SmartPhones Revolutionizing Shopping Trends

    Do you have a teenager in your life that can help you keep up with modern technology? Every time I think I am on top of the newest trends, I find out by talking to my 16 year old niece and 29 year old son, It changed again...
     As a company, Watson & Taylor has always been on the front lines in Internet marketing and presentation. On our printed marketing pieces, we have been using QR codes to direct SmartPhone users to our web sites for payments, directions and of course to make reservations.

 

While stopping to grab a bite to eat for lunch, my son sent me text of  a QR code that gave the

nutritional information for the menu item.

      With the popularity of the SmartPhone continually on the rise various retailers are using the technology to enhance their brands and products. Even the printed newspapers are using them to direct their readers to more photo's and information on articles. The city of Mission TX has installed signs in neighborhoods that have QR codes on them, that will take you to a site, that has criminal activity that has occurred in that particular area in the last 30 days.

     This last Christmas season, the new technology played a large role in consumers purchasing habits. About 25% of customers used their cellphones to check on line reviews of the product while they were in the store. Another 25% checked out the competitions prices while shopping. The amazing numbers is that 37% of those shoppers decided not to make a purchase and almost 20% took their business elsewhere.

     As I continue to monitor Google analytics, the number of SmartPhones searching web pages continue to grow. This is the reason we have introduced a mobile site for Watson and Taylor, making it easier for our tenants with SmartPhones to surf and use our site on the Go.

     If you aren't using this technology along with social media, Internet marketing... You are just beginning to lose the race. If you are interested in a Self Storage Facility Tune Up.... contact us at;

 214-389-3939.

Bait the hook with your Branding

    As I sat on a conference call Friday, concerning our company's website SEO, the AAHHHAAA bell went off. We were analyzing some of the Google analytics along with the various search terms used in connection to people visiting our site. The entire Internet marketing team was on the call, and our optimizer made a statement that we had always assumed, but was just confirmed by the data. The importance of Brand Recognition.
    He stated that our brand was the most used search term used to visit our www.watsontaylorselfstorage.com web page. It even outnumbered the search for self storage. Further proof of Brand importance was when we analyzed our third party properties and found they were searched and connected through our brand over their individual property names. The customer remembers the brand and returns to it time after time. Most consumers are loyal to brands based on service, and reliability. How many products do you choose by brand recognition?
     As you plan marketing campaigns, keep your branding and logos uniform. It is an important decision that has impact on your marketing and SEO. It is always necessary to keep your look and web page updated and fresh looking, but keep your customer in mind when altering your brand. depending on the demographic and age range you are trying to appeal to will help determine these factors.
     As we dug deeper into our Google analytics we found that nearly 8% of our home page landings were coming from strategic partners in the industry where we had a link embedded in their web page that referred people to our site.
     When designing your brand, remember it is more than your logo. It is your philosophy of doing business along with ideas, colors and thoughts that relate to your target demographic. Branding is a continual project that is implemented through your marketing. Keep it fresh and up to date to maintain their attention.

Smile ...It is Contagious

     This week I have been sitting in Mission TX as we close on a storage facility. I am actively searching for a new manager for the facility that we will be purchasing. As it is a new market to us, I am paying attention to everyone else's personnel as I visit various businesses around town. You never know where you may find that next Super Star. I have eaten this week in several chains as well as the independent proprietors. I have been extremely surprised that the personnel that has delivered the best service so far have been at the hole in the wall restaurants. Two of these establishments, Marco's Burgers and Tamales Y Mas, had two of the friendliest counter help I have experienced in the Valley. The thing that I noticed right off is that both of these people greeted me with a warm friendly hello and a big smile as I walked through the door. When each of them learned that we were first time visitors to their establishment, they took the extra time to welcome us and explain their simple menus, even making suggestions to their favorite items on the menu.
     The thing that made me feel welcome was the smile on their face. They actually looked happy to be at work and enjoyed what they were doing. Although neither of these facilities had professional trainers teaching their wait staff how to greet customers that the large franchises have, these two individuals have learned that their smiles and the fact that to treat customers the way they want to be treated, fills their tip jars.
     I have visited several large chains from P.F Chang's to Cheddars. I have been disappointed in the customer service received in all of these locations except P.F Chang's.  And that was purely due to the only waitress in the whole restaurant, who besides the floor manager filling in for lack luster wait staff, was the only one to smile as she approached each and every table.  Our waitress Loretta, was a spark of sunshine in the middle of a dark night. What was interesting, was I had asked various staff during our visit how the tips were; the answer from most was OK... the answer from our waitress was Great. It had to be the wonderful smile and positive attitude as she approached the tables that was the difference.
    One of my mantra's have been "Smile... It is contagious." When interviewing, the first thing that I look for is whether the interviewee walks in with a smile and can maintain it during the interview. I will be the first to admit, I have hired someone with less experience, due to their smile and attitude.
    So my advice is Keep Smiling....