In SEO we often refer to a search engine’s algorithm. But, what is an algorithm and how does it impact your website? By definition, it is a step-by-step procedure to determine a calculation. It’s a formula. Search engines use a formula to rank websites based, in part, on particular keywords or phrases. Search engines have…Click to read more >
Introduction to Paid Search
My previous articles have all discussed organic search optimization of your website. I thought we should start to explore the paid side of search. So, what is the difference between organic and paid search? Organic and paid search listings both appear on the same page of the search engine, and can originate from the same…Click to read more >
Increasing Traffic to Your Website
In previous articles, I’ve talked about how to improve your website so people will want to stay awhile and shop; we’ve covered website merchandising, cross merchandising, social merchandising, creating value, and how to manage your reputation so your customers will return again and again. Let’s back up a bit now and think about what we…Click to read more >
Business Building with Blog Tours
If you’ve ventured into the quilting blogosphere, you’ve probably come across the occasional blog tour. Blog tours come in many different forms, but essentially they are a series of posts scheduled on different blogs within a short time period designed to promote something. The most common blog tours are for book releases, as publishers and…Click to read more >
The Do’s and Don’ts of SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a moving target and requires continuous learning, tweaking, and updating. In previous articles, we discussed key steps of SEO and the process of selecting your keywords. I think now is a good time to step back and outline some of the Dos and Don’ts in the SEO process. I want…Click to read more >
PCI Compliance – Small Businesses Facing Increased Scrutiny
Should you be worried about Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards? If you accept any type of payment card—debit, credit, and even prepaid cards—then, yes, shopowners must take PCI Compliance (as it is informally known)very seriously. Businesses found to be out of compliance with these rules face, at the very least, serious fines from their…Click to read more >
Turn Old Inventory Into Cash Using Vendor Archives
We’ve heard about the importance of keeping inventory fresh time and time again. We know that any trendy fabric more than a year old should be should be marked down and cleared out. But what happens if you mark down those older fabrics and they still don’t move? How do you possibly get it sold…Click to read more >
Convert Abandoned Shopping Carts Into Sales
It happens all the time in retail shops—a customer picks up an item, wanders around, returns the item to the store shelf, and leaves the store without purchasing a thing. In the world of online retailing, a whole “cart” of merchandise is regularly left behind, more often than a sale is actually made. That’s right,…Click to read more >
Adding e-Commerce to Your Site
Starting an online business or adding e-commerce to your existing website can be a great asset to your business; however, it also requires dedication, persistence, and quite a bit of time and energy. Existing Options or New Software? When you’re ready to add e-commerce to your website, there are a couple of ways to tackle…Click to read more >
Converting Transactions Into Long-Term Customer Relationships
Whether you’re a brick-and-mortar shop or an online store, you spend a good deal of time on PR, advertising, shop hops, classes, and special events designed to get people through your physical or virtual doors. Previous Panning for Gold columns have discussed how to attract people to your website, how to merchandise online, and how…Click to read more >