About USdigital

Apprentice fever has hit our TV screens again and is likely to dominate office chat in the weeks to come. In this series candidates are competing for an investment in their own business rather than a 6 figure salary as Lord Sugar aims to show that despite the current economic situation there is still the opportunity to make money.

A strong online presence is key to any new or young business. USdigital have recognised this with their new start-up business website and online advertising packages. Ranging from small brochure websites to spread the reach and awareness of a business to e-commerce websites showcasing a range of products, USdigital can create the bespoke solution for all requirements.

It doesn’t just stop at websites. Here at USdigital we understand the importance of being on the first page of search engine listings for phrases key to the success of the website as well as utilising pay per click advertising opportunities.

For no obligation advice on how USdigital can help you please contact one of our team who are always happy to use their enthusiasm for all things digital to help you.

This month Experian released a new report entitled ‘Engaging online with the Empowered Consumer’ which looks at how effectively businesses are using their website and e-channels to market to their customers.

Essentially the report found that many retailer and e-commerce businesses are not doing everything they could to nurture and grow their customerbase.

Using the home shopping sector as an example, Experian’s analysis reveals the harsh reality of customer engagement:

- 45% of customers are single purchasers, with figures rising as high as 75% in some cases.

- 60-70% of ‘best’ customers have not purchased in the last 12 months, signifying that companies are taking one or two seasons to recognise that high value customers have lapsed.

- 30% of customers generate nearly 70% of revenues.

The moral of all this, is to make sure your valuable existing and previous customers don’t forget about you! How can this be achieved? Well, if you’ve built up a database of customers’ email addresses who have either opted in to receive information from yourself, or indeed previously used your services or bought from your e-commerce store, you can gently remind them of your wonderful products and services through well placed e-newsletters.

The way to keep your subscribers paying attention to your unashamed marketing is to offer incentives along with the pushing of products. Promo codes on e-newsletters for certain products shows the receiver it’s worth keeping on the mailing list.As an perhaps coming up to Mother’s Day, your e-newsletter could suggest suitable gifts for the number one woman in your life.

Apparently, today is set to be the busiest day of the entire year for shopping online!

An estimated £320million is going to pour out of the nation’s pockets today alone, typically people hoping to receive Aunt Hilda’s crochet patterns book before the big day.

Online retailer play.com is predicting a 25% rise in sales compared to the same time last year. Good news for e-commerce retailers in these uncertain times!

Reports also suggest that more people will be doing their Christmas shopping at their desks whilst still at work; now that’s what i call multitasking. Just be careful not to add that to your work timesheet.

Bucking the trend of the recent doom and gloom figures for consumer spending, it has been reported yesterday in the national press that online spending has actually increased since last year - up 16.6% in fact from last year’s figures.

Compare that to the same period on the high street, where spending was reduced by 0.1% - the worst for three years.

As the credit crunch really starts to bite people’s wallets, more and more people are looking for their products online through e-commerce stores, where it’s often easier to price compare across multiple websites with online tools such as Kelkoo. Traipsing around the shops in town for equivalant deals can often prove too much of an effort in comparison.

In hard times like these, it’s good to know that there are businesses out there making a success, and prospering through their e-commerce websites!