After the second world war ended, and people all over the world celebrated, it was not long before a new world threat came about – with even more catastrophic consequences than the world had ever seen before. The Cold War pitted the USA and the UK against Russia, with tension a divided Germany growing, at points it seemed inevitable that the world would end with both sides destroying each other with nuclear weapons. Of course, this led to bomb shelters being made all over the world, to protect people from the results of a nuclear explosion. Continue reading Lifting the lid on Britain’s Cold War Bunkers
The most remote travel destinations in the world
For some, the term ‘getting away from it all’ means going somewhere that feels seriously remote. From the Gobi Desert to the Scottish Highlands, read on for our essential round up of the most exciting and most beautiful remote travel locations on Earth.
Petit St. Vincent, Caribbean islands
If being remote means being somewhere where anyone can’t just turn up, then this private island is the place for you. Located between Saint Vincent and Saint George, this island is quite literally, a paradise on Earth. This island boasts just 22 cottages and can only be reached by boat. There are no televisions, no mobile phones and no keys, just serenity all around.
Scottish Highlands
Remote and yet tantalisingly close, some parts of the Scottish Highlands feel as far from your everyday life as you can imagine . If you head to Loch Hourne in the northwest Scottish Highlands, you’ll feel amazed that you can be so near to the rest of the western world and yet feel so far away from it. Scotland’s self-dubbed ‘wildest guest house’, Skiara, sits on the banks of this Loch, and guests can enjoy back to basics living with no mobile phone signal and no electricity.
Gobi Desert Mongolia
Some parts of Mongolia take so long to reach, that they feel almost otherworldly. As the fourth most sparsely populated country in the world, it’s easy to feel like you’ve escaped from it all. Much of the Gobi is inhospitable, but around the edges there are plenty of opportunities to stay in traditional Mongolian yurts that quite literally take you back in time. Some yurt companies offer both remoteness and luxury service in one. Mongolia may be an almost unheard of travel destination, but it’s earned a mention by travel experts, LostWaldo.
Grand Canyon
Despite being in of one of the world’s most heavily populated western countries, the Grand Canyon still feels like one of the most isolated places on Earth. Just a couple of hours’ drive from Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon retains an almost eerie atmosphere. For a bit of luxury in the remoteness, you can stay at the Amangiri resort at the base of a mountain with the same name, where you’ll enjoy undisturbed views of the panorama, whilst also relaxing with spa treatments and excellent service.
How Online Commerce Has Boosted the Courier Industry
The consumer landscape has changed dramatically over the last few years. Whereas once it was the face to face transaction which was the most common, now it is online commerce which very much rules the roost. This is particularly true of the retail industry, which has seen the majority of high street retailers now operating online concerns alongside their more traditional avenues of trading. Online trading in the business to business sector is now also extremely popular.
A Winning Situation for Courier Firms
One of the main industries to benefit from this explosion in online shopping activity is the courier industry. It is a simple equation really. The more trading which occurs online, the greater the number of parcels to be delivered. It is a winning situation for the nation’s many courier firms. As recently reported by TechWeekEurope UK, the rise in popularity of smartphone shopping has pushed online sales even higher. The online boom has also seen former entertainment retail giant HMV announce in Retail Week its return to the digital shopping arena, just two years after its well publicised trading troubles.
Before the true dominance of the online market fully took hold, most of the courier industry was concerned with the business to business sector. Now however, the domestic side of the courier industry is one of the fastest-growing businesses in the country, experiencing huge levels of growth in the past couple of years. As a result in this change in emphasis, many courier and express delivery firms have adapted the services they offer in order to better serve their domestic customers.
A Change in Emphasis
One such change is the increase in next day and same day delivery services. The online revolution has influenced the speed at which we live our lives and consumers now expect their goods to be delivered promptly and without delay. This has seen many couriers become far more specific with their delivery estimates, moving away from 24-hour and 48-hour slots and focusing more on actual time-specific windows. These changes can only mean good news for consumers, with courier firms raising their service levels to remain competitive in a thriving market.
One of the other sectors within the parcel industry which has benefited enormously from the online retail phenomenon is that which deals with packaging machines and supplies. The demand for the likes of strapping machines and pallet wrapping machines is only likely to get bigger as the online boom continues.
With digital technology continuing to become more advanced, allowing people to access online services from wherever they may be, digital commerce is sure to continue to grow in strength. Indeed, it is difficult to see any other outcome. Manchester web design agency Bamboo Solutions offer an array of website designs in all shapes and sizes, so if you’re business is thinking of venturing into the online world why not give them a call.
If the product is not the best, can the customer be the difference?
What is most important when you want to conquer the market? On this point there are several theories. Some think that a good product could not be sold if it had behind an enormous marketing effort, however good it may be. Some also argued that marketing can not work miracles if there is a good product to sell.
The truth is that without a good product is difficult to get ranked among the best in the market. Consider, for example, in Apple products. What is it that made Apple were to become the brand it is today, after so many years that their products had become a sort of pariah in the world of new technologies? They re-signing Steve Jobs and this led the company on the path to create an innovative and disruptive product. And yes, they managed to create a whole story behind the product that made this call her our attention.
And once it is clear that a brand should always try to get have the best product segment, you have to take a reality: not always a product – much effort devoted to it – is the best of its market. What can be done then to make a difference? How to get the customer is genuinely happy with the service or product and prefer – even – on which in theory are superior? The answer may lie in how they treat the customer. The customer service can make the difference for a company when your product is not the best. Continue reading If the product is not the best, can the customer be the difference?
Super Bowl and social networks: The phenomenon of “real-time” marketing
As every year, on Sunday the United States experienced one of its most multitudinous events. The 48th Super Bowl, held in New Jersey, attracted the attention of millions of Americans who massively took to the screens to follow the pulse of the party that played the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos.
In parallel to the vicissitudes of the meeting, another equally massive phenomenon repeated itself : the brands looking to seduce the huge audience that brings the event (just over 108 million viewers in its 2013 edition). For years, the Super Bowl has become a decisive stage for large US companies: it is time to premiere trade under the watchful eyes of millions of people who can define the fate of their marks for the next 365 days. The interest aroused ads is such that according to a recent study by Lab42, 39% of viewers are more interested in publicity than the game itself (percentage climbs to 42% for women). Continue reading Super Bowl and social networks: The phenomenon of “real-time” marketing
What are customers of marketing and advertising agencies expect?
Marketing agencies and advertising must be an integral part of the business, as customers consider. A well-oiled Swiss Army knife, although their functions sometimes can escape directly related to marketing and advertising.
As recorded by the study published by Domus and Harris Interactive, customers expect their agency is able to solve problems ranging from understanding your business goals (98%) and be perfectly aligned with them (90%) to provide solutions that they go beyond advertising and marketing themselves (60%), and even plantearles recommendations and ideas about new products or lines of business to increase profits (55%). Continue reading What are customers of marketing and advertising agencies expect?
Boost Your Business Prospects with a Professional Website
In this digital age it is absolutely essential for every business, big or small, to have a website. Consumers are wired in to the notion of researching their potential purchase options before making any buying decisions. If you do not have an internet presence where they can find your company, you are not giving yourself the best chance of competing in the marketplace and risk missing out on potential sales. Fortunately, getting a good website in place is easier than you might think.
Form and Functionality
The first decision to make is what you need your website to do. It will be the first port of call for many of your potential clients, so it needs to offer a clear outline of the services you provide. Other information about your company’s ethos and history, management team and any significant projects or clients can be included.
If you use your website to allow customers to shop online for your products, it is also essential to ensure it is easy to navigate and offers a secure encrypted paying platform. Whilst most businesses are aware of the need for a website, a recent Online survey found that up to 80% of micro-business websites are simply not fit for purpose. Your website must allow you to regularly and easily update the content as well as have the functionality for tasks such as uploading photos, managing a blog and plugging into a social media feed.
Consider too the impression that you want to create. Lots of bright colours and a busy template will give your website a quirky feel, whereas more neutral shades and a cleaner layout look more professional.
Spread the Word
Once your website is established, you need to attract traffic to it. Using SEO keywords in your web content is a good way to ensure that your company appears near the top of any internet searches a potential client may make for your products or services. But to really spread the word, make use of social media and raise awareness of your brand. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr allow smaller companies global potential client reach and mean that they can compete for market share with much bigger firms. Creating a discussion about your company on social media is an effective way to get your name known, allowing instant interaction with potential clients and helping to establish good relationships with customers. Varying the content with a mixture of blogs, photos and news releases on diverse social media platforms allows you to reach the largest possible target market.
Go Pro or Go Home
Enlisting the services of a company such as Hemel Hempstead web designers 24-7website.co.uk, makes the process simple and effective. Professional website design companies will be able to create a site that looks great but that also offers you the right functionality for your requirements. Unlike a free DIY site, you will not have to have any intrusive adverts for other products, and they can take care of all the hosting and maintenance too.
A good website that attracts plenty of traffic is an invaluable addition to your marketing strategy, extending your reach and generating additional income.
The major challenges and key to foster a brand community
A brand community is an effective way to retain customers that allows to know them better and identify their interests and needs tool. These communities can also act as a meeting point between the company and its customers, which bridge the gap and strengthen the link.
To do this, the mark must raise a oriented strategy to reach their customers, plantearles the opportunity to become part of its exclusive community and exceed expectations. Thus a community of living and active brand, where all parties feel integrated and enjoy contributing be created.
Before jumping to propose actions, should stop to assess the degree of knowledge of the target audience and how to present the initiative and how the membership of the community can meet your needs. In this regard, the type design profiles, known as “persons” may contribute to the study of the client and the approach of an effective strategy. Continue reading The major challenges and key to foster a brand community
Things that we know the social media – Banishing 10 great myths
Talk about Social Media is synonymous with business success? Easy access to social networks and unlimited number of tools, platforms and existing functionality, open the doors to a “new” world where the influence is measured relative to the ability to access our target audience and give them exactly what they are looking for, and distinguish ourselves from our competition.
Sounds easy right ?, But it is not, be in social networks is necessary and demanding. Continue reading Things that we know the social media – Banishing 10 great myths
Consumers are still reluctant to buy from their mobile
Mobile traffic increases, but not the percentage of sales recorded through these devices. Undeniably it admits that mobile commerce advances, although still a very slow pace.
According to the study by ShopVisible, during the first half of the year, more than a third of those registered by the remnants visits came from these intelligent terminals, both smartphones and tablets; however, these visits resulted in sales at a lower percentage than expected. Continue reading Consumers are still reluctant to buy from their mobile