I’ve bought a few things online over the last couple of weeks, including replacing broken wine glasses, finding a favourite and scratched album from the 70s that has been re-released on CD for the first time and tracking down replacement earphone foam covers. I’d have to say it’s been an interesting experience.
In my last blog, I mentioned how many websites don’t include their contact number or address on their website, and simply have a form for users to fill out if they need to contact the site owner.
Frequently, the impact of that on site visitors is that they don’t trust the site, and why would you buy from someone who doesn’t want to be contacted.
In ecommerce, trust is everything, if shoppers don’t trust a site, they won’t buy!
I’m a big fan of concise “how to” blogs and articles that provide good tips on how to achieve something without having to spend hours researching and reading. As the web gets ever more congested with competing sites, the need to stand out and be the site that converts to sales or inquiries is becoming evermore important, so I decided to start writing about how to achieve better conversions on your site.
SaaS Content Management Systems (CMS) vs Open Source Software such as Magento - Part 1
by Chris Sutton
A question we often get asked by potential clients is what is the difference between open source systems such as Magento, Wordpress etc., and proprietry SaaS CMS systems. At SiteSuite we've been developing our own SaaS online business suite for over 13 years, as well as having some experience in the use of Magento in particular. Over the course of a few blogs we'll share our knowledge and experience
One of the more challenging aspects of running an online store is how to manage your shipping logistics.
To help make this process easier one of of SiteSuite's major product releases in 2012 was a direct integration into the Temando freight quoting and booking system.
We don’t often talk about web design within these articles, preferring to concentrate instead on web page content, SEO and general marketing topics; we believe that’s where most of your attention should be. But web design plays an important role in your site’s effectiveness, affecting conversions and the way users interact with the website’s various elements. Web design can attract and it can certainly repel!
Your website designer is in charge of your website’s graphic design but your website’s page content (text and images) is typically the responsibility of the site owner/manager. Whether you agree with the notion or not, we do judge a book by its cover; your website users judge your website on its appearance and they decide within seconds whether your website’s content applies to their needs or not. And, as a picture speaks a thousand words, it makes good sense to invest in quality images, especially true if you sell products in an e-commerce environment (i.e. online store).
For most businesses now a website is a vital part of sales, marketing and branding efforts.
Visitors go to your website for a particular reason, and in most cases that’s not to see the latest trends in web design, but to find out about your products or services. So you need to ensure that you answer their questions easily and quickly and use your website to sell your product or service
Just over a week to go to the start of the inaugural SiteChallenge programme, and we’re getting excited!
What is SiteChallenge? It’s a 12 week, completely online programme that will help you unlock the mysteries of managing a successful online business. You will have the opportunity to learn new skills, and work with like minded people to make your online activity a success.
For many of us in the small business space we simply get started on the basis of a good idea, the need to do our own thing, or by accident when a hobby or interest goes well and expands into a business.
While there is normally always a wealth of life experience supporting a small business, the level of formal training or experience is often narrow rather than wide in scope. Against this backdrop, marketing activities can often be “hit and miss” or see long term goals surrendered at the first short term “stumbling block”.
While we all seem to be “time poor” these days, one of the activities we have been expanding at SiteSuite is the sharing of information and skills within our small business client community.
I spoke to a customer yesterday who asked what she could be doing to improve her website’s position on Google, and how she could lift sales. Her online shop is a recognisable brand and the site’s design crisp and sharp. So what’s wrong?
A report published this week suggested that you forget search engines or manufacturer's websites as ways to drive traffic to your online shop or website. Instead, it suggests, consumers of today are researching products in new ways, albeit with an old-fashioned twist: they're asking their friends first.
Apple. An amazing brand that has captured people's imagination the world over. Their products (love 'em or hate 'em) have revolutionised the way we work, play and do business. At the airport this week I noticed more Apple iPads being used than people reading magazines!
Although reported stories of consumers being ripped off online appear to be falling, it's fair to say that online shoppers are still wary of who they deal with especially if they're visiting an online shop for the first time. So what type of things do online shoppers look for in a website, and what drives them away?
When you’re writing a blog the best way to keep on schedule is to have a series of topics ready to write to. One that I hadn’t intended to cover again for a while is copy writing, especially as it relates to products although the principles apply to any copy on a site. So why revisit this topic? Over the last week I’ve had discussions with a couple of clients who have been keen to improve their online sales results, but really don’t see the need to rewrite and spruce up their product descriptions.
Today we’ll provide some essential tips for writing product descriptions or any website content. Some are obvious, and others perhaps less so.
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