business messages

The Role of Instagram in the Purchase Journey – and How Brands Can Start Managing This Key Channel More Effectively  These days, there are countless factors that influence a consumer’s behavior throughout the purchase journey. Social media is high on the list – especially as e-commerce continues to grow. Today, there are many different social…

If you’re a brand with brick-and-mortar locations, your in-store associates are one of your most valuable assets. These folks are experts on the ins and outs of your products and services. And they’re on the front line day in and day out – providing trusted advice, recommendations, and service to your customers. It’s critical to…

Remember when the only ways to get in touch with a brand were to call their toll-free number or visit a store? Those days are long gone. Today, more and more consumers turn to apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Messenger, and others to ask questions and get information. In fact, Meta research tells us…

Oftentimes, the word “eCommerce” conjures up images of a shopper browsing a website, adding an item (or items) to their cart, and then completing the checkout process. But the reality is, there are plenty of new, innovative ways of purchasing products online – including social commerce, conversational commerce, and augmented reality – just to name…

What’s Next for Conversational Commerce Ads – and Why it’s Worth Your Attention For centuries, businesses have leveraged the power of conversations to build trust and grow sales. For example, the most successful door-to-door salespeople became proficient at making quick connections with prospects – and then closing the deal. And the best in-store sales associates…

Consumer behavior is always evolving. But the events of the past couple years have accelerated that evolution. Of course, we’ve seen a large (and well-reported) shift in where consumers browse and buy products. According to eMarketer, retail eCommerce grew a staggering 32.4% in 2020. And by 2025, eCommerce is expected to account for nearly a…

One of the first topics covered in just about any introductory business class is the sales funnel and the stages within it. In other words, the steps a consumer goes through when making a purchase.  Though there are many variations of the sales funnel out there, a simple one (that’s relevant to B2C brands) might…

At this year’s Shoptalk, the topic of new channels was one that came up time and again. There were sessions focused on it, as well as conversations at networking events and the expo hall.  Clearly, it’s a topic that’s top of mind for brands and retailers. In fact, 75% of Shoptalk attendees said that new…

Walking into a brick-and-mortar store and speaking with a sales or customer service associate or picking up the phone and dialing an 800 number were once the primary ways consumers communicated with brands and got pre- and post-sale service. But that’s no longer the case. Today, consumers seek out service via a variety of different…