Mistakes That Kill

My Renewed Affinity for Miva Merchant

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:05:18 +0000

MIVA, Inc. nearly ran the Miva Merchant shopping cart right into the ground. The new owners are like a breath of fresh air.

Source Code Theft is Not Harmless

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:38:17 +0000

In a quest to save time and money, it's not uncommon for online store owners to follow the suit of many personal site authors - find a layout section you like on another site, and click Edit... View Source, followed by Edit... Select All, and Edit... Copy. While it may seem like a harmless little trick, this type of theft can get you caught in quite a stink.

Lack of Payment Methods = Lost Sales

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:20:17 +0000

You may find reconciling the books simpler, or think saving on transaction and discount fees makes you financially smarter, but if you're not targeting online shoppers by allowing them to pay with a method of their choice, you're losing sales. They may be minimal, then again, they could lead to tremendous growth.

Use CAPTCHA Effectively for Product Specs & More

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:06:38 +0000

With the ever-growing need to provide product-hyping data sheets and other downloadable features, store owners are recognizing ways to save on bandwidth and further protect copyrighted works from not being crawled by search engines. But at what point is it too cumbersome on the shopper, thus costing you sales?

Fact vs Hype: You’d Better Be Sure

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:55:13 +0000

Detailed product descriptions and key feature listings are essential for any online store. They help sell the product and give online stores a leg up on competitors. But just how accurate are your product descriptions? Are you leaving the door open for an unnecessary lawsuit?

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Part VIII

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:34:48 +0000

For too many years I allowed a friend/employee to manipulate me on several fronts - from forgiving multiple infractions in the company to lending money I did not have. When Sue quit, leaving the entire New York office crippled, I had to find a way to pick up the pieces and move on. It was a shaky drive on an unstable road - clients have stayed, and some have gone - but I survived.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Part VII

Pamela Hazelton — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:35:03 +0000

The decision is made. In just two weeks I'll be in New York to let Sue go.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Part VI

Pamela Hazelton — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:11:33 +0000

Tragedy hits her family, but it's still a business. I seek outside help to reach final decisions.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Part V

Pamela Hazelton — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:18:56 +0000

She was my right-hand in business, and my best friend. When we spend too long denying what's right in front of us, it makes it all the more difficult to separate the business from the pleasure.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Part IV

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:15:51 +0000

When employees know you are easily manipulated, just how far will they go? She was in another state, and I finally realized I had no clue what was going on.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Part III

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:19:45 +0000

Your employee is your best friend, and your entire family loves her to death. The only problem is, you've got a business to run. For some reason, you refuse to give up hope.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Part II

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:09:42 +0000

When you've forged a beautiful friendship with someone who works for you, at what point do you realize the separation of business and personal? It's a fine line, and if you're not careful, you'll never give it due attention.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Part I

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:01:49 +0000

Every business owner needs to ask the question: Are the people I’ve surrounded myself with the best fit for my company? For nearly eight years, I certainly thought I had, until I delved into the books and correspondence and found out my own business was on the brink of disaster. You’re reading Part One of a [...]

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Preface

Pamela Hazelton — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:50:13 +0000

I'm back from a two-month haitus, armed with new mistakes from which you can learn. My only regret is that they are my own mistakes, and they nearly cost me the business.

Hosting Issues: Would you have to rebuild? A Must Read…

Pamela Hazelton — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:05:20 +0000

Every once in a while I've got to put aside all the niceties and be a professional you-know-what. I don't like it, and issues with service providers should never have to come to blows. If you're running an online anything, and you have a host, you can learn from my own client's alleged mistake.

Mistake #23: Ignorance of Technology

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 08:00:57 +0000

With the big guys building and offering once exclusively online apps to run offline, it makes me wonder about the future of the online store.

Picking up the pieces - a job for any owner…

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:06:19 +0000

While I'm not much of a gambler, I'm going to bet that a good portion of small business owners aren't privy to the methods used by their employees. Fortunately, there are tools you can put in place should the need arise. Ignoring possibilities is a dire mistake.

Today, I write this column with great sadness. My employee (who also happens to be a great friend) lost her husband last evening. I knew the guy enough to know that his humorous takes on just about anything will keep many laughing for years. He leaves behind a 13-year-old daughter--a beautiful young lady who's astoundingly athletic, mature and totally lovable to boot.

There’s no such thing as “free”…

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:56:55 +0000

Small businesses often face a financial dilemma - we need tools to do the job, but the budget doesn't leave room for much acquisition. More often than not, however, it's the not budget that causes the problem. Commonly its the decision maker.

I Learn - Even from the TSA

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:10:27 +0000

On a recent trip to Upstate New York, the best available flight tossed me through JFK in New York City as a layover. I was fearful having to take a puddle-jumper, even though for just a short time, to Albany. Despite weather conditions leaving me in JFK for more than six hours, it was the TSA supervisor at the city's airport security that really got the best of me.

Google’s New Map Features Gives Me Hope

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:46:08 +0000

When you're considered a leader in ecommerce services and search engines and Web services, it's easy to force-feed users. For some time Google has known this, and I've worked with many struggling online store owners trying to get around issues with Google Checkout and find affordable means of using AdWords. But perhaps the company's latest Map offering gives us hope...

When Patience is a Downfall…

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:47:36 +0000

If your car broke down on the highway, would you leave it there for weeks? If it was 12 below zero and the central heating in the home stopped working, would you just shiver in pain for weeks? So, I wonder, why do so many online stores stand in waiting for hosts to fix legitimately urgent issues?

When cool becomes cumbersome…

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:40:47 +0000

I like flashy web features as much as the next Internet-surfing junkie. I'm virtually married to the Web - it's where I rent my movies, play my games and order my natural teas. I'm often in shock, though, about how many online stores incorporate "cool" features that don't cater to their target audience.

Paying for Our Own Mistakes

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 21:39:56 +0000

As I write this, my arm hurts, my back hurts, my shin is black and blue... My back, neck and right hip? They all hurt. Sometimes I'm just oblivious to my surroundings...

Put Customers at Ease by Customizing Error Pages

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:43:10 +0000

The dreaded "Page Not Found" error is only the most common error. I never understood why many of the big dogs ignore the fact that you can customize content for many server/site errors, instead leaving us reading a screen filled with gibberish about their databases being offline.

Custom error page content is essential to every online store and web site.

Don’t Sweat the Inbox…

Pamela Hazelton — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:32:59 +0000

We often find something in them that pertains to us, and leads us to make better decisions. No matter the business, our habits can make or break our prosperity, and it couldn't be more true for the operations of an online store.

When we’re hungry for success…

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 23 May 2007 18:51:59 +0000

"If you can allow yourself to trust those little movements round your gut that tell you when something is interesting or exciting, they will tell you where to go."

- John Cleese

Keep the Engines Clean

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 16 May 2007 15:02:57 +0000

I love my dog. She's the most adorable red beagle. Her name's Luna and she's my pride and joy. And though I spend many of my waking moments with her (and she sleeps under the covers at night), I must have been so busy I didn't realize that her nails needed a serious trim. I discovered this as she whimpered when one of her nails got caught in her collar and just wouldn't let go.

Mass Mailing Delays? Don’t always blame the host…

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 09 May 2007 22:54:22 +0000

When it comes to scheduling opt-in emailings to your customers, planning is key. Times and days are dependent on several factors, and are just as important as content. For many stores, though, the ideal times aren't always ideal for the server.

Slacker Is as Slacker Does…

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 02 May 2007 22:53:18 +0000

"Whenever I am tempted to slack up and let the business run for a while on its own impetus, I picture my competitor sitting at a desk in his opposition house, thinking and thinking with the most devilish intensity and clearness, and I ask myself what I can do to prepare for his next brilliant move."

- H. Gordon Selfridge

Take Time for Yourself…

Pamela Hazelton — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:52:07 +0000

When I got into this business, I worked long hours. Nearly every waking moment was spent in front of a computer screen. With little time to cook, I was fortunate there was a local restaurant that delivered. They got to know me well.