1ShoppingCart’s Heading to the BigSeminar

BigSeminar

The 10th BigSeminar is being held in Atlanta, Georgia from October 5th to Ocotber 7th and despite the fact that going means I’ll be missing Thanksgiving (Canadian), I’ll be attending as part of the 1ShoppingCart product management team.

One of my goals for Atlanta is to touch base with as many of our merchants as possible.

I want to know what you think of the system. I want to talk about how you’re using it. I want to know how you’re succeeding online and what else you’re using to do it.

So…

Are YOU going to the BigSeminar? I’ve talked to a few people who are already but I have three or four days worth of time in Georgia and would love to hear from you too!

If you’re going and want to meet the 1ShoppingCart product management team let me know or feel free to seek us out at the show.

You’ll probably find me either:

Sitting near the fringes with a laptop; twittering and blogging away
Running around with video camera in hand asking attendees eCommerce related questions

Hope to see you at the BigSeminar this week!

Inside Scoop 01 Oct 2007 04:14 pm

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Social Media Links Roundup

We’ve all heard a lot about social media over the past year but I have found that many business owners still don’t really know what the big deal is, how the social media world applies to their business/company or what to do after creating an account on Facebook. If this describes you or your business, Kari Hanson has some answers for you in her post on how to get started with social media.

And for the more advance social media player, PR Squared has posted a couple of Social Media Tactics articles that are worth the read. Can be found here, and here (and I love the image used on this second post! Awesome find Todd!)

On a slightly different note, Chris Brogan has a great post titled Presentation Secrets for Social Communicators. Not social media you say? It’s all about conversation I say.

Yesterday BuzzBin interviewed Social Media expert, blogger and podcaster C.C. Chapman and for some great insight into Social Media head over and give it a read!

And the best possible way to finish of Links 2.0 Visit this Friday is with this post about the 9 worst mistakes you can make in Social Media.

Have a great weekend!

Uncategorized & Links 2.0 Visit 28 Sep 2007 04:52 pm

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My Top Blog Design Tips

Content is King. Google doesn’t look at your design. Many visitors will often read your content from their favorite RSS reader.

So really, how important is Blog Design for your business?

Does it affect your traffic? Does it affect your subscriber base? Does anyone care?

In short – Yes!

Here’s a few observations made while surfing the web (Hey, I do A LOT of surfing!)

I should also mention that I’m not even talking about things like floating angels, snowflakes that follow my cursor or background colors that automatically change every 30 seconds thanks to the wonders of javascript (for these sites I’ll stay around only long enough to laugh for a bit, then surf elsewhere). The following is a reference for bloggers who are actually trying to succeed online but may be using their blogs default template or a poorly designed alternative.

The search engines don’t care if your site looks any good, but I do and you’re writing for me not Google. If you’re not writing for me then I’m not coming back anyway.

It’s about perceived value. If I hit your site and see you’ve clearly put 0 effort into your design, I’ll automatically question how much time you’ve put into your message. I may still read your post depending on how I arrived, but I’ll be reading with a filter that didn’t need to be there in the first place.

There’s no shortage of competition out there. So unless you happen to be the # 1 voice in your industry and provide indispensable information with every post, which is unlikely, give me a reason to stay, not a reason to leave.

The package may not make the product (see next point), but it can certainly break it.

If you break new design ground you may generate a temporary buzz but if you have nothing to say your creative wonder of a blog isn’t going to convince me to come back a second time.

If your site uses yellow, red, pink or other light font colors I can’t read it… I’m partially color-blind and you just lost me.

It doesn’t matter if your regulars use RSS feeders unless you WANT a soapbox. Your job as a blogger is to keep people coming back to the SITE. You can’t have a conversation if your readers stay at arms length so give them a friendly place to come back to!

There’s something to be said for image. You don’t go to a dentist with discolored, cracked teeth or a chiropractor who sports a cane and you generally wouldn’t buy from a sales man dressed in a speedo! People are coming to your blog with certain expectations, understanding those expectations and exceeding them is better than the alternative.

Don’t design for your tastes (unless you’re an historically proven trendsetter). Let me put that another way: I don’t care that you really like yellow and black; the colors of wasps, bees and danger signs don’t belong in large quantities on your blog template!

This won’t apply to all blogs, but I read a large sampling of business related blogs and this one is for those bloggers. If your blog template NEVER changes, you obviously aren’t trying new things or testing the results and I’m going to question your online business savvy.

Having a great looking blog doesn’t mean you need to break the bank hiring a designer. There are literally tens, if not hundreds of thousands of completely free template designs out there if you’re using a blog platform like WordPress. (see here or here)

I’ll end with a caveat and final thought

My Caveat

A lack of a unique and trendy Blog design shouldn’t hold you back from starting a blog. At the end of the day, it’s your message that brings people in, not your design (unless you are a blog about design). That being said, a sleek design should be at the top of your ‘To Do’ list once you get the ball rolling!

My Final Word (for today)

If you get involved in a redo of your blog template, don’t forget your priorities; a blog’s template should always serve to Enhance the presentation of your content and never overshadow it, and what’s really important in a Blog template is speed, accessibility and clarity.

Do you have any great tips that I haven’t covered here? Or do you disagree with any of my advice? Let me know by leaving a comment!

Tools & Tips & Design 17 Sep 2007 03:50 pm

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Links 2.0 Visit column launched

Now that the typically busy summer is drawing to a close I’ll be redoubling my efforts to blog more regularly about information you can use to help improve your business and marketing efforts online.

And to get started on the right foot, I’d like to announce the launch of a new column here at 1ShoppingCart’s ShopTalk blog: Links 2.0 Visit (links to visit!)

For today, let’s look at the flip side of a couple of Web 2.0 coins:

Web 2.0 PR

Brian Solis takes a look at what went wrong with the iPhone pricing fiasco, and how Apple fixed it. A good look at a company who is great with Web 2.0 PR:
Apple PR recovery
Brian Solis is Principal of FutureWorks, an award-winning PR agency in Silicon Valley.

On the other end of the spectrum, Shel Holtz of Holtz Communication & Technology takes a look at a company (A&P Groceries) who completely botched a Web 2.0 PR opportunity:
A&P fiasco

Embracing Web 2.0

Meanwhile, Todd Defren, PR guru and Principal at SHIFT Communications, looks at a company who is embracing the social web in a great way:
GM gets it right

On the flip side, here’s a similar example that’s a little more dubious. Geoff Livingston discusses the CIA’s efforts to create a social community for spies… yes, you read that correctly:
What is the CIA thinking!?

Links 2.0 Visit 14 Sep 2007 02:27 pm

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Practical eCommerce Interviews 1ShoppingCart

PeArticle Last month we were contacted by an editor of Practical eCommerce looking for an interview for their upcoming Shopping Cart Review edition and were happy to oblige and answer their questions.

After submitting our interview answers to Practical eCommerce they went through the standard journalistic license filter and, because the finished product is not the same as the one we supplied (which is fine!), I thought it would be nice to post the full interview here for the benefit of our Merchants.

Make sure you click over and check out the final Practical eCommerce version of the Hosted Shopping Cart Review Interview too.

Hosted Solution Questions - from PracticaleCommerce.com

1. Why should an ecommerce business consider a hosted shopping cart, versus purchasing a one-time cart license?

A hosted solution ensures:

Quick implementation and turn around, inclusive security, 24/7 monitoring, no investment in infrastructure, full & continued support, regular automatic & free software upgrades, a maintenance free environment, easy data management accessible from anywhere in the world and a generally more robust system.

In addition to what you would find in a standard hosted shopping cart solution, 1ShoppingCart also offers advanced support, industry leading security with full CISP/PCI certification, and fully integrated email, broadcast and affiliate marketing modules.

As a hosted solution we are responsible for the entire infrastructure, as well as maintaining the safe and smooth operation of our merchant’s data and order process and we’re fully prepared to deal with any emergency situations that may occur with our merchants businesses online.

Really, a hosted solution is perfect for most entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses which don’t have or want to invest in their own IT departments, and choosing to run your business online using a hosted shopping cart solution would prove to be the cheaper, easier and least risky solution for most business owners.

2. Critics say that hosted carts are less flexible than licensed carts. Is this true?

That’s such a broad generalization. It’s sort of like saying all domestic cars are less reliable than imports.

Like licensed carts, not all hosted carts were created equal and I’m sure you’d find both more and less flexible versions in both categories.

The only aspect of the 1ShoppingCart system that could possibly be called ‘less flexible’ was done by design and would be the actual shopping cart checkout page which resides on our servers and still offers a large amount of customization.

We’ve always focused on listening to the requirements and needs of the merchants using our system and have been very fortunate to have attracted a core group of merchants early on who also happen to be among the leading internet marketers and entrepreneurs online today.

Their feedback has helped us create a shopping cart page built to provide as much customization as possible while still providing one of the most secure shopping experiences currently available.

And while it may be true that some licensed carts may offer slightly more ‘shopping cart page’ customization (as long as you’re comfortable programming your own changes or paying for a developer to do it) many of those same carts lock you into very specific templates and design constraints through your entire storefront (website, catalogue pages etc); something you won’t encounter with a hosted shopping cart like 1ShoppingCart.com.

As a whole, 1ShoppingCart’s eCommerce platform offers the ultimate eCommerce flexibility with control over the entire process through its unique integration method, providing FULL control over the design, look & feel, SEO etc. of your own website and order process with absolutely zero design limitations.

3. What does 1ShoppingCart cost? Price ranges?

Our Shopping Cart package is just $29 per month and includes everything needed to run a business online.

One of the benefits of being a hosted solution allows for us to offer a whole suite of more advanced tools including email and broadcast marketing, affiliate marketing, ad tracking, dedicated IP services etc., without having to charge our merchants until their businesses are prepared to take advantage of the increased functionality. All modules are pre-integrated and available with a flip-of-a-switch readiness that allows us to grow alongside our merchants needs.

Standard packages cost between $29 and $79 monthly with discounts available on annual packages. The low monthly prices with no start up fees ensure a low start-up and maintenance cost for any business.

4. By PeC’s count, there are over 300 hosted and licensed carts available. How can a smaller business know which of these is the best fit? Any advice for a smaller business owner?

It’s hard to do when you’re first starting out, but it’s really important to think about where your business is going to be in 1, 3 and 5 years and choose a platform that will continue to be a viable solution throughout your growth.

Finding a solution that can grow with your business, while not having to pay for features you aren’t using right from the get-go will prove to be an extremely valuable asset for your small business.

Also consider the amount of time you want to invest in maintaining and upgrading your eCommerce solution. Most business owners will agree that time is much better spent on efforts to grow their business, not in applying the latest patch to your software or in long conference calls trying to figure out if your order process meets the newest stringent requirements being set out by the credit card industry; and that means a hosted solution is the way to go.

Other things to consider include:

Time to market – How long it takes you to launch your eCommerce store after investing in a solution. For instance, with 1ShoppingCart and a pre-existing website, a merchant could be up and running with a few products within an hour!
Security – Is the cart PCI/CISP certified? Do they offer HackerSafe?
Support – Can you call someone? Submit email or ticket support? What are the hours of operation? How well trained is the person helping you?
Is there growth potential – Is the shopping cart just a shopping cart or does it offer advanced features like email marketing, autoresponder follow-up, affiliate management, ad tracking, analytics etc.? Do you have to pay for these features before you’re ready to use them?

5. Other thoughts on hosted or licensed carts?

The fact is there are a variety of great licensed and hosted solution shopping carts available. You really have to compare what you’re getting for your money and consider how much time you want to, as a business owner, dedicate to integrating and maintaining your shopping cart process.

At 1ShoppingCart.com we’re very focused on the needs of the small business owner and ensuring a flawless and secure shopping experience. This includes supporting our merchants through the entire growth of their business online, enabling them to concentrate on growing and marketing their own businesses.

When you invest your business in a hosted system like 1ShoppingCart you’re paying for an entire secure infrastructure where millions of dollars have already been invested to build-in the highest levels of certified security, including PCI/CISP certification through the credit card industry and HackerSafe certification through ScanAlert. Both of which might be unrealistic for the average small business owner to implement but both of which are absolutely necessary for business online today.

For instance, the credit card industry enforces fines and penalties of up to $500,000 PER INCIDENT of credit card data loss when not PCI/CISP compliant. Alternatively, HackerSafe is the world’s most recognized assurance of internet security and studies have shown that displaying the HackerSafe logo is enough to increase conversions by up to 14%. 1ShoppingCart features the HackerSafe logo on the checkout process and will shortly be making it available for our merchant’s websites!

eCommerce & Staff Corner 12 Sep 2007 04:14 pm

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