Businesses have so many different ways to communicate with consumers, thanks in part to new technology. But that means that some of the more traditional methods of promotion, such as direct mail, may not be quite as widely used. So just how much has the direct mail industry changed over the last couple of years? And how do consumers feel about direct mail compared do other forms of promotion?
BLOG ARCHIVE: ALL POSTS FOR August 2014
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Kids’ Meals Survey: Consumers Split Over Proposed LegislationThe New York City Council recently introduced legislation that would ban fast food restaurants from offering toys in kids’ meals if the food includes more than 500 calories and more than 600 milligrams of sodium. Kids’ meals at fast food restaurants have included toys for years, and it’s provided an incentive for kids to buy these meals. So what do consumers think about the proposed legislation? |
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Recycling Survey: More Than Half Recycle OftenThe environment continues to be a huge concern for many Americans. Recycling has been one easy way that anyone can people can help reduce their carbon footprints. But not everyone takes advantage of that opportunity. So just how prevalent is recycling in America today? And is there anything that can be done to increase those numbers? |
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Menu Variety Survey: Diners More Concerned With Food QualitySome restaurants are rethinking their menu strategies. For years, restaurants aimed to have as many options as possible for diners. But now that thought process is changing, as restaurants are aiming to cut down a bit on the variety of options in favor of focusing on fewer items of higher quality. So what do diners think about each of these two philosophies? |
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App Downloads Survey: People Download More Apps Than They UseRecent studies have shown that while app usage is still holding strong, app downloads aren’t thriving like some would think. More people are spending most of their time using just one or two apps, instead of continually downloading new ones. So just how many apps do people have on their phones? And how does that number compare with how many they actually use regularly. |
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Vine Survey: More People Use Other Mobile Video AppsMobile video app Vine was recently updated to allow users to upload videos onto the platform. Previously, users could only record video directly onto the app, which could potentially impact quality. Vine has been around for a couple of years now. So just how much has Vine grown over the past year? And what do users think about the quality of the videos? |
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Dating Apps Survey: Most Users Have Also Tried Online DatingOnline dating has been steadily growing in popularity for years, but now a new player is emerging – mobile dating apps. Though still not to the level of sites like Match.com, dating apps have become fairly common, particularly for young people. So how many people have used dating apps? And how do those users compare to regular online dating users? |
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Ice Bucket Challenge Survey: Social Media Campaigns Considered EffectiveA new trend is emerging across a number of social media channels. People are dumping buckets of ice water over their heads to raise money and awareness for ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gherig’s Disease. Some have criticized the relevance and effectiveness of the Ice Bucket Challenge. But the ALS Association has already raised millions of dollars more in the past couple of months than it has in previous years. So what do people think about the Ice Bucket Challenge? And how many have participated so far? |
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Shark Week Survey: Online Viewership IncreasingDiscovery Channel’s annual Shark Week took place last week. The special week of programming usually seems to draw a lot of attention, both in terms of viewers and buzz. How many people watched Shark Week this year compared with previous years? And how many added to the overall buzz that normally surrounds this event? |
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Mobile Payments Survey: Majority Think Payment Method Will Grow SignificantlyAmazon recently announced plans to offer its own mobile payments service similar to others like Square. Amazon Local Register will charge a small fee to local businesses in exchange for the ability to accept credit card payments using mobile devices. So just how prominent is the current mobile payments market? And do consumers think this method will grow in the next few years? |
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Facebook Games Survey: Game Popularity Holding SteadyFacebook unveiled some new rules for games this week. Facebook games, which have gained massive popularity in recent years, must now reveal any in-app charges and won’t be able to give players bonuses or points for “liking” the game’s page. So just how popular are Facebook games? And have users increased over the past year? |
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Fast Food Survey: Most Customers Choose Fast Food for ConvenienceFast food has been a big part of American culture for years. But as people become more health conscious, has the fast food business changed at all? Some claim to have healthy options, but how do customers feel about those options? And how often do they generally patronize fast food restaurants? |
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Unsubscribe Button Survey: New Gmail Addition Could Impact Email MarketingGmail just added a new unsubscribe button toward the top of emails from commercial lists. Email newsletters have been popular for years. But plenty of people have had to deal with commercial emails they never even signed up to receive. So making it easier for users to unsubscribe could be seen as a plus. But it could definitely impact the reach of companies that rely on email marketing. How much do consumers think the new unsubscribe button will impact email marketing? |
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Digital Coupons Survey: Paper Coupons Still Most PopularTechnology has changed the way people shop. So naturally it has also changed the way people save money. Digital coupons, such as online coupon codes or even mobile coupons, have become much more popular in recent years. How many people have taken advantage of digital coupons? And how many are likely to do so in the future? |
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Passwords Survey: Majority Have Experienced Online Security IncidentsThere have been several security incidents lately regarding websites and the passwords people use to log into them. As a result, some people and tech companies have been trying to come up with alternatives. One even suggested the possibility of using photos as passwords. What do people think about the security of their online passwords? And how would they feel about enacting an alternative solution? |
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Online Reviews Survey: Few Have Left Negative Business ReviewsA New York hotel has enacted a policy that fines large parties for any negative reviews the business receives online. Online reviews have become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly on sites like Yelp. And consumers tend to trust the reviews left by their fellow customers. So just how influential can these reviews be? And how prominent are negative reviews? |
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Back to School Shopping Survey: More Shopping Online for SuppliesIt’s that time of year – families and students of all ages are preparing to go back to school. And that means it’s time for back to school shopping. Commercials and other ads are already announcing a variety of sales and new items. But how many have already started their back to school shopping for the year? |
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Walmart Survey: Customers Slowly Leaving Big Box StoreWalmart’s stock was recently downgraded to a neutral rating due to falling sales. While the retail giant isn’t exactly in danger of going out of business, some people have been reportedly been abandoning big box stores like Walmart for years in favor of online and specialty retailers. So just how much is the retail giant’s clientele changing? |
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Tablet Market Survey: Sales and Interest Continue to GrowTablet sales are slowing, according to a report from Best Buy. In general, the tablet market has been booming in recent years, with plenty of new models becoming available and sales increasing for various devices. But could the popularity of tablets be slowing down now? How many people currently own tablets and how many more plan to buy them in the future? |
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Bolt Survey: Users Already Have Plenty of Ways to Send MediaInstagram has just released a new photo and video sharing app called Bolt. The app is intended to rival Snapchat by offering the ability to send media to contacts who will be able to view it once before it’s deleted. So how many people already use apps like Snapchat? And is there room for one more player in the marketplace? |