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.

Following what was a record setting ratings day for Super Bowl viewership, with 111.3 million people tuning in to the big game, statistics are rolling in on how mobile ad searches corresponded to TV ads during the game.

Global ad network, inMobi, reports 39% of survey respondents “used their mobile device in response to a TV commercial during the game.” This active engagement with commercials means they were discussing commercials, getting more information or re-watching TV ads after their first run during the game.

What is perhaps more impactful for advertisers is the data coming out of Google’s headquarters this week. Google is reporting that during the game “41% of Google searches in the US related to Super Bowl TV ads came from mobile devices.” Google is also reporting dramatic increases in Super Bowl related searches in the US including:

• 200% increase on desktops
• 970% increase on tablets
• 2700% increase on smartphones

The impact is clear…advertisers need to be aware of the presences of smartphones and integrate mobile marketing into their campaigns.

Take your marketing campaign to the next level with Qiigo Mobile. Our team of dedicated professionals will help you to integrate mobile marketing into your existing campaign for maximum results. Call Qiigo today at 404.496.6841.

Total U.S. mobile and social revenue reached $45.38 billion in 2011 and increase of 30.2% according to PQ Media. Mobile and social revenues are expected to continue to rise at an annual rate of 30.8% in 2012 according to PQ Media’s recently released U.S. Mobile & Social Media Forecast 2012-16.

The U.S. Mobile & Social Media Forecast 2012-16 is a comprehensive look at the U.S. mobile and social media industry. This first of its kind report “collected, analyzed, defined, segmented and forecast the entire mobile & social media landscape, providing the most comprehensive and detailed perspective on the fastest-growing communications industry segment.”

Within the forecast, three broad sectors of the industry were identified – mobile advertising & marketing, mobile content & access, and online social media. Within these three sectors, seven segments were further identified including mobile advertising, mobile marketing, consumer mobile content & access, business mobile content & access, social networks, blogs, and podcasts. Forty-four additional revenue streams were also identified.

Additional highlights from this report included:

• Largest Industry Sector: Mobile content & access with 2011 revenue of $39.17 billion.
• Mobile content & access accounted for 58% of total revenue and 42% of the consumer segment’s revenue.
• Fastest Growing Sector: Mobile advertising & marketing with growth of 53.7% in 2011 to $3.39 billion.
• Mobile advertising grew 60.9% and mobile marketing grew 46.2%.
• The marketing segment is expected to grow faster than the advertising segment between 2012 and 2016. This growth is expected to be built upon location-based, coupon, and marketing app revenue opportunities.
• Fastest Growing Mobile Ad Revenue Streams: In-game, search and video.
• Smallest Sector: Online Social Media with $2.83 billion in revenue, but a strong 42.1% growth rate.
• Within online social media, social networks were the largest and fastest growing segment with a 45.9% increase to $2.28 billion in 2011.
• Together, mobile & social media account for 4.1% of overall communications industry revenue in 2011.
• 11 of the 44 mobile & social media revenue streams exceed $1 billion in 2011. 23 are projected to exceed $1 billion by 2016.

Is your business taking advantage of the opportunities available via mobile and social internet advertising? Don’t let this amazing opportunity to connect and communicate with your customers pass you by. Qiigo Mobile’s innovative solutions for reaching your customers can take your marketing efforts to the next level. Call Qiigo today at 404.496.6841 and join the mobile and social revolution.

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.

Building a strong and thriving Google+ community is a great way to engage your customers, build brand awareness, and develop a loyal following among your shoppers, vendors, and clients. If you are just getting started or even if you already have a Google+ page, you can use these simple tips to ensure that you are growing your Google+ audience.

• Build A Compelling Page. Ensure your Google+ page is compelling. Chose a profile photo that clearly speaks to your store, business or location. Make it easily recognizable and dynamic. Add scrapbook pages that share information about your business, thoroughly complete the ‘About’ section, and don’t forget to add links to other locations across the web where you can be found.
• Messaging Matters. Think about the tone of the messages you plan to disseminate via your Google+ pages and keep your tone consistent across time. Your messages should be personal and authentic, you want people to engage with you and feel a connection to your business. Consider linking your personal Google+ page to the ‘About’ section of your company page. This will help people to get a feel for who is contributing and will help to establish that elusive connection with your business.



• Segment with Circles. Google+ Circles can help you to segment your messaging allowing you to tailor specific messages to customers, vendors, staff, VIPs, and more.
• Frequency Matters. Don’t set up your account and then bail on it. Create a schedule and stick to it. Frequency of posting matters and your customers expect to hear from you with new and interesting information on a regular basis. Some recommend a daily posting schedule. Most posting is completed between 10am and 1pm.
• Don’t Forget the Photos and Video. Photos and video are a great way to liven up your posting schedule. Having a sale? Post a coupon exclusive to your Google+ members. You can even edit your photos in Google+ so it’s easy to keep your posts vibrant and dynamic.
• Keep Them Engaged. Use the +mention feature. Ask questions. Seek feedback. Respond to comments. Be an active member of your own community and your Google+ community will stay engaged with you.



• Host a Hangout. Hangouts allow you to have face-to-face conversations with your fans and followers around the world. Host a hangout and enjoy the benefits of interacting with your Google+ community.
• Get Your Badge. Your Google+ Badge that is. Installing a Google+ Badge on your website allows people to +1 and add you to their circles directly from your site. It also connects +1’s from your homepage with +1’s on your Google+ page and ads, increasing the number of recommendations for your site.
• Spread the Word. Share your page with people you know by posting a link to your Google+ page on your email signature, blog, website, and other social destinations.
• Take A Little Credit. Tag your online materials with an author tag so people will know what content was created by you.

Use these tips and you will be well on your way to creating a dynamic Google+ page. For more information on Google+ pages and other social media endeavors, contact Qiigo today.

The International Franchise Association Convention is your chance to “Seize the Opportunity”! As the leaders in the franchise community gather in Orlando, Florida for the 52nd Annual Convention, we invite you to join the Qiigo team as they lead two Business Solution Roundtables in the Marketing and PR Track.
Join Qiigo CEO Rick Batchelor as he leads the Local PPC for the Franchisee Made Easy roundtable with Charlie Ellis from MDG Advertising. This roundtable will cover:

• What does it take to launch a locally targeted Google Adwords campaign?
• What is bid management and how can it be used to curb costs while increasing visibility?
• How do you pick keywords that will deliver qualified prospects to your franchise’s website?
• What are three simple steps you can use to track PPC conversions?
• How much should you be spending on your local PPC campaign?

Interested in Mobile Marketing? Then you should join Zach Dickens, Qiigo Senior Account Executive, for the Your Customers Have Gone Mobile: Now What? roundtable with Bill Adams of Matchbin. This discussion will cover:

• What mobile marketing efforts are critical to success?
• Are they best for branding or driving transactions?
• How can I make my web site mobile-ready?
• Can I track the effectiveness of mobile marketing?
• How does it fit into my overall marketing strategy?

The Business Solutions Roundtables will be held on Tuesday, February 14 from 10:15 am to 12:30 pm.
We look forward to seeing you at one of these Roundtable sessions. To meet with Rick or Zach prior to the Roundtable sessions, please stop by the Qiigo booth, #214.

The 52nd International Franchise Association (IFA) Convention will be held this year in Orlando, Florida from February 11 through the 14th. Leading franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers will attend what is known as the premier franchise industry event. Qiigo is among the outstanding companies who will showcase the resources they provide to the franchise industry during this four day event.

You can visit the Qiigo team at the following locations during the IFA Convention:

• Booth 214 at the Exhibit Hall – come and learn about our innovative Pay Per Click and Mobile Marketing programs that offer unique and innovative solutions specifically designed for franchisors and franchisees.
• Local PPC for the Franchisee Made Easy Roundtable – Qiigo CEO Rick Batchelor leads this Business Solutions Roundtable with Charlie Ellis of MDG Advertising. This PPC roundtable covers topics ranging from launching a targeted Google Adwords campaigns to understanding bid management and picking keywords to tracking conversions and more.
• Your Customers Have Gone Mobile: Now What? Roundtable – Qiigo Senior Account Executive Zach Dickens leads this Business Solutions Roundtable with Bill Adams of Matchbin. This Mobile Marketing discussion includes a look at what is needed to make mobile marketing successful, making your website mobile ready, tracking mobile marketing effectiveness, and more.

We look forward to the opportunity to meet with you during your time at the convention. Please stop by our booth, #214, to learn more about the franchise specific internet marketing strategies Qiigo offers.
If you are interested in learning more about Qiigo’s services before the convention, please contact Qiigo today at (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.

It won’t happen. But you already knew that didn’t you? Well now the research officially supports what you already intuitively knew. Teens are leading the mobile phone usage charge!

Nielsen’s latest study on mobile phone usage shows that U.S. teens have tripled their mobile data usage in the past year. Teens are still focused on texting with the number of messages exchanged, both SMS and MMS, hitting 3,417 messages per month per teen in the third quarter of 2011. This equates to an average of 7 messages per waking hour. Teen girls send the most text messages, averaging 3,952 messages sent and received per month, versus 2,815 for teen boys.

But messaging isn’t the only thing teens are doing on their mobile phones. Mobile internet, social networking, email, app downloads, app usage, and other data activities are popular among teens. In the third quarter of 2011, teens aged 13-17 were using up data in large quantities. The average amount of data used by this age group on their mobile phones per month was 320 MB. This was up 256% over the third quarter of 2010 and it grew at a faster rate than any other age group, positioning teens to become huge drivers of the mobile marketing movement. Teen boys used more data at 382 MB per month than teen girls did at 266 MB.

According to Nielsen, “Teenagers have officially joined the data tsunami, more than tripling their mobile data consumption in the past year while maintaining their stronghold as the leading message senders.”

Is your website mobile enabled? Do you have a mobile marketing strategy? It’s not too late to address the mobile market and its growing prominence in today’s world. Contact Qiigo today to find out how your company can join the Mobile Marketing revolution.

Today’s consumers are savvy and a poorly executed QR campaign can leave them with a sour taste in their mouth. It will discourage repeat engagement and could negatively impact long term business. To get the most out of your Mobile Marketing campaign, we’ve compiled the following tips.

What’s the point? As with any marketing campaign, your mobile message must have a point. Don’t just randomly choose codes because they look cool or fit your creative, make sure they provide value to your customer and integrate with your overall campaign message. Have a goal and an objective.

Make it easy to see. Don’t make the QR code hard to scan. There is nothing more discouraging to your customer. If placed in a print ad, make sure it doesn’t fall too close to the fold or within a busy image that makes it hard to see. Anything being scanned outdoors or in your store should be at arm’s level or eye level. If your customer can’t easily scan it…they won’t.

Make it easy to scan. Keep the code in the simple black and white format without a lot of fuss. This will make it able to be scanned by the largest variety of code readers.

Make it easy to view. Ensure your content is set for mobile-enabled sites set for the broadest range of handsets. Test your link on multiple handsets before going live. Keep your links up to date. A link that goes nowhere is never a good thing.

Use QR Codes creatively. QR codes can be used for exclusive offerings to your customers. What a great way to engage your customer and show them you value their business. Offer special discounts, free tickets, branded merchandise, and other incentives to encourage brand loyalty.

With more consumers than ever engaging via their mobile devices, now is the time to embrace this new medium. 2012 is sure to see a dramatic increase in the use of QR codes to reach consumers. Are you going to be leading the charge? Learn more about Qiigo Mobile and how QR codes can help you reach your customers.

Contact Qiigo today to discuss how QR codes and mobile marketing can work for your company.