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Business > Merchant Voice
‘Organizational debt’ is hurting my company

May 27, 2020 • Peter Keller

FringeSport has been experiencing growing pains. I recently became aware of the idea of "technical debt" and realized that we have "organizational debt." I then Googled organizational debt and realized that I'm not the first person to have thought of it.
B2B
B2B Ecommerce That Doesn’t Break the Bank

May 26, 2020 • Lori McDonald

Covid-19 is forcing a dilemma on many B2B merchants. They realize a robust ecommerce presence is critical to long-term viability. But they are understandably hesitant to spend money amidst the pandemic on meaningful digital upgrades. It doesn't have to be one or the other, however.
Schools & Resources
14 YouTube Channels to Grow an Ecommerce Business

May 26, 2020 • Sig Ueland

Ecommerce merchants can get plenty of free help on YouTube — from step-by-step software tutorials to strategies from entrepreneurs. Here is a list of YouTube channels for ecommerce merchants.
Business
Better Fathers, Husbands, Leaders Drive ‘Order of Man’ Founder

May 25, 2020 • Eric Bandholz

In March 2015 Ryan Michler owned a successful financial planning company. His clients were medical professionals. He earned a comfortable living. "I was making great money, but I felt like something was missing. I thought there were opportunities to help men. And that's when I started." What he started was Order of Man.
Analytics & Data
Using Filters in Google Analytics

May 24, 2020 • Morgan Jones

Accurate data is essential for decision-making. Google Analytics can provide that data, but it may need a bit of sanitizing. Filters in Google Analytics can remove data impurities. In this post, I'll introduce Google Analytics filters.
Social Media
Facebook Shops Are an Ecommerce Game Changer

May 22, 2020 • Armando Roggio

When the world's largest social media network decides to become an ecommerce platform, you can bet it will impact the industry and make a difference long-term. On May 19, 2020, Facebook added ecommerce Shops to Facebook business pages and Instagram business profiles.
Technical SEO
SEO How-to, Part 2: Understanding Search Engines

May 21, 2020 • Jill Kocher Brown

Nearly half of shoppers turn to Google before deciding what to buy and where to buy it. Understanding how Google and other search engines work can help you choose which optimization strategies to apply. This post is the second installment in my "SEO How-to" series.
Business
Building Community with a Remote Team

May 21, 2020 • Armando Roggio

A remote workforce has always had its advantages, such as access to a large pool of top-notch talent. But the coronavirus pandemic has forced many companies accustomed to physical offices to start working remotely.
Payments
Primer on Merchant Accounts, Part 2: Providers, ISOs, How to Choose

May 20, 2020 • Mike Eckler

The digital payments industry is notoriously confusing. This post is the final installment of a 2-part series on merchant accounts, which are required for all businesses that accept credit cards. "Part 1" described the purpose of such accounts.
Customer Retention
Building Trust during the Pandemic Drives Long-term Loyalty

May 20, 2020 • Pamela Hazelton

As most U.S. states start to reopen, it's easy to consider ditching temporary coronavirus policies. Instead, online businesses should focus on retaining customers and addressing concerns. Consider the following pointers.
Schools & Resources
Reading List: Adriana Iordan of 2Checkout

May 19, 2020 • PEC Staff

“Reading List” is an occasional series where we ask ecommerce professionals to name some of their favorite books and blogs and tell us why. For this installment, we corresponded with Adriana Iordan. She is vice president of product management and growth services at 2Checkout.
Email & Text Marketing
The Best Time to Send a Marketing Email

May 18, 2020 • Carolyn Nye

I'm often asked about the best time to send a marketing email. The answer depends on several factors. In this post, I'll address how to determine the best send times for your email program.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: May 17, 2020

May 17, 2020 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-May from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on online payments, loyalty programs, selling on Amazon, virtual reality, and more.
Business
Will New Ecommerce Sellers Squeeze Existing Merchants?

May 15, 2020 • Armando Roggio

The coronavirus pandemic has forced some brick-and-mortar businesses to focus on ecommerce, but this shift in focus is not likely to stop many permanent closures. There is a parallel between the virus and its economic impact: Patients and businesses that are already in poor health are much more likely to die from the infection.
Content Marketing
SEO, Content, and Email Work Better Combined

May 14, 2020 • Armando Roggio

Search engine optimization, content marketing, and email marketing can work together to create a virtuous cycle attracting customers to your ecommerce store, encouraging them to engage with your brand, and bringing them back for purchase after purchase.
Local Business
Bankruptcies, Layoffs Deplete the Retail Industry

May 14, 2020 • Marcia Kaplan

At the beginning of 2020 several brick-and-mortar chain retailers were struggling, trying to restructure debt or find new lenders while dealing with plummeting revenues. The Covid-19 pandemic has closed stores and effectively made those efforts pointless.
SEO
SEO How-to, Part 1: Why Use It?

May 13, 2020 • Jill Kocher Brown

This post begins a weekly primer in SEO, with the goal of addressing all foundational aspects. In the end, you’ll be able to practice SEO more confidently and converse with others regarding important SEO challenges and opportunities.
Payments
Primer on Merchant Accounts, Part 1: Roles and Functions

May 12, 2020 • Mike Eckler

The payments industry is difficult to understand, even for practitioners. My 3-part series on credit card processing hopefully demystified the jargon, pricing models, and fees. This post will explain merchant accounts.
Link Building
Yes, Toxic Backlinks Can Still Harm Search Rankings

May 12, 2020 • Armando Roggio

When a website links to your online store, that site is indicating it finds your content valuable enough to share with its own audience. Google and other search engines recognize this vote of confidence, which may boost your site's ranking. For this reason, many search engine optimizers covet backlinks.
Amazon & Marketplaces
Side Project for Amazon Sellers Attracts 250,000 Customers, 150 Employees

May 11, 2020 • Eric Bandholz

Five years ago Greg Mercer developed a spreadsheet to estimate how well products on Amazon were selling. He launched it as a "fun, side project." That project is now Jungle Scout, with roughly 250,000 worldwide customers and 150 employees.
Shipping & Fulfillment
The Good News and Bad News for Ecommerce Shipping

May 10, 2020 • Armando Roggio

Ecommerce sales are up and shipping carriers such as USPS, UPS, and FedEx have responded admirably to demand in the face of numerous coronavirus-induced shutdowns and restrictions. That is the good news for ecommerce sellers. Unfortunately, supply chains have suffered. That’s the bad news.
Analytics & Data
How to Pace Monthly Ad Spend

May 8, 2020 • Anna Kayfitz

Choosing marketing channels is only the first step in digital advertising. Equally important is assigning a budget and then managing the spend based on performance. In this post, I'll provide a framework.
Google Ads
Don’t Drop Google Shopping Ads Despite the Free Listings

May 7, 2020 • Matthew Umbro

In a surprise, Google announced on April 21 that a portion of listings on the Google Shopping tab would be free. Google had required sellers to create a Merchant Center account and run Shopping Ads through Google Ads. Henceforth, sellers with Shopping listings will still need a Merchant Center account but not Google Ads.
Amazon & Marketplaces
Amid Covid-19, Amazon’s Q1 2020 Earnings Confirm Ecommerce Dominance

May 7, 2020 • Marcia Kaplan

On April 30 Amazon announced its 2020 first-quarter results. As anticipated, its total earnings for the three months ended March 31 were exceptionally strong — about $33 million an hour in sales.
Product Pages
Write for 5th Graders to Drive Conversions

May 5, 2020 • Pamela Hazelton

Ecommerce content is more than sales pitches and technical info. Shoppers who cannot understand your communication will not convert. To grab their attention, write at a fifth-grade reading level.
Conversion
Pandemic Alters Retail Return Policies

May 4, 2020 • Armando Roggio

The coronavirus pandemic has forced retailers large and small to make significant, temporary changes to their return practices. Since March, retailers have handled returns in two ways, generally.
Platforms & Apps
Ecommerce Product Releases: May 4, 2020

May 4, 2020 • Sig Ueland

Here is a list of product releases and updates for early May from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on keyword research tools, bid optimization, product returns, video tools, payment platforms, Google Shopping, Etsy listings, and more.
Content Marketing
5 Content Marketing Ideas for June 2020

May 3, 2020 • Armando Roggio

Content marketing is the act of creating or curating content, publishing that content, and distributing it all with the aim of attracting, engaging, and retaining customers. What follows are five content marketing ideas your business can use in June 2020.
Finance
Alternative Funding Sources for the Covid-19 Crisis

May 1, 2020 • Marcia Kaplan

The Paycheck Protection Program has mostly not reached the intended beneficiaries. There is not enough money, and loans to date have often gone to large businesses. What follows are some options for small businesses.
Business
April 2020 Top 10: Our Most Popular Posts

April 30, 2020 • PEC Staff

Each month we publish roughly 50 articles to, hopefully, help ecommerce merchants. What follows are the 10 most popular articles that we published in April 2020. Articles from early in the month are more likely to make the list than later ones.