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Winning Internet Integration Strategies for Today's Retailer

 

 

e-RETAILING NEWS & OPINION ARCHIVES

May 2009

For the Archives Index, please click here

 

About Advertising

and Promotion

 

May 29, 2009

From Search Engine Watch:

"Ranking in Local Listings"

Make sure your listing is complete and accurate.  Have a process in place to ensure that any additions or changes to your business information will be updated in your online local business listings in a timely fashion...

http://searchenginewatch.com

 

May 27, 2009

From Marketing Charts:

"Best, Worst, and Future Email

List-Growth Tactics"

The most effective email list-growth tactics for marketers are on-site registration and capturing information through inbound call centers, while the least effective tactics are outbound call-center attempts to solicit information and list rental...

http://www.marketingcharts.com

 

May 27, 2009

From DM News:

"Four Steps for Improving Your E-Mail Results"

If your call to action is an image, provide viewable text links.  Readers should be able to get the message without having to download images or click on a web version.  Make your imagery complement, not carry, the message...

http://www.dmnews.com

 

May 22, 2009

From DM News:

"Think Before You Pull That E-Mail Trigger"

Marketers involved in leveraging e-mail communications often make the mistake of failing to pay attention to customer behavior post-send...

http://www.dmnews.com

 

May 22, 2009

From ClickZ.com:

"In Online Marketing, Better Is Good Enough"

Do you pass up easy improvements instead choosing a major revision that takes much, much longer to implement?

http://www.clickz.com

 

May 21, 2009

From MarketingVOX:

"Email, Online Coupons Erode Direct Mail's Dominance"

Small businesses are abandoning direct mail couponing and promotional orders and turning to a more measurable and less costly medium - e-mail...

http://www.marketingvox.com

 

May 21, 2009

From DM News:

"Dealerships and Franchises Face Unique Search Marketing Challenges"

For a nationwide franchise the key challenge is in managing many, many high volumes of very small campaigns which are very specifically geotargeted and have slight nuances from business to business...

http://www.dmnews.com

 

May 18, 2009

From InternetRetailer.com:

"Despite Recession, E-Mail Marketing Performs Well"

E-mail marketers have to craft content that carries the brand and the call to action that works when the images are all turned off.  And, of course, it has to work well when the images are turned on...

http://www.internetretailer.com

 

May 15, 2009

From InternetRetailer.com:

"It's Not Too Soon to Plan Holiday Marketing Strategies"

As retailers plan campaigns in search marketing and comparison shopping engines, they should ensure that the landing pages show the exact products featured in search rankings and comparison listings...

http://www.internetretailer.com

 

May 13, 2009

From DM News:

"Adding Channels Can Make Online Marketing Easier"

A few easy tips that any small business or organization can use to expand its marketing mix with little effort and boost its marketing effectiveness and efficiency at the same time...

http://www.dmnews.com

 

May 12, 2009

From Marketing Charts:

"Online Ads Spark Nearly as Many Searches as Clicks"

Nearly half of internet users who respond to online display ads launch a search on a search engine for the company, product, or brand that was the focus of the ad to which they were exposed...

http://www.marketingcharts.com

 

May 12, 2009

From ClickZ.com:

"The Life of an E-Mail"

If your e-mail's message doesn't contain a subject line that surmises the benefits, it says:  Open only when you have time to decipher what's inside.

http://www.clickz.com

 

May 11, 2009

From DM News:

"How Can I Optimize Search During Tough Economic Times?"

Look for differentiators in products and offerings that can be translated into long-tail keywords and less competitive terms.  The more spend that's invested in keywords that are cheaper and more targeted, the better your performance...

http://www.dmnews.com

 

May 8, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"Email Marketing Success Is All About the Value of Content"

Establishing a personal voice in your communications not only helps the customer feel a connection but also fosters a relationship with your readers...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 7, 2009

From Search Engine Watch:

"Look to Your Other Opportunities"

The potential traffic may be smaller, but the competitiveness is a lot smaller in the image search engines.  Does the same hold true in other verticals?  You bet...

http://searchenginewatch.com

 

May 4, 2009

From Search Engine Watch:

"Click Fraud 101"

Look for patterns or spikes that are outside the normal traffic pattern for your site.  Four specific symptoms that might indicate click fraud...

http://searchenginewatch.com

 

May 4, 2009

From ClickZ.com:

"E-mail Isn't Hockey:

Managing Frequency"

Develop a send schedule that builds in frequency limits...

http://www.clickz.com

 

May 2, 2009

From DM News:

"Pocket More Profit with Better Paid Search"

Using very specific keywords around your products will decrease your pay-per-click cost to conversion cost while increasing your overall conversion rate...

http://www.dmnews.com

 

May 1, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"Spring Is Here:  Time to Unclutter Your Email Marketing"

Tightly segmented, smaller lists not only achieve better deliverability than large broadcasts but also don't usually run the risk of being slowed in reaching the inbox...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 1, 2009

From DM News:

"E-Mail Marketing:  Bells and Whistles vs. Customer Data"

When did you last contact customers and by what channel?  Do they have a preferred channel?  Do they have a seasonal purchase history or an interest only in a specific product line?  Data of this type can help insure that customers get fewer, more relevant offers...

http://www.dmnews.com

 

About Customer

Service

 

May 29, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"No Peeking!"

It's worth remembering that some of your customers might share an email address with someone else-and forget that a detailed order confirmation will spell it all out for an unsuspecting loved one...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 28, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"The Deep Pockets of Chatters"

People who have had experience with live chat are more likely to return to, and make repeat purchases from, sites that offer the option...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 28, 2009

From Search Engine Watch:

"Action and the Decision-Making Funnel"

Risk-reducers make people feel less worse, while evidence of validation makes them feel more better.  Both are based on transferring good will from other people or companies to yours...

http://searchenginewatch.com

 

May 28, 2009

From Internet News:

"Tracing Back Unhappy Customers Online"

Every business is online and its in-house databases must now track the online incarnation of the bricks, mortar, and people...

http://www.internetnews.com

 

May 26, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"Using Logic to Enhance Credibility and Make the Sale"

Prospects need to see why they should buy your particular product.  First they need to see what makes it so good.  Then they need to see why it's better than a similar product offered by your competitors...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 26, 2009

From Internet News:

"Mobile Commerce and Social Marketing May Be Savior for Online Sales"

In terms of what consumers want to see at online stores, 64 percent say product details are important, 60 percent said incentives were an important feature, followed by easy site navigation with 46 percent and product reviews with 42 percent...

http://www.internetnews.com

 

May 26, 2009

From DM News:

"Other Channels Give E-Commerce a Boost"

User-generated content on retail Web sites allows customers to customize their online shopping experience to filter through reviews pertinent to their needs.  Customer favorites and top-rated products consistently drive increased sales...

http://www.dmnews.com

 

May 21, 2009

From Marketing Charts:

"Social Media Generates Hype;

Fails to Deliver Marketing Punch"

Less than 5% of social media users regularly visit social networks for guidance on purchase decisions.  And only 16% say they are more likely to buy from the following product or service categories after seeing ads on social sites...

http://www.marketingcharts.com

 

May 11, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"Suiting Up for Customer Loyalty:  Email That Fits"

Brand loyalty and Web-site visits have a direct correlation to purchases, so any content that would resonate with subscribers, encourage Web visits, or just help keep your company top of mind would be a good use of the channel...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 8, 2009

From Marketing Charts:

"Website Wishlists:  Men Want Speedy Downloads"

Though both men and women want websites to be easy to use overall, men say fast downloading is their second-most-desired feature, while women value easy navigation and accessibility over speed...

http://www.marketingcharts.com

 

May 7, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"The Seven-Second Rule"

When subscribers open email messages, you have about seven seconds to answer their most important question:  What's in it for me?

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 6, 2009

From CNN Money:

"Get Focused on Getting Customers"

The first step in building credibility with potential buyers is having a site that immediately appears clean, tidy and professional...

http://money.cnn.com

 

May 1, 2009

From Search Engine Watch:

"Comparison Shopping and the Decision-Making Funnel"

For many marketers, the comparison step represents an internal tug of war.  The instinct to carve out a competitive advantage through information hoarding or biased slanting is strong.  This is exactly the wrong impulse for the Internet and must be consciously resisted...

http://searchenginewatch.com

About Webstore

Management

 

May 29, 2009

From InternetRetailer.com:

"Adding Guided Navigation to a Retail Site Can Help Shoppers Find Items Fast"

One strategy for improving guided navigation is to make the feature the mandatory starting point for any onsite product search...

http://www.internetretailer.com

 

May 27, 2009

From Search Engine Watch:

"So I Have this Web Site..."

Some quick ideas to increase conversions on your Web site...

http://searchenginewatch.com

 

May 25, 2009

From InternetRetailer.com:

"New Search Options Pose Challenges for Online Retailers"

The key to taking advantage of new search options is to index a site's content for search engines daily...

http://www.internetretailer.com

 

May 25, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"Slice and Dice with Advanced Segmentation"

Advanced segmentation creates a win-win situation.  With its insight, you can create a more enjoyable experience for visitors, which can translate into higher conversion rates...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 22, 2009

From InternetRetailer.com:

"How Employee Biographies Can Improve a Retailer's Natural Search Rankings"

Foster a sense of trust among potential customers...

http://www.internetretailer.com

 

May 20, 2009

From ClickZ.com:

"Why Not a Widget?"

A widget can be a powerful SEO tactic.  Not only does it have the potential to expose your brand to a large audience, but it also exposes your brand to a highly relevant, targeted audience in a scalable manner...

http://www.clickz.com

 

May 20, 2009

From MarketingVOX:

"Optimize for Conversion in Organic Search Results"

Use internal search - keywords your customers are typing in your website - to expand your keyword targeting on search engines and to give customers what they are looking for...

http://www.marketingvox.com

 

May 20, 2009

From Search Engine Watch:

"Before You Start Link Building"

Where are the opportunities for really high quality links in your space?  Where are the opportunities to find large numbers of relevant links?

http://searchenginewatch.com

 

May 19, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"13 Essential Social-Media Listening Tools"

Listening and making sense of how your brand lives on the Web is only part of the equation.  How you use that information to interact with the public is the next step...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 19, 2009

From Nielsen Online:

"Total Searches Increase 4.4 Percent Year-Over-Year in April 2009"

8.6 billion search queries conducted during the month...

http://www.nielsen-online.com

 

May 15, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"Survey Says..."

While setting the expectation of a specific time limit isn't the silver bullet to boosting your survey participation numbers, people who appreciate the specificity will be more likely to visit, start and complete your survey...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 14, 2009

From eMarketer:

"What Do the Rich Look Like Online?"

Over 50 million unique affluent Internet users visited Websites in March, making up over one-quarter of the entire Internet population for the month...

http://www.emarketer.com

 

May 14, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"Online Reputation Management:

A View From the Top"

Seven realities of managing online reputation in today's world - and some solutions to strengthening your reputation in the months ahead...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 14, 2009

From InternetRetailer.com:

"Mass Merchants Grew Online Sales 20% in 2008"

After mass merchants, the next three fastest-growing online categories were toys/hobbies, specialty/non-apparel and health/beauty...

http://www.internetretailer.com

 

May 13, 2009

From Marketing Charts:

"Online Spending Shows Recession Resilience"

Three-fifths of online consumers say they will spend equal or more money shopping online in the next 60 days than they did at this time last year...

http://www.marketingcharts.com

 

May 13, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"Look Beyond the Rear-View Mirror"

Web analysis is about knowing where you are coming from, knowing your destination, looking into rearview mirror, learning from it, focusing on the road ahead and surroundings so that you can get to your destination successfully...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 13, 2009

From ClickZ.com:

"Squeezing More SEM Information From Web Analytics"

If you can isolate the referring keywords that drive visits to specific URLs, you have a great deal of intelligence to use for site improvement...

http://www.clickz.com

 

May 12, 2009

From Nielsen Online:

"Where the Moms Are:

Shopping, Blogging, Networking

and Strategizing Online"

Established moms gravitate to online shopping destinations where they are likely to be receptive to highly relevant promotions to allow her to indulge herself while saving on her family's needs...

http://www.nielsen-online.com

 

May 11, 2009

From ClickZ.com:

"On-Site Optimization Processes"

The most important content on a page is also the first content that the search engine reads.  Ensure the main header and first paragraph of content are keyword rich...

http://www.clickz.com

 

May 8, 2009

From InternetRetailer.com:

"Refereeing a Website Redesign"

Put the customer first, establish clear objectives in the beginning, and designate a redesign leader that no one, not even the CEO, can trump...

http://www.internetretailer.com

 

May 8, 2009

From Search Engine Watch:

"Customer Segmentation and SEO:  A Beautiful Couple"

Think about segmentation from the beginning to the end of each page.  Speak to multiple targets within the meta description, and close the loop for all possible segments by developing multi-purpose landing page content that provides clear and compelling paths to conversions...

http://searchenginewatch.com

 

May 7, 2009

From The New York Times:

"10 Ways to Design a Good Web Site"

Make sure your home page is clean and not overrun with links.  The goal is to provide the reader with enough information to enter your site, not to scare them away...

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com

 

May 7, 2009

From InternetRetailer.com:

"E-Commerce Spending Will Rise 11% to $156.1 Billion this Year"

Online sales will account for 6% of total retail sales, up from 5% last year...

http://www.internetretailer.com

 

May 6, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"The Art and Science of Web Analytics:  Going Beyond the Status Quo"

Are you creating a call to action once people arrive at your site?  How quickly are Web site visitors answering that call?  How easy is it to improve on Web-site content and marketing campaigns based on this information?

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 6, 2009

From Forrester:

"As Economy Impacts Online Retail, Companies Shift Marketing Focus"

Almost one-half of retailers surveyed have no plans to cut back original budgets and will spend as planned on their Web business, while one in four retailers will spend more on their online business than originally planned...

http://www.forrester.com

 

May 6, 2009

From ClickZ.com:

"Four Tips for Offline E-Mail Address Collection"

Set your e-mail software to send the confirmation e-mail as soon as the e-mail address is entered and to send a welcome e-mail immediately after

confirmation...

http://www.clickz.com

 

May 5, 2009

From MarketingProfs.com:

"Friends Help Friends Boost Rankings"

Five effective, legitimate ways to encourage friendly sites and blogs to link to your site...

http://www.marketingprofs.com

 

May 5, 2009

From E-Commerce Times:

"How to Build a Small-Business Web Site:  Roping In That Rascally ROI"

Understand your objectives.  For many, that doesn't necessarily mean closing a sale...

http://www.ecommercetimes.com

 

May 4, 2009

From The New York Times:

"Mini-Links to Web Sites Are Multiplying"

URL shorteners have the ability to keep track of use - how many times a particular link was clicked and the geographic location of the clickers...

http://www.nytimes.com

 

May 1, 2009

From Marketing Charts:

"Local Search Grows 58%; Outpaces Overall Online Search"

Even if the searcher doesn't know the company or brand they will ultimately give their business to, the decision to actually make a purchase has often already been made.  A strong argument for local merchants to develop and maintain an online profile...

http://www.marketingcharts.com

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