9 Things To Know Before Starting An Amazon Business

With so many successful businesses already operating on selling platforms like Amazon, it can be enticing to join them to share in their success. Once you look at it in more detail, though, you will quickly see that while desire and enthusiasm play a part, it is far from the whole story. If you are going to make your mark as an Amazon seller or even just survive the first few months of an ecommerce venture, then there are other areas you need to look at and perfect before getting the ball rolling. 

With so much to think about in e-commerce, you might find it hard to focus on what really matters and never get started as a result. To avoid this common rookie mistake, you should instead prioritize these nine key areas and work through them to stand the best chance of creating an online Amazon business to be proud of. 

1. Sourcing The Right Products 

When looking for the right products to sell, you need to look a lot deeper than just the goods that you might be interested in purchasing yourself. As your livelihood is likely to depend upon sales, you are going to want to invest in products that are in high demand by customers as well as having a tidy profit margin. To find out what these products are, you will have to spend time looking at and researching different markets. 

When you think that you have found the perfect one (or at least a viable shortlist), you will have to investigate how much it will cost you to purchase, store, and sell, and if you are thinking of selling these items with free shipping, sent to customers. If you can still make a healthy profit on each item after these costs have been removed then you are ready to get your hands on a few to use as a trial. 

2. Product Quality 

It is a good idea to try out a few different suppliers to make sure that the quality of the product is excellent and the same regardless of supplier. This is because if you happen to be selling a product that is of an inferior quality to other competitors you will not hold your customers for long. You will also find that you gain more negative feedback, but more about that key issue a little later on. 

In short, if you would not be happy paying your asking price for the item – you shouldn't expect your customers to either. If you find that the quality is too poor, you may have to find another supplier or move to an entirely different product entirely. 

3. Attracting Customers 

Even just the quickest browse on Amazon will draw your attention to the sheer number of sellers that are already established and making use of this amazingly powerful selling platform. Regardless of what product you choose to sell, it is highly likely that someone is already there, selling and making money from it. This can be a daunting factor for someone who is either new to the whole eCommerce world, or new to selling platforms like Amazon. However, this well-populated marketplace is still one of the most affluent ones to run an eCommerce business from due to the number of customers flocking there every day. 

To make your products more accessible to customers and become a formidable opponent for your competitors, you are going to need a bit of assistance. This help can come in the form of Amazon marketing experts who understand the workings of Amazon as well as how best to market a product on the site. They use tactics and strategies that you may not have even heard of if you are new to selling online and can help you with listing design, those all- important pictures, graphics, and photos to make your products and listings stand out from the crowd. They can also help you in other areas – even if you are currently selling on Amazon - to boost your conversion rates and help you boost your bottom line. 

4. Storage Facilities 

As you start your Amazon business, you will need to also think about the storage options available to you. If you have thought about or are currently storing your merchandise in your home, then you need to realize that tripping over various products waiting to be sold will not do your business momentum or capabilities any good. Nor will it improve your relationships with those you are sharing the household with, even if, at the start, it is perfectly OK. As your business grows, you will soon find it hard to relax in an overly cluttered house, and your loved ones will no doubt share in your frustrations. 

To sidestep this particular pitfall, you will need to research other storage options that are open to you. Renting a self-storage unit could be one of the easiest solutions at first. This is because you are likely to be paying a monthly fee, so you are not tied into a long and drawn-out contract. However, you will have to make sure you are able to get the amount of access to your stock that you need. This is because some storage companies will specify a day and time you can have access to your locker or storage unit or limit the number of times you can visit. This is no good if you are using it to store products for your business and hoping to sell items stored within it on a daily basis. 

You should also think of the location. Ideally, any storage solution you choose to rent for the purpose of housing your goods should be close to the building where you run your business. This will save you time and gas when you are sorting your products for either storage or shipment. 

5. Shipping Options 

You will also have to work out shipping options as well. At first, you may be happy taking the odd trip down to your local post office with an arm or two of parcels. However, as your business picks up, this may seem less desirable and more of an arm-aching chore. You may find that you need to find the right couriers to make collections directly from your business which will be more cost-effective for you and save you time and energy traveling backward and forward. Then, all you will have to do is make sure that the packages are ready for collection by a certain time. 

Of course, another option that you may find particularly pleasing – especially if you are having difficulty finding a suitable storage solution, is to take advantage of Amazon's FBA service. This is where you will be able to send all of your stock to an Amazon warehouse where they will pick and pack it and send the products straight to your customers on your behalf – leaving you to be able to focus on sourcing and selling your products. 

It is important to note, however, that although you will be selling on Amazon, the FBA service is not free, and you will have to pay for its use. There are also product restrictions on what Amazon will not provide this service for, so it is imperative that you check this service is available to you before working your business around it. 

6. Exclusive Package Deals 

You will also want to make your products a little different from your competitors, so consider putting together some exclusive Amazon packages for your customers. This can boost sales and customer loyalty if done correctly, but you should think about what combinations you can offer. They should be complimentary products such as offering a shampoo and conditioner combo or fine surface filler along with a small filler knife. This way, customers can be reminded about which other products they need (as a kind of upsell), and they won't end up going anywhere else for those items. 

Pricing is vital here as well. By selling two items together, you are likely to save on shipping costs anyway but also offering a discount will attract more sales. It doesn't have to be a huge amount; just 5 or 10% is probably all that is needed to stop a customer going through the trouble of looking at what other sellers have to offer. 

7. Valuing Your Customers 

As you are running an eCommerce business on a selling platform with multiple sellers and competition will be strong, you have to understand that it is all about your customers. Even if you already realize this, keeping them loyal will require hard work and commitment on your part. 

One of the easiest ways to make your customers feel valued is to thank them for their orders, and you can do this by including handwritten "thank you" notes on their packing receipts. If you want to step it up a little more and potentially enhance your sales further, you can also include free samples of other products in the range that you have for sale. If your portfolio consists of one product, then you have the opportunity to use custom or personalized swag items to gain your customer's attention. 

8. Attaining Customer Feedback 

Businesses within selling platforms like Amazon thrive on good, positive feedback, so it is important that you are aware of what your customers are saying about your business, service, and products. Many sales actually hinge on what the reviews say, and customers will go elsewhere if your feedback is negative or gives a less than shiny impression. 

For this reason, you need to focus heavily on your customer experience, ensuring that they are happy with their purchase. This will require a follow-up of some sort and if the result is less than your customer deems fit, you will need to take action to ensure that the issue is worked out amicably and that it doesn't happen again. 

9. Growing Your Amazon business 

It is likely that once you get a grip on all of this, your online shop business will start to grow, and your sales become in line with your goals and expectations. However, you should always look to the future and be aware of how your business can expand in the Amazon marketplace. 

• New Products In The Same Niche – you should continuously be researching other products so that you can bring them under your business roof and offer your customers. Ideally, these should be within the same niche as your current range, and you will then be able to sell to your customers past and present. If your niche is rich with different products to offer your customers your level of growth will be that much easier to ascertain, and your customer base should broaden as a result. 

• Expanding Into New Territories – another way that your business can expand in the future is by moving into new territories. Amazon is a global business and has footings in around 20 countries including the US, UK, India, Japan, and Mexico. This means that there are huge markets available to step into should you wish to take this expansion route. However, it is important that before you do, you research your products are in demand in the country you are thinking of, as different products have different names and meanings in other countries. 

A Few Final Thoughts On Amazon And E-Commerce Businesses

Starting your own Amazon business can be exciting but you need to think practically if it is going to stay that way. Product selection is vital, as quality is of paramount importance if you are going to get a foothold in your chosen niche. Shipping and storage are also key for online stores, as you need to make sure that you have enough products on hand and that they reach the customer on time and in one piece. 

Before you think about e-commerce startup expansion, you should consider customer feedback to see where you can improve your current operation so that any investment is not wasted. This is a lot to think about, but by taking each step in turn and using expert help to get things off the ground, you stand a good chance of turning your new ecom business into a success.

How To Optimize Shopify For SEO

Have you heard the famous quote “If you build it, they will come”? This piece of wisdom may have worked for Kevin Costner’s character in the movie Field of Dreams, where he is encouraged by a disembodied voice to pursue his dream of building a baseball field on his farm. But in reality, this sort of advice can prove to be a disaster for most businesses including, Shopify e-commerce stores. When it comes down to it, businesses rely on sound strategy, planning, and development for long-term financial success. In an increasingly competitive globalized digital world, just building a good business isn't enough.

In today’s day and age where online shopping is the new normal, it takes more than just building a great store to draw in more customers. Search engine optimization (SEO) becomes essential for bringing in organic traffic to your website, the lifeblood of any site. Search engine rankings play a huge role in making your online store more visible to shoppers. If you rank higher on the SERPs (Search Engine Results Page), there is a higher chance that you’ll rake in more sales. 

If you are building an ecommerce store for your online shoppers, Shopify is one of the best (if not the best) option. But there is just one question that must be answered first with your online store.

Does Shopify Have Strong SEO? 

Shopify is one of the most recommended e-commerce platforms. Data from Built With shows that usage of this CMS (Content Management System) platform has doubled in the last few years, and it currently has more than 1 million active websites. Shopify is a great option for your online store because it offers easy backend administration and can be easily tailored to your specific requirements. More importantly, it is packed with SEO-friendly features right out of the box for Shopify. But that doesn't mean you should optimize it for search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo with standard SEO strategies.

How To Optimize Your Shopify Store For SEO Success 

Keep in mind that boosting organic traffic to your online store is different from optimizing other websites for SEO. In this guide, we will walk you through some key steps on how to master SEO for Shopify. Simplify Site Structure The way you organize content on your page is crucial to SEO success. If shoppers can quickly find what they are looking for on your site, they tend to spend more time on your page. Longer time on sites tells Google that your site offers value, which can give you a solid rankings boost. To top that off, a logically structured site makes it easier for Google to crawl your website. 

Ideally, your website architecture should look something like this: If you look at the diagram closely, you will see that your product pages (third row) are only a couple of clicks away from the home page (first row). In turn, organized and user-friendly web design makes it easy for visitors to find what they are looking for. Poor site structure, on the other hand, makes it harder for search engine spiders to find and index all the pages on your site. 

Meanwhile, if your site architecture is interlinked, spiders can easily follow your links. A simple site architecture also means that link authority flows a lot easier from pages with more backlinks (your home page) to lower ranking pages (product pages). The graphic below shows what the site structure for a baking blog should look like: 

Get Rid Of Duplicate Content 

Duplicate content happens when similar content exists on two separate URLs. The page could either be on your site or someone else’s. Duplicate content on Shopify can have a negative impact on your site search performance. Search engines tend to be tolerant of internal site duplication. But if it appears as if you’ve copied text from another site, you could get hit by a search engine penalty. The good news is that once you have wiped your site clean of duplicate content, you can improve your search rankings significantly. 

Consider using tools like Copyscape to check for plagiarism and other external duplicate content. You can also conduct site audits to identify pages with similar content to other URLs. Or maybe your site is due for a redesign or content update. Break free from duplicate content by writing new copy. 

Utilize Keyword Research 

Keyword research is the foundation of SEO success. Here are a few tips on how to generate relevant keywords for your store: 

● Export your keywords from Google Ads, and optimize search terms that generate the most revenue and have the highest conversion rate. 

● Use Google Search Console to identify keywords with the most impressions and clicks. 

● Conduct SEO competitor analysis on tools like Ahrefs. Generate the “Content Gap” report to single out keywords your competitors are ranking for. 

● Analyze buyer personas and track search forums related to your e-commerce products for topic inspirations and keyword ideas. 

Optimize Product Pages 

Now that you have a list of keywords and a simplified site structure, you can start optimizing your pages with your chosen search terms. Start with your top pages first, such as your home page and main product collections. The first step to optimizing your Shopify pages is by writing title tags and meta descriptions. 

Here are some general guidelines for you to follow for product page meta descriptions: 

● Write unique title tags and meta descriptions for each page 
● Include a keyword when appropriate 
● Avoid truncating descriptions and follow the prescribed character limit guidelines 
● Craft copy that will entice visitors to click 
● Keep your descriptions brief yet descriptive It also pays to add alt texts to your images. 

Since Google Images is the second largest search engine in the world, you can drive more traffic to your site through your images. That’s why it helps to add alt texts that describe what an image is about. Once you’ve finished optimizing your titles, meta descriptions, and alt texts you can work on creating unique content to your product pages. Keep in mind that your descriptions should be written from a user-focused POV. The best way to boost the relevance of your content is by discussing your product’s features and benefits. 

Set Up 301 Redirect Pages 

A 301 redirect tells search engines that your business content page is no longer available and that it’s moved permanently to a new URL. After all, you don’t want your customers to move to your competitors after they land on a ‘404 Not Found’ page on your site. The goal is for you to lead visitors to a new page, which you can do by creating a URL redirect through your Shopify admin portal. 

Follow these steps to add 301 redirects: 

● Click Online Store - Navigation - URL Redirects 

● Select Add URL redirect 

● Type in the old URL in Redirect from and the new URL in Redirect to 

● Click add Keep in mind that before you can redirect users to the new URL, you will need to delete the existing webpage. 

Increase Site Speed 

If your ecommerce website loads slowly, it could hurt your Google rankings. That is why you need to put forth the effort to make your site load quickly. Check for your store’s site speed through tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights or GTMetrix. On Shopify, however, you have limited options when it comes to boosting site speed. Here are a few factors you can work with: 

● Choose a theme from the Shopify Theme Store that loads quickly 
● Compress your images before uploading them to Shopify 
● Install only the apps you need so they don’t slow down site performance 

Build High-Quality Backlinks 

Search engines rely on link building and outreach to determine how the community at large values your site. Think of backlinks as the word-of-mouth equivalent of SEO. With better quality backlinks, you can build your credibility and boost the organic traffic your shop receives. Below is a list of some backlinks you can obtain for your site: 

● Supplier / Manufacturer Links - If you sell products made or supplied by other companies, they may have a policy that lets them link to your store. Reach out in case you’re missing a backlink opportunity. 

● Competitor Links - Use tools such as Link Intersect from Ahrefs to find out who’s linking to your competitors. You have a high chance of obtaining a backlink for sites that already link to other people in your industry. 

● Influencer Voices - Get in touch with industry leaders for interviews that could help you generate better links and content. 

● Brand Mentions - Find out where your brand is being mentioned through websites like mention.com. It may be possible for you to earn a backlink if they choose to include a link to your site along with the mention. 

● Broken Links - Keep an eye out for broken backlinks or services similar to what you offer. When you find one, you could reach out to the site owner telling them to link to your site instead. 

Focus On Content Marketing 

Content is one of the primary reasons why people visit websites. You may feel tempted to skimp on content marketing for your e-commerce site, but crafting content that delivers value adds to the overall user experience. People who are ready to buy the moment they visit your shop make up only a small percentage of the marketing funnel. Publishing informational content like blog posts can help you educate people at different stages of the buyer’s journey. In turn, it can also increase the chances of them buying from you in the future. Your content is a way for people to get to know your brand without selling to them directly. 

With well-written content, you can rank for more keywords and earn backlinks. Your Shopify store automatically includes a blog called “News.” If you want to create a new blog, select Blog Posts - Create a new post - Create a new blog. 

Then it is finally time to start blogging big time to create SEO-friendly content that converts!

How To Start Up A Business And Promote It Online

Starting a new business can be an intimidating task for any entrepreneur. You may always get questions that how to sell products online. With the rise of e-commerce, it has become much easier to sell products online and reach a wider customer base. 

This guide will provide you with all the information you need to ensure your business runs smoothly and efficiently from the beginning. So, let's take a look at these 4 essential steps for promoting businesses online. 

● Choose An E-Commerce Platform 

The first thing that you need to do is choose an e-commerce platform that you can use for selling products online. There are several different options available that you can choose from. 

Consider your budget, the features you need, and the platform's scalability before making your decision. Flipkart is among the top e-commerce platforms that offer a wide range of features, scalability and is quite easy to use. 

So, you can go for Flipkart if you are looking to sell products online. 

● Create An Account 

When starting and promoting your business online, one of the most important steps is to sell products online. Once you have chosen a platform to sell on, the next step is to create an account. 

Creating an account on one of these platforms is relatively simple—you will need to provide some basic information about yourself and your business to set up your profile. 

Once you have created an account, you can start selling products and getting them out into the world! 

● List All Your Products 

The next step in starting and promoting a business online is listing all your products. You must ensure you have a consolidated list of all the items you intend to sell. 

This list should include the product's name, description, price, and other details. Please provide photos of each item so potential customers can get an accurate idea of what they are buying. 

Additionally, consider adding more detailed descriptions for every product so that potential customers understand exactly what they are getting when they purchase from you. 

● Use All The Features Of The E-Commerce Site 

Flipkart has various features for you to sell your products online. You can manage orders, track shipments and payments, set up promotions, customise product pages, create collections, and more. 

Each feature is designed to help you market your business in the best possible way. You must use all the features available on Flipkart to maximize its potential when selling products online. 

The Bottom Line On Business Promotions

Starting a business and promoting it online is challenging, but you can make it happen with the right knowledge and resources. Understanding the different ways to sell your products online, from e-commerce sites to social media platforms, will help you get more exposure and increase sales. 

It is also important to remember that creating content, engaging with customers, measuring analytics, and leveraging marketing strategies are essential for success when selling products online. 

You can establish your brand name and sell your products online quickly with hard work and dedication!

Tips For Designing Effective Supplement Labels

As the supplement industry continues to grow, more and more entrepreneurs are looking to start their own supplement brands. With the market becoming increasingly saturated, it is crucial to have a standout product that catches the eye of potential customers. One of the most important aspects of creating a successful supplement brand is designing an effective label. A label can make or break a product, so it is essential to get it right. 

In this article, we will provide 6 smart tips for designing effective supplement labels that will help your brand stand out from the competition. 

1. Determine Your Brand's Identity 

Designing a supplement label is not just about making something that looks nice, it's about creating a visual representation of your brand. Before you start designing, it's important to take a step back and determine what your brand stands for. Your label should reflect your brand's messaging, image, and values. If you are marketing an all-natural, eco-friendly product, your label should incorporate these values into its design. This includes the color scheme, imagery, and font choice. By doing this, you create consistency across all aspects of your business, and your customers will be able to easily recognize your brand. Having a clear understanding of your brand's identity is essential for effective marketing and can help set your brand apart in a competitive market. 

2. Use High-Quality Materials 

When designing a supplement label, it is important to consider the materials you will be using. The quality of these materials can greatly impact the overall appearance and longevity of your label. It is essential to use high-quality materials that can withstand the wear and tear of being shipped and stored. This is particularly important if you're planning to sell your product online or in retail stores. By using durable materials, you can ensure that your label remains intact and legible throughout the product's lifespan. Make sure to use a reputable plastic manufacturer as this can help ensure that the label is made with high-quality materials. 

3. Keep It Simple 

When designing your supplement label, it is important to keep it simple. Too much information or clutter on a label can be overwhelming and confusing for customers. Keep the design clean and straightforward, with essential information prominently displayed. A simple, clean label is easier to read and can help communicate the benefits of your product more effectively. Avoid using too many fonts or colors, and make sure the font size is large enough to read easily. 

4. Highlight Key Information

When designing a supplement label, it is essential to prioritize the placement of critical information. 

• Product Name: This should be prominently displayed on the label and accurately reflect the product inside. 

• Active Ingredients: The label should clearly list the active ingredients and their dosage per serving. 

• Supplement Facts: This section should include information such as serving size, number of servings per container, and the amount of each active ingredient per serving. 

• Directions For Use: This section should provide clear and concise instructions on how to take the supplement, including dosage and frequency. 

• Warnings And Precautions: Any potential risks or side effects associated with the supplement should be clearly stated on the label. This may include warnings for pregnant or nursing women, individuals with allergies, or people taking certain medications. 

• Manufacturing Information: This section should provide details about the manufacturer, including their name and address, as well as any relevant certifications or quality control measures they follow. 

• Expiration Date: The label should clearly display the expiration date of the product. 

• Net Quantity Of Contents: The label should display the amount of product in the container, either by weight or volume. 

By making this information easily accessible, customers can quickly identify and understand what they are buying. 

In addition to highlighting key information, it is also crucial to include any necessary warnings or precautions. This includes allergen information, dosage instructions, and any other relevant safety information. This information should be presented in a clear and concise manner, without the use of jargon or technical terms that may be difficult for customers to understand. 

5. Use Eye-Catching Design Element 

While it is essential to keep your supplement label simple and clean, you also want it to stand out from the competition. Using eye-catching design elements can help your product catch the eye of potential customers. Consider using bold colors, unique imagery, or creative typography to make your label pop. However, be careful not to go overboard with design elements, as too much can be distracting and detract from the overall effectiveness of the label. 

6. Get Feedback From Customers 

Once you have designed your supplement label, it is important to get feedback from customers. Ask for opinions on the overall design, readability, and effectiveness of the label in communicating the benefits of your product. Customer feedback can help you identify any areas for improvement and ensure that your label is effective in attracting and retaining customers. 

Conclusion 

To create a successful supplement brand, you need an effective label. Determine your brand identity, use quality materials, keep it simple, highlight key info, use eye-catching design, and get customer feedback. Use a reputable plastic manufacturer for durability, and seek feedback to improve your label and product.

Top M-Commerce Trends Today

Proximity Marketing 

Proximity marketing is one of the key trends to look out for today. 

‘Beaconing’ is a piece of technology that left as quickly as it came, with the trend of ‘geo-tagging’ fizzling out around 2010. However, in 2015, beacons were revived by Google, and in 2020 to 2021 it seems as though they are ready to make a comeback, to become a powerhouse within the m-commerce industry. Beacons are devices that can send out signals over a short distance, allowing companies to target users within a close proximity. How can these beacons be used to assist with mobile commerce? In store messaging – retailers will be able to use beacons to identify when a customer has entered the store, and in turn, send them an alert on their phone, potentially offering them discounts that they will be able to redeem at the cashier. 

Loyalty Rewards – using proximity marketing retailers will be able to offer loyalty rewards, based on the number of times an individual has entered the shop within a certain time period, and made a purchase.

Frequency – Being able to measure how long certain customers spent in specific areas of the shop can be an extremely powerful marketing tool. Using beacons will enable retailers to achieve this. 

‘Shoppable’ Tags On Instagram 

Instagram’s new ‘shoppable’ tags are a great way to use social media to interact with a market. It is now easier than ever to advertise your products directly from Instagram, as if an individual sees something they like, they simply tap on the item, and they are taken to a different page, where they can view sizes and prices, and subsequently make a purchase. 

One Click Checkouts 

One click checkouts and digital wallets, such as Apple Pay and Amazon have improved mobile conversion on sales by up to 10%, which is unsurprising, as buying something is much more appealing when all that is required is a swipe, or a thumb print, rather than an entire set of credit card details. 

In a recent study, it was found that 67% of consumers admitted to digital window shopping, simply for fun, on their mobile devices, with 77% of them making an impulse buy from their online basket as a result of this. 

The more time that an individual has to spend filling out forms, credit card information, shipping details etc. the less likely they are to complete the sale. How many times have you given up with the purchase of a particular product due to the endless details that you’re required to fill out? With the streamlining of a retailer’s checkout process, they are more likely to make a higher volume of impulse sales. 

Omni-Channel Strategies 

Consumers in the modern era need an experience that is convenient for them. They need the ability to seamlessly switch between platforms, in order to make the buying experience more streamlined. If they are browsing on their PC during the day, when they come home in the evening the ability to continue right where they left off on their mobile phone is a tool that’s uses are unparalleled within the mobile commerce world. In order to create Omni- channel experiences for the customers, it is imperative that brands use consistent formatting across the aforementioned platforms, online bookmakers are experts at doing this, having invested millions in conversions. Having a unified message is also important, as continuity is key for the experience of the consumer. 

With proximity marketing being discussed earlier, it is important to note that these trends are not just individual tools that a brand can use to improve their mobile commerce presence, but should instead be used in tandem. If a company uses proximity marketing to send an offer to the consumer on their mobile, then when they go to redeem the offer this should be a seamless process, causing minimal stress for the buyer. This is Omni-channel marketing, the ability for a brand to integrate their unified message across various platforms, in order to streamline the experience for the consumer. 

Faster Checkouts 

As already established, time is of the essence with the modern buyer. The speed at which an individual is able to checkout, and then continue with their day, the more likely they are to both purchase the item, and also return to the mobile site again.. There are certain ways this is achieved, including no forced registration, having auto-fill enabled on the website, progress indication and also security reassurance. 

Forcing an individual to create an account has been show to cause basket abandonment. As mentioned previously, the modern generation of mobile shoppers have little patience, so minimising the steps that they need to go through in order to purchase a product is key. As shown in the infographic, 80% of shoppers have used their phone whilst inside a physical store, to check product reviews and compare prices online. Whilst doing so, if it was made apparent to them that within 2/3 clicks, they would be able to pay for that product and have it delivered to their home, then they are more likely to execute the purchase in this manner. 

Maximize M-Commerce

Minimising the content displayed on the checkout page is also important. It has been found that even a one second delay in mobile load times can impact conversions by up to 20%. (Source: Google SOASTA, “The State of Online Retail Performance,” April 2017). Site speed is also essential for SEO on Google searches, especially mobile searches. Keep these top M-Commerce trends in mind for mobile marketing success in 2021 and beyond!

Customer Service In Online Store Matters

Covid-19 forced retailers to go online overnight. The transformation that took months and years happened in a matter of days. 

The retailers are still learning how things work in the online world. Business owners have hired companies providing customer experience solutions online so that they can catch up in the race in which they started too late. 

One thing that has become a significant reason because of which e-commerce store owners are losing or gaining customers is customer support. 

Here are actions you can do to ensure that the customer visiting your e-commerce store gets a flawless experience. 

1. Your Website Should Be Fast

When a customer opens your website, regardless of it being accessed by a laptop or a mobile, it should load quickly. If your website glitches, then the customer will immediately leave and go to another website. 

2. Site Navigation 

When customers enter your site, they should be able to navigate around it easily. This way, the customer will see the product they came to buy and check the other products you offer. Navigation plays a crucial role in providing your customer with a good experience. 

3. Website Design 

Just like people are likely to enter a store with an excellent interior, people will enter a website that looks attractive. You can use 3D designs to make your website appealing. The better the design, the better experience you'll be able to give to your customer. 

4. High-Quality Pictures 

Product pictures you place on your website plays a huge role in selling your product to your customer. It helps your customer identify what you’re offering and what they’re investing their money in. 

5. The Simpler, The Better 

It is understandable that, like a good salesman, you would want to show your customer all sides of the product. However, putting up too many texts or pictures on the website will clutter the screen. The lesser the content, the better the customer experience will be. 

6. Customer Chat Box 

The customer might have questions about the product answering them on time might gain you a sale. A customer representative should always be online to assist the customer. This often becomes a gain changer in the quality of customer experience provided by a business. 

7. Showcase Your Reviews 

When a customer is buying things online, they can't see the product to ensure. So other people's reviews about your product become a testimony based on which they make their purchase. Make a separate review page better yet allot a little space to display reviews on your home page. 

8. Updated Inventory 

You should update the website regularly to mark items as available, wish list, or out of stock. If someone puts an article on the wish list you have restocked, you can send them an email notifying the availability. It makes the consumer feel that they matter to you, and you can also make sales.

Provide Strong Customer Service For Your Online Shop

The digital transformation happened rapidly because of the pandemic. But let's face it was waiting to happen. Things will remain the same even after the pandemic, so the competition ultimately comes down to the type of customer service you provide to your customer. 

A happy customer will be a loyal customer, whether you own an e-commerce store or retail shop (or both).

NetSuite SuiteCommerce Standard vs SuiteCommerce Advanced

If you have already begun your search into finding out more about SuiteCommerce, then you may have stumbled across two terms... SuiteCommerce Advanced (SCA) and SuiteCommerce Standard (SC). ​

It is important to understand the difference between the two options since one is half the price of the other. Most people think that SuiteCommerce Standard (now just called SuiteCommerce) means that you can't customize the theme or extensions. This is not true. In fact, you can do most of the same customizations. ​ 

The primary difference is that SuiteCommerce Advanced has total access to the source code. Heavy customization changing the architecture of the platform will require SCA to be able to accomplish the goal. ​ 

What Are Some Examples Of A Source Code Change That Requires SCA? 

1) A company wants every order through the ecommerce platform to be entered as a Purchase Order rather than a Sales Order. This would require a change to source code. ​ 

2) A company wants to allow customers to log into "My Account" and modify existing orders that were already placed themselves. This would require a change to source code. ​ 

What Are Some Examples Of A Customization That Doesn't Require SCA? 

1) You want to change the theme. Let's say you don't like your theme and have a graphic designer make a new mockup to match. This mockup has a different layout and new colors. This is not a change to source code. It is HTML and CSS work which you have access to with SuiteCommerce standard. ​ 

2) You want to create an extension that adds a new line item to the cart when an add-on (i.e. engraving option) is selected. This requires JavaScript but does not require source code changes. ​ 

What If I Don't Know If A Customization Requires Source Code Changes?

The easiest way to identify which type of solution you need is to get in touch with a SuiteCommerce developer that builds customization's in the platform on a daily basis. They will know if a source code is likely required. If you have a road map of features you will want for the ecommerce platform, it is a good idea to explain them to the developer so that you pick the correct solution. ​

Can I Upgrade To SCA Later If I Only Need SuiteCommerce Standard For Now? 

Yes you can. It is rather easy to transition from standard to advanced. If you don't need SCA for multiple years, you can change later if you only need standard features for the time being. You don't need a brand new implementation to switch. It takes about a day to fetch the code and deploy it to SuiteCommerce Advanced. The best part about SCA is that you'll never need to transition to another platform again due to limitations of the solution. ​

Are There Benefits To Not Having A Managed Bundle (SCA Does Not Manage Upgrades)? 

Absolutely, and this is because of the many customizations that SuiteCommerce Advanced customers tend to add to their ecommerce platform. Companies rely on having a platform that doesn't break whenever a managed upgrade occurs. When you have customizations in your ecommerce solution, you don't want them to break when a managed upgrade to the latest version occurs. You want to make the transition when you have had the time to test out the upgrade in sandbox first to ensure all your customizations still work properly. This is the reason that SCA is version locked meaning that it doesn't automatically upgrade to the latest version. 

Whenever you want to upgrade, you will want to get in touch with your development team to audit the theme and extensions, test the new version in sandbox, make any updates to a customization, and deploy to production when fully tested. 

SuiteCommerce Standard does have managed updates, but just be aware of your customization's prior to each update. There are ways that developers can use extensibility API (managed NetSuite functions) to ensure that a customization will break less frequently. 

What Is SuiteCommerce And How Does It Compare? 

If you have NetSuite ERP, you know that there is power to having all your data in a single location. This page goes through key areas of the SuiteCommerce module to help you understand why it beats Shopify Plus, Magento, and other ecommerce platform options. Since SuiteCommerce requires NetSuite ERP, we make the assumption that you are either implementing NetSuite or already have NetSuite as an platform. In our changing world, we have seen dramatic increase in online sales over the past year. A major shift to online shopping has been occurring for the last decade, but the most recent world events have put more pressure on organizations to change earlier than expected. By the end of this page, we hope that you will be more informed to make an ecommerce decision. If you want to get a demo of SuiteCommerce and how it works, then schedule a demo with our NetSuite solutions consultants. 

SuiteCommerce is NetSuite's flagship ecommerce platform that is pre-integrated into the ERP. These means that companies don't need to pay for an integration between an ecommerce platform and NetSuite. 

For example, if you were to purchase Shopify Plus as your ecommerce platform, you would need to pay approximately $5000 per year for the connection between Shopify and NetSuite. You would also need to pay for the implementation of the connection (mapping data). 

If you had SuiteCommerce, you would not need to pay for this connection or the implementation of the mapping. SuiteCommerce comes unified with order and inventory management, CRM, and ERP. ​ 

NetSuite ERP drives the ecommerce experience which means that having total access to your ERP data is essential to scaling your ecommerce solution. Since SuiteCommerce is built by NetSuite for NetSuite, all the data is accessible so that your ecommerce solution can change as your business changes. You won't hit a roadblock keeping you from optimizing the ecommerce user experience for both B2B and B2C. 

Summary 

If you have NetSuite or are planning to get NetSuite as your ERP, stay up to date with the latest SuiteCommerce features to see how it best fits into your business modal. If you want to get SuiteCommerce Standard to save more on your monthly licensing, then make sure to chat with a SuiteCommerce developer to help identify any areas that you may need SuiteCommerce Advanced in the future. 

Spending a little time and money identifying where SuiteCommerce Standard may be the better fit will help you cut costs and position yourself for the seamless upgrade to SuiteCommerce Advanced when you are ready. If you are not quite convinced, check out this ecommerce comparison by Ecommerce Reviews. 

Where To Find A NetSuite Developer? 

NetSuite developers are in high demand so it can be challenging to find one in your area. It is best to contract this type of work and not expect to find one to hire full time. A top NetSuite developer will be able to code all types of SuiteScript including user-event, scheduled, client, and map-reduced. Each of these types of suitescript provide unique properties to your NetSuite instance. 

In combination with a NetSuite consultant, you’ll be able to strategically use your ERP platform to maximize the benefits. Automations are key to efficiency which is why so many companies choose NetSuite are their ecommerce and ERP platform. It is fully customizable with not limits for developers to implement solutions that resolve your pain points. 

NetSuite Add-Ons And Apps? 

There are some new initiatives by SuiteMarkets which is a 3rd party app platform that allows you to purchase SuiteCommerce and NetSuite ERP apps/features. It is a great way to find existing solutions for NetSuite ERP or SuiteCommerce. It is something to keep in mind as the platform continues to grow and more features get listed. 

Since it is free to list solutions, there are more smaller applications being listed such as order tracking, blogs, custom themes, customer center add-ons, in addition to software companies. 

There is also NetSuite’s app platform which is primarily used to inform NetSuite customers of software that integrates into the platform. Shopify has something similar including applications that help them integrate into the NetSuite platform. More and more customers are utilizing NetSuite as an ecommerce platform in additional to its reporting, warehouse management, HR, and other ERP features. This expands beyond your traditional ecommerce website and includes integrations to popular ecommerce solutions including Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Overstock. 

Caleb Schmitz, a NetSuite developer and SuiteCommerce Specialist at Anchor Group. Anchor Group is a NetSuite implementation partner that focuses specifically on NetSuite training and NetSuite’s SuiteCommerce.

How Packaging Can Raise Brand Awareness

Everybody knows the old saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”. Everybody also knows that book-publishing companies (and marketing-conscious independent authors) put a lot of effort into creating great covers for books. 

In fact, book covers are widely held to be crucial to the success of a book and some of them even wind up being reproduced as separate artwork. In short, packaging matters a lot and customers will use it to make judgments about your brand. With that in mind, Ansini, who specialise in consumer packaging, share their three points to consider when looking at your packaging options. 

Sustainability Is Now A Big Issue 

Customers understand that packaging has to protect the product, hence, if a product is large and/or delicate they will appreciate that it will usually need a decent amount of packaging in order to keep it safe. There is, however, less and less tolerance for brands using packaging purely for their convenience (e.g. plastic-wrapped fruit and vegetables) or to “enhance the brand’s message”. In other words, use the minimum amount of packaging to do what you need to do and say what you can say on that, do not use packaging just because you can. 

Accessibility Matters 

The Equality Act requires companies not to discriminate against people based on certain, protected criteria. These days, it’s probably very unlikely that many companies will do this deliberately; however, it is entirely possible that companies are still discriminating through ignorance. 

For example, it has been highlighted that some company websites are very challenging to navigate if a user has certain disabilities such as visual impairments or impaired motor skills. Similar comments can apply to packaging. For example, if you’re going to include important information on your packaging, then you need to make sure that it is presented in a way which is accessible to everyone. 

If you’re tempted to think that this isn’t a brand-awareness issue, then we’d recommend you think again. Basically, this is a customer-service issue and if your company develops a reputation for poor customer service then no amount of beautiful packaging will correct it. 

The Overall User Experience Has To Be Good 

In all likelihood, a person’s first experience of your packaging will be a visual one; hence your packaging should be appealing to the eye. If, however, they continue to investigate your product, their next experience of it will be a tactile one. 

Therefore, it’s important to think about how your packaging feels in the hand and, in particular, if there are any strategies you could use to make it easier for the customer to make a purchase. For example, if an item is bulky, could your packaging include some type of handle to make it easier to carry? 

Finally, picking up from the first point, it’s also important to look at the experience of getting an item out of the packaging. While customers do understand that packaging has to be secure, they also understand the concept of proportionality. In other words, do what is necessary to keep your product safe and stop there. 

Ansini are specialists in vacuum forming and product packaging, with over 25 years' experience in plastic product and aircraft seat manufacturing.

How to Increase Sales with Creative Product Labels

Want to get more product sales and profits?

Trying to create the best labels for your product branding?

Creative design is essential within every part of your business branding strategy whether that includes designs for digital signage, social media profiles, or product labels. A great design can be the one thing that allows your product to move ahead of competitors and get you more sales than you can handle.

It is important that you put a lot of effort into crafting the perfect label if you want to make sure your product is flying off the shelves.

Below we will give you our top 4 tips for increasing sales with creative product labels.


1. Add Better Visuals

One of the best things you can do to make your product labels more interesting and creative is to add some stylish, high-quality visuals to it.

Using illustrations, graphics, and images that relate to your product or catch a customer's eye in some way can be helpful for getting their attention. However, make sure you don't overdo it as you may risk making your label look too cluttered.


2. Choose the Right Color Scheme

Choosing the right color scheme is also important for improving your product labels. Believe it or not, color psychology plays a part in the products customers choose to purchase so don't neglect this component.

Red, for example, is the color of attraction while blue evokes a feeling calmness in anyone who looks at it. Make sure that you're using color psychology to your advantage to attract customers and to draw attention to your product.


3. Experiment With Typography

Choosing the right typography can make all the difference in creating a great label that gets you more sales. Choose your fonts and typefaces carefully and know your customer when determining which font aesthetic would speak to them.

Additionally, you may want to consider using more than one typeface on your label. Using two or more typefaces together can add some differentiation and visual interest to your label.

Using two typefaces to great effect can help make your label more easy to understand and will make your label seem less cluttered as well.


4. Improve Readability

The final thing to remember when designing high-quality product labels is that you need to make sure your labels are as readable as possible.

While it is great to make creative labels, you also don't want to go overboard with it. Even if your product label has illustrations, interesting typefaces, or attention-grabbing color schemes you need to ensure that it's all part of a cohesive whole. It should be able to be read easily by anyone considering making a purchase.

Using the right font and adding more white space can help with improving readability. You should also make sure that you're using high-quality sticker paper sheets or paper for your labels.


Getting More Sales With Your Product Labels

While there is a lot to consider for ensuring your product labels will attract sales, by using the tips above you will have a great chance of getting more customers with your labels. By thinking long and hard about your label design, all of the time you spent making the product itself will be well worth it in the end.

Looking for more marketing and branding tips? Click here to find out which advertising methods are best for your business to use.

Accepting Payments: Is a Payment Processor Better Than a Merchant Account?

Given that 96% of American consumers are now shopping online, it's important to have the right setup installed. You need a payment processor that makes sense to your company and the type of customers that you serve.

Here is everything you need to know about how a merchant account differs from a payment processor.


Understanding Merchant Accounts

If you want to accept prompt payments at your company, you're going to want to have an account that helps you process card payments faster. The payment gateway that you set up is going to deposit funds from your credit card into that account. Setting up a designated schedule allows you to make sure those payments end up in your business's bank account to keep the cash flow moving.

Your merchant account isn't going to be the same as your business's bank account. Some people are confused by this fact and end up conflating the two incorrectly. The money that your business earns should end up in a business bank account where you can work with it. Your merchant account is a place that you hold deposits at.

It allows for money to be deposited from payments and also provides a way to easily process returns. If you had to take the money for returns out of your business's bank account, you'd have some challenging tax issues to deal with.

If you have money in your merchant account, any returns get subtracted from that account. The funds that remain will, on a scheduled basis, then end up getting deposited in your bank account.

If you take payment from multiple sources, your merchant account works to ensure that everything comes to one place and results in one deposit. Rather than having to track down multiple deposits, your merchant account makes your money easier to manage and reconcile later on.


Understanding What a Payment Gateway Is

A payment gateway differs from thew ay a merchant account works. It's a type of technology that helps to connect all sorts of online merchants and payment networks together. In seconds, it integrates everything in a central location with a common interface.

A payment gateway is meant to integrate with your e-commerce site or your online store. It makes life easier by integrating your ability to process cards with everything else that your business does. Online credit card processing is unnecessarily complicated without a payment gateway.

The gateway is meant to add a layer of security while you capture the payment details that your customers leave behind with their transactions. With tools provided by the payment gateway, the merchant sends a secure packet of data containing all of the shopper's information. The gateway helps by encrypting the payment information that it transmits, making it hard to hack.

Payment gateways cut right to the chase by routing information to the payment processor or the bank managing the money. The bank or the processor takes the wheel for the rest of the process. Using this system banks get the chance to screen for fraud and then route transactions over to the card's network.

The whole thing happens instantaneously and then sends an approval or a declination via the gateway. This either directs shoppers to a confirmation page or tells them to try another form of payment.


Understanding Payment Gateways and Processors

A payment processor is connected directly to card networks like Visa or American Express. Meanwhile, a payment gateway helps to connect merchants with processors. They're a centralized hub that helps to keep payments running smoothly and as payment processors become larger, they use gateways to help.

The ideal gateway helps by offering multiple payment methods. Since people are using more than just credit cards to pay for things online, the number of different tools require mediation. Many payment gateways support the whole variety of payment options to help attract and retain a larger number of customers.

With eWallets, direct deposits, wire transfers, and touchless payment options growing, there is a growing need for tools to help.

Payment gateways help with fraud protection. Since online businesses risk a leak or an attack every time they send data for a payment, it's important to stay on top of the potential for fraud. If a business sees a high rate or fraud, they're going to end up with chargeback fees and penalties.

This ruins reputations and leads to lost profit as customers get fed up with the risk that they're confronted with just by supporting a business.

More people are using recurring billing and subscription services to help keep their bills paid on time. Since you only need to set up payment for these once, your information needs to be safely and securely stored in the interim. Payment gateways are responsible for updating and protecting this information regularly.


Which Works for You?

As things change in every industry, it's going to be more important for you to have a robust payment gateway than a merchant account. However, it's likely that more companies are going to offer better solutions for merchant accounts that allow for flexibility. They're going to have to grow or risk dying out.

Ask around other people in your industry or ask colleagues what they prefer to use before you sign any contracts. Check to see which type of payment method is going to cost you the least while giving your customers access with any type of payment they're likely to choose.

See what High Risk Solutions has to offer for some insight into potential solutions.


A Payment Processor is Vital No Matter How You Do Business

You're going to need a payment processor if you accept any kind of non-cash payment at all. If you're looking to improve your service, you should consider combining a payment gateway with a processor.

If you're looking to modernize your marketing while you're at it, check out our guide to using SEO to your advantage.