Tuesday, December 20, 2011
How to set up a Viral Offer Sharing Campaign?
Traditional marketing campaigns get linear reach. Viral Offer Sharing (VOS) by ShopSocially gives your leverage by making your campaigns go viral. Setting up a VOS campaign takes about 15 minutes.
First, collect the basic campaign details in a TXT file.
Second, specify how the post should look in the Facebook feed when a visitor likes the post. ShopSocially allows you to control how the like post will be displayed on ShopSocially. You can specify a Facebook Offer Title and a Facebook Offer Description that is different from Offer Title and Offer Description. You should make the Facebook post as catchy as possible.
Third, specify the type of coupon and additional text of the offer. You can have a general coupon that is given to all visitors or you can set up a one-time use coupon that will give a different coupon to each visitor. If you want to use one-time coupons, you must provide a separate TXT file with sufficient number of coupon codes, one per line.
Once you have collected this information, simply email the TXT file, necessary images and a coupon code file (if applicable) to your ShopSocially contact and your campaign will be set up in 15 minutes. You will receive a link from your ShopSocially contact by email. You can simply post the link via email, on your Facebook Fan page or Twitter and watch as your campaign goes viral.
Click here to try out a viral offer sharing page.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Top 5 DSLR Cameras For Beginners.
So are you ready to move up into the major leagues of digital photography? Ditch the compact, point-and-shoot camera and get ready for the speed, control, and flexibility of a digital SLR camera. Here is list of Top 5 DSLR cameras that you should buy If you are a beginner.
Canon 1000D.
The EOS 1000D is Canon’s cheapest EOS DSLR and one of its oldest, having been launched as far back as July 2008. It just happens to be a refreshingly straightforward digital SLR which delivers good-quality pictures without blinding you with science every five minutes. The 10-megapixel CMOS sensor is old hat by today’s standards, but the quality is still very good, and you might only get a 2.5-inch LCD, but it’s very bright and clear and displays all the necessary shooting information in big, bold characters you can see from a mile off. You also get Canon’s rather good Digital Photo Professional RAW converter as part of the package. The 1000D is cheap and simple enough for beginners, but carries on being direct, straightforward and effective as you gain experience.
Why should you buy it... The 1000D offers straightforward, no-nonsense controls, good picture quality and a great introduction to the EOS system.
Canon 550D.
The EOS 550D is at the opposite end of the spectrum to the EOS 1000D. It has Canon’s very latest 18-megapixel CMOS sensor, which it shares with the much more advanced EOS 7D, a full HD movie mode with manual controls, and even an external microphone socket. The EOS 550D is not just a digital SLR, then, but a semi-professional movie camera. Increasing the sensor resolution usually increases noise, but Canon’s done a fantastic job with the noise reduction on this camera, and the quality is terrific right up to ISO 3200 (it drops a bit at the ISO 6400 maximum, though). This camera does do an awful lot, but it’s still very easy to use. Canon’s really good at designing camera exteriors so that all the major controls (white balance, ISO and so on) are clear and easy to get to, and the new Quick Control screen is perfect for those upgrading from a compact because it lets you adjust the settings on the LCD display.
Why should you buy it ... You get the highest resolution of any APS-C sensor, a full HD movie mode with manual controls and a brilliant control layout.
Nikon D3000.
The D3000 is Nikon’s equivalent to Canon’s EOS 1000D. It’s a bargain-basement DSLR using trailing edge sensor technology and a simplified set of options to tempt beginners. It’s small, light and very easy to use. Pretty well everything is controlled via an on-screen interface, though after a while this could become a liability rather than an asset. It’s all very clear and logical, but slow. The 10-megapixel sensor is a little out of date by today’s standards, too, though this camera still produces very good, sharp pictures, not least because the 18-55mm VR (Vibration Reduction) zoom is one of the best kit lenses around. The old-fashioned technology means there’s no live view or movie mode, though Nikon has included a surprisingly sophisticated 11-point autofocus system. The whole package, kit lens included, is very good value for money, though it’s also worth considering the more expensive but much more sophisticated Nikon D5000.
Why should you buy it.... The D3000 small, light and inexpensive, and comes with a very good kit lens. It’s also easy to understand, thanks to built-in picture-taking tips.
Nikon D3100
The 14.2-megapixel Nikon D3100 is a great entry-level digital SLR. It's the least-expensive D-SLR to capture 1080p video. It also includes a feature no other D-SLR has continuous autofocus during video recording, which makes the D3100 feel like a camcorder while it's shooting. The camera can detect faces, lock on, and adjust the focus automatically to make video capture even easier. The only problem is that the lens isn't silent, so every time it refocuses you'll hear it.
Why should you buy it.... The D3100 is power house of features.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10.
Panasonic’s replaced its original G1 DSLR hybrid with two models. One is a cheaper, budget version (the G10) while the other is a more sophisticated offering with touch-screen shooting and an articulating rear LCD. The G10 might be more basic, but the price makes it much more attractive to beginners and more competitive against the likes of the Canon EOS 1000D and Nikon D3000. It’s a very nicely-designed camera, with a high-quality plastic finish and light, precise controls. The 460,000-pixel LCD on the back is very good, but it’s a shame Panasonic’s economised on the EVF. The G1’s had 1.4 million pixels and looked great, but this one has just 202,000 pixels and looks rather grotty. On the plus side, Panasonic’s contrast detection autofocus system is really fast, and easily a match for the best DSLRs. The picture quality is first rate, too, thanks in part to the excellent 14-42mm kit lens.
Why should you buy it ....It’s a well-made camera that’s easy to use and produces great results, and the autofocus in live view is streets ahead of anything a DSLR can do.
Sony Alpha A290.
Sony’s entry level digital SLR is one up on its rivals from Nikon and Canon because it has a 14.2 megapixel sensor, where the EOS 1000D and Nikon D3000 make do with 10 megapixels. Whether you’ll see much difference in the pictures is another story, but it’s reassuring to have the numbers on your side. This isn’t the same 14-megapixel sensor you get in Sony’s more up-market SLRs and the NEX hybrids, though. They use CMOS chips where the a290 uses a CCD. As a result, you have to make do without such luxuries as live view and movie modes. That’s not a problem if you just want a basic, straightforward camera, though, and the a290 is certainly that. It has the added benefit of Sony’s SteadyShot INSIDE anti-shake system. It doesn’t seem as effective as Pentax’s at cutting shake, but it’s worth having nonetheless. Sony’s DSLRs don’t always have a lot of finesse, but they are good value, and can end up heavily discounted as time goes by.
Why Should you buy it .. It’s basic, effective and offers more resolution than you’ll get anywhere else at this price.
These are some great DSLR cameras to begin with once you have mastered these babies you can move towards more professional cameras.
Top 5 DSLR Cameras Of Beginners.
Canon 1000D.
Nikon D3000.
The D3000 is Nikon’s equivalent to Canon’s EOS 1000D. It’s a bargain-basement DSLR using trailing edge sensor technology and a simplified set of options to tempt beginners. It’s small, light and very easy to use. Pretty well everything is controlled via an on-screen interface, though after a while this could become a liability rather than an asset. It’s all very clear and logical, but slow. The 10-megapixel sensor is a little out of date by today’s standards, too, though this camera still produces very good, sharp pictures, not least because the 18-55mm VR (Vibration Reduction) zoom is one of the best kit lenses around. The old-fashioned technology means there’s no live view or movie mode, though Nikon has included a surprisingly sophisticated 11-point autofocus system. The whole package, kit lens included, is very good value for money, though it’s also worth considering the more expensive but much more sophisticated Nikon D5000.
Why should you buy it.... The D3000 small, light and inexpensive, and comes with a very good kit lens. It’s also easy to understand, thanks to built-in picture-taking tips.
Nikon D3100.
The 14.2-megapixel Nikon D3100 is a great entry-level digital SLR. It's the least-expensive D-SLR to capture 1080p video. It also includes a feature no other D-SLR has continuous autofocus during video recording, which makes the D3100 feel like a camcorder while it's shooting. The camera can detect faces, lock on, and adjust the focus automatically to make video capture even easier. The only problem is that the lens isn't silent, so every time it refocuses you'll hear it.
Why should you buy it.... The D3100 is power house of features.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10.
Panasonic’s replaced its original G1 DSLR hybrid with two models. One is a cheaper, budget version (the G10) while the other is a more sophisticated offering with touch-screen shooting and an articulating rear LCD. The G10 might be more basic, but the price makes it much more attractive to beginners and more competitive against the likes of the Canon EOS 1000D and Nikon D3000. It’s a very nicely-designed camera, with a high-quality plastic finish and light, precise controls. The 460,000-pixel LCD on the back is very good, but it’s a shame Panasonic’s economised on the EVF. The G1’s had 1.4 million pixels and looked great, but this one has just 202,000 pixels and looks rather grotty. On the plus side, Panasonic’s contrast detection autofocus system is really fast, and easily a match for the best DSLRs. The picture quality is first rate, too, thanks in part to the excellent 14-42mm kit lens.
Why should you buy it ....It’s a well-made camera that’s easy to use and produces great results, and the autofocus in live view is streets ahead of anything a DSLR can do.
Sony Alpha A290.
Sony’s entry level digital SLR is one up on its rivals from Nikon and Canon because it has a 14.2 megapixel sensor, where the EOS 1000D and Nikon D3000 make do with 10 megapixels. Whether you’ll see much difference in the pictures is another story, but it’s reassuring to have the numbers on your side. This isn’t the same 14-megapixel sensor you get in Sony’s more up-market SLRs and the NEX hybrids, though. They use CMOS chips where the a290 uses a CCD. As a result, you have to make do without such luxuries as live view and movie modes. That’s not a problem if you just want a basic, straightforward camera, though, and the a290 is certainly that. It has the added benefit of Sony’s SteadyShot INSIDE anti-shake system. It doesn’t seem as effective as Pentax’s at cutting shake, but it’s worth having nonetheless. Sony’s DSLRs don’t always have a lot of finesse, but they are good value, and can end up heavily discounted as time goes by.Why Should you buy it .. It’s basic, effective and offers more resolution than you’ll get anywhere else at this price.
These are some great DSLR cameras to begin with once you have mastered these babies you can move towards more professional cameras.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Shopping for Japan Disaster Relief Fund.
The world witnessing one of the most damaging natural disasters in the last 100 years. Japan had worst earthquake ever with least 19 aftershocks, most of them of more than magnitude 6.0, after a huge earthquake ripped across the country today bringing devastation to a wide area and prompting fears of a massive death toll.Japan needs your prayers and help.Here are some ways that you can help Japan.
Shopping for Japan Disaster Relief Fund.
Cafepress Japan Relief T-shirts.
Corter "For Japan" Bracelet—This simple leather bracelet has a hand-painted red snap that's a subtle symbol for Japan. 100% of proceeds will go to Red Cross.
Swissmiss Help Japan Poster—This stark print makes a powerful statement. 100% will be donated to the Red Cross.
Ken+Dana Design Necklace: The numbers inscribed on this necklace are from Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, a reminder that we were all immigrants at one point and, in essence, all the same. $30/each necklace will go to Red Cross.
Lady Gaga Wristband—It's always welcomed when celebrities use their fame for good. 100% of proceeds will go directly to Japan relief efforts.
Shoppers go shop for these products and show your support for Japan and Pray for Japan.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Gadgets which you should never buy ......
There are many gadget that you think you should buy every time you go shopping.But there are many gadgets that you should not buy they are just made for the sake of gadgets and technology only.Here is a list of some worst gadgets that you should not buy.
Dell Streak
The reason the Dell Streak makes the worst gadget list is because it's just too big to be a phone and too small to be a Tablet. Therefore not satisfying either need.
Literati e-book reader.
Sluggish software, stiff keyboard and page turn buttons that work only some of the time, and in a Wi-Fi connection that forgets your settings, almost like it's pulling a practical joke.
Cisco Flip Slide HD
The Slide HD takes the same video and provides the same amount of storage as other Flips. However, it suffers from a bulky design and confusing interface that involves both a touchscreen and a touch strip beneath the display, which leaves you wondering which to use.
Microsoft Zune HD
The Zune was a failure. Microsoft came back with the Zune HD.They never give up its just that they are not ready that they can beat Apple Ipod.Zune HD was another effort to build an 'iPod killer' no-one gave up their iPods for the Zune due to the fact that they use iTunes and iPods are so damn user friendly.
Oakley Thump Sunglasses
Oakley Thump MP3 sunglasses were a fusion of all things heavy, ugly, and overpriced at 500 dollars for 256 MB of music was never a good deal.Of course, there was also the issue of the music device being forcibly tied to eye protection.
These are some of the worst gadgets which nobody should buy.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Social Media And E-Commerce.
Online retailers these days are really excited about Social media and how to take benefits from social media. Online merchants are rushing
into using Social Media as the next big marketing thing and yes it is showing some promise.Online retailers these days are trying to build a
social community around their products and thus making their consumersas product evangelists and driving more traffic to their stores.
and especially about Facebook and Twitter.According to the Compete Online Shopper Intelligence study, consumers engage more on social networks like Facebook and Twitter if there are incentives like coupons and deals. Here are some key take away point from the study done by Compete.In the study, Around 68 % of shoppers said that they visit retailer
Facebook pages and Twitter feeds in order to learn about promotions and sales. Many retailers now offer Facebook Fans exclusive discounts
and coupon codes for online and in store purchases.
Online retailers can attract more consumers to their stores if they provide their consumers and their friends with some special coupons
and deals.The most important point from the study is : “Give them a highly compelling reason to visit—provide shoppers with discount coupons and let them spread some love of coupons"
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Booz & Co Report : Social Commerce will be a $30bn market.
Retailers should jump in soon and learn by doing.
Booz&Co recently published a report on Social Commerce titled Turning "Like" to "Buy" Social Media Emerges as a Commerce Channel
Link to the complete report: http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BaC-Turning_Like_to_Buy.pdf
Summary:
Social Commerce revenues are set to grow six folds from $5bn currently to $30bn within 5 years. This estimate is only for hard goods and does not include services. Social media has already revolutionalized the way people communicate and connect with each other. Now it will rapidly transform the way people shop as well.
There are opportunities to use social commerce at every step of the purchase funnel - awareness, consideration and conversion and also within post purchase components of loyalty and services. As with every other initiative, measuring the success is key.
Awareness
While most companies are focusing on the awareness stage, it seems to have limited value in spurring social commerce. 71% users said that "liking" a company on Facebook has is not correlated to purchasing from that company
Consideration
Some companies are building applications to entice users to leave social networking site and visit their own site. However, companies can and should do more in the consideration stage.
Conversion
This is where social commerce can have the biggest impact. Influencing shoppers via friend recommendation represents a huge opportunity. 81% of teenage girls rely on their friends and peers for trend information and 45% get opinions from friends before buying clothing and footwear.
Events is another such category. Fans would be more likely to attend an event if they know that their friends are attending that event as well.
Loyalty and Service
Companies should give their customers a chance to advocate on their behalf. Provide them both an incentive an opportunity to spread the word and become a loyal customer.
Measurement
It is critical to determine the right metrics and measure them continously.
Four Imperatives for eTailers
1. Jump in soon and learn by doing.
2. Develop a strategy for getting the data you need.
3. Define what the customer experience should be.
4. Integrate social commerce into an overall multi-channel strategy.
Jai Rawat, CEO, ShopSocially
Untitled
Booz & Co Report : Social Commerce will be a $30bn market.
Retailers should jump in soon and learn by doing.
Booz&Co recently published a report on Social Commerce titled Turning "Like" to "Buy" Social Media Emerges as a Commerce Channel
Link to the complete report: http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/BaC-Turning_Like_to_Buy.pdf
Summary:
Social Commerce revenues are set to grow six folds from $5bn currently to $30bn within 5 years. This estimate is only for hard goods and does not include services. Social media has already revolutionalized the way people communicate and connect with each other. Now it will rapidly transform the way people shop as well.
There are opportunities to use social commerce at every step of the purchase funnel - awareness, consideration and conversion and also within post purchase components of loyalty and services. As with every other initiative, measuring the success is key.
Awareness
While most companies are focusing on the awareness stage, it seems to have limited value in spurring social commerce. 71% users said that "liking" a company on Facebook has is not correlated to purchasing from that company
Consideration
Some companies are building applications to entice users to leave social networking site and visit their own site. However, companies can and should do more in the consideration stage.
Conversion
This is where social commerce can have the biggest impact. Influencing shoppers via friend recommendation represents a huge opportunity. 81% of teenage girls rely on their friends and peers for trend information and 45% get opinions from friends before buying clothing and footwear.
Events is another such category. Fans would be more likely to attend an event if they know that their friends are attending that event as well.
Loyalty and Service
Companies should give their customers a chance to advocate on their behalf. Provide them both an incentive an opportunity to spread the word and become a loyal customer.
Measurement
It is critical to determine the right metrics and measure them continously.
Four Imperatives for eTailers
1. Jump in soon and learn by doing.
2. Develop a strategy for getting the data you need.
3. Define what the customer experience should be.
4. Integrate social commerce into an overall multi-channel strategy.
Jai Rawat, CEO, ShopSocially
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Facebook - Talk not Shop!
Retailers at last month's Shop.org conference said that "Facebook is for socializing and not long bouts of shopping". Consumers visit Facebook to spend time with friends, have conversations and interact with their social network. Facebook is, however, a great place to discover new products. Users can get product recommendations from their social network, a much more powerful influencer than an anonymous review posted on an obscure website. Essentially, consumers use Facebook to talk about their purchases but not actually shop.
Click here to read more about what the speakers at Shop.org had to say.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Five Mantras of Social Shopping
I came across this article by Samrat Kabiraj where he lists five mantras to help us make better purchases.
- Dwell on what meets the needs and create a list of options
- Find friends who may have bought a similar product
- Get first hand product review, akin to a test drive
- Get a little bit more for your money from recommendation sites
- And finally, look for reliable reviews from people you trust.
The steps above do seem to lead to a happy social shopper. Click here to read the entire article and enjoy shopping socially!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Social Commerce - the 5th C of Community
The traditional 4C's of community - Content, Conversation, Connection and Continuity have been given a new member - Social Commerce, by Brian Solis.
In a short but very relevant article Brian highlights that brands now need different strategies to cater to the traditional consumer and the social consumer. The social consumer taps into this social graph for shopping advice and influences purchase decisions in their social network.
Our services are focussed on catering to this social consumer and creating an opportunity for social commerce. Every shared purchase is spread to the news feed of the social graph, there by, increasing a brand's reach and visibility.
Click here to read the full article.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Social Commerce's Tipping Point
Scott Morrison recently wrote an article covering how Social Commerce is reaching a tipping point. He quotes, Ethan Beard, who runs Facebook's developer network, saying that "Social Commerce will be big and disruptive". Ethan says, use of social media tools and content such as user profiles, customer reviews and ratings will make online shopping a social experience.
It is interesting to note that in August, U.S Internet users spent 41.1 billion minutes on Facebook, surpassing Google Inc.'s 39.8 billion minutes. Scott Wingo, CEO of Channel Advisor Corp., says "Facebook will be a top-three channel for all retailers within two or three years.
Scott Morrison, succinctly summarizes his views by saying - "Social commerce is becoming socially acceptable".
To read the full article, please click here.
Social Commerce's Tipping Point
Scott Morrison recently wrote an article covering how Social Commerce is reaching a tipping point. He quotes, Ethan Beard, who runs Facebook's developer network, saying that "Social Commerce will be big and disruptive". Ethan says, use of social media tools and content such as user profiles, customer reviews and ratings will make online shopping a social experience.
It is interesting to note that in August, U.S Internet users spent 41.1 billion minutes on Facebook, surpassing Google Inc.'s 39.8 billion minutes. Scott Wingo, CEO of Channel Advisor Corp., says "Facebook will be a top-three channel for all retailers within two or three years.
Scott Morrison, succinctly summarizes his views by saying - "Social commerce is becoming socially acceptable".
To read the full article, please click here.
Monday, October 25, 2010
ShopSocially is happy to announce $1.1M Series A funding
We are pleased to announce that we received $1.1M in Series A funding, led by Valhalla Partners. We also received additional participation from high profile angel investors Raman Khanna, Ashish Gupta and Dharmesh Thakker.
We want to take a moment to thank all our users. Your support means a lot to us. Our entire team is confident that with this shot in the arm, we will be able to raise the bar even further and improve our user's experience.
Please click here to read more.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
How to Buy Online
I just read a blog by Abhishek Rohilla, where he has highlighted 5 things that we should keep in mind when shopping online.
The first two - knowing what one wants and knowing ones budgets have been appropriately emphasized. I agree that many a times we start our search without really knowing what we are looking for. Abhishek also advises us to read expert reviews and compare prices before we make up our mind.
What really takes the cake is the last tip where Abhishek suggests that the experience of shopping online is greatly improved by using the power of the social network. Reviews from our family and friends is usually more trustworthy and more relevant to our needs. ShopSocially's service aims to provide exactly this convenience to the user community.
Do you use the power of your social network before you buy online?
Please click here to read the full article
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Are you a Connector, a Salesman or a Maven?
If you are one of the above, then marketing agencies should be following your every move. Gartner has studied how certain people influence their social network in buying decisions.
Gartner has categorized people into five buckets depending on the role they play in Social Networks -
- Connectors - have many people in their network and introduce people
- Salesmen - have many people in their network and are persuaders
- Mavens - are subject experts
- Seekers - reach out for buying advice
- Self-Sufficient - are researchers who make up their own mind
It is particularly interesting that 20% of the population is one of three - Connectors, Salesmen or Mavens. It is this 20% that influences 74% of the population in their shopping decisions.
Here is the link to the article if you want to learn more.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
So have you got the Fifth P?
An Altimeter Group report focuses on the 4 P's of marketing, namely Product, Price, Promotion and Position, to bring businesses closer to success in the world of social commerce.
Brian Solis, a highly recognized new media marketing guru and author of the new book Engage!, has introduced a fifth P in this equation - People. I completely agree with Brian that it is the people dimension which will truly differentiate social media marketing from traditional marketing and commerce strategies. We are moving towards a people driven market where the collective power of the community will drive sales. Brian puts it very succinctly - "It’s your responsibility to not only focus on the aspects of “paying it backward,” i.e. pay me for my goods and services, but also “paying it forward,” the investment in your community so that brands merit resonance through relevance."
Businesses need to evolve a social media strategy in order to engage the social consumer and convert conversations to commerce. Perhaps, it suffices to say that Businesses need a way to connect the 'Shopping Gods' with 'Newbies'.
Now Search is turning Social
Jenna Wortham at The New York Times says "Now, even on the Internet, it is not what you know but who you know." With this statement I think Jenna has hit the nail firmly on its head. This is what we truly believe at ShopSocially and it seems to become more and more obvious to everyone on the internet. In the past, if we wanted an opinion or a review about something we informally polled our friends, neighbors and colleagues. From this we evolved to using search engines to get information about everything under the sun. Now the wheel is turning a full circle with leading researchers and Search companies suggesting that getting results from our immediate social network will make search results more relevant. This is the new wave and it is here to stay. The multitude of social recommendation engines are proof. We believe that this will have an effect on not just search, but our whole lifestyle from where we shop, eat, spend our holidays etc.
Click here to read the full article.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Interesting Article on Importance of Social Merchandising by Sam Decker
"Today's shoppers don't go to a store to determine which TV they want - they already know which product they want when they arrive." says Sam Decker, Chief Marketing Officer at Bazaarvoice. We at ShopSocially, have been talking about how the online market place needs new tools to leverage the power of social recommendations. In his article on ClickZ, Sam explains how traditional merchandising efforts don't translate to the web and that shoppers don't trust traditional marketing material anymore and want to hear from people like them. He has dissected the process which shoppers use to buy products online into three simple phases - Discovery, Choice and Validation/ Confidence. Discovery can start at the search engine but more recently seems to begin at social networking sites. Shoppers read reviews and stories from "poeple like them" to make or reduce choices. Finally, validation occurs by reaching out to a network of friends before making the final purchase.
Click here to read the entire article.