Design & Development
The nuts and bolts of an ecommerce site are design and development. We address design innovation and trends — including layouts, colors, photography, logos, video, and more. We explain the basics of code — HTML, CSS, JavaScript — as well as platforms, themes, plugins, open source, and related topics.
Code | Design & Dev Tools | Platforms & Apps | Schools & Resources | Typography & Fonts | User Experience-
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: May 17, 2020
May 17, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-May from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on online payments, loyalty programs, selling on Amazon, virtual reality, and more.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: May 4, 2020
May 4, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for early May from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on keyword research tools, bid optimization, product returns, video tools, payment platforms, Google Shopping, Etsy listings, and more.
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Design & Dev Tools
15 New Video Tools for Creating, Editing, Sharing
April 27, 2020 • Sig Ueland
For merchants who want to create, edit, and share videos, there are plenty of new innovative online tools for little or no expense. Here is a list of recently released tools from online video platforms and social media applications.
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Design & Development
Capture Gmail Messages in a Google Sheet
April 22, 2020 • Armando Roggio
With Google Apps Script, marketers can capture Gmail messages, parse them for relevant information, and add them row-by-row to a Google spreadsheet. This can be especially helpful for capturing leads or contacts.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: April 16, 2020
April 16, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-April from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on email marketing, automated product recommendations, social media toolkits, logistics, social commerce, and tracking the digital economy.
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Schools & Resources
13 Free SEO Courses, Beginner to Advanced
April 7, 2020 • Jill Kocher Brown
Being stuck at home due to Covid-19 is an excellent time to improve your search engine optimization skills. The following seven learning sites offer, collectively, 13 free SEO courses. Some include free certificates of completion to showcase your new skills on LinkedIn or elsewhere.
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Schools & Resources
11 New Ecommerce Books for Spring 2020
March 29, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Being stuck indoors is an opportunity to catch up on ecommerce reading! Here is a batch of new ecommerce books for spring. There are titles on digital marketing, brand development, artificial intelligence, affiliate marketing, startup financing, and podcasting.
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Design & Dev Tools
22 Free Web Design Tools from Winter 2020
March 23, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Resources from the design community can add value to your ecommerce site. Here is a list of new web tools and design elements from winter 2020. There are designer and developer apps, coding resources, color tools, fonts, and more. All of these tools are free, though some also offer premium versions.
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Platforms & Apps
17 Collaboration Tools for Remote Workers
March 16, 2020 • Sig Ueland
The recent surge in home-based workers due to the coronavirus has made it a necessity to use tools that allow workers to collaborate from afar. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools to facilitate remote work without feeling isolated. Here is a list of collaboration tools for remote workers.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: March 16, 2020
March 16, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-March from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on digital currencies, multichannel fulfillment, advertising, platform migration, email marketing, same-day delivery, and visual analytics.
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Design & Development
Brave, a Privacy-focused Web Browser, Attracts Techies
March 6, 2020 • Armando Roggio
Brave is a niche web browser popular with tech enthusiasts for its privacy, ad blocking, and unique crypto-currency-based advertising and rewards system.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: March 2, 2020
March 2, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for late February from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on digital marketing tools, artificial intelligence, video creation, cybersecurity, shipping, and customer service and returns.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: February 16, 2020
February 16, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-February from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on start-up financing, fulfillment tracking, multicultural segmentation, and multi-currencies for international sales.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: January 31, 2020
January 31, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for late-January from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on shipping, visual search, augmented reality in shopping, order management, and headless ecommerce applications.
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Typography & Fonts
16 New Free Commercial Fonts for 2020
January 27, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Adding a new font to your ecommerce site can create a fresh, unique look. A dramatic display font could grab attention. A cool script could set a mood. Here is a list of fonts released in the last year.
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Schools & Resources
15 Free Learning Resources for Ecommerce Merchants
January 20, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Looking to explore a new technology or learn from industry experts? Online educational resources can help you develop new skills for your business or career at little or no cost. Here is a list of online educational resources to explore in 2020.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: January 15, 2020
January 15, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-January from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on sponsored search ads, social networking tools, customer ...
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Schools & Resources
13 New Business Books for 2020
January 6, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of new and upcoming business books in 2020 for entrepreneurs, managers, and creative professionals. Learn how to make better decisions, protect your data, redefine or find peace with yourself, develop a side hustle, connect with a new generation of consumers, and more.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: January 2, 2020
January 2, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for late December from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on shipping, digital currencies, peer-to-peer payments, growth financing, chatbots, cybersecurity, and supply chain innovation.
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Platforms & Apps
Top 13 Mobile Productivity Apps of 2019
December 24, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Here are my favorite new mobile productivity apps of 2019. There are apps for image editing, secure browsing, graphic design, note-taking, task management, language translation, and more. Most of the apps are free, though several also offer premium add-ons.
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Platforms & Apps
Are Big Changes Coming to the Ecommerce Stack?
December 22, 2019 • Armando Roggio
Headless content management systems and site generators are driving a new content-centric web. The changes could be coming to ecommerce, at scale, very soon.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: December 15, 2019
December 15, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-December from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on shipping, repeat purchasing, marketing services, cross-border selling, live-stream video, and public relations tools.
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Schools & Resources
Reading List: Mario Kägo of Wild Fix Media
December 10, 2019 • PEC Staff
“Reading List” is an occasional series where we ask ecommerce professionals to name some of their favorite books and blogs and tell us why. For this installment, we corresponded with Mario Kägo. He is CEO of Wild Fix Media, an ecommerce consulting firm
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Design & Dev Tools
23 Free Web Design Tools from Fall 2019
December 9, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Free resources from the design community can add value to your ecommerce site. Here is a list of new web tools and design elements from fall 2019. There are designer and developer apps, coding resources, color tools, fonts, and more. All of these tools are free, though some also offer premium versions.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: December 2, 2019
December 2, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for late November from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on shipping, customer support, website builders, artificial intelligence, and shoppable videos.
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Schools & Resources
Ecommerce Design Trends for 2020
November 27, 2019 • Armando Roggio
Dark mode, accessibility, and simple layouts with plenty of white space may be among the most popular ecommerce design trends for 2020. Most of the more than 20 ecommerce professionals contacted for this article believed that 2020 held few significant design-specific trends.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: November 14, 2019
November 14, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-November from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on email marketing, holiday shipping, ecommerce returns, digital payments, live chat support, and ecommerce education for entrepreneurs.
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Schools & Resources
16 Beautiful, Free Content Sliders
November 11, 2019 • Sig Ueland
A content slider is a helpful tool in web design for highlighting images, delivering a message, and enticing a user with animated elements. Here is a list of content sliders to display images, video, or HTML content.
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Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: October 31, 2019
October 31, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of product releases and updates for late-October from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on voice-commerce, expense management, payments, small business loans, shipping, and returns.
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User Experience
Minimalist Design Can Increase Ecommerce Sales
October 21, 2019 • Pamela Hazelton
Minimalism can present products in a refreshing way and focus on key selling points. The result is more engagement and conversions. When considering a minimalist design, keep the following conversion pointers in mind.