Each month we compile a list of the ten most popular articles we published that month, based on the number of page views. Here are our ten most popular articles for May 2014, recognizing that articles we published earlier in the month are more likely to make the list than later ones.
Panda 4.0 Algorithm Update Rocks Google Search Results
Google released two algorithm updates this week targeted at removing low quality sites from its search results. Payday Loans and Panda both received major updates, with upwards of seven percent of all U.S. search queries impacted. In general, thin content sites, aggregator sites, and sites targeting traditionally spammy segments of the search market were hit hardest by these two updates. Read Article…
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10 Tools to Create Social Media Graphics
With millions of images uploaded each day, social media is now a visual medium. Platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Flickr, and Vine make sharing photos and videos much easier than in the past. Because they convey emotion and add a human touch, images enable businesses to create a closer connection to their fans and followers, which can result in a higher conversion rate. Read Article…
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SEO Depends on Page Names
Something as simple as the name of a page has an incredible impact on the optimization of that page in organic search. Platforms use page name data in so many aspects of the site that it becomes either a boost or a burden for your site’s search engine optimization. Your site is built on an ecommerce platform, like Magneto, OpenCart, Demandware, and many others. Read Article…
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7 Must-have Email Marketing Features
Email marketing solutions should help an ecommerce marketer automate common messages or campaigns, service shoppers using mobile devices, deal with list maintenance, and more. Every email service provider (ESP) offers a basic set of features and functions, including the ability to send bulk email messages; some form of layout or template system; and rudimentary list management. Read Article…
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Pros and Cons of UPS SurePost, FedEx SmartPost
If you are looking to save money on shipping, start with a call to your UPS or FedEx representative. Speak with her about UPS SurePost or FedEx SmartPost. These are consolidated delivery services, which utilize the extensive logistics of UPS and FedEx, while relying on the U.S. Postal Service to provide final delivery to your customer. SurePost and SmartPost are available to businesses that ship at least 50 packages per week. Read Article…
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20 Free Tools to Manage your Reputation
Managing your online reputation is essential for establishing your brand and protecting your image. If you’re a small or medium-sized business, there are tools available to manage your reputation for little or no cost. Here is a list of free tools to manage your reputation. There are tools to monitor and manage conversations, as well as tools to promote brand identity. Read Article…
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SEO: Leverage Expert Authors for Ecommerce
Google is actively working on ways to decrease its reliance on links by its algorithms, including identifying and promoting content written by expert authors. While content sites are obvious beneficiaries of this algorithmic initiative, ecommerce sites can tap into it as well. Read Article…
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14 Sites for Free Stock Photos
An ecommerce merchant can add content and value to an online store by utilizing free stock photography. Here is a list of resources to find free stock photos for commercial use. There are stock photo search engines, huge image collections from stock photography sites, smaller curated collections from design sites, and some additional sources for free high quality photographs. Read Article…
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Google+ Shake Up Doesn’t Kill SEO Benefit
With last week’s departure of Vic Gundotra, Google’s senior vice president of social, rumors are swirling about the demise of Google+. What does this mean to search marketers who have been investing time into the social network? Gundotra was the man widely believed to be behind the creation of Google+. Read Article…
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Understanding Ecommerce Design Part 2: Banners and Boxes
In “Understanding Ecommerce Design, Part 1: Key Components,” I reviewed the difference between good and elaborate design, and the visual factors of an ecommerce sites that influence shoppers to buy products. The overall purpose of this series, as I noted in the first installment, is to focus on the steps to take once you’ve hired a company to design your ecommerce site. Read Article…