Do you know why so many businesses, and even celebrities, use websites like Facebook? Social media is what marketers refer to as word of mouth. It is the modern version of a "friend of a friend" recommendation, and it works. Here's what we mean: In earlier decades, it was likely that most people asked friends, neighbors, and colleagues to recommend someone when they needed something. Dentists, house painters, tax consultants, tutors...whatever was needed, most people asked others to give them … [Read more...]

For start-up companies, it can be difficult to gather the financial backing and resources to launch your own ecommerce website straight away. This is where Amazon and eBay come into their own, as they enable growing companies to start selling online in a straightforward, cost-effective manner. Both sites are strong platforms for small businesses; it’s interesting to note that nearly two thirds of eBay sales are now fixed price, and the site features hundreds of thousands of professional … [Read more...]

Loyalty is hard to gain in today’s ecommerce world. Customers have so much choice, and such high expectations, that they can change brand allegiance at the drop of a hat. What does foster long-term shopper relationships, however, is customer service. Making consumers feel like their problems are important, valued, and contribute to building better experiences is a powerful tool for growing business relationships. Despite this, many ecommerce companies still fall short when it comes to … [Read more...]

Convenience, flexibility and seamless are the top 3 buzzwords that sum up the ultimate online shopping experience, according to a new report entitled ‘The Pulse of the Online Shopper’. Over 19,000 consumers across the globe took part in the survey, which was conducted by comScore, to reveal the top elements of a smooth and satisfying ecommerce encounter. Not surprisingly, free shipping ranked high on shoppers’ wish lists, even when placing orders with overseas websites. Mobile also … [Read more...]

Starting a business is a daunting prospect, and the first year is definitely the hardest. However, it’s also the most rewarding, a time in which you’ll learn an incredible amount about how to successfully run a company. Here are just a few life lessons you may encounter during the first 12 months of launching your start-up: Your target market isn’t ‘everybody’ A sale is a sale, but undoubtedly certain sectors will yield more business than others. If you try to court everybody as a … [Read more...]

On the surface, the world is getting smaller. More companies than ever are using the relative low risk flexibility that ecommerce offers to trade internationally. However, moving beyond your domestic market is a major decision – one that comes with unique challenges. Setting up an overseas operation is not just a case of ‘lifting and shifting’ the model that’s working in your home region. There are many logistical considerations: how do you cope with a new language and currency? Are there … [Read more...]