them and waiting for the TCP sessions HTTP runs over to probe the network capacity and ramp up their transmission speed. Browsers can either send requests to the same server over one session, in which case small files can get stuck behind big ones, or set up parallel HTTP/TCP sessions where each must ramp up from minimum speed individually. With all the extra features and cookies, an HTTP request is often almost a kilobyte in size, and takes precious dozens of milliseconds to transmit.

The company's research arm has already developed a prototype web server and the Chrome client that make use of the protocol. In the lab, Google says it sees "up to" a 55 per cent improvement when downloading the web's top 25 sites over simulated home connections.
"There is still a lot of work we need to do to evaluate the performance of SPDY in real-world conditions. However, we believe that we have reached the stage where our small team could benefit from the active participation, feedback and assistance of the web community," the company says.

Google's documentation explains that SPDY is not a means of replacing http. It will create a session between the HTTP application layer and the TCP transport layer. That said, this session uses an HTTP-like request-response setup.

"SPDY replaces some parts of HTTP, but mostly augments it," reads a Google FAQ. "At the highest level of the application layer, the request-response protocol remains the same. SPDY still uses HTTP methods, headers, and other semantics. But SPDY overrides other parts of the protocol, such as connection management and data transfer formats."

As it rolls out all sorts of web-based applications, Google is intent on juicing web speeds. That's why it launched its very own browser, Chrome, with its very own JavaScript engine, and that's why Chrome will soon drive Google's very own operating system.

All this is very interesting to Web Full Circle because it looks like Google is taking aim at commanding and setting the World Web standard. Wither that is the case it will be interesting to see the increase in speed and the efficient use of the new “Frankenstein HTTP.” But folks have no worries Web Full Circle is on the case.

Thank you ComputerWorld for you’re the specs of the case.

Stratagy Is A Must for Internet Marketing. Don't Forget Facebook

Having an Internet marketing strategy gives you a measurable and definitive way to target your market and position your business so that those looking for what you have to offer are finding you easily.

This is only the first level of the sales process, but it is vital to the success of your online business, but remember traffic marketing is not sales. Traffic can be increased by search engine optimization, using pay per clicks, or marketing your site in advertising campaigns. After completing the marketing step which brings the traffic you must then turn your attention to selling to your visitor once they get there.

Facebook has very much revolutionized this important pillar of any marketing campaign over the past few years with Beacon. Well Beacon is out and Nielsen is in.

Let's think about this for a moment. When a person enters a physical store they are met with the interaction of a sales person. Face-to-face contact takes place and over 90% of normal communication between the two people is non-verbal.

Websites or virtual storefronts as I like to call them don't allow that non-verbal communication to take place in the traditional way and the friendly sales person is replaced with the cold technology of background code.

The key question we must ask ourselves here is "How can you provide that human interaction to potential clients and customers so that you are able to move that client or customer through a successful sales process?"

Facebook!

Facebook has become the perfect supplement to any website and online marketing efforts.

I know what you’re thinking; Facebook there is still time to grow and is it really that creditable?

This week Facebook took another step forward to add solid creditability. Facebook ditched its Beacon program earlier this week, deciding instead to partner with Nielsen on a less-controversial vehicle to push advertising to its social-networking masses.

On Tuesday, Facebook announced a multi-year strategic alliance with Nielsen to help marketers make better use of the Internet to develop and market new products. The alliance leverages Facebook's global consumer reach with Nielsen's market-research savvy to offer marketers deeper consumer insights.

"Facebook is an increasingly vital link between consumers and brands," said John Burbank, CEO of Nielsen's online division. "We will now be able to add deep knowledge of this important social network to our unmatched media measurement and consumer insight across all three screens. Together we will be able to provide the missing elements to clients seeking better understanding of how Web content and online advertising affect consumer behavior."

Local Internet Marketing Firm is a Proud Sponsor of the 2009 AIANC Insurance Expo 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 21,2009) – Web Full Circle, a sponsor for the 2009 Auto Insurance Agents of NC Insurance Expo will join a panel of experts for the ‘Net Effect Seminar.

The ‘Net Effect Seminar is two hour seminar geared to help insurance agents effectively use social networks and internet marketing to market to new clients.

Web Full Circle will be sitting on the panel to provide insight and expertise in good versus bad website design. The seminar is great for agents that want to break into the social media realm properly and with return on investment.

The 2009 AIANC Insurance Expo will be held at the Embassy Suites Resort and Conference Center in Concord, NC, September 25-26. The Embassy has no vacancies, hotel rooms can be found off the 85 at the Concord exit.

The AIANC was founded in 1988. The mission is to strengthen the Independent Auto Insurance Agent by working with companies, the Department of Insurance, the NC Rate Bureau, and other entities to ensure the long-term survival of the Independent Auto Insurance Agent.

For any further information about the 2009 AIANC Insurance Expo, visit www.autoinsuranceagentsnc.com For more information about Web Full Circle contact Nathaniel Smathers at nathaniel.smathers@webfullcircle.com and follow us on Twitter Facebook and Dot Spots

Network Support Services, Inc. A Division of Web Full Circle Receives 2009 Best of Matthews Award

CHARLOTTE, Sept. 10, 2009 - Network Support Services, Inc. a division of Web Full Circle has been selected for the 2009 Best of Matthews Award in the Computer Software category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

Start Your Social Media Campaign Today!

Social Media is not only effective to “grow your brand,” but is used for advancing the reputations and careers of executives, owners and managers alike. Customers love the ability to interact directly with these business people. Paradoxically, the singular common complaint that I have heard is the demand of time. So how do you benefit from social media marketing?

Planning

You must optimize one's efficiency of the process. The crucial aspect is that you are truthful with your audience. The social media marketing plan must be a part of your overall public relations plan for your business. Determining where to conduct online social networking and social media marketing requires 20-30% of the time spent each week on an optimal program. This can be delegated to a consultant or other highly trained team member to save time.

Authorship

All the content must be original work of the business or management. We all remember the backlash that Britney Spears got when the public found that she had ghostwriters for her social networking interactions. This doesn't mean that you have to post all your interactions that is what social media consultants are for. Just make an effort to provide information that has your stamp of approval.

Mechanics

The aspect that takes the most time is the mechanics. This part of the process is the most dreadful for executives and management. The mechanics of posting blog entries, Twitters and social network comments requires only a bank of authentically authored content from which to draw and the knowledge of how to post that content to the appropriate sites. When the duties are delegated to an employee or consultant operating in accordance with a well-defined strategic plan and clear ethical guidelines, the business is freed up to manage while satisfying the customers desire for online social interactions.

Social Media is a wonderful way to gauge how you are seen in your community and what you can do to better your standing. It is encourage that all business owners engage in social media marketing. Social media is here to stay. Honestly, a few sites might fall by the way side, but social media is solid. If you have any questions please find us on Facebook or Twitter.

Labor Day, Just A Little History Lesson

Web Full Circle would like to say Happy Labor Day with a little history lesson:

Labor Day is a legal holiday in the U.S.A. It is celebrated the first Monday in September. It is a day for the nation to honor its workers.

Today, Labor Day is a family holiday. It is the last big weekend of summer. Many people pack picnic lunches. They go to the beach, the lake, or the mountains. Others invite friends over for a barbecue. Some towns hold Labor Day parades. Politicians may give speeches.

But the first Labor Day celebration in the United States was not about family or fun. Instead, it was about making life better for America’s working class.

Back then, workers were not always treated well. Hundreds of new immigrants arrived in the country every day. Most spent all their money getting to America. By the time they arrived, they would take any job they could find.

Factory owners often took advantage of the situation. They paid workers little, but expected them to work 12-, 14-, even 16-hour days. What’s more, jobs were often dangerous. Even children worked in situations where a mistake could mean death.

Peter McGuire was 11 years old when he took his first factory job. His father had left home to fight in the Civil War. His mother needed money to support the family. Young Peter did what he could to keep food on the table. But as he grew into an adult, he resolved to improve working conditions in America’s factories.

Peter believed that workers needed to unite. So he became a labor union leader. Along with organizing workers, McQuire called for a celebration honoring the working man. In 1882, the Knights of Labor organized America’s first Labor Day parade. More than 10,000 workers took the day off work. They marched through the streets of New York City. They carried signs calling for shorter working days. They proposed a standard eight-hour day.

In the years that followed, more labor unions sprang up. They called for better pay and safer working conditions. They also asked the government to make Labor Day a national holiday. In 1894, Congress responded, and President Grover Cleveland signed the law giving America's workers their day.

Working conditions have improved over the past century. Child labor has been outlawed. Worker safety is now a priority. Laws restrict how many hours men and women can be required to work. Laws also now specify a minimum wage.

Labor unions still run television and newspaper advertisements around Labor Day. They encourage people to support America’s workers by buying American-made products. But for most of America’s workers, Labor Day is now just a day off work. It’s the final day of a three-day weekend and a time to have fun with friends and loved ones.

Countries the world have labor holidays, but not necessarily on the same day. Aside from the United States, only Canada observes Labor Day the first Monday of September. China, India and many European countries choose to honor worker on May 1, dubbed International Workers' Day. New Zealand celebrates Labor Day on the fourth Monday of October, while Australia allows states and territories to schedule their own observances.

We want to say thank you to the American workers and the hard working men and women here at Web Full Circle. Have a wonderful day

5 Tips for Effective Social Media Marketing

1. Learn the Culture

You will find that each community or Social Media Site has it’s own culture and way of operating. Make an effort to learn this culture and what is and is not acceptable socially within that site, you’ll want to fit in.

2. Manners – Be Socially Acceptable

If you’ve ever heard me speak on the topic you know that I equate Social Media Sites to that of being at a party or a networking event. The bottom line is act accordingly, you wouldn’t come up to me at a party and instantly hard sell me with what you do and what the great sale you have going on this week is.

3. Contribute

If you want your message to be heard and to be appreciated then contribute. You want to create a following and in a sense be popular at this social gathering right? Well if you contribute, as opposed to simply trying to gain something from the site, you will be better received. The more value you provide, the more you will get back from the site, it’s a natural progression.

4. Overkill vs. Too Little

Too many people seem to fall within one end of the extreme or the other. Social Media should be natural, if you don’t do it enough you won’t be visible or a valuable part of the community, and if you do it too much you will over saturate yourself and possibly become a nuisance. Try and maintain a medium level of participation. Back to my party analogy, do you want to be the shy person in the corner, the obnoxious jerk yelling across the room, or the fun average person who just simply fits in and gets along with everyone else.

5. Participate

It’s not just about you. Participate in other conversations and posts. Vote on their posts, click like or dislike, add comments etc. Engage other people and show interest in what other people are speaking about.

Scott Levy – Director of Internet Marketing – Web Full Circle