Hildick-Smith explained that a book purchase has three meaningful components: availability of the book, discovery by the reader, and conversion to purchase.

FORBES: The Trouble With Finding Books Online - And A Few Solutions

For example, with regard to prospect collection and purchase conversion, ISC achieved a whopping 153 percent of its goal in 2010.

FORBES: International Speedway Corporation Races Ahead With Integrated Marketing Management

Figure on spending a multiple of the purchase price for the conversion.

FORBES: Magazine Article

"Today's action preserves the commission's decision to protect consumers and prevents cable companies from either choosing to cut off signals of must-carry broadcast stations after the digital conversion, or requiring customers to purchase higher-priced packages with set-top boxes to receive the same analog channels in digital, " said Kevin Martin, chairman of the FCC, in a statement.

WSJ: Cable Must Air Broadcast Signals

So HMV's survival will depend to a great extent on the success of the conversion of its stores into centres for the purchase of electronic tablets and related kit, apps, and downloadable entertainment.

BBC: HMV: Two years to shape up

Sales are a function of three variables: store traffic volume, conversion rate (i.e. percentage of visitors who purchase), and average ticket.

FORBES: How Having the Right Sales Data Can Prevent Black Friday Blues

At the same time, eCommerce and mCommerce retailers are faced with just for starters, a low conversion rates (only 2.85% of eCommerce visitors make a purchase) and increased product assortment translates into an obstacle for relevant search results.

FORBES: Image Recognition Technology Goes Shopping

The conversion rate the company is seeing is a surprising 15% to 20% of users who come to purchase at least one item.

FORBES: Love With Food Seed Funded For Subscription Food Box