Page 125 – Practical Ecommerce

Category

B2B
8 Innovative B2B Ecommerce Sites

September 27, 2016 • Lori McDonald

B2B ecommerce sites are typically more complicated, with more features, than B2C. In this article, I will address eight innovative B2B ecommerce sites. My company has no business relationship with these ...
Marketing & Advertising
5 Interesting Uses of Customer Data for Ecommerce Marketing

September 26, 2016 • Armando Roggio

Each time a retailer interacts with a customer there is an opportunity to learn a little more about that customer and how to better serve him. There is an opportunity ...
Content Marketing
13 Innovative Content Marketing Hubs from Brands

September 26, 2016 • Sig Ueland

A content marketing hub is a website or blog where a brand publishes shareable content — articles, images, videos. It is a destination where the brand’s followers find a steady ...
Technical SEO
Google Penguin Now Part of Core Search Algorithm

September 24, 2016 • Bill Hartzer

Google just announced that its Penguin algorithm is now a part of its core algorithm, updated in real time. Google last updated Penguin a few years ago. Updating Penguin continuously will likely affect many businesses. Recall that Google Penguin monitors ...
SEO
SEO: Google’s Algorithm Hasn’t Changed, or Has It?

September 23, 2016 • Jill Kocher Brown

September has been a big month for unofficial Google algorithm changes. Business owners are seeing significant movement in both Google’s core search results and “local pack” search results, though Google ...
Schools & Resources
Glossary of Web Development Roles

September 22, 2016 • Eric Davis

Web development teams are typically complex and filled with a variety of people. It is often difficult for outsiders to understand who does what. Many roles in a development team are ...
Customer Retention
Using Supporting Content to Build Loyal Customers, Authority

September 22, 2016 • Pamela Hazelton

The ideal customer — one who makes regular purchases over time — wants more than just good prices and an attractive return policy. The ideal customer wants a positive experience ...
Marketing & Advertising
2016 Holiday Marketing Checklist for Online Retailers

September 21, 2016 • Armando Roggio

The 2016 Christmas shopping season will begin in earnest in just the next month. Now is the time to make certain that you have your ecommerce marketing plan ready. While there ...
Amazon & Marketplaces
The Anatomy of an Amazon Legal Dispute

September 21, 2016 • John Di Giacomo

I represent a number of sellers who utilize Amazon’s various services to increase their ecommerce sales. Though I often advise clients against relying on Amazon as their sole source of fulfillment or ...
Business > Merchant Voice
Whom do I work for?

September 20, 2016 • Richard Stubbings

One of the attractions to being an independent online retailer is to be your own boss. You supposedly answer to no one and set your own hours. But the reality ...
Email & Text Marketing
5 Email Pre-header Tips that Boost Open Rates

September 20, 2016 • Carolyn Nye

The sender name and subject line are primary drivers of email open rates. Almost as important — if not more important — is the pre-header, the text that appears just ...
Schools & Resources
11 New Ecommerce Books for Fall 2016

September 19, 2016 • Sig Ueland

It’s time to look at the new ecommerce books for fall 2016. There are titles on the entrepreneurial life, innovative financing, creative marketing, customer relationships, content marketing, mobile commerce, and ...
Content Marketing
YouTube’s 3H Strategy Can Fuel Your Content Marketing

September 18, 2016 • Armando Roggio

In a 100-page whitepaper, YouTube has suggested dividing content marketing into three complementary types to help your business attract, engage, and retain an audience of potential customers. Google released “The YouTube ...
Keyword Research
SEO: Google Limits Keyword Data to Advertisers Only

September 16, 2016 • Jill Kocher Brown

Keywords and topics are central to contextual relevance, a primary ranking factor for search engines. In the wake of the changes to Google’s Keyword Planner, the natural search industry’s go-to ...
Business > Merchant Voice
How I maximize my holiday promotions

September 15, 2016 • Elizabeth Hollingsworth

The critical holiday selling season is almost here. Here are five items that I’m focusing on to get the most of my holiday marketing activities. Offer coupons for additional info. Offer ...
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: September 15, 2016

September 15, 2016 • 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 shopping domains, digital coupons, graphics and ad ...
Social Media
How to Set Up a Twitter Card for Your Ecommerce Site

September 14, 2016 • Armando Roggio

With a bit of data, online retailers can improve the way products are shared on Twitter, defining a specific image and description to be displayed and improving tracking with Twitter ...
Local Business
3 Phases to Engaging (and Retaining) Local Prospects

September 14, 2016 • Bill Hartzer

You’ve created a website for your business. You’ve set up your social media profiles, and you’ve even set up all your local business listings, such as your Google My Business ...
Amazon & Marketplaces
Amazon Juggernaut Rolls; Third-party Sellers Benefit

September 13, 2016 • Marcia Kaplan

Amazon’s 2016 second-quarter financial statements for the period ending June 30 showed robust growth, extending its profitability to a fifth straight quarter after years of spotty results. Revenue was $30.4 billion compared ...
Content Marketing
5 Content Marketing Ideas for October 2016

September 13, 2016 • Armando Roggio

In October 2016, content marketers have plenty of opportunities to engage customers and potential customers by publishing articles or releasing videos about Halloween, the upcoming Christmas season, Breast Cancer Awareness ...
Social Media
12 New Social Media Tools for Merchants

September 12, 2016 • Sig Ueland

Established social media platforms continually launch new tools to help businesses connect with prospects and customers. Here is a list of new and updated social media tools for merchants. There are ...
Technical SEO
SEO: Simplifying Navigation Cuts Performance

September 9, 2016 • Jill Kocher Brown

The trend toward simplicity in web design is affecting navigation. The impact on search engine optimization of navigation changes can be staggering. Navigation isn’t just a way for shoppers to navigate.
Conversion
Google Analytics: Track Individual Behavior in New ‘User Explorer’ Report

September 8, 2016 • Brad Booth

In April 2016, Google Analytics launched a new report called “User Explorer.” It allows you to see individual user behavior and interactions with your website. Each interaction is in order ...
Marketing & Advertising
How to Find Your Ecommerce Subscription Niche

September 7, 2016 • Armando Roggio

Subscription ecommerce is booming. There are thousands of “box” merchants selling everything from beard oil to brioche — weekly, monthly, and quarterly. Finding a distinct segment in the ecommerce subscription ...
Customer Retention
Customer Accounts Can Boost Conversions

September 6, 2016 • Pamela Hazelton

Merchants often argue that customer accounts should be optional. And they should be. But there are good reasons for encouraging shoppers to create accounts and, done right, this practice can ...
Code
Understanding 4 Database Types, for Ecommerce

September 5, 2016 • Eric Davis

As I wrote in “How Databases Work with Ecommerce Applications,” you’re likely using a database for your ecommerce store even if you don’t know it. Ecommerce sites typically use databases for: Transaction tracking; Product ...
Design & Dev Tools
10 DIY Website Builders for Small Businesses

September 4, 2016 • Sig Ueland

Do-it-yourself website builders can help small businesses get online quickly and affordably using customizable templates and drag-and-drop design tools. Businesses can create simple landing pages, blogs, and even basic online ...
On-page SEO
SEO: Google’s Mobile Update to Impact Interstitials, Pop-ups

September 2, 2016 • Jill Kocher Brown

Google will update its mobile-friendly search algorithm in January 2017 to make smartphone content visibility a ranking signal. Sites that display “intrusive interstitials” — pop-up boxes, mainly — that impact ...
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: Sept. 2, 2016

September 2, 2016 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of ecommerce-related product releases and updates for late August — from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on cross-platform selling, robotic fulfillment,
User Experience
Understanding ARIA, for Web Accessibility

September 1, 2016 • Joseph C. Dolson

If you research web accessibility, you’re likely to run into ARIA — Accessible Rich Internet Applications. Some will call it the solution to all web accessibility issues. Others will condemn ...