Armando Roggio

Articles by: Armando Roggio

Armando Roggio

Armando Roggio is the longtime senior contributor to Practical Ecommerce. He's a global ecommerce authority and a practicing merchant, developer, and journalist.

Since 2008 he's written over 1,300 articles for Practical Ecommerce addressing all matters of ecommerce and presented dozens of webinars.

His previous positions include director of ecommerce for a regional retail chain and marketing publications manager at Micron Technology, a publicly-traded computer-chip manufacturer. He holds a B.A. in English Writing and Journalism from The University of Pittsburgh.

Email Armando. Follow his ecommerce tweets at @ecommerceboy.

Shipping & Fulfillment
How to Price Shipping and Handling Fees

July 18, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Today's consumers expect free shipping for most items. But it's not always obvious for merchants to know when and how to offer it. Here's our all-new update for analyzing shipping costs and free delivery.
Email Marketing
Drive Email Engagement with Embedded Video

July 12, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Embedded videos in marketing emails can increase clicks by upwards of 300%. Here's our primer on dos, don'ts, and getting started.
Shipping & Fulfillment
How to Offer Free Shipping without Going Broke

July 11, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Online consumers expect free shipping. But small and mid-size merchants sometimes struggle with the cost. Here are innovative approaches to meet shopper expectations without losing money.
Payments
Does Ecommerce Need a New Payment System?

July 7, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Ecommerce payments in 2022 largely involve a Byzantine setup of intermediaries. Is now the time for a more efficient method of exchanging value?
Content Marketing
5 Content Marketing Topics for August 2022

July 5, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Focusing on events occurring on a certain day can inspire content marketing ideas. For August content, senior contributor Armando Roggio suggests focusing on the 22nd.
Design & Dev Tools
No-code Apps Are Everywhere

July 3, 2022 • Armando Roggio

No-code tools and platforms allow users without programming skills to create apps and workflows. Shopify, Squarespace, Webflow, BigCommerce, Wix — all offer no-code capabilities.
Business
5 Predictions for the 2022 Holiday Shopping Season

June 27, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Since 2013 senior contributor Armando Roggio has predicted ecommerce sales for the upcoming holiday season. His 2022 predictions consider inflation, which he believes could have multiple impacts.
Shipping & Fulfillment
7 Reasons to Consider USPS Flat Rate Shipping

June 22, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Merchants in North America have many carrier choices for delivering goods to customers. The U.S. Postal Service's flat-rate shipping boxes can save money in certain instances. We compare prices in this post.
Platforms & Apps
Dropbox Shop and Creator Ecommerce

June 21, 2022 • Armando Roggio

The creator economy is embracing ecommerce. Dropbox Shop is among the most recent examples of SaaS platforms jumping at the opportunity.
Customer Retention
Is Text Messaging the Next Commerce Channel?

June 16, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Gary Vaynerchuk's Wine Text is a pioneer in selling goods via text messaging. Other services have followed. Will consumers embrace text commerce?
Amazon & Marketplaces
Network Effects Drive Ecommerce Marketplace Growth

June 9, 2022 • Armando Roggio

The collective value buyers and sellers provide to a marketplace is known as the network effect. Longtime contributor Armando Roggio discusses.
Staffing
Feeling Stuck or Burned Out? Get a Fresh Start

June 6, 2022 • Armando Roggio

When work performance is down, a fresh start might be just the thing to spark a breakthrough. Take Major League Baseball, for example.
Content Marketing
5 Content Marketing Ideas for July 2022

June 1, 2022 • Armando Roggio

This installment of our long-running content ideas series suggests focusing on patriotic holidays, newsletters, culture, and more.
Content Marketing
How to Find Content Topics for SEO

May 30, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Content marketing can attract potential customers, especially if it ranks highly in organic search results. Here's a primer on selecting search-worthy topics.
Amazon & Marketplaces
Will Amazon Convert Shipping Expense into Profit?

May 26, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Amazon is on the brink of becoming the second-largest parcel delivery service in the U.S. Its shipping cost may become a profit center.
Influencers & Affiliates
Advertising Trends from Top DTC Brands in 2022

May 23, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Learn from leading direct-to-consumer brands how to engage shoppers at various stages of the buyer's journey in 2022.
Influencers & Affiliates
Podcast Advertising Basics for Ecommerce Brands

May 19, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Contextual podcast ads read by the host are a form of influencer marketing. They can drive demand for ecommerce products and even the brand itself.
Google Ads
Google Topics Resembles Contextual Advertising

May 12, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Google is testing a new privacy-defending ad-targeting feature called "Topics," which sounds like contextual advertising at scale.
Staffing
Employee Compensation Options, Near and Long-term

May 10, 2022 • Armando Roggio

A good employee compensation plan will provide near and long-term value to workers. The plan could have components that are guaranteed and performance-based.
Content Marketing
5 Content Marketing Ideas for June 2022

May 5, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Since 2014, we've published a monthly list of content ideas for ecommerce merchants. This June 2022 installment includes six-point list articles, 50th anniversaries, Flag Day, and more.
Content Marketing
Use Revue for Twitter Content Marketing

May 3, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Twitter's editorial newsletter service, Revue, is an opportunity for content marketers and creators to build email lists directly from their Twitter profiles.
Analytics & Data
Unsure about a New Project? Try a Pilot Program

April 26, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Launching a new product or feature is exciting but risky, especially if it requires capital. A well-structured pilot program can provide answers.
Analytics & Data
Do You Need a Business Intelligence Tool?

April 24, 2022 • Armando Roggio

In an age of massive data, a business intelligence tool can be a necessity for ecommerce merchants. Here's an example using QuickSight, Amazon's tool, with hypothetical Meta Ads data.
Design & Dev Tools
Ecommerce and Creator Tools Will Merge

April 21, 2022 • Armando Roggio

If engagement is central to broad economic growth, creators are a key financial driver. And that could give rise to a new generation of tools and services.
Marketing & Advertising
5-point Advertising Plan to Drive Performance

April 19, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Advertising is too expensive without first understanding a campaign's goals, channels, budget, and more. Here's our 5-point plan to get the most from your next campaign.
Business
Decision Frameworks Help (Fast-growing) Companies

April 13, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Unilateral decisions by a company founder or manager carry risks. A transparent process involving staff can lead to better outcomes. We explain.
Customer Retention
Text Commerce Is Upfront Permission to Sell

April 10, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Text commerce is the process of obtaining payment and shipping info from shoppers upfront as well as permission to send offers. The model can solve multiple hurdles for merchants.
Business
Inflation Could Harm DTC and Premium Brands

April 5, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Inflation typically helps brands with lower-priced and essential goods and hurts premium items. Amid a heightened inflation outlook, merchants should scrutinize their product mix and adjust as necessary.
Content Marketing
5 Content Marketing Ideas for May 2022

April 4, 2022 • Armando Roggio

The May 2022 installment of our long-running content ideas series suggests focusing on competitors, specialized reports, local content, product profiles, and "National Brother's Day."
Business
How to Use SUMIF, SUMIFS in Google Sheets

March 30, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Analyzing total site traffic by channel for a specific period can seem daunting. But Google Sheets SUMIF and SUMIFS functions make the process straightforward.