Mobile Commerce: Amazon's version of a tablet

In August a lightning strike fried my computer hard drive and my wireless modem, forcing me to fast-forward my decision to buy a new computer. Each time my husband has to patch my hard drive, he reminds me that I need a new one. He's graciously lending me his home computer, so I've bought some time to make a decision...PC, laptop, tablet, or a combo? There are SO many choices that I'm not even sure where to begin!

I really think I'll go laptop with a docking station for working at home. That way when I'm traveling, I'll simply unplug and go. But which brand??? Apple? Sony? Toshiba? HP? Dell? Yikes.

Then I thought, maybe I can make a desktop and a tablet work. But have you seen the price of these babies?! I knew the iPad was big bucks, but Samsung's Android-powered Galaxy Tab is no bargain either at approximately $565. That cost is prohibitive for me. Like you, I have a budget to stick to. I want to get the best possible solution for the least amount of money. Not cheap; quality at a good price.

In the fast-paced evolution of the tablet world, Amazon plans on launching the Kindle Fire, it's version of a tablet, on November 15, just in time for holiday sales.

Amazon Kindle Fire

 image copyright Amazon

®

While it's not the iPad, it's going to be hard to beat at $199. It will have only 8 megabytes of memory compared to iPad's 16 (basic version) and it's about 1/2 the size of the iPad at 7". But, Fire connects to Amazon Cloud, the web hosting service where Kindle owners can store all their digital content at no cost. Apple charges a monthly fee. With the low initial investment and no monthly fees to store digital content, Amazon will be a contender in the market for mobile digital content.

In other Kindle news, Amazon has reduced the price for the basic Kindle e-reader to $79, introduced Kindle Touch, a $99 touch-screen version of the basic Kindle, and debuted the Kindle Touch 3G, which adds 3G wireless connectivity to the basic Wi-Fi offering, for $149. Best Buy will sell all four new Kindles this holiday season.

Read the full article about the Amazon Kindle Fire at Internet Retailer:
Mobile Commerce - Amazon aims to set the tablet world on Fire - Internet Retailer

Amazon, Kindle, iPad, and Samsung are all registered trademarks.

The Scoop on New Facebook Changes

Here's the scoop on the newest changes that Facebook has rolled out this week. It's not over yet...there is much more to come!

Prepare Yourselves: Facebook To Be Profoundly Changed

Online Retail News: Internet Security, Fraud

This week's top news stories from Internet Retailer:

• An online arms race rages between attackers and defenders
• Retailers have to be on guard
• Consumers like free computer security tools
• Social media and mobile devices present security threats
• Retailers can't relax when it comes to fraud—especially around the holidays

Debit Card Fees Drop on October 1

image courtesy of zedomax.com

Many e-retailers* are not aware that the Fed (US) will drop debit card fees starting on October 1. According to a recent survey published on September 9 by IRNewsLink, the Fed will be capping the debit interchange at 21 cents per transaction plus .05% of the transaction amount.
*You are an e-retailer if you have a brick-and-mortar store AND you also sell online, or if you sell strictly online.

What does this mean for you? It may be wise to begin steering online customers away from using credit cards, which will cost more than accepting debit cards.

You'll have to weigh the benefits and judge consumer reaction if you decide to entice customers to use debit instead of credit. How much impact will depend on your transactions specifics like the percentage of debit vs. credit cards and the average sale amount. As a buyer, I'm more inclined to use my credit card since I'm protected against any fraudulent charges. If I use my debit card, I risk my bank account being drained if it's stolen!

If you decide you want customers to use more debit than credit, try what some e-tailers are planning to do:

• offer a discount for using a debit card
• if a customers uses debit, give your savings to a local charity
• have a note during checkout that states "using debit instead of credit helps keep our prices lower"
• begin to offer alternative payment options like PayPal, Google Checkout, or WorldPay.

The more payment options you can offer, the better. Less reasons to bail at checkout means more dollars in your pocket. And the fees may average out overall; you may not need to make any big changes. But it's worth a look to see if your business can benefit by this fee reduction.

The Internet Retailer Online Payments Table graphic from the survey.

QR Code Craze

No doubt by now, you've seen the 2-dimensional QR or smart codes gracing everything from cars, to commercials on TV, to business cards and direct mail.

If you're not familiar with them, they are like the bar codes you find on all types of products. Bar codes can only hold 20 numeric digits; QR codes can hold thousands making them practical for use by small business owners. Any consumer can use a QR code if they have a smartphone app and an Internet connection.

QR codes most commonly link to URLs. You can use it to direct your customers to many things like coupons, visits to your Facebook page, visits to your Web site, your contact information, etc. The only limit is your imagination. This would be a great way to get feedback from your customers by linking to a place where they can provide a review or take a survey/poll.

Practical uses for QR Codes:

• Business card
• Marketing brochures and materials
• Receipts
• Event name tags or tickets
• Products
• Car or business vehicle
• Signs

Link shortening services goo.gl and bit.ly automatically generate QR codes for sharing your shortened links. And email services like MailChimp automatically generate QR codes for sharing links to your most recent email campaign.

How can you adapt the QR code strategy to engage customers? (...on products, in e-mails, in direct mail...for directions to your business, a map to your business, product instructions, coupons/offers, downloads, and more.)

QR code that links to my Web site

QR code generator (beqrious)

Don't make the mistake I saw a small business owner in Wisconsin making. Be logical about how you use it. Instead of listing their hours on the door of the business, he simply had a QR code where it said "Store Hours". That's all well and good if your only customers are tech-savvy individuals with smartphones! But what about the people with regular cell phones or no cell phones? They'll never know when your open and will most likely leave and never come back. Be sure to provide information for as many customers as possible. Having the actual hours on their door along with the QR code would have been much better!

Free QR Code Generators:

• http://beqrious.com/generator (this is the one I used to generate the QR code above)
• http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
• http://2tag.nl/index.php
• http://www.morovia.com/free-online-barcode-generator/qrcode-maker.php
• http://www.azonmedia.com/en/qrcode-generator

Create a QR code that links your mobile device to a fully functioning LIKE button for your Facebook page: http://www.likify.net/

Microsoft Technology also has a similar code called a Tag. So far, it doesn't seem as widely used, but is showing up in many retail markets. It can only be read by a Microsoft Tag Reader and is just as flexible as the QR code.
Free Mobi Tag Generator: http://tag.microsoft.com/my-tags/getting-started.aspx

Link to my Web site

Download the Tag app at http://gettag.mobi and scan this Tag.
 
I hope you have fun using this new technology in a way that will drive more traffic to your business. :-)

Ciao for now, Paula

UPDATE: After going to print, I received a trade magazine in the mail.(The article is not online yet or I'd link to it for you.) 
On the cover was a GNC store using QR codes on the face of their storefront and in their windows advertising "Deal of the Day". A quick scan takes the customer to a mobile-optimized page detailing the QR-exclusive content.
Source: Internet Retailer