Just a few random thoughts from the day:

Apple

Looking forward to hearing more about the Apple Tablet (iSlate is the rumored name).  As the story goes, this will be a tablet computer that runs on a similar OS as the iPhone.  Anywhere from a 7″ to 10″ display.  This will be Apples answer to the Kindle and possible rival NetBooks.  Price range $1000.

I have a Kindle, which I really like. An Apple version with touch screen and color display that can act like a NetBook would be sweet.  $1000 price range is a little high.  Can’t wait to see it!

Online Holiday Sales hit $27 Billion

ComScore reported that online holiday sales (11/1/2009 thru 12/24/2009) were up 5% to 27 billion.  Tuesday, December 15 was the busiest day of the online season, with $913 million in sales.  Interesting stuff, below is the sales by week YoY for the last 6 years:

HubSpot

Attended a great webinar by HubSpot today on how business can use Facebook.  Here is a really cool tool that you can use to see your ranking on Facebook, Twitter and also your web site.  Give it a try!

eMarketer

In the category of “Come on now”, eMarketer today talked about how companies are worried about their brand reputation on social networking sites.  I get that.  Very important for companies to understand how customers are shaping their brand.  Now for the part that makes me go “Come on now”:

So, 344 companies answered the questions “How does your company minimize negative comments” about their brand on social media.  47% – Directly engaged with publisher/blogger to rectify issue or address negative experience.  That is GREAT!!!  Listen and engage your customer.

What is the world are the 14% of the respondence thinking that tried to get the negative content removed.  You have to be kidding me.  Are you stupid or what.  All that does is create a fire storm.  Worst – 30% do nothing – that’s right nothing.  Don’t you care what your customers think about your brand??

Oh my, my.

Chris Reighley is an eCommerce marketing professional, online consumer behavior expert and social marketing evangelist. He is currently working on a PhD in eCommerce for Northcentral University in Prescott Valley, Arizona.  Chris owned and operated many ecommerce retail stores in the music, golf and health & beauty categories.  Currently Chris is the Director of eCommerce at FillTek in Cincinnati, Ohio where he works with online retailers such as Hugo Boss, Tretorn, Tommy Hilfiger and Bluefly.