Highlights from the report include:

• Total full year revenues of $31 billion – a 22% increase over 2010’s full year number
• Q4 2011 best-ever total revenue of $9 billion, representing a 15% increase over Q3 2011 and a 20% increase over Q4 2010
• Mobile advertising came in as the fastest growing category with triple-digit year-over-year growth. 2011 full year revenues totaled $1.6 billion a 149% increase over 2010.
• Online search revenues were up nearly 27% to $14.8 billion in 2011.
• Digital video advertising increased 29% over 2010, with full year revenue of $1.8 billion.
• Display-related advertising saw a jump of 15% to $11.1 billion over 2010.
• Retail advertisers continue to dominate internet ad spending accounting for 22% or $7.1 billion of total revenues.

“The year 2011 saw mobile advertising become a meaningful category,” said David Silverman, Partner, PwC U.S. “By combining some of the best features of the internet, along with portability and location-based technology, mobile advertising is enabling marketers to deliver timely, targeted, relevant, and local advertisements in a manner that was not previously possible. It is for these reasons that we expect strong growth to continue with mobile advertising.”

What percentage of your marketing budget is allocated to online and mobile marketing? Call Qiigo today to discuss customized online and mobile advertising strategies to maximize return on your investment. Call (404) 496-6841.

Brand Active is composed of three main components: Active View, Active GRP, and a survey pilot. Google hopes that Active View will become the new standard for online impressions across the industry and has submitted its model to the Media Rating Council. Active View is designed to provide information on the percentage of ads seen and the duration for which those ads were seen. It will count a “viewed” impression as any that is seen “at least 50% viewable on the screen for at least one second.”

Active GRP has been conceived as the online version of the television Gross Ration Point (GRP). Active GRP is designed to be a metric that translates between television and online thereby extending brand marketing’s reach more effectively. Active GRP will calculate reach and frequency in real time.

For more information on the Brand Active initiative, please view the video below.

FranCamp is the first social media un-conference for the franchise industry. To be held in Atlanta, GA on May 4, FranCamp 2012 will offer CEOs, franchise development staff, and franchisees the opportunity to develop a clear roadmap for how to get started with social media and how to integrate all the pieces together to create a successful social media and online content strategy. Qiigo is pleased to a sponsor of FranCamp 2012.

Qiigo CEO, Rick Batchelor, will also be leading the roundtable table discussion “Why Can’t Search Engines Figure Out Our Site Without SEO?” Join Rick as he leads this discussion about the complex and constantly evolving relationship between search engines and your website’s ranking.

The FranCamp agenda includes a Tweetup on Thursday evening, May 3, at the Marriott Lobby Bar prior to the Friday un-conference. Friday’s events begin with a networking breakfast and continue with the following sessions:

• Welcome
• Social Media Gone Wrong and What To Do Next
• How to Monitor and Leverage Social Platforms
• Building The Perfect Social Media Campaign
• Building a Fan Community
• Working Roundtable Lunch
• Local Marketing Rules!
• The Power of Connecting
• Build Your Business..Build Your Brand…Build Your Legacy
• Evening Meet Up

Click here to register for FranCamp 2012 and join Rick for his roundtable discussion. Attendees earn 50 CFE Participation Credits.

Mobile handset use for retail and commerce is one of the fastest growing activities for US mobile consumers according to the analyst firm comScore. At first glance, this would seem to be good news for the retail industry which has been struggling in the recent down economy. However, upon closer examination, it is clear that the use of mobile phones in the retail environment is proving to be a challenge for retailers.

As more consumers are making the shift to smartphones, retailers have begun to actively seek mobile consumers. “More retailers have developed apps and optimized their sites for mobile browsing, making it easier than ever for consumers looking for product information or doing price comparisons to do so from their phones,” said Carmela Aquino, analyst for comScore.

What retailers are now seeing are customers actively using their smartphones to cross shop while in an actual store. For example, comScore’s recent report “2012 Mobile Future in Focus”, notes that in December 2011, 28.5 million shoppers used their smartphones to find online retail content, this represents an 87% increase over 2010. The study also reveals increases in mobile access to other commerce-related content over 2010 including:

• 80% increase in electronic payments
• 72% increase in classifieds
• 70% increase in auction sites
• 67% increase in shopping guides

US consumers have also been using their mobile devices to photograph products (20%), scan barcodes (20%), and compare in-store product prices with online lists (12%).

What is clear is that brick-and-mortar locations are now clearly in competition with online sites. Even when you have the customer in the aisle, you don’t have their complete attention. Traditional retailers must provide additional incentives to encourage consumers to shop and buy in store as opposed to shopping online.

Is your company positioned to address this complex and growing mobile market? Qiigo is here to help you with ‘on-location’ mobile solutions to help address these new shopping habits. QiigoMobile will put you in a position of strength in this new mobile economy. Call Qiigo today at (404) 496-6841 to learn more.

So you got an iPad or Kindle Fire. Or you thought you did, but it turns out that Junior has his hands on your tablet more than you do. How exactly did that happen?

Turns out you are not alone. Research recently released by Nielsen reveals that the tablet is all the rage in the 12 and under set. According to a Nielsen survey of adults with children under 12 in tablet-owning households, “in Q4 2011 seven out of every 10 children in tablet-owning households used a tablet computer – a nine percent increase compared to Q3 2011.”

“The education revolution has begun,” independent business analyst Mike Randazzo tells Mobile Marketing Watch. “Tablets are the new teaching tools that will be critical to education in the years to come. And it’s exciting to see Nielsen data indicating that kids are every bit as enthusiastic about tablets as they are likely to learn from them.”

Other interesting facts from the recent Nielsen study include:

• 77% said children play downloaded games on tablets
• 57% said children use tablets to play/access educational apps
• 55% use tablets to entertain children while traveling
• 43% use tablets for watching downloaded TV shows and movies
• 41% use tablets to entertain children in restaurants

Whether for entertainment or their educational value, the tablet is sure to be a mainstay in households across the country. Children are drawn to them, and after the kids are asleep, parents reclaim them for their own use.

Are you advertising to this valuable market with a mobile marketing campaign? Find out how you can reach consumers with QiigoMobile. Call (404) 496-6841.

The results are in and consumers are in love! In the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, consumers relied on their mobile devices and tablets for help with finding that perfect, romantic gift or dinner location for their Valentine.

According to the information released from Google, in the days leading up to the Valentine’s Day holiday, there was a steep rise in searches for restaurants including:

• 359% increase on mobile devices
• 135% increase on tablets (iPad, Kindle Fire, etc)
• 142% increase on desktops

“For last-minute reservation makers,” Google says, “mobile was the device of choice. A whopping 62% of total US searches for popular national chain restaurants on Valentine’s Day occurred on high end mobile devices or tablets. If you weren’t advertising on mobile, you missed an opportunity to reach nearly two-thirds of consumers looking to find a restaurant.”

Those searching for last minute gifts also relied on mobile search results. A prime example of the power of mobile search is the increase of 227% in flower related search terms in the U.S. from February 7th to February 14th. These searches resulted in more people clicking on the ‘Get Directions’ or phone number links. According to Google, “Consumers were 560% more likely to click to make a call week over week. And mobile clicks to get directions increased 514% over the same period as people were scrambling to find a nearby florist.”

It’s clear that when holidays approach, most consumers are last minute shoppers. When push comes to shove, consumers will turn to their mobile device or tablet to help them find a gift or make that needed reservation. If you don’t have a robust mobile advertising campaign, you are missing out on reaching the ready-to-buy consumer.

If you are ready to expand your marketing campaign to include mobile or are looking to refine your current mobile marketing campaign, now is the time to call Qiigo. QiigoMobile can help you reach this lucrative and active market.

For more information on QiigoMobile, call (404) 496-6841.

Expected to grow rapidly in 2012, US mobile ad spending growth is already exceeding the fast pace predicted by leading industry analysts. Driven in large part by Google’s mobile search advertising business, US mobile ad spending is now expected to reach a whopping $2.61 billion in 2012, an increase of 80% over 2011. This represents are revised forecast set out by eMarketer just months ago which projected US mobile advertising spending would increase 47% over 2011 to $1.8 billion in 2012. The growing roster of mobile ad networks including Google AdMob, Apple’s iAd, and Millennial Media, in addition to the influx of new market data has allowed eMarketer to revise their projections upward for 2012.

According to Noah Elkin, eMarketer principal analyst, the most significant adjustment in the mobile ad spending forecasts was a result of Google’s stellar performance in the mobile advertising arena. Their success has moved the industry forward far faster than was previously expected.

“Google has translated its dominance of overall online and desktop search advertising into dominance of mobile search and mobile advertising at a rapid pace,” said Elkin. “Given the pace of this market’s expansion, eMarketer’s estimates for mobile search may still be on the conservative side.”

Google’s dominance in the mobile ad industry includes:

• 51.7% estimated share of overall US mobile ad revenues in 2011 or approximately $750 million
• 95% estimated share of all US mobile search ad revenues
• 24.8% share of total US mobile display revenues in 2011 or $127.5 million dollars

The other major players in the mobile ad spending industry are Apple’s iAd and Millennial Media. This is a look at their share of market.

• Apple iAd’s share of US mobile ad revenues: 6.4% or $92.4 million in revenue
• Millennial Media’s share of US mobile ad revenues: 6.3% or $90.9 million in revenue
• Apple iAd’s share of US mobile display revenues: 18% or $92.4 million in revenue
• Millennial Media’s share US mobile display revenues: 17.7% or $90.9 million in revenue

It is estimated that mobile display ad spending will grow at an impressive 93.5% rate to $861.7 million in 2012. Mobile video spending is also expected to see a significant increase up to $151.5 million, a 122% increase over 2011. While mobile messaging is expected to decline in favor of mobile display, video, and search, it will still be a popular and vital medium for marketers who communicate with customers for media couponing, loyalty, and customer care campaigns.

If your company hasn’t yet ventured into the mobile advertising arena, now is the time to start. Call Qiigo today to find out how we can get you started on an exciting new mobile advertising campaign. Call 404-496-6841.

You’ve probably seen loads of those little square maze-like boxes called QR codes floating around recently. QR codes are all the rage in marketing right now. And with mobile scanning up 4,500% in the first quarter of 2011 over the previous year, it seems that QR codes are here to stay as a way to reach consumers and grow your business.

QR codes are a 2D barcode. Unlike a UPC code, which is one dimensional, a QR code can hold 133 times more data including letters and numbers. This makes QR codes able to store content including hyperlinks, maps, phone numbers, emails and more. QR codes are read by a smartphone’s mobile app reader. As of the third quarter in 2011, over 20 million QR codes were scanned worldwide; 12,000,000 were scanned in the US alone.

So how do you make use of this new marketing technology to communicate with your customers and grown your business? First, it’s important to have a clear objective when using QR codes. It’s simply not enough to drop a QR code on to your latest ad and have it link to your website. You will blow through some serious goodwill with your customers if that’s all you do. When using QR codes you should:

• Have an Objective. Do you intend to drive traffic to your store, promote a sale, retain customers or generate leads for your business? As with any campaign, you must have a purpose before designing your message.
• Provide Value to Your Customer. What’s in it for them? Will your customer receive a discount, get access to mobile-friendly content, save time or receive a special offer? Give them a reason to participate in your campaign.
• Show Them How to Participate. QR codes might be new to your consumer too. Provide how to assistance, links to reader apps, a call to action, etc.
• TEST TEST TEST! This is essential. Test your QR code before going live. Test it on multiple phones from multiple carriers. Some older phones with less than 3MP resolution can’t read codes smaller than 1” by 1”. Don’t create a code that people can’t read. Nothing will kill your campaign faster.

Once you have a clear objective for your campaign that will provide real value to your customer you may be stuck on where to put that cool new QR code. Here are some ideas on ways you can use QR codes to target your customers, increase conversions, and grow your business.

• On Product Description Displays. This use of QR codes is ideal for retail, food, and automotive stores. Use your QR code to provide additional information about the product on display, provide customer reviews, price comparisons, information on in store demos, links to catalog shopping, or even a Buy Now option.
• On Receipts. Ideal for restaurants and any business in the recreation or hospitality industry, this use of QR codes allows for instant feedback from the consumer. Offer a discount on the next purchase or a chance to win when the survey is complete and you are likely to see a dramatic increase your conversion rate.
• Provide On Demand Video. Does your business produce product guides, packaging or other items that require the use of phone support or troubleshooting instructions? If so, create a video and link it to a QR code for easy access.



• Grow Your Facebook Base. From your main Facebook page to your product specific pages, QR codes provide a quick and easy way for your customers to get on board and “Like” you. Post QR codes on your store door, on signs around the store, in dressing rooms, on placemats, in waiting rooms, anywhere you can think that consumers stop to scan. Offer them incentives for joining your Facebook page and watch your fan base grow.
• To Gather Reviews. Reviews impact your local SEO and with a quick scan of a QR code, your customers can leave a positive review on your Google Places page. Place codes on doors, placemats, on specially designed cards left with the bill, anywhere that will trigger your customers to remark on the positive experience they had with your business.



• Build Loyalty. A Foursquare loyalty program is a great way to encourage your customers to return to your business frequently. Remind them to check in at the front entrance, with posters placed strategically throughout your location, and at your checkout counter.
• Drive Traffic. Need to literally get people to your location. Why not consider a QR code that directs people with a map and directions. These types of codes are ideal for invites, billboards, and posters promoting events.
• Generate Leads. Do you mail to your clients? Are you headed to a tradeshow? Why not consider a QR code that encourages people to scan and sign up. This type of code is ideal for an enter-to-win contest, joining a group, registering for an event or RSVP’ing for an invite.

With so many ways to use QR codes to target your customers and grow your business, now is the time to embrace this new technology. If your company isn’t already using mobile marketing and QR codes, consider how adding them to your marketing plan can impact your bottom line. Interested in finding out how you can benefit from the use of QR codes? Contact Qiigo today at (404) 496-6841.

Currently, all the credit for closing the sale goes to the last ad, search or referral your customer clicks on before the conversion. Wouldn’t it be great to know what other marketing channels are playing an integral role in getting your customers to that final click? Now you can!

Multi Channel Funnels from Google Analytics is designed to help you track the role website referrals, searches, and ads play in a conversion. These new sets of reports will also tell you how much time has passed between a visitor’s initial interest and his or her purchase. With Multi Channel Funnels you will be able to:

• Gain insight into which channels customers interact with during the 30 days prior to conversion
• See which channels initiate, assist, and complete conversions.
• View interactions with virtually all digital channels, including paid and organic searches, affiliates, social networks, and display ads.

For more information about how Multi Channel Funnels can benefit your marketing campaign, call Qiigo today.

A recent study released by eMarketer shows that US adults now spend more time on mobile devices than they do with print media. Time spent on mobile devices increased 30% from 2010 to 2011, while time with print media was down 12%. (Print media includes both newspapers and magazines.) The total time spent each day on mobile devices increased to 65 minutes, while combined print media time spent was just 44 minutes each day.

Time on the internet continues to increase as well with 2011 usage at 2 hours and 47 minutes per day, up 7.7% from 2010. Television and video leads the time spent pack with 4 hours and 34 minutes spent viewing live or recorded on DVR or DVD programming. Data in this report includes all time spent with the medium regardless of multitasking, so an hour spent watching TV while using your mobile device counts as an hour of each activity.

Currently shifts in ad spending are lagging behind consumer habits. At Qiigo, we expect that to change. With mobile devices enjoying more than 10% share of adults’ media time each day, now is the time to shift your marketing budget to meet the viewing habits of today’s consumers. 2012 will be the year for mobile advertising. Position your company for success in 2012 with Qiigo Mobile.

Contact Qiigo today to learn more and be ahead of the curve in reaching consumers in the New Year.