Getting in the Mood for Marketing 2006

On the eve of 2006, I look back on the past year and make resolutions and decisions about my behavior in 2006.

Mostly I have questions this year:

Do I need a Podcast?
Should I keep marketing on the Internet?
Should I drop 50 pounds?

Should I rent out my blog?
Do I want to write an e-book? A real book?
Is there a future that includes making money on the Internet?

Is autosurfing like masturbation?
What will be the next marketing gimmick?
Are they Behaviorally Targeting me?

I will continue to ponder my options and will report back in 2006. Until then, God Bless!

Eileen Trainor
aka CyberCelt

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Streaming and Downloading Video Now Mainstream

A new report from comScore Networks, State of the Consumer Streaming Market, found that consumers ages 35 to 54 years old accounted for more than 45 percent of all online video watched in August 2005.

Other noteworthy items from the report:

In one month, 100M+ users in the US download or view online digital media streams. This represents almost 60 percent of the US online population.

More viewing takes place in the day and during primetime and all types of people comprise this online audience.

Almost 2/3 of all US Internet users in August streamed audio or video through a portal and almost 50 percent did so from an entertainment site.

More than 17 percent of US Internet users streamed content from a Music site and 15 percent streamed from a Retail site.

Erin Hunter, senior VP of comScore Networks Media and Entertainment Solutions, commented:

Publishers are using innovative approaches to deliver their content, using high-quality video product clips, music videos, movie trailers, full news broadcasts to engage their consumer. This creates a fantastic opportunity for advertisers to capitalize on what is now a mainstream audience.

In the following weeks, I will discuss various ways savvy marketers may take advantage of this news.

Internet Deprivation Study

More than 137 million Americans spend at least part of their day online. This is hardly surprising. What is notable, however, is that when the Internet is unavailable, many suffer withdrawal much as they would if they had to go without coffee or cigarettes. They have come to rely on the Web to manage increasingly hectic personal lives, and can not imagine life without it.

Yahoo!, Inc. and OMD, the world's leading media agency, conducted an Internet Deprivation Study that explored the media habits and the emotional connection of Internet users. All participants in the qualitative portion of the study found living without the Internet more difficult than they expected, and in some cases impossible. The tools and services the Internet offers, such as booking travel, checking sports scores, communicating with friends and family and paying bills, have become entrenched in our daily lives. Online retail shopping malls are signposts in this online community.

The Internet has created a vast online community that has, in some cases, replaced the nuclear and extended family as a source of validation and conscience. Advertisers who utilize this knowledge and become part of the cultural landscape now will have an advantage in the future as this community spreads. As ubiquitous as radio and television advertising, the Internet has clearly taken root in our daily lives and become part of our culture.

BlogExplosion Traffic Community

A few days a go, I reviewed some blog traffic exchanges in the post Success Blogging.

Another great place to recruit visitors to your blog is BlogExplosion.

Join BlogExplosion, a blogging community where people will find, read and review your blog. Surf member blogs while listening to Christmas carols. Chat with other bloggers on any subject. Win daily Mystery credits. Participate in monthly contests and monthly traffic Lottery. Play Blog Rocket and get ready for a Battle of the Blogs. Get listed in the BlogExplosion Blog Directory.

Traffic and fun ... great combination.

Gift card sales are predicted to reach almost $18.5 billion

BIGresearch surveyed over 7,000 consumers about consumer behavior and shopping trends related to this holiday season.  The survey results are presented in the NRF 2005 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.

Third ranked on wish lists of both gift givers and receivers this holiday season are gift cards.  Gift card sales are predicted to reach almost $18.5 billion this holiday season, a 6.6 percent increase over gift card sales during the 2004 holiday season.

More than 76 percent of  shoppers polled stated that they plan to buy at least one gift card, and more than 52 percent of  consumers said they would like to receive gift cards this holiday season.

View the complete survey results here.

Success in gift giving this holiday just got much easier.  Need gift?  Get gift card!

Tags:  success,survey,gift giving,shopping,gift card, wish list,consumer behavior,shopping trends

Success Blogging

Are you:

- looking for readers for your RSS feeds?
- wanting comments on your latest posting?
- hoping for design help on your blog layout?
- thinking of syndication?

There are many traffic exchange on the Internet, but the following exchanges were formed to support the blogging community. Join one exchange or all of them. Surf a time or two and you will find the blog traffic exchange that works best for you.

BlogClicker- free traffic exchange dedicated to blogs, with 2:1 surfing ratio, free image hosting, and monthly contests for cash and prizes!

Blog Soldiers, sister site to Traffic Soldiers, offers 2:1 ratio, RSS feed promotion, banner exchange, text link exchange, blog directory, and blog education center--FREE.

Blog Advance is a NEW free manual blog surf exchange community offering 1:1 ratio and free forum.

BlogTraffic offers a manual surf blog traffic exchange with 3 upgrade options and banner exchange. Basic membership is free.

Blogazoo ~ different FREE blog traffic exchange. Surf other blogs to raise the popularity of your blog. Post your RSS feed and add your blog to the blogectory.

Update: 12/5: BlogXchange reopens:

Tags: internet,advertising,internet advertising,blog,blogging, traffic exchanges,success