Updating Your Updates

People seem to like to tell the world what they are up to and Facebook is
their preferred method – over 90% of people who use social networks
are on Facebook.

• Nearly half of Facebook users update their status several times a day or nearly every day
• Another 30% update at least once a week
• Just 7% never update their status

What Does This Mean To You?

Social networkers are an incredibly active audience and you should be using social networks to drive traffic to your business.  But do you have a strategy for driving people to your social media presence? For more information on how to get the most out from your social media offerings, please contact your Orlando Sentinel Media Group Representative or:
Lisa Mercer
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
407.650.6572
llmercer@orlandosentinel.com

Sources: Pew Research Center; Harris Interactive

Does Your Smart Phone Complete You?

Recent research from Proper Mobile Insights shows just how dependent people are on their smart phones. Just over one half of smart phone owners surveyed said they use all of their phones functions, it was their life. When asked about the functions they could not live without making calls finished 4^th:

• 22% said they cannot live without texting
• 17% said internet
• 16% said email
• 8% said calling
• 6% said GPS

What Does This Mean To You

Consumers don’t consider smart phones as toys, they are important parts of their lives.  If you are not taking advantage of mobile solutions, then you are missing opportunities to forge relationships and gain revenue.  For more information on how mobile offerings & smart phones can expand you audience, please contact your Orlando Sentinel Media Group Representative or
Lisa Mercer
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
407.650.6572
llmercer@orlandosentinel.com

Source: Proper Mobile Insights

Texting As Primary Means of Communication

There was a time when being all thumbs was a bad thing, but kids today probably view it as an advantage.  A recent study by Lab42 showed that 45% of teens send at least 30 texts per day.

Among those age 13 to 21

• Between texting& calling someone – 71% said they would rather text
• 66% spent more than 15 minutes a day on their cell phones
• When asked about what they chat about – 54% said just chatting, 20% said making plans with friends
• 20% said they send pictures via text everyday
• 80% of those surveyed said they text at home, just 2% admitted to texting while driving

Why This Is This Important To You?

Besides being huge influencers of family spending, these are also the consumers of tomorrow.  Cell phones and smart phones are their portal to the world and they prefer to communicate via text.  SMS campaigns are a great way for you to get your messages in front of them.  For more information on how you can have a turnkey permission based SMS campaign, please contact
your Orlando Sentinel Media Group Representative or:
Lisa Mercer
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
407.650.6572
llmercer@orlandosentinel.com

Source:  Lab42

Search on Smart Phones Builds Business

Search engines are the most often types of mobile websites visited by smart phone users according to a study by Google/Ipsos.  77% of smartphone users went to a search engine on their mobile device.
But what actions did that lead to?

• Nearly 70% visited a business
• Over two-thirds continued doing research
• Almost 60% of the time it lead to a discussion with others
• Over one half of the time it resulted in some type of purchase

What Does This Mean To You?

Mobile consumers and smart phone users are action oriented.  They are actively searching for information & businesses.  More often than not, these searches lead to purchases.  It’s important that your business has a search strategy in place.  For more information on how SEO can bring you more customers. please contact your Orlando Sentinel Media Group Representative or:
Lisa Mercer
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
407.650.6572
llmercer@orlandosentinel.com

Source: Google/Ipsos

Mobile Social Networking on the Rise

New research shows just how much people use mobile devices for social networking.  This year, over 40% of a people age 12+ are using mobile social networks.

• The number of unique visitors accessing social network sites via
  mobile devices has jumped 46%
• Maps/GPS ranked second with a 43% growth rate, weather was
  third at 40%
• Nearly half of all new mobile purchases were smart phones

What Does This Mean for You?

Mobile is not a passing fad.  These devices are moving from being a business tool to all around communications devices.  Just as you need to adjust your strategies and leverage social networks to results – you need to do the same with mobile technology. 
For more information on how we can help your mobile and social media campaigns be more successful, please contact your Orlando Sentinel Media Group Representative or:
Lisa Mercer
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
407.650.6572
llmercer@orlandosentinel.com

Source: Emarketer

Mobile Commerce To Hit $10 Billion Next Year

There is more and more evidence that mobile devices are extremely important to your success.  According to Forester Research, mobile commerce will top
$10 billion next year.

• Mobile sales are  expected jump an average of 39% annually for the
  next 5 years
• By 2016, mobile commerce is anticipated to hit over $31 billion
• Currently 29% of retailers have implemented a retail strategy
• 19% reported that they are starting implementation
• 9% haven’t started working on a mobile strategy
•  39% are in the early stages of developing a mobile strategy

What Does This Mean To You?
Is your website optimized for mobile? Have you ever thought about
having your own app? Are you using QR codes? Are you involved in mobile commerce? Your customers are very savvy mobile consumers,  if you are not utilizing the power of mobile – you are giving your competition the advantage. For more information on how you can tap into mobile success, please contact your Orlando Sentinel Media Representative or:
Lisa Mercer
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
407.650.6572
llmercer@orlandosentinel.com

Source: Forester Research

Hispanic Influence Grows Online

The Hispanic community is not just growing in population, it’s also growing as
an online segment.

• Nationally, 63% of the Hispanic population is online
• By 2015, that number is estimated to grow to 73%
• The number of Hispanic adults on line is growing 4x faster
  than other groups
• Hispanic consumers are twice as likely to open email ads
  and 33% more likely to open online ads than non-Hispanics

 What Does This Mean To You?
New technologies are influencing purchasing patterns of all consumers, including the Hispanic community.  The 2011 Scarborough Report, Release 1 shows us that there are nearly 500,000 Hispanic adults in Central Florida and nearly 80% have internet access.  This is a consumer group that should not be ignored.  Also, they are more likely than other groups to act on digital ads.  For more information on how you can better connect with Hispanic consumers, please contact your Orlando Sentinel Media Representative or
Lisa Mercer
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
407.650.6572
llmercer@orlandosentinel.com

Source: Interactive Advertising Bureau

Mobile Is Key To Reaching Professionals

Busy professionals are tethered to their mobile devices; this offers you
innovative ways to get your message to them.

• 29% of professionals used their mobile devices at least once an hour
• 21% of business owners checked their devices nearly 10 times a day
• 40% of professionals use apps 2 to 3 times daily
• 73% of small business owners work remotely on mobile devices
  while on vacation

What Does This Mean To You?

Business professionals are a great but elusive demographic to reach.  Traditionally, they have higher household incomes, are more likely to be homeowners and tend
to be better consumers. Mobile can give your business an advantage in reaching
this group.  For more information on how you can better connect with this
important segment of consumers, please contact your Orlando Sentinel Media Representative or:
Lisa Mercer
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
407.650.6572
llmercer@orlandosentinel.com

Source: Mobile Commerce Daily; The 2010 Scarborough Multi-Market Report, Release 2

Prepare For Grandma And Grandpa To “Like” You

Ever wonder how many FaceBook users there are in the U.S.?  Over 132 million!

• The number of users is expected to grow 8% this year to next
• By 2013, its projected that FaceBook will have over 150 million
  U.S. members
• The biggest growth area is expected to be among older boomers & seniors
• The number of adults 55+ who “like” a brand has risen nearly 50%
  since April

What does this mean to you?
There are an immense number of U.S. Facebook users and social media strategies can help your business grow and succeed.  As the face of social networkers continues to change, you need to alter the way you market yourself socially and how you tell people how to find you on social networks. For more information on how we can help ignite your social media campaigns and reach your target audiences, please contact your Orlando Sentinel Media Group Representative, or call:
Lisa Mercer
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
407.650.6572
llmercer@orlandosentinel.com

Source: EMarketer

Mobile Ads Deliver

Consumers tend to spend time with ads on their mobile devices and these ads lead to high rates of engagement.

Engagement rate by industry:
Engagement rate is the percentage of impressions that generated
a response from call to action message in an ad (Someone clicked a “click here”)

• 32% – Packaged goods ads
• 26% – Automotive ads
• 26% – Retail ads
• 25% – B2B ads
• 24% – Finance ads
• 19% – Entertainment ads

 Time spent with ads

• Luxury items – 45 seconds
• Travel – 41 seconds
• Consumer packaged goods – 31 seconds
• Beauty – 28 seconds
• Fashion – 28 seconds
• Finance – 24 seconds

What does this mean to you?

Mobile is a viable, important advertising format. Consumers are using
mobile devices to learn about products, make purchases and they are interacting with mobile rich media ads.  No matter what kind of good you sell or services you offer, mobile should be part of your marketing plans. 
For more information on how you can optimize your online presence for mobile
devices, please contact your Orlando Sentinel Media Group Representative or:
Lisa Mercer
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
407.650.6572
llmercer@orlandosentinel.com

Source: Medialets