What’s the single most wonderful thing you can do during the 06 Holiday season? You can “SHOP” online for all of your gifts instead of mall crowds. I really don’t see why people go to the mall because all of the stores have websites that you can buy from. For all of you holiday shoppers here’s some helpful tips that I found from KVBC.
The Internet is expected to play a bigger role than ever before when it comes to holiday shopping this year. Experts believe shoppers will buy a fourth of their gifts online this year. But while logging on is convenient, there can also be risks if you’re not careful.

Amazon.com and Ebay are frequently visited sites, especially during the holiday season. If you do plan on buying online, here are some tips you should keep in mind.

1. Know who you’re dealing with. If you’re buying gifts on an online auction site that provides a feedback forum, check the track record of the seller before you bid.
2. Look for signs that online purchases are secure. A lock icon will appear on the website telling you the transaction is secure.
3. Pay the safest way. It’s best to use a credit card, especially when you’re buying something that will be delivered later, because under federal law you can dispute the charges if you don’t get what you’re promised.
4. Keep documentation of your order. Print out the confirmation and keep it handy in case you need it later.

You should also make sure to check your credit card and bank statements carefully and call your bank or credit card company if you notice any charges you didn’t make.

The National Retail Federation says shoppers are expected to shell out nearly $800 each this year online.

Is there any online retailer out there that has the following situation……I have a retail site and my biggest quarter is Q4. I’m about to ramp up my Pay-Per-Click spending so my margins will drop significantly. What should I do? Pay my SEO firm more money to do things that don’t affect my rankings or should I put some of my ad budget into offline advertising. I may do some local or National Ads on Radio and TV. I know I’ll be spending a ton on advertising but it’s what everybody else in my industry is doing and I need to keep up. Does this sound like you?

Solution: The companies that do well online are well ahead of the curve and they adapt themselves into different marketing programs to do so. If you had a Retail Blog, you’d be able to attack what so many in your industry don’t know about, Like,

1. 57 million readers in the United States

2. Starting the Viral Marketing Process

3. Stabalize your Reputation

4. Exploiting Keyword Niches

5. Video Advertising and Poscasting
Your time is now for a strategic gameplan to get in front of your audience. A business blog is step one.

Over on BBM there is a quick article about web 2.0 and how it may impact retail marketing as the web evolves. Check it out.

Google has launched a custom search engine in a new way to bring tailored search to websites and blogs. “The company said that in just minutes, anyone can use the Google search platform to create a search engine focused on any content they like, from Hollywood heartthrobs, to favorite sports team, to personal hobbies and more”  Google claims that they are merely following what other engines have done before.  What will Yahoo do next?  More….

Here’s an interesting report on search terms by industry. If you have a word or term on the following lists, what are you doing to get in front of people searching for them? It goes to show you by having a blog that is set up correctly, you have a chance to get in front of people looking for you. In your honest opinion, have you done everything possible to grow your online business? Start now.

According to a survey done by Shop.org, 83% of online retailers plan to offer free shipping during the holiday season which is the most important factor to online shoppers. A couple of keynotes from the article:
:By the end of October, about 63% of online retailers will have started running holiday promotions

:About 12% of retailers will add early shopper discounts this year, with nearly 39% offering the enticements this year

:By October, about 34% of consumers will make a holiday purchase, with another 26% starting in early to mid-November

The article also states that 97% of online retailers will invest in marketing through search engines and comparison sites.

More….

U.S. Online Ad revenues for the first half of 2006 surpassed 7.9 billion dollars, 37% higher from the same period last year.  According to Pricewaterhousecoopers, Q2 revenues surpassed the 4 Billion Dollar mark a 36% increase from last year.  Video Ads will continue to emerge for advertising, “While search advertising remains the largest format in terms of revenues, we expect to see new formats like video ads to continue to emerge as advertisers seek to leverage the branding opportunities afforded by the growing installed base of broadband users,” David Silverman, Partner, Entertainment & Media Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers. More….

Facebook is planning to roll out it’s expansion. Facebook primarily focuses on College students and is looking to grow their network space. Facebook was once offered 750+ million and turned it down. It seems they are focused on more members and more $$$. They believe that the web is evolving and that evolution can only mean their company is worth much more than 750 Million.  Article……