What is the new secret weapon in business?

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A massive technological shift is occurring in the way businesses communicate and 95% of businesses are unaware of both the opportunity and the threat that this presents to their business.

The pressures of day to day life mean that your customer’s time is precious and when browsing online they need to access, process and consume information as quickly as possible. The quickest way for them to consume content online is through video, and customers are over 600% more likely to respond to video than to printed or written media.  Wharton Business School

So the question is, does your website have video content and if it doesn’t can you afford your competitors to beat you to it? The answer holds massive implications for your business.

Will your business suffer if you don’t update your website now or can you wait? Today, our society functions in the world of 3G communications. The term 3G stands for Third Generation of wireless technologies. It is mostly used with mobile phones and laptops as a means to wirelessly connect to the internet. At the moment though, 3G technology is pretty limited and slow, it functions on location based services and as a result users frequently incur signal interruptions, making video viewing via a mobile phone, laptop or tablet sometimes more inefficient and frustrating than reading text.

However, a revolution is to come. It will come in the form of 4G technology which is the Fourth Generation of wireless technologies. 4G is due to be launched in the UK in the first half of 2012 and by 2013 a world network spectrum will be cleared and readily available.

For the first time the wireless network will be faster than the landline network; in fact, it will be light years faster! This new technology will change the way people choose to work and choose to consume content.  Online videos will become undoubtedly the quickest way to access and absorb information; it will become the norm for businesses to have meetings via video calls, to connect to their customers through remote exhibitions and bespoke conferences, all with seamless connectivity and mobility.  However, the most revolutionary concept for those businesses that embrace online video will be the mass market reach offered to them by Smart TV.

What is Smart TV and when will it arrive? Smart TV is simply a TV that can connect to the internet and it’s already here!!! In fact, Samsung have been continually developing a ‘Smart TV’ since it was first launched in 2008.  Samsung currently sells two Smart TV’s every second and it has been predicted that of all TV’s shipped in 2012 almost half will be Smart. This trend is worth noting for businesses, as those organisations that have websites with high quality video content, will essentially have their own TV channel that can be watched by anyone with a Smart TV.  Not everyone has the latest IPad or Mobile Phone, but everyone has a TV, therefore with video content on your website you will enter the living room of all your potential customers worldwide!

So, businesses that steal a march on their competitors by integrating video into their websites in an effective way will map the rewards of increased customer engagement and greater market share.

Video is the best way to ensure that your business leads the field in the new era of 4G technology. As the internet develops so will video and the benefits for business will multiply.

Perfect Circle is the leading expert in developing internet TV platforms for commercial business. If you would like to find out more about how video can transform your business then contact us at Perfect Circle.

‘Tackle Your Health’ Social Marketing success story!

The ‘Tackle Your Health’ Social Marketing campaign has been a huge success!

The Campaign has passed the scheduled ‘300’ bench mark target. As a result, this innovative campaign has directed hundreds of men between the age of 30-74 towards their very own Professional Health Trainer that can be accessed for Free. The Tackle Your Health campaign has brought together a team of organisations that has enabled the campaign to reach out and engage with the local community.  From Schools to Supermarket participation, through to local businesses and at its heart AFC Telford Utd that is hosting a range of community engagement activities.

To read more about Telford and Wrekin Council’s success with ‘Tackle Your Health’ click here 

How will online video play an important role in growing your business?

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Your company now has a great opportunity to access a larger number of existing and potential customers by utilising the power of online video.

Video is the easiest and most convenient way for your customers to consume content. It is a marketing tool that is aligned with modern lifestyles. People are always on the go and demanding of new and exciting information that can be accessed at their leisure. If your site does not have video then you are losing an opportunity to connect with your audience.

An advantage of including video content on your website is that your site appears higher in the search engine ranking which raises your online profile. Your company therefore, immediately has a more visible web presence, which increases the potential for traffic to be directed to your site. The more traffic you secure the greater the opportunity that exists to market your product or services.

Video provides a fantastic vehicle to communicate with your customers. It offers a convenient and enjoyable way of consuming media – you can provide customer support, product information, keep viewers up to date with your latest news and engage with your audience by creating a space for feedback and sharing comments.

The success of a video marketing campaign is heavily attributed to video’s ability to appeal to the emotions – which influences how the viewer thinks and feels. Research has revealed that campaigns incorporating video are significantly more effective than those that do not. It has been calculated that customers respond to video 600% more than print*  and 78% of visitors stay longer on websites that contain video**. These figures demonstrate the dramatic effect video can have on your business and the massive opportunities to connect to your customers.

Today many businesses already recognise the importance of video. Many Premier League teams have their own TV Channel. For Example:

• MUTV – http://mu.tv.manutd.com/
• LUTV –  http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/

Another sector to embrace the opportunities of a TV platform is the automotive sector. For example:

• Mercedes– Benz TV – http://www.mercedes-benz.tv/en
• Audi TV –  http://tv.audi.com/

These companies present their viewers with a whole new interactive experience. The environment on-line is rapidly changing, with 3G being replaced by 4G. This new technology will change the way people choose to work and choose to consume content. Online videos will become undoubtedly the quickest way to access and absorb information; it will become the norm for businesses to have meetings via video calls, to connect to their customers through remote exhibitions and bespoke conferences, all with seamless connectivity and mobility.

Speak to us at Perfect Circle to discover the opportunities available to your business and how you can benefit from integrating online video on your website.

* Wharton Business School
** Real Networks

Altodigital’s Website goes live!

Altodigital are the country’s leading independent supplier of digital print and document solutions; they feature over 100 products along with all the latest online technology. Thier expertise lies in managing print and copy environments to help businesses large and small minimise costs and raise their productivity.

Altodigital came to Perect Circle in search of a market leading, bespoke website - we gave them everything they asked for and more! Altodigital now have a huge, top quality website with a ground breaking SMS system; take a look for yourself at www.altodigital.com

The Website is now live and ready to bring customers all over the world an exciting, informative and user friendly experience.

How is the market utilising video online?

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Online video is becoming increasingly employed by businesses to provide their customers with interesting and convenient content that differentiates them from their competitors. The case studies below highlight a couple of examples of how online video is being used to deliver a unique customer experience.

Manchester United ‘MUTV Online’

Manchester United Television was first aired in 1998 with the aim of bringing viewers ‘closer’ to Man United. Since then the club has introduced an online branch of MUTV to reach a wider audience. The MUTV online TV platform offers online viewers a space that is:

• Interactive - Users can email their questions to players and take part in quizzes.

• Informative - Commentary, interviews, matches and footballing news.

• Available – Online TV reaches a global audience.

• Accessible – Now online, viewers can watch programmes on demand, rewind, pause and fast forward whenever and wherever the wish.

Mercedes Benz TV

Mercedes Benz exhibits a TV platform that is full of high quality content. They provide everything from information on their vehicles through to events that Mercedes are *sensored word - inappropriate language* with. The site features functional tools that can be applied to any website to create a user friendly space for customers to experience:

• Product Information – Information for customers that will help them to know which of your products is most suitable for them through interactive videos.

• Customer feedback – Users on the Mercedes Benz TV site can rate the videos that they have watched. Encourage your customers to be involved and *sensored word - inappropriate language* your understanding of your target audience. The ratings and feedback provided by the customer can contribute to market research and facilitate consistent improvement of your marketing campaign, and increase sales.

• Current News – Always keep viewers in the know, so that they are aware of the products that are available to them.

• ‘Film Information’ – A tool to support the user so that they know whether the video is relevant to them before they watch. This stops viewers being bombarded with irrelevant information.

• ‘Share’ films – Sharing is great for your business in terms of the potential for increased brand awareness and growth. Customers can choose to share your film with family and friends via email or social networking sites.

• Search facility – Users can find a video that is specific to them, increasing the efficiency of your customer support.

Perfect Circle can tailor a TV platform to your business. For more information about TV platforms and how they can promote your company speak to us at Perfect Circle.

How is the market using QR codes?

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Crossville Inc:

Crossville Inc is an American tile manufacturing and distribution company. They are committed to responsible, eco-friendly practices and use QR codes as a sustainable alternative to traditional marketing in terms of providing tile samples to the market place. The QR codes are used for their Sustainable Samples Kit with all tiles featuring a QR code on the back to offer product details via smart phone. The app the QR code links to enables real product samples to be automatically ordered. Through the use of QR codes, Crossville Inc is able to track all scans and user activity for their whole system. The benefits that Crossville Inc has been able to realise through their use of QR codes are:

• Increased sustainability
• Reduced printing costs
• Better direct consumer interaction
• Greater market insights
• More value for distribution partners
• Positive industry buzz.

OFM:

OFM is a leading office and school furniture manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers. For the first time they are using QR codes in their 2012 product catalog. Half of the QR codes featured link to informational product videos while the other half take users to product specification pages. Most companies in the furniture manufacturing industry do not utilise interactive technology meaning that OFM’s adoption of QR codes sets them apart from their competitors. The use of QR codes means their customers can access information about their products whenever and wherever.

The power of QR codes in manufacturing.

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A common benefit of the QR code in the manufacturing industry is increased efficiency. It saves the customer valuable time because they can access the information instantly whenever it is needed. For example, if a customer has purchased your product but is having trouble *sensored word - inappropriate language* it or needs some technical advice, having a QR code on your product which leads to a FAQ site or ‘how to videos’ will drastically enhance your customer service. Having saved hours of answering customer service questions or a hiring installation training staff, which is costly in both time and money, the company will instantly have more leverage to develop the business.

Metalcraft, a manufacturer of *sensored word - inappropriate language* labelling and tag products, have the ability to print QR codes on their products such as bar code labels and nameplates. This allows them to link to product information and other web-based resources like customer support and warranty tracking. Customers can also connect to a manual or video detailing operating or service instructions.

The above example details some of the ways in which QR codes can be used to connect customers with products and services to deliver a positive customer experience. Manufacturers are becoming more and more accustomed to extending their products and services to deliver transformational experiences for customers.  For example Apple deliver apps through their products that change people’s lives and Nike have developed their fitness equipment that can also link to online diagnostic tools. QR codes can take a product to a new level, offering a dynamic interactive experience for the customer.
Attaching a QR code with the product that links to a re-order form is another simple example. This is great for the busy customer as they can be lead straight to a customised re-order form in seconds. For the manufacturer the benefit is eradicating the need for the customer to browse online as they may easily stumble across competitors in the process. It is much easier to keep the customers that you already have than it is to try and find new ones.

When managed effectively utilising QR codes as part of a marketing campaign is the most current and effective way to drive traffic to your website; its effectiveness as a tactical tool is dependent upon several factors. A primary factor is relevance. Once that initial connection with the customer is made it is vital that their attention is held once they reach the website. It is extremely important that the client is directed to a well presented web page that is relevant to the advert they have clicked on.

QR codes are the best way to drive traffic to your website and by doing so expands your horizon to a new world of customers. A QR code that links to a relevant web page however is crucial because if the potential client clicks the link to your website and then bounces right off again it dramatically reduces your websites performance and search engine rankings! Conversely if they stay and browse it boosts your search engine!

Contact us if you would like to find out more about QR codes and how QR codes can be tailored and used to grow your business.

Why do QR codes have the power to transform your business?

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You may have seen some little black and white boxes in newspapers, on buses and even in shop windows and wondered what are they and what do they do? Those little black boxes are QR codes and have the power to transform any business. QR code stands for quick response code and although they are essentially a bar code, your regular barcode is 1D whereas a QR code is 2D and is converted into interactive text or a link. Most smart phones have downloadable QR readers which allow QR codes to be scanned and decoded on almost any surface. Having originally started in Japan, they are fast becoming widespread across the world as the latest way to connect potential customers to an interactive marketing campaign. 

An example of an interactive marketing campaign which has utilised QR codes is Toyota’s 2012 Corolla campaign. One of the targets was to expand conversations with potential Corolla consumers. A branded mobile QR code called Toyotag was created. Toyota consumers were encouraged to use their mobiles to take photos of the Toyotag. They were then prompted by SMS to download the Toyota shopping tool app. Once the app was downloaded, consumers could view Hatsune Miku singing next to the 2012 Corolla. This video was linked to many blogs to encourage further engagement and traffic.

The results?  The Hatsune Miku concert created a 600% increase in Toyota Shopping Tool app downloads. App downloads remained above normal rates for the following week and Toyota saw a 30% jump in Corolla leads in that same time period. Extending engagement past the concert was also a goal for the campaign, and both download rates and web traffic indicated Toyota was successful. Time spent on the Corolla/Hatsune Miku web page “outpaced” time spent on the entire Corolla section of Toyota’s site for the week following the virtual concert. The web traffic for the Corolla/Miku site increased 167% from the week of September 4th to the week of September 11th, and only returned to pre-campaign rates after 7 weeks.

Due to the success of this campaign TOYOTA MOTOR SALES U.S.A. is adopting interactive bar codes across all its marketing so mobile phone-carrying customers can quickly access sales promotions, vehicle quotes, videos, safety tips and similar information. “The ToyoTag allows customers to engage with us wherever and whenever they want information,” said Michael K. Nelson. The new tag, he said, will provide one-to-one interactions with customers at all stages of interest in their products. Eventually, automakers could use such tags on billboards or in print advertisements to link to exclusive video footage of a new car model or allow users to instantly book a test drive at their nearest dealership.

One advantage of using QR codes is that they are trackable and measurable; brands can clearly see how effective and successful the campaign has been and how much traffic and engagement they have received as a result. They can see whether a person who snapped once sought more information at a later time, what information the consumer is interested in, what the company is doing wrong and what they’re doing right in terms of marketing, as well as who the potential customers are. To access such specific feedback tells you exactly where to direct your marketing, which areas of your business need improving and which areas should be at the forefront and used to attract the most customers. Essentially this inevitably results in more profit via more effective marketing spend.The possibilities really are endless.

The most active use of QR codes is in the world of marketing. This is because it has the power to connect a huge amount of potential customers to a campaign that leads to action on behalf of the customer.  Let’s say you’re sat on the bus and you see a QR code in the paper next to an advert for a product that you’re interested in, all it takes is one quick scan. Out of curiosity you’re led straight to a professional web page with all the details about the product and a ‘buy now’ button. How much more likely are you to buy the product when presented with a buy now page with great graphics and all the information needed; rather than having to wait until you get home then search for the company that you may not even remember the name of, and then search for the right product? The answer is, much more likely.

The reason why QR codes are so interactive and successful is because they are the only way to link offline and online media. Printed marketing materials become fully interactive by linking up to things such as webpage, video, audio, social media, maps, order forms. This means 24/7 interaction with a new mobile generation of customers. These customers will know exactly who you are as a QR code is flexible enough to be personalised with logos added in the middle, leaving the QR code looking professional and increasing brand awareness. 

QR codes contain their own correction data, internal orientation calibration and self-alignment makers meaning the code is still readable whether it’s on a curved surface, upside down, or even slightly damaged. The technical specification for QR codes is set in the ISO-18004 standard meaning they are the same all over the world.

When managed correctly a QR code is capable of bringing profit into your business. It’s all about creativity!  A job that would take a yearly salary to manage could possibly be a job that a QR code can do for next to nothing. Once a code has been printed you can constantly alter content on the web page but still use the same QR code or vice versa, resulting in a completely new experience every time a customer scans the code. Advertisements in magazines and on leaflets may have to be submitted weeks in advance but with QR codes the information can be kept updated continuously and instantly.