What is Rich Media?

Rich media is a term that is synonymous with interactive media. Interactive media generally refers to products or services that are found on digital computer-based system, which responses to the actions of users by presenting content such as text, animation, graphics, audio, video, etc.

Rich media is a welcome change from the older, more mainstream media solutions. By using rich media, companies can create one of a kind ways to draw consumers in. Rich media can be used online or even through mobile devices.

Rich media can be a streaming video with a scene from a movie or television show, an imaged mouse cursor, a bannered ad that captures the user’s filled-in person information, ads that change when a user scrolls over them. Simply put, rich media is a means of interacting with the user. The possibilities for interaction are endless. Companies have more creative freedom and the power to make their advertisements pop out to the user.

Rich media advertisements drive and measure the engagement of their users. Rich media can send a targeted message to specific users paged on demographics and other online habits. By using rich media, companies are able to decide what works and does not work as an advertising or marketing method.

Rich Media can include:

• High quality images.
• Multiple streaming videos.
• Videos recorded from a webcam or smartphone.
• The use of Twitter.
• Using Facebook to post images and video.
• Information collection from the user.

Rich media platforms (such as offered by Preface Media) can:

• Improve the overall online of experience of customers.
• Aid in boosting sales.
• Provide a defined company image.

Rich media is a powerful advertising tool. Companies, large and small, should not be afraid to explore their rich media options. Rich media is effective, creative, engaging, and the results can easily be measured.

Need help creating a rich media campaign? Contact Preface Media. Let Preface Media create your rich media solution.

Merry Mobile Shopping!

As Smartphones essentially become smarter and smarter, the market for mobile shopping is really taking off. Mobile commerce applications and mobile websites are changing the way retailers do business and the way consumers shop.

With a rise of retailers users social media, mobile applications, and mobile web, mobile activity is destine to play a role in the 2010 holiday shopping season. In a study conducted by Deloitte, retailers are seeking to deliver tightly integrated and consistent merchandise, inventory, and promotional messages to their customers via mobile web, applications, and social media. There is also expected to be a between web based and physical storefront promotions and sales. Phone applications are tying online and store shopping together in more ways than ever before.

Consumers use their mobile phones to run price comparison searches and search for the products they want most. In the Deloitte study, conducted earlier this year, 21 percent of smartphone users state they have used their phones to locate stores, find product information, shop, and comparison shop. Shoppers are even insistent that their mobile phones will assist them with their holiday shopping.

Why mobile shopping? The question is more likely to be: why not mobile shopping. Mobile shopping is convenient. You can shop on your phone regardless of who you are, where you are, and what kind of time you have. Shoppers can beat the holiday crowds anywhere at any time. Shoppers have the opportunity to shop on the bus, while waiting in a doctor’s office, between classes, etc. Mobile shopping has the potential to make last minute holiday shopping a thing of the past.

With rich media, mobile shopping is equivalent to shopping online. Preface Media offers 360 degrees shopping experiences for mobile devices. Any user with an iPhone or smartphone is able to view all items at a full 360 degree view. Users can zoom, pan, and rotate products all with the click of a button on their phone. Technology has made mobile phone shopping easy. Shoppers can purchase products without having to worry about not liking what the actual product looks like.

Should retailers expect to see a huge sales surge courtesy of the mobile web and applications? The answer is a likely no. New technology is likely to only provide a small increase in sales. Given the current economy, consumers are still watching their funds closely and are remaining focused on increasing their savings and paying off any debt they may have. Consumers are not ready to max out their credit cards again.

Testing Rich Media

Testing your rich media site is a great way to gain invaluable feedback and insights into what potential consumers want. What better way to test the functionality of your rich media than allowing actual consumers to access the beta version of your site?

By allowing actual consumers to test the beta version of your rich media site, feedback and insights are 100% accurate. Additionally, using actual or potential customers to test of the functionality of a rich media pages costs a company nothing.

A great way to get customers involved in testing a beta site is to use social media. Twitter followers and Facebook fans make for great test markets. Social media is free and will provide you with a large number of individuals from diverse backgrounds to partake in your test. Keep in mind that just because someone is your friend or follower on a social media site, it does not mean that they have actually used your products before. This is also a great way to get potential customers interested in purchasing from you. Place a link on your social media page to your beta site. This will direct fans and followers to take a look at the beta site. Encourage users to post comments about your rich media beta site. Ask them what they like, what they don’t like, and what they feel could be approved upon.

Here’s one example. Javis Davis offered Facebook users the opportunity to test their beta site. By providing users with a secret and important duty of testing their beta site, Javis Davis got quit the response. This small Alabama bedding store had fans engaged and excited to be participating. Javis Davis treated fans to a preview of it’s new collection and allowed them to use a design configurator to experiment with different fabrics and styles.

Testing rich media sites using social media is an effective and affordable means of getting the job done. Don’t have a rich media page? Visit Preface Media’s Rich Media Solutions.

Smart Shopping: Mobile Shopping and Black Friday

Black Friday is often considered the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season (even though retailers have been decorated for and advertising for the holidays since Halloween). As retailers gear up for the holiday season, having a Smartphone may save you time, money, or both. Mobile applications can help consumers price compare, save money, and scout out all the best holiday deals without ever having to leave their couch.

According to Jill Dvorak, Senior Consultant-Mobile Commerce for FitForCommerce in an interview with WalletPop, mobile shopping is expected to be up about 100% from last holiday shopping season. In 2008, mobile sales were about $396 million. Last year, they are $1.2 billion. This year mobile sales are expected to be at around $2.2-2.4 billion.

Many of the countries top retailers, such as Ebay, Amazon, and Best Buy, have developed mobile applications that allow consumers to shop with the touch of a button as well as with texting. Additionally, these applications are free to download. Mobile applications and web sites are easy-to-use and load quickly on mobile devices.

Smartphone users can sign up for tweets, text, and e-mail alerts on deals, promotions, special pricing, and to learn about new products and services. Additionally, users are able to text for free samples, especially in the perfume and cosmetic industry. Additionally, checking into stores with applications like FourSquare and Shopkick will provide consumers with additionally and on the stop discounts.

Mobile shopping will allow shopper to get all the Black Friday deals without the holiday shopping crowds in brick and mortar establishments.

As an added bonus, parents will not have to worry about kids checking their computer browser history to check out what retailer sites mom and dad have visited. Mobile shopping is a secure way to shop even with a house full of curious children. They won’t know what Santa is bringing until Christmas morning.

Take a look at what Preface Media has down for retailer Brown Jordan. Let us do the same for you this season! Let mobile shopping spread a little cheer and added income for your retail business.

Is Your Site Ready for Christmas?

With this year expected to set records in e-commerce spending, online retailers will need to be prepared. According to Channel Advisor’s 2010 Consumer Shopping Habits Survey, 58% of consumers stated that they are very likely to purchase their holiday gifts online this season. If you have an eCommerce site, you cannot let anything get in the way of a successful holiday shopping season.

Here are some tips to make your site extra shopper-friendly this holiday season:

1.) Gift Finders. Make it easy for consumers to find the exact gifts they want. Let consumers search by category, price point, type of item, most popular gift items, color, size, etc. With the click of a few buttons, consumers will be able to see the types of gifts they are looking for. Take the guess work out of online shopping.

2.) Gift cards and gift certificates. Allow consumers the ability to give the gift of choice this holiday season. Have a visible to link for purchasing gift cards or gift certificates. Gift cards please even the pickiest of individuals on a consumers’ shopping list.

3.) Creative gift cards. Undoubtedly, gift cards are a very popular holiday item. Think outside the box this holiday season, by placing your gift cards in boxes. Small tin boxes are elegant and give the consumer something to wrap up and place underneath the tree.

4.) Shipping deals. Get creative with shipping deals. Consumers are much more likely to shop on eCommerce sites that provide great deals on shipping. Offer free shipping, guaranteed delivery by Christmas day, and/or free return shipping.

5.) Gift wrap. Offer the option of sending your shoppers cards, gift wrap, or gift bags. You can wrap the items up for them or give them the option of doing it themselves. The do-it-yourself option is great for individuals who want to see the items they purchase online before giving them away as gifts.

6.) Holiday friendly homepages. Temporarily change the theme of your webpage to reflect the holiday season. Just be sure shoppers can still easily see your company logo and navigate the site.

7.) Stocking stuffers. Offer a section on your webpage that is specifically dedicated for stocking stuffer items. If consumers become stuck on an idea for stocking stuffers, they can turn to you for help.

8.) Gift sets. Combine products to make gift sets or give shoppers the ability to create their own gift sets by choosing from certain items.

Need last minute help making your site holiday friendly? Contact Preface Media today.