Joanna Alter says, “User-generated content (UGC), like customer photos and reviews, increases engagement, encourages shoppers to convert into buyers and boosts word-of-mouth marketing. While there are many ways to display UGC throughout your site to create interest and provide shoppers with real information from real buyers, here are four of the most effective and attention-grabbing uses of UGC in ecommerce (and actionable tips on how to emulate their impact). BOOM! Shows Real Products on Real People BOOM! cosmetics company gives customers the option to submit original photos with their product... [...]

Brendan Witcher says, “Omnichannel fulfillment services have indubitably piqued the interest of today’s retail leaders; nearly one-third of the retail organizations we surveyed already support “buy online, pick up in store” (BOPIS) functionality or have plans to implement the technology by the end of next month. However, proponents of omnichannel fulfillment are starting to recognize that simply offering services like BOPIS does not in itself lift the bottom line. eBusiness professionals must actively ensure that these initiatives are driving real profits for their business, leaving... [...]

Morgan Jacobson says, “Bonobos is a wildly popular men’s online shopping boutique that is changing the way people shop. They recently hit $100 million in revenue, after nine years of business. The model is pretty simple: several variations on popular clothing items like pants, dress shirts, and casual shirts. No matter what you’re looking for, Bonobos probably has it. Simply put, Bonobos has come to define ecommerce with a guide shop sales model that seems to work—but are they missing out on some key sales? Let’s examine the pros and cons of their guide shop sales model. Pro: Huge... [...]

Reuters team says, “Amazon.com Inc.’s business marketplace, which connects businesses with suppliers, has generated $1 billion in sales in its first year, making it a significant player in a fragmented industry worth more than $8.2 trillion in the United States. Amazon Business offers U.S. businesses exclusive pricing and discounts for buying in bulk, free two-day shipping for orders of more than $49, tax exemption and the option to get products delivered with an Amazon guarantee. “We are continuing to grow at a rate of 20 percent month-on-month, and that highlights … how... [...]

There are many way to get traffic to your eCommerce site (for example, your Shopify store). Most people choose to use paid ads on platforms such as Facebook. Wouldn’t it be a big help, especially when you are starting up, to get free traffic to your store? Your start-up costs could drop dramatically. If you see value in free traffic for your eCommerce sites, but you don’t want to invest hundreds of dollars in advertising, you may want to look into Freecom Blueprint 2.0, new eCommerce strategy by Tom Yevsikov. Yevsikov made a lot of mistakes in his own eCommerce before finding a path to... [...]

Alex McEachern says, “We’ve already covered what retention marketing is, and why today’s elite ecommerce stores have already started on a retention-focused strategy. But where should you begin with your own retention strategy? Read on to learn what to do before you get started, how to allocate your marketing budget, and when you can expect to see results. Let’s get started! Where Do You Start? Every tall building started with a solid framework, and every tall tree started with the roots. Retention marketing is the same. You can create something amazing, but you need to lay down... [...]

Anshey Bhatia says, “When starting an online store, content is a frequently underrated yet vital aspect of the website creation process. We consistently tell our clients that we need content for the site completed within the first one to two months of a project—otherwise, it is the area most likely to slow down a site launch. Make sure you’re paying attention to these areas of website content when preparing to launch your eCommerce site. Brand Voice A clear brand voice is absolutely crucial in determining how all copy and imagery should look and feel across the site, and really, across all... [...]

Ayaz Nanji says, “Most consumers are not willing to wait for longer than a few seconds for an e-commerce page to load, according to recent research from Imperva Incapsula. The report was based on data from a survey conducted in 4Q15 of 4,568 adults in the United States who self-report their shopping frequency to be slightly often or more. Some 35% of respondents say they are willing to wait 3-5 seconds for an e-commerce website page to load, 20% are willing to wait less than 3 seconds, and 7% expect a page load immediately. Only 38% of consumers surveyed are willing to wait longer than 5... [...]

Mike Bainbridge says, “It is 2016 and almost a decade since Amazon launched its all-conquering AWS public cloud service. Infrastructure hosting as we once knew it, has been reduced to a commodity purchase. If you want to host a website or online application, it has never been easier. Building a highly scalable, fully redundant environment can be done in minutes, using either a browser or one of hundreds of automation tools. While infrastructure is boring, it is still an essential foundation of any platform. For online retailers, things have never been better. Ecommerce sites can take full... [...]

Shane Barker says, “Is a low conversion rate harming your E-commerce business? Conversions are one of the top factors that determine the performance of E-commerce websites. That’s why many businesses panic when they’re not making enough sales. Maybe you need to better optimize your landing page for conversions. Or you could encourage people to purchase if you make some site design improvements. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective methods for boosting conversion rate. Involve and Engage Customers Your customers are your best brand ambassadors, so use this to your advantage.... [...]