Category

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
  • Partial screenshot from Social Media for Small Business Schools & Resources

    11 New Ecommerce Books for Spring 2021

    March 16, 2021 •

    Here’s a batch of new ecommerce books for your spring reading list. There are titles on branding, social media marketing, cross-border selling, podcasting, customer experience, transacting on Amazon and Shopify, and selling your business.

  • Screenshot of Heyday home page Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: March 15, 2021

    March 15, 2021 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-March from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on Amazon advertising, shipping rates, live-streaming, drone deliveries, fraud mitigation, and chatbots.

  • Image of a keyboard key that reads "accessibility" Code

    You Can’t Solve Accessibility with 1 Line of Code

    March 14, 2021 •

    Accessibility overlays are third-party web scripts that alter the user experience. Providers of overlays sometimes claim that installing their script will prevent lawsuits in the U.S. under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Let me be blunt: these products will not protect you from lawsuits or necessarily help visitors with accessibility needs.

  • Illustrations of a female from Multiavatar Design & Dev Tools

    20 Free Web Design Tools from Winter 2021

    March 8, 2021 •

    Free resources from the design community can add value to a website. Here is a list of new tools and design elements from winter 2021. There are website and page builders, icon libraries, pattern and color palette tools, free fonts, and a template marketplace. All of these tools are free, though some also offer premium versions.

  • Screenshot of Wix logo maker page Design & Dev Tools

    15 Easy-to-use Logo Makers

    March 2, 2021 •

    A logo represents your store, your company, and your mission. A good logo stands out and builds trust. Here is a list of logo makers and design tools. All of these are inexpensive and easy-to-use.

  • Partial screenshot from StoreBuilder by Nexcess page Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: March 1, 2021

    March 1, 2021 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for late February from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on live stream shopping, email marketing, managed hosting, and artificial intelligence-powered voice assistance.

  • Image of code on a computer screen Design & Development

    Even Small Companies Use AI, Machine Learning

    February 24, 2021 •

    Data, technology, and people are at hand to make artificial intelligence and machine learning available to all commerce companies. To be certain, artificial intelligence and its sub-field, machine learning, have gone through cycles of inflated expectations followed by disappointments.

  • Screenshot of Movie Maker 10 Design & Dev Tools

    13 Free Video Editors from Basic to Advanced

    February 16, 2021 •

    The right software can help create compelling product videos, clips, or ads to share on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or anywhere else. Many free video editors offer basic, easy-to-use features as well as advanced tools and effects for professional-quality. Here is a list of free video editors.

  • Home page of Shopify's Shop Pay Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: February 15, 2021

    February 15, 2021 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-February from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on headless commerce, payment options, live-video shopping, artificial intelligence, collaborative web development, and more.

  • Photo of a Shopify web developer on a skateboard Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: February 1, 2021

    February 1, 2021 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for late January from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on user experience tools, monetizing newsletters, promotional incentives, fulfillment, and hiring a developer.

  • Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: January 17, 2021

    January 17, 2021 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-January from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on delivery services, loyalty programs, social media management, payment solutions, and headless commerce.

  • Screenshot of Pomofocus Platforms & Apps

    15 Tools to Get Things Done

    January 11, 2021 •

    Here is a list of tools to help you get things done. There are to-do lists, work timers, and project management platforms. Several tools are based on the Getting Things Done system. Others are based on the Pomodoro Technique. Nearly all of these have free plans.

  • Screenshot of the Maler font web page Typography & Fonts

    19 New Free Commercial Fonts for 2021

    January 5, 2021 •

    Adding a new font to your ecommerce site can create a fresh and unique look. Here is a list of fonts released in the last year. All are free for commercial use, though several are from larger premium font families. Before using a font, be sure to verify its terms.

  • Mobile phone with virtual makeup on the screen Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: January 3, 2021

    January 3, 2021 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for late-December from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on augmented reality, fraud prevention, customizable product services,

  • Partial cover of "Skip the Line" book Schools & Resources

    14 New Business Books for 2021

    December 29, 2020 •

    Here is a list of new and upcoming business books for entrepreneurs, managers, and creative professionals. Learn how to sell your business, harness the power of your developers, adopt the principles of success at Amazon, alter your thinking to achieve quick mastery, and more.

  • Image of a smartphone screen with Shopify logo on it Platforms & Apps

    Charts: Shopify’s Share of Global Websites, Ecommerce Sales

    December 15, 2020 •

    Shopify launched in 2004 in Ottawa, Canada, when its founders were dissatisfied with existing platforms to sell their snowboarding gear.  Fast forward to 2020, and Shopify is a global brand. Total 2020 revenue will exceed $2 billion. Its common shares trade at roughly $1,000 each.

  • Image of two skateboarders from Sitecore's home page Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: December 15, 2020

    December 15, 2020 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-December from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on the return and dispute processes, fulfillment, personalization, contact center services, and merchant banking.

  • Screen caputure of Calmaria mobile home page Platforms & Apps

    13 Favorite Productivity Apps for 2020

    December 14, 2020 •

    Here are my favorite new mobile productivity apps in 2020. There are apps for secure browsing, team communication, email management, note-taking, task management, positive habits, event planning, relaxation breathing, and more. Most of the apps are free, though several also offer premium add-ons.

  • Image of a stack of books on a table Schools & Resources

    Our Favorite Books of 2020

    December 8, 2020 •

    We asked our contributors to tell us the best book they've read this year. Here are their responses.

  • Screen capture of Skaters font Design & Dev Tools

    20 Free Web Design Tools from Fall 2020

    December 7, 2020 •

    Free resources from the design community can add value to an ecommerce site. Here is a list of new web tools and design elements from fall 2020. There are designer and developer apps, coding resources, graphic tools, fonts, and more. All of these tools are free, though some also offer premium versions.

  • Image of a smartphone with a Squarespace group on the screen Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: December 1, 2020

    December 1, 2020 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for late-November from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on artificial intelligence, membership monetization, brand protection, international payments, and online returns.

  • Screenshot of Sendle.com home page Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: November 16, 2020

    November 16, 2020 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-November from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on product videos, social commerce, holiday promotions, live-streaming, logistics, shipping, and wearable payments.

  • Screenshot of Etsy page Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: November 2, 2020

    November 2, 2020 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for late October from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on social commerce, discounted shipping, holiday deals, live chat, analytics, and content creation.

  • 20 Free Tutorials to Learn WordPress Schools & Resources

    20 Free Tutorials to Learn WordPress

    October 27, 2020 •

    WordPress is a free content management system to power a simple blog, complex website, or online store. WordPress also supports an active development community that provides instructional tutorials for users at all levels. Here is a list of free tutorials to learn WordPress.

  • Ecommerce Product Releases - October 15, 2020 Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: October 15, 2020

    October 15, 2020 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-October from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on voice commerce, social commerce, customer-support texting, cybersecurity, on-demand fulfillment, and holiday shipping.

  • 8 Marketplaces for Themes, Templates, Plugins Platforms & Apps

    8 Marketplaces for Themes, Templates, Plugins

    October 12, 2020 •

    Themes, templates, and plugins can simplify the creation and customization of a website. Here is a list of marketplaces to access themes, templates, and plugins. Several of these marketplaces also offer other digital assets, such as graphics, fonts, and videos to create and customize a website.

  • Ecommerce Product Releases- October 1, 2020 Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: October 1, 2020

    October 1, 2020 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for late-September from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on social commerce, AI marketing, live streaming, personalization, conversational commerce, and installment payments.

  • Ecommerce Product Releases- September 15, 2020 Platforms & Apps

    Ecommerce Product Releases: September 15, 2020

    September 15, 2020 •

    Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-September from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on social commerce, cybersecurity, international payments, product personalization, holiday shipping, artificial intelligence, and automated delivery drones.

  • 13 New Ecommerce Books for Fall 2020 Schools & Resources

    13 New Ecommerce Books for Fall 2020

    September 15, 2020 •

    Here's a batch of new ecommerce books for your autumn reading list. There are titles on buying and selling a business, producing and fostering creative work, monetizing your podcast, live video marketing, Amazon, and the blockchain.

  • Is JAMstack Right for Your Ecommerce Business? Platforms & Apps

    Is JAMstack Right for Your Ecommerce Business?

    September 8, 2020 •

    Looming changes in ecommerce development could provide a short-term competitive advantage for some businesses. Many platforms give a business just about everything needed to build an ecommerce site. They are comprehensive and monolithic. But they are also restrictive, or so JAMstack proponents imply.

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