Research group IMRG Capgemini cited online sales figures rose by 15.7% in July compared with the previous month achieving total sales of £4.2bn. Clothing led the increased figures whereas the poor summer may be responsible for the slower demand in other product sectors as outside events were cancelled.

One element highlighted in the article is the conversion rate, basically the amount of sales to visitors on a website. Statistics indicate that one in 15 visitors bought items indicating that online merchants are marketing their sites and products more effectively. This reflects more sophisticated marketing strategies being used more effectively like email marketing.

To read the full article visit BBC News website.

Microsoft’s Bing search engine will power the Yahoo website and Yahoo will in turn become the advertising sales team for Microsoft’s online offering. Yahoo has been struggling to make profits in recent years. But last year it rebuffed several takeover bids from Microsoft in an attempt to go it alone.

Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer said the 10-year deal would provide Microsoft’s Bing search engine with the necessary scale to compete. 

“Through this agreement with Yahoo, we will create more innovation in search, better value for advertisers, and real consumer choice in a market currently dominated by a single company,” said Mr Ballmer.

In return for ceding control of its search engine, Yahoo will get to keep 88% of the revenue from all search ad sales on its site for the first five years of the deal, and have the right to sell adverts on some Microsoft sites.

Yahoo’s search team, meanwhile, will have to brace itself for job losses over the next two years. Some staff will transfer to Microsoft, others can stay on with Yahoo, but redundancies would be unavoidable, Yahoo chief executive Carol Bartz told the BBC.

To read more of this article visit the BBC news website…….

The survey indicated that those questioned considered people without broadband would be at a disadvantage as they would not be able to access services like online shopping, banking and public services.

Access to services like (BBC) iPlayer and Skype were considered among areas of interest more so than the actual speed of connection. There appeared to be a general view that most people could afford broadband but that it might be useful for government to help provide support perhaps for low earners or where there was difficulty in obtaining a broadband service.

For details of the full article see the BBC site.

New Business Live, the business event held in January at the Nottingham Arena saw Purpose Media exhibiting for the first time following our company’s launch in the New Year.

New Business Live was supported by many local companies and IT companies were particularly well represented. We would just like to say thank you to the event organisers as well as the many clients and associates who visited our stand to wish us well.

On the 16th March 2009 we will be exhibiting again, this time at the Chamber of Commerce event taking place at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham entitled Showcase Market & Sell.  Feedback from our own clients who attended the Derby event which took place in February have recommended the seminars to us. Anyone who missed us recently at the Nottingham Arena will get another opportunity this month, so feel free to come and say hello! and find out what’s new with websites and online marketing.

To find out more about the event and to register visit the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce website.

Showcase Market & Sell is one in a series of events being held around the region and delivered by :-

• Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber
• Leicestershire Chamber
• Lincolnshire Chamber
• Northamptonshire Chamber

Purpose Media (UK) Ltd are pleased to announce that we are going to be exhibiting at the East Midlands Conference Centre and supporting the ‘Showcase Market & Sell’ initiative. As new members of the Chamber ourselves it will be an ideal opportunity for us to say hello to fellow Chamber members and let everyone know about our great website services.

Showcase Market & Sell will be Purpose Media’s second exhibition since the company launched in January. We look forward to meeting anyone who has an interest in growing their business online. So if you have a bright idea or want to upgrade your existing website come over and see what Purpose Media can do for you. We look forward to seeing you on the 16th March.