Leave Mobile in the Dust
These days, since it seems like everyone has the Internet in their pockets or soon will, companies are rolling out mobile strategies like it's a matter of life or death. But what if it isn't? What if companies spent less time re-formatting their strategy with every new technology, and spent more time focused on what really matters: the customer relationship and getting products into consumer hands? Stefan Schmidt, at Agile Commerce, says that progressive...read more >>
In Stock and Ready for Pickup
Retailers have started viewing their brick-and-mortar stores as an extension of their .com operations. The most savvy retail chains are no longer surprised when shoppers engage in showrooming (head to Best Buy to test a laptop, then purchase it online) and have begun working on ways to use it to their advantage. "We are living in the age of the customer, and you can either fight these trends that are happening — showrooming is one — or you can...read more >>
Content Merchandising Roundup #15
Below is a summary of the week's most interesting content merchandising-related posts from Content Ping as well as from other blogs and news sites. Happy reading. FROM CONTENT PING: Weekly Content Critique: It's a Baby Miracle We take a look at a product page for the BabyBjörn baby carrier as well as the company's use of product video. Engage and Educate Customers for Improved WOMM You can stoke the embers of word of mouth marketing by providing...read more >>
An Introduction to Content Syndication
If you're a regular reader of Content Ping, you know the value of creating concise, compelling, and accurate product information. Content26 has produced well over 1 million product descriptions for nearly 600 manufacturers, and if we know nothing else from our experience, we know this: good content sells! But content isn't always enough. If you have multiple channels that sell your products, you also need to get the word out by distributing that...read more >>
Easy2 Overview
Easy2 started off as a website offering how-to tips for home improvers. Easy2DIY.com quickly drew a large following of folks interested in a wide range of home renovation topics, like how to hang ceiling drywall. As the site grew in popularity, it added animations, step-by-step instructions, and a slew of product information. Founder John Bukovnik quickly realized the content created by the company had value to both manufacturers and retailers and...read more >>
SellPoint Overview
SellPoint, Inc. creates and syndicates product tours featuring 360-degree images, video, animation, and product specs. Formed in 2000, SellPoint started out as Tentoe, Inc., the name a reflection of the company's California surfer ethos. Tentoe began by working with manufacturers interested in syndicating catalogue information (features, specs, images, and descriptions) to e-commerce sites. The company also created a product content portal that...read more >>
WebCollage Overview
WebCollage currently hosts and distributes content from approximately 1,000 manufacturing clients, making it available to more than 200 e-commerce sites. The New York-based company's technology roots run deep: WebCollage scored its first major round of venture capital funding in 2000 based on software that allowed companies to syndicate web-based applications. This technology know-how has allowed WebCollage to develop a highly automated approach...read more >>
CNET Content Solutions Overview
When CBS purchased CNET in 2008, the website had already established itself as a well-known brand for technology news and reviews. CNET Content Solutions (then known as CNET Channel) was part of the $1.8 billion deal. Syndication forms only a small part of CNET Content Solutions (CCS) and the company is relatively new to the syndication landscape. While CCS offers sales automation and after-market merchandising, most of the division's resources are...read more >>
New Technology and the In-Store Experience
Before I jump into today's newsy topic of brick-and-mortar stores, content, and flexibility, here's a little tribute to our week's topic of QR codes: The emergence of QR codes and other new technologies has all kinds of implications for traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. How can physical stores adjust to a new era of technology-savvy consumers? Deloitte conducted a survey to find out. In their Store 3.0 report, they outlined how stores can begin...read more >>
CPG Branding Study Identifies Content as Key to Conversion
CPG products and brands have had an online presence awhile now, but little research has been done to determine their effect on conversion rates. Accenture, comScore, and dunnhumbyUSA recently completed a study that looked at 10 food and household brands with between $40 million and $3 billion in annual sales. The results highlighted what we at Content Ping have been saying all along: websites with strong, engaging content are an integral part of...read more >>