Are you thinking about your social channels as sales transaction channels? If not, you may be missing out on a huge market (and sales) opportunity. Sprout Social recently conducted a survey showing that 68% of us have already made some kind of a purchase using a social channel. That’s expected to grow significantly over the…Click to read more >
12 Digital Merchandising Building Blocks
Physical vs Digital Merchandising As shop owners – we understand the importance of merchandising in our shops. I’m guessing that you’ve spent some time thinking about the path you want a customer to travel when they walk in the door of your shop. All of us want our shop visitors to be inspired by what…Click to read more >
3 Technology Trends Transforming the Retail Industry
By Thomas Knox, Forbes Council Member – Technology Council. As an online creative retailer – you know how important the right technology is to meeting your business goals and serving your customers in the way they want to interact with your business. It can be a bit overwhelming to say the least. Our customers have…Click to read more >
Developing a Customer Experience Strategy
What is Customer Experience? What is customer experience? It’s defined as “interactions between a brand or company and its customers throughout their business relationship.” An interaction can include awareness, discovery, cultivation, advocacy, purchases,and service. In a study by Oracle, concluded that customer experience impacts the willingness of a customer to be a loyal advocate. If…Click to read more >
Comment Selling 101: What is it and why do you need it?
Having a brand presence on social media is a requirement, not an option in today’s socially connected world. It’s valuable for advertisement, brand presentation, fan connection, and customer service. And while social media is transforming the way that people interact with brands, it is also making waves in the way people shop with those brands.…Click to read more >
Instagram Beefs Up Ads With App Install And Buy Buttons, Interest Targeting, API
Instagram is ready to make some serious money. After a year and half of format experiments and basic targeting, Instagram is giving advertisers much more powerful tools. Those include “Shop Now”, “Install Now”, and “Sign up” buttons, interest and demographic targeting, and an API for efficiently managing huge campaigns. Since their launch in October…Click to read more >
Top 3 Holiday Fraud Scams Launched at Small Business
While it may be “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” for merrymakers, it is also “The Hap-Hazardous Season of All.” Researchers predict that 43% of cyber-attacks will be aimed at small businesses this fourth quarter. According to a recent study conducted by Verizon (DBIR). Cyber-crime has never been more advanced, and small business owners…Click to read more >
How to Prevent, Dispute, and Reconcile Chargebacks for Online Businesses
The majority of sale transactions happen smoothly, working much like this: the sale is authorized by the customer’s card issuer, you ship the merchandise to them and get paid. Once in awhile, though, the customer may file a dispute, asking their credit card company to reverse the transaction. Why does this occur and what can…Click to read more >
How to Protect Your Ecommerce Store from Payment Fraud
According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, almost 50% of small businesses fall victim to fraud at some point in their business life cycle, costing them an average of $114,000 per occurrence. Aside from phishing and hacking, if you accept a fraudulent payment, you could be held financially responsible for the loss. Having to…Click to read more >
Accepting Credit Card Payments Online – Your Best Options
Figuring out the best ways to accept credit cards online and choosing the right payment processor can be overwhelming at the beginning. It is the lifeblood of your ecommerce operation and a necessary cost to consider when selling online. If you can not properly take payments online, you have no business. Before we dive into…Click to read more >