Pamela Hazelton » PeC Articles

PeC: 5 Ways to Promote Multi-Item Orders

Pamela — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:59:13 +0000

Thanksgiving has nearly disappeared at many retail outlets, as companies push customers into holiday shopping even before Halloween candy has had a chance to be cleared from the shelves.

Shoppers are quickly reminded that Christmas is less than 10 weeks away, and they’ll be combing online resources and stores to find the best deals. Key decision-making offers include free or discounted shipping, bonus gifts, per-item specials and return policies.

Your goal, however, shouldn’t solely be focused on selling to the largest number of people. More items per order garners higher profits.

Multi-item purchasing means less time spent processing and shipping orders, providing maximum benefits per transaction.

Read article at Practical eCommerce >>

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© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2011/10/21.
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Post tags: Ecommerce, marketing, practical ecommerce

PeC: Increase Conversions with Alternate Payment Methods

Pamela — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:00:06 +0000

Ten years ago, PayPal was the ideal solution for small businesses that couldn’t justify the high costs of a merchant account. In its infancy, the growth of PayPal user accounts came from smaller merchants.

PayPal later became the norm for eBay and large etailers because it allowed people without credit cards to shop online.

Today, more and more online consumers are flocking to payment methods they feel provide the most security. Ideally, this includes methods that rely on users logging into third-party sites they trust, which, in turn, provide merchants with only a transaction number.

Read full article at Practical eCommerce

Pamela Hazelton is a senior contributor to Practical eCommerce.

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© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2011/06/24.
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Post tags: conversion, Ecommerce, practical ecommerce

PeC: 11 Ways to Increase Conversions on Mobile Devices

Pamela — Fri, 27 May 2011 19:11:22 +0000

Last November, while stuck in a waiting room, I shopped for Christmas presents via my smartphone. Few of the stores I visited had a mobile site, making the navigation and checkout process time consuming and frustrating. I gave up on several, seeking out their competition.

I am not alone…

Read full article at Practical eCommerce

Pamela Hazelton is a senior contributor to Practical eCommerce.

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© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2011/05/27.
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Post tags: conversion, Ecommerce, mobile commerce, practical ecommerce, smartphone

PeC: Using the Return Policy to Convert Shoppers into Customers

Pamela — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:03:15 +0000

It’s common practice to focus on trends, design and shopability to (hopefully) increase and maintain sales. For the most part, these topics play a major role in a site’s sell-through rate. Let’s not, however, overlook the less obvious reasons shoppers may be abandoning your online store.

Your return policy can make or break a sale all on its own. Consumers want to feel comfortable about their purchases, and part of that comfort is knowing they can reach out to you if there’s a problem.

Read full article at Practical eCommerce

Pamela Hazelton is a senior contributor to Practical eCommerce.

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© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2011/05/19.
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Post tags: conversion, Ecommerce, practical ecommerce

PeC: Key Details for Effective Product Descriptions

Pamela — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:01:10 +0000

When describing products and services, remember that consumers want to know why they need those items. Use bullet points and lists to present need-to-know information in an easy-to-read format. Furniture stores, for example, would use bullet points to display measurements, color and material. A site selling iPods would use bullet points to list storage capacity, included accessories and color availability, or comparison lists to help guide the shopper to the best device.

PeC (ED): The Case Against Developing in Open Source Software

Pamela — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:35:43 +0000

This is my first article for Ecommerce Developer (part of Practical eCommerce).

Developing an ecommerce site using open source software may be very attractive on the surface. Open source software can usually be uber-customized, allowing developers to implement features as they are needed. Open source software frequently advances more quickly, addressing growing needs in an ever-changing industry. This is especially true in the social world.

Unfortunately, there are many downsides to relying on open source development versus a licensed or hosted solution. Online storeowners quickly realize the additional, substantial benefits of working with a more closed package.

Read my full argument at Ecommerce Developer

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© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2011/03/14.
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Post tags: development, Ecommerce, practical ecommerce, security

PeC: 10 Ecommerce Checkout Strategies

Pamela — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:20:12 +0000

When we hear the word “conversion” we often think landing pages, category and product page layouts and overall navigation. Let’s not forget the final point of conversion: the checkout process.

The checkout page(s) are your last chance to seal the deal and complete a sale. The process itself can make or break the transaction. Confused shoppers may contact you for assistance, but they account for a small percentage of people who have difficulties. The majority of shoppers encountering checkout problems will simply abandon shopping carts and look elsewhere.

Read the full article at Practical eCommerce

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© Pamela Hazelton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Originally published on 2011/02/24.
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Post tags: conversion, Ecommerce, Mistakes That Kill, practical ecommerce, shopability, usability

PeC: Volume Discounts – The Right Words to Boost Sales

Pamela — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:32:02 +0000

Websites like Groupon, which allow people to “crowd purchase” products and services from local retailers, are becoming popular, mostly due to current economies. It makes sense for online stores selling items normally used in bulk to offer volume discounts, but what about specialty or high-dollar items? Groupon is proving that there’s power in numbers, and despite many brick-and-mortar stores reporting losses through the service, it all boils down to setting prices that work for everyone.

This past Christmas my husband and I purchased several of different products for various family members. We bought two Rokus, yet would have purchased more as gifts if we’d been offered a discount for multiple buys. While it’s difficult to compare an electronics site to that of Yankee Candle (which frequently offers discounts on quantity purchases), many people already crowd purchase from online stores simply to save on ship costs.

Online retailers wanting to increase average order amounts and move more product should consider offering a savings when someone purchases either more of a single SKU, or more products overall.

Read full article at Practical eCommerce

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PeC: Selling Last-Minute Gift Certificates

Pamela — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 02:25:23 +0000

For years, gift certificates have been a difficult sell for the majority of small online stores. Despite consumer-advocacy laws that now require retailers to impose no fees and that limit expirations on gift certificates and gift cards, consumers are often reminded (especially during the holidays) that a good percentage of these popular gifts are never redeemed, which lessens their appeal.

In recent years, gift certificates and cards have even become a popular trading commodity on eBay and specialty sites, sometimes selling for more than their face value.

It’s not, however, the selling-off or non-use of gift certificates that turn off most buyers. For most, they want to make sure the recipient can choose from a wide selection of products. This is why mega sites like Amazon and eBay sell hordes of gift certificates each year.

For smaller merchants, that doesn’t mean efforts to gain additional income before year’s end is worthless. It’s all about the marketing and ease of both purchase and redemption.

Read the full article (with screenshots) and Pamela’s tips at Practical eCommerce

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PeC: Last-Minute Holiday Sales Boosters

Pamela — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:17:54 +0000

I’ll be honest. The key elements for increasing traffic and sales this holiday season should have been put in place by October 15th. That doesn’t mean, however, that all hope is lost for those who’ve procrastinated or otherwise failed to implement seasonal changes.

Whether you didn’t get that head start you needed, or you’re looking to tie up a few loose ends, here are eight things that can benefit nearly any type of online store this shopping season.

Continue reading at Practical eCommerce

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