Sig Ueland

Articles by: Sig Ueland

Sig Ueland

Sig Ueland is a longtime contributor to Practical Ecommerce, having written weekly ecommerce resource lists since 2011 — addressing tools, products, and services to help merchants.

He is also a seasoned freelance journalist and screenwriter.

Sig holds an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television and a B.A. in English from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is an alumnus of The Second City Conservatory in Chicago.

Contact Sig via email or LinkedIn.

Business
24 Streaming Sites for Movies, TV, Sports, News, More

December 13, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Even online merchants need a little distraction. And with the plethora of online streaming services available these days, it's easier than ever to access exceptional entertainment. Here is a list of streaming sites for movies and TV series.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: November 30, 2021

November 30, 2021 • 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 live-stream shopping, holiday shipping, drone deliveries, direct-to-consumer marketing, buy-now pay-later services, cloud training, and sustainable ecommerce.
Social Media
11 New Social Networks for 2022

November 29, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of new and emerging social networks to explore in 2022. There are networks for developing professional relationships, messaging in real-time, sharing experiences in audio, and exploring augmented reality. Several of these networks offer ad-free environments with enhanced privacy.
Local Business
22 Top Local Business Directories

November 22, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Claiming your company's profile on local business directories is an easy way to increase awareness, offer info on your products and services, create opportunities for positive reviews, and improve your search rankings. Best of all, the listings are free. Here is a list of local directory sites.
Customer Retention
11 A/B Testing Tools to Optimize Conversions

November 17, 2021 • Sig Ueland

A/B testing, the process of exposing randomized visitors to one or more variables, is among the most effective strategies to optimize user experiences and conversion rates. Here is a list of A/B testing tools.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: November 15, 2021

November 15, 2021 • 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 shoppable video, B2B fulfillment, social commerce, shopper protection, and shipping enhancements.
Platforms & Apps
13 One-Page WordPress Themes for Startups, Products, More

November 8, 2021 • Sig Ueland

A one-page WordPress theme can launch a business, product, or even a promotion. Modern single-page design utilizes stylish minimalism to keep visitors focused, while leaving room for bells and whistles. Here is a list of one-page commercial WordPress themes.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: November 1, 2021

November 1, 2021 • 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 fraud protection, product protection, international commerce, social commerce, local selling, cybersecurity training, and more.
Code
11 Free Websites to Learn Code in 2022

October 31, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Learning code has never been easier. Many free resources can help a beginner master a programming language or build a new web project. For online merchants, a better understanding of code means less reliance on third-party developers. Here is a list of resources to learn code in 2022.
Business
13 Examples of Sustainable Ecommerce

October 18, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of sustainable ecommerce sites, for inspiration. These sites create change through environmental, economic, and social action and awareness.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: October 17, 2021

October 17, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-October from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on email marketing, digital payments, subscription tools, social commerce, Amazon integration, WooCommerce, and live video shopping.
Customer Service
13 WordPress Plugins for Customer Support

October 11, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Offering support throughout your shoppers’ purchase experience is a good way to ensure their return. If you have a WordPress site, there are a variety of customer-support plugins to help. Here is a list of plugins for customer support on WordPress.
Social Media
6 TikTok Tools for Shopping

October 4, 2021 • Sig Ueland

TikTok is the latest social media platform to focus on ecommerce. TikTok unveiled its shopping platform at its inaugural World event, with new tools to help brands and merchants sell to TikTok's users. The release is a culmination of recent efforts to integrate shopping into TikTok.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: October 3, 2021

October 3, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of product releases and updates for late September from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on augmented reality tools, conversational commerce, social commerce, small business financing, fraud protection, and buy-now, pay-later.
Design & Dev Tools
17 Useful UX and UI Design Tools

September 28, 2021 • Sig Ueland

User experience and user interface tools can help with every stage of website and mobile-app design — from early whiteboard brainstorming to testing your prototype with end-users. Here is a list of useful UX and UI design tools.
Schools & Resources
12 New Ecommerce Books for Fall 2021

September 20, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here’s a batch of new ecommerce books for your fall reading list. There are titles on branding, social media marketing, personalized customer experience, entrepreneurship, and the post-pandemic workplace. I compiled this list using Amazon. From Amazon’s “Books” category, I selected “Business & Money.” From there I chose the “Processes & Infrastructure” sub-category and selected “E-commerce.”
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: September 16, 2021

September 16, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-September from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on team productivity tools, small business financing, subscription sales, logistics, and managing campaigns on Amazon.
Social Media
21 New Social Media Tools for Merchants in 2021

September 12, 2021 • Sig Ueland

New and updated social media tools can enhance an ecommerce business. Here is a list of new social media tools and platform updates in 2021. There are tools for shopping, influencer marketing, live streaming, payments, dynamic advertising, and more.
Design & Dev Tools
20 Free Color Design Tools and Tutorials

September 7, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Choosing colors is among the most important design decisions for a logo, brand, or website. People decide whether to buy a product or service mainly by what they see. Fortunately, there are free tools to help pick the right colors for your business. Here is a list of tools and tutorials on color design.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: August 31, 2021

August 31, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of product releases and updates for late August from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on social commerce, cybersecurity, global tax management, omnichannel advertising, and buy now, pay later.
Design & Dev Tools
20 Free Web Design Tools from Summer 2021

August 30, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of new web tools and design elements that can enhance an ecommerce site. There are page builders, design collaboration tools, gradient generators, video apps, coding tools, fonts, and more. All are free, though some also offer premium versions as well.
SEO
23 Search Engine Alternatives to Google

August 23, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Google Search dominates global search with a market share of approximately 90%. However, alternative search engines offer many benefits, such as enhanced privacy, niche content and users, and new growth areas. Here is a list of alternative search engines.
Content Marketing
15 Tools to Protect Content from Theft, Plagiarism

August 17, 2021 • Sig Ueland

If you publish original content on the web, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered pirates stealing and reposting your text, images, or video. Here is a list of tools to help protect and defend your original content.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: August 15, 2021

August 15, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of product releases and updates from mid-August from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on branded mobile apps, headless commerce, small business grants, purchase protection, acquisitions of Amazon sellers, and buy-now-pay-later purchasing.
Payments
15 Mobile Payment Systems for Merchants

August 10, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Mobile payment systems provide flexibility to consumers and merchants while unifying online and offline operations. Here is a list of mobile payment services for merchants. There are point-of-sale systems, digital wallets, mobile hardware, software for mobile and web applications, and more.
Shipping & Fulfillment
17 Sustainable Packaging Providers

August 3, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Recycled cardboard, cornstarch peanuts, containers made from mushrooms or seaweed, minimal reusable mailers — there are plenty of sustainable packaging options to limit your business’s carbon footprint and drive eco-friendly customer loyalty. Here is a list of sustainable packaging providers.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: August 2, 2021

August 2, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of product releases and updates for late July from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on customer chat, cross-border selling, live-streaming, social commerce, design tools, and local selling.
Analytics & Data
15 Analytics Plugins for WordPress

July 26, 2021 • Sig Ueland

With the right analytics plugin, a WordPress merchant can track prospects and customers, get advanced stats to improve site performance, and fix what’s broken. Here is a list of analytics plugins for WordPress.
SEO Tools
16 Tools to Manage Your Reputation

July 20, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Reputation management is essential for any brand. Your company's future may depend on what’s been said about it in posts, comments, reviews, and rankings. Fortunately, there are affordable tools to help. Here is a list of tools to manage your brand’s reputation.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: July 15, 2021

July 15, 2021 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-July from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on live-streaming marketplaces, payment services, social commerce, headless commerce, customer experience, multichannel fulfillment, and holiday marketing.