Shorten add-on product lists says HP physicist

E-commerce sites often display long lists of related items and recommendations aimed at encouraging add-on product purchases. Is this method particularly effective considering the short attention spans of online shoppers? New research from Hewlett Packard's Social Computer Lab suggests less is more. >>

Advertising

Internet ad growth forecasts revised down

'Tis the season to the jolly, yet ad forecasts are increasingly gloomy. WPP's GroupM has released online ad spending forecasts for next year and, perhaps unsurprisingly, they have been revised in a downwards direction. >>

Social Marketing

Online reviews usage peaks on Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday

Consumers turned to online reviews in large numbers in the run up to Black Friday, found Bazaarvoice, peaking during the evening of Thanksgiving Day and again on Cyber Monday. >>

Mobile Marketing

Greystripe launches flash ads for iPhone

Two new ad units from Greystripe could help mobile marketers targeting iPhone users. Greystripe, a mobile advertising network, has launched flash-based advertising units for the iPhone, giving marketers access to mobile rich media ad units. >>

Viral Marketing

Report: 1 in 10 youths watch television online

A recent report from Knowledge Networks indicates that online video is only increasing in scope and size, especially amongst the younger demographics. The report finds that just over 10% of consumers aged 18 - 34 watch television online weekly and that the group spends an additional hour every day with media. >>

E-commerce

Discounts pushed Cyber Monday buying

Ecommerce sales on Cyber Monday were pushed by discount offers according to a new report from comScore. According to the company, Cyber Monday turning into the second highest online shopping day ever, reaching nearly $850 million. Year over year, shopping increased 15% but money spent per shopper actually declined. >>

Advertising

LucidMedia to expand contextual display ad network

Online meta-network and contextual display ad platform LucidMedia is set to expand their contextual display advertising network after completing $8.8 million in funding. The funding will also include expanding their national sales team and opening offices on Madison Avenue. >>

Mobile Marketing

Britain's bankers banking on SMS marketing

More evidence has been released that mobile marketing is eliciting good response rates from recipients and increasing in popularity within the banking industry. In the U.K., mobile marketing agency Sponge researched British banks to discover how mobile marketing, particularly SMS messaging, was perceived and used and found almost a third believed it to be "essential" or "important". >>

Research

Consumers spend most of online time with content

Content is king online, according to the Online Publishers Association's Internet Activity Index. The OPA announced this week that almost half of consumers' online time in October was spent viewing content as opposed to communications, commerce, community or search. >>

Mobile Marketing

Social networking via mobile phone on the increase

Recent surveys have shown that most mobile phone users take their mobiles with them wherever they go. It's this portability and 'always on' technology that is prompting the increasing use of mobile for social networking. >>