SearchEngineUpdate with Vanessa Zamora - 03-13-2008 Part II
Abstract: 1. China overtakes U.S. As World’s Largest Internet Market: Researcher, 2. AOL Launches Paperless Coupons Service Shortcuts, 3. Facebook MarketLodge Application Pays Friends To Sell To Friends
Vanessa Zamora
Video Content Producer, SearchEngineWorld
9:58 pm on Mar. 13, 2008 (utc 0)
Transcript
Thursday March 13, 2008
China overtakes U.S. As World’s Largest Internet Market: Researcher
As expected in 2008, according to an estimate announced by research firm Beijing based BDA, China has surpassed the United States with the most number of Internet users, making China the world’s largest online market. The BDA statement is made based on the assumption that both the US and China have continued to grow in 2008 at the same rate they grew in 2007. According to data from the China Internet Network Information Center, China’s Internet users totaled 210 million at end 2007. Nielsen/NetRatings put the United States Web population at 216 million for the same period, at 6 million more.
AOL has debuted a new program called Shortcuts that links online coupons to consumers store loyalty cards, eliminating the need to clip coupons or print them out to get savings. Consumers can select coupons online searchable by brand, product, or category and click coupons to add them to their card. Coupons are automatically applied to purchases by presenting a loyalty card at the register upon checkout. The Shortcuts service is free for consumers and retail stores, but AOL charges manufacturers to distribute coupons on the Internet. The new AOL service has been met with concern from privacy advocates, since the cards record purchases and shopping habits. On the flip side, the technology helps marketers focus campaigns on products that cater to shoppers needs. Shortcuts will launch today with the Kroger grocery store chain and food manufacturer General Mills, with coupons from Kimberly-Clark and Kraft Foods expected later this month.
Facebook MarketLodge Application Pays Friends To Sell To Friends
So far developers haven’t figured out how to best make money using applications that target friends on the social networking site Facebook. A new Facebook Application called Market Lodge, hopes to break that trend by convincing Facebook members to recommend products to friends with a 10 percent commission from any sales made on their recommendation. The service supports the notion that friends are more likely to buy products or services recommended by someone they trust. Facebook tried a similar program called Beacon, which tracked and shared information about members purchases and other actions, hoping to benefit in the same way, but it backfired when members saw it as a violation of privacy. Facebook members who decide to use Market Lodge can customize their own stores, selecting from more than 1,200 products sold by about 50 different merchants. Market Lodge hopes the incentive of money will create a more positive reaction from members.
9:58 pm on Mar. 13, 2008 (utc 0)