As we enter what some experts are calling the ‘Post-PC’ era, the sales of tablets are expected to overtake personal computers by 2015.
Forrester Research recently released a report which estimated that “annual tablet sales will increase to 375 million worldwide, with a total install base of 760 million by that same year”.
Are tablets really better than PC computers?
In a market overflowing with desktops, netbooks, ultrabooks and laptops of all shapes and sizes, it may seem odd that relatively inferior technology has gained such popularity – yet, it all comes down to one factor.
The ‘pick-up-and-play’ factor.
Anyone who owns a tablet today will know how simple they are to get to grips with; no fiddly mouse or complicated commands, just a simple tap or swipe and you have instant access to a multitude of apps and websites.
Another key factor is the pricing. Although Apple iPads command top dollar, there are a number of entry-level options on the Android and Blackberry platforms, appealing to the more money-conscious.
The rise in popularity of tablet computers is also likely down to a lack of ‘must-have’ features on desktops, outside of increased processing power; and with the increase of casual computer users that just want to surf the web, the portability that tablet’s offer is a major attraction.
Bob O’Donnell, program vice-president at IDC, commented on the state of the PC industry, saying: “While it’s tempting to blame the decline completely on the growth of media tablets, we believe other factors, including extended PC lifetimes and the lack of compelling new PC experiences, played equally significant roles.”
It all comes down to processing power V portabilty
Whilst tablets may be becoming consumer’s preferred choice for technology devices, it’s highly unlikely they will overtake desktop computers completely.
Digital and creative companies require heavy-duty, memory-hogging programs for their work, and this functionality simply cannot be recreated within a tablet.
Are tablets enjoying a honeymoon period because they are so simple to use and relatively futuristic, or do you think we will soon say goodbye to the majority of larger, clunkier (albeit more powerful) PC computers?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
HOW TO: Make the leap from offline to online advertising
April 27, 2012
And how often do you look through the yellow pages when looking?
Bet the internet wins, hands down, every time!
Many businesses are now harnessing the power of online marketing and its ability to reach a wider audience, but there’s no need for them to start from scratch on a new online marketing plan.
There are ways to merge your existing offline marketing strategies into online, with your offline efforts easily adapted for online too.
Here are a few examples to get you started;
1. Direct Mail – Marketing literature which your business currently sends to customers through the post or handed out via flyers can be swapped for email. Make sure you collect customers email addresses when they make purchases or express interest in a product, so you can ensure you build up a highly targeted mailing list.
People are also more likely to give out their email address than their home address, so gaining valuable consumer data for email marketing purposes will be easier than you think, especially if you offer them something for it, i.e. 5% off their next purchase.
2. Billboards and TV advertisements – For those bigger budget businesses that have existing billboard and TV advertisements, it is easy to transfer the content to create display ads, which offer a greater chance of being successful due to a more targeted audience, and also allows you to measure the effectiveness of your campaign, meaning you can just keep on improving it.
3. Yellow Pages – The Yellow Pages used to be huge, with pretty much every household owning one. This has now shifted to people using the internet and search engines to locate the business they are looking for.
Whether you chose to do paid search, or optimize your search advertising campaign (SEO), both these methods are much more beneficial in generating business than the yellow pages.
Can you even remember when you last used The Yellow Pages?
4. Comment Cards – These used to be the best way to get feedback on your products and services. However, the popularity and usefulness of comment cards have been taken over by online reviews.
There have been many studies which have shown the importance of online reviews on influencing consumer purchases.
So make sure your website has lots of positive online reviews by either adding a review section to your site, and/or rewarding those who leave feedback on other review websites. One way to encourage online reviews is to email your customers once they have bought something, asking them to review your website/product/service and as a thank you they will be entered into a prize draw to win something exciting!
5. Offline Coupons – Rather than having the expense of paying for coupons to be printed and distributed, online offers extend to a larger audience, but with much less cost.
Promoting your business through online offers can really get your name out there, and create a lot of ‘online noise’ around your company; social media is especially useful for generating buzz around special offers.
Will your business be making the transition into online marketing?
Or if it already has, what have you found most difficult with trying to align your offline efforts with online? We may have some suggestions to help you!