Reports: Tech keeping consumers connected

Technology is keeping consumers connected to brands in new ways and is informing their decisions about how they want to interact. That is a key takeaway from new Valassis research which indicates, among other findings, is that three-quarters of consumers are now using paperless/electronic discounts while shopping. >>

Advertising

Top 5 tips to combat ad fraud

The rise of bots to commit ad fraud is a big problem for the digital ad space, for advertisers and publishers and also for merchants. Here are five tips to combat advertising fraud. >>

Ecommerce

Expert: Why friendly fraud is costing retailers

Many retailers expect fraudsters to be unknown forces hacking into their computers during off hours. While this type of fraud is, indeed, a big issue for retailers and brands, friendly fraud is growing to be troublesome, as well. >>

Advertising

Report indicates more brands are recession-leary

According to a new Gartner report, more businesses are talking about recession. Gartner's experts analyzed the 2018 earnings transcripts of several S&P 500 companies and they note that more businesses used words like "downturn" and "slowdown" in their reports. >>

Social Marketing

Instagram testing checkout option

A new release from Instagram may change how merchants and brands interact on the social platform. This week, they announced a beta test, using a select group of retailers, for what is called Instagram Checkout. >>

Advertising

Forecast: Ad spend to slow this year

While the global ad spend is expected to reach more than $616 billion this year, the growth rate is slower than last year's. That, according to a new forecast out from WARC. According to their estimates, the global ad spend will increase about 4% in 2019, that is down just over 1% from 2018 spending levels. >>

Ecommerce

Home Improvements top refund spending list

Tax season is upon us in the US, and it looks like most consumers have plans for their tax refund this year. According to new data from Valassis, while most are planning to save their refund, about one-fifth (20%) say they'll spend it. Topping the list of spending plans: home improvements. >>

Ecommerce

Reports: Look for fraud to increase

An update to online payment rules could increase the amounts and kinds of frauds online businesses deal with. Payment Services Directive (PSD2) is set up to better identify consumers, which should be a relief for both digital merchants and shoppers, but new data out from iovation indicates that the implementation of stricter controls in some regions will move fraudsters to regions that are not prepared for additional attacks. >>

Mobile Marketing

Location data key to improved targeting, finds report

Mobile data may be more important than many brands think. New data out from Simpli.fi underlines not only the importance of mobile phones to consumers, but to brands because consumers are spending so much of their time with smartphones in-hand. >>

Internet

5 Tips for Researching a Small Business for Sale

If you hope to own your own business someday (or soon!), you can take any of several paths. The first option is to start your own, of course. And though it may sound appealing, this route entails a variety of challenges you'll have to address. The second choice is to buy an existing business. But if you decide you're more interested in doing that, you'll have to be prepared for all this option entails. >>