E-Readers not a Christmas must-have
There is a lot of debate at the moment about how the print media industry will evolve to meet the challenges of fast, free online content. Newspaper circulation is on the wane, and many people get most of their news and commentary from free online sites like BBC News.
One of the suggested solutions is the E-reader – which would combine the usability and convenience of a newspaper with the constant updates of online news. Books, magazines, and newspapers could all be read on a single device (There is a great demo of how this will look for Sports Illustrated here.)
However, the idea does not appear to have captured the public’s imagination. A YouGov poll for The Bookseller found that only 11% of respondents would consider purchasing an e-reader for a friend or family member as a Christmas present. E-readers fell behind all other listed gifts including a digital camera, digital photo frame and games console. Even when asked what they would like to receive as a Christmas present just 14% of respondents said they would prefer an e-reader.
The main reason for such a lack of enthusiasm appears simple: they cost too much. Of those surveyed, 56% were only prepared to pay less than £150 for an e-reader, with just 9% prepared to spend more than £200. The mean expected cost was £110.50. However, consumers could be left disappointed with Sony e-readers priced between £139 and £249 and the Amazon Kindle around £156.
Android versus iPhone: Brand Fight Goes Global
The Independent are reporting that Motorola are launching their new handset the Droid in the UK on December 7th. The model runs on Google’s Android Operating System, and has won over a number of iPhone fans in the US.
YouGov’s BrandIndex has been the primary tool for tracking the impact that the Droid’s release – especially US Carrier Verizon’s combative iDont ads. We have been delighted that BrandIndex’s scientific brand-measuring data is finally getting the publicity we believe it deserves. AppleInsider, Cell Phone News 2.0, eWeek, and numerous other tech news sites (as far afield as China) have been quick to understand the implication of the BrandIndex figures.
Personal Interaction and Regular Brand Contact Breed Trust in Banks
This article first appeared in City AM.
Last week saw the launch of NatWest’s personal banking iPhone app, in line with the banking sector’s efforts to cut costs and improve user experience by moving their operations online.
Recent YouGov research undertaken on behalf of Deloitte points to the risks in an online strategy: customers place high value on face-to-face interactions in their bank’s branches. The issue of trust – perhaps unsurprisingly given the popular perception of bankers – is paramount.
Personal interaction seems fundamental to trusting your bank. Fifty-three per cent of respondents said they would only place their savings in a bank with branches they could visit, and 65 per cent would only take out a mortgage after speaking with someone face-to-face.
This has already translated into changes in the market: 21 per cent of respondents say they have switched bank in the last two years due to their dissatisfaction with the way they have been treated.
This represents an opportunity for banks looking to increase their market share: 66 per cent of respondents have their current account where they believe they receive the best level of service, compared with 30 per cent who place their current accounts where they earn the highest interest.
We get interesting validation of those conclusions from the BrandIndex data shown in the chart. The first bar shows the proportion of satisfied customers, the second shows the proportion which would recommend the brand to others.
Online only bank, Egg, does worst, while the three with brands most closely associated with people’s everyday lives and with the most touch-points – the supermarket banks of Sainsbury’s, Tesco and M&S – do best.
In the middle are the high street banks Barclays, NatWest and HSBC. Note how the “recommend” scores follow the pattern, allowing for an interesting lowering effect within the sub-sector of supermarket banks.
Innovation from Africa to Europe: Mobile Banking
Africa’s under-developed banking and communications infrastructure has encouraged tremendous growth in the role of mobile telephony. There are perhaps as many as a billion people who lack a bank account but own a mobile phone. We usually think of European, American, or Asian technological innovations being exported to Africa, however, in this case the process has been reversed.
Recent YouGov research for Natwest revealed that 25% of customers are interested in mobile money transfers between banks, 25% would like to receive fraud alerts on their mobile, and 24% would like to be able to pay a cheque in without having to visit the bank.
Natwest have launched a mobile banking iPhone app to tap into this growing UK market.
About
-
Recent Comments
PoliticsHome GreenBox- AA warns Darling to halt petrol duty hike, prices to soar March 15, 2010
- Parties war over Unite funding of the Labour party March 15, 2010
- YouGov/Sun: Con 37% (0), Lab 32% (-1), Lib Dem 21% (+4) March 15, 2010
- Tomorrow's front pages as they come in March 15, 2010
- PM special adviser Michael Dugher selected for Barnsley East March 15, 2010
- Cooper warns unemployment set to continue rising March 15, 2010
- Macrory: Daily Express/Opinium: Cons 39 (+2) Lab 28 (-2) LD 16 (-) March 15, 2010
- ICM/Guardian: Conservatives 40% (+3), Labour 31% (+1), Lib Dems 20% (n/c). March 15, 2010
- European Commission: Britain needs to do more to cut deficit March 15, 2010
- Conservatives preparing to outline cuts after budget - BBC March 15, 2010
