Chances are, while you're reading this, your inbox is overflowing with marketing emails for scores of different products and services. What makes you take the first desired action of opening the message? What makes you actually read what's inside, and what drives you to click a call to action? If you're not certain, that's okay, because many people are unable to explain exactly … [Read more...]
How Website Load Times Eat Into Profits
If you ever truly wondered - and I hope you have - about how much the loading time of your website affects total sales and profits, Kissmetrics put together a mother of all infographics. In it, you'll find the typical stats on how mere seconds can make or break a visitor's session, as well as how the impatience of mobile users has grown. However, there are a few key takeaways … [Read more...]
Selling Online? Each Product Needs 5 Different Descriptions
For online stores, product descriptions are key to bringing in traffic and closing sales. To reach the broadest audience and increase incoming traffic and conversions, you need to present your products differently in various locations. That means telling each product's story in different forms based on where the product will be listed. Sure, you can use algorithms to … [Read more...]
What’s Missing in Your Video Marketing
That video you created to market your product or services to the masses? You know, the one you spent a heap of money on? It's beautiful, right? It's grabbing, it's just the right length, and it's so-darned convincing you're sure it will boost conversions like nothing else. Right. Perhaps that video is unbelievably stellar. Maybe it will go viral amongst your target … [Read more...]
Study Shows Marketers Having Difficulty Reaching Target Audiences Properly
A recent study by Curalate reveals that, as a whole, marketers are failing when it comes to generating the right creatives for each channel. While 86% of marketers agree that the type of channel (social, email, online ads, etc.) dictates which image to use, 78% say they wind up using the same graphic across nearly all channels. That means they're using the same image to hype a … [Read more...]
Stock Photos Could Be Hurting Your Business
Now, more than ever, internet users are visual. Design, colors, graphics, photos and other media all determine if they're going to hang out for a bit, or leave before 8 seconds is up. We know that integrating images in web pages is key to illustrate points and break the monotony of lengthy text. The question is, how are you deciding which images to use? Stock photos are just … [Read more...]
What to Include in Navigation for Higher Conversions
With the average attention span of online shoppers decreasing — reportedly, we now have no more than 8 seconds to inform web visitors of important details — the tried-and-true methods of navigation are changing. For years, the most common way to present shipping details, guarantees, size charts, and other pertinent product and order information has been incorporating links … [Read more...]
Always Be Building Your Email List
I'm in awe whenever I come across an online business that doesn't send marketing emails to current and potential customers. Even worse? When an established business launches its first email marketing program with zero subscribers. These businesses are not alone in the decision not to collect email addresses until they are ready to connect. But it's a wrong way of thinking. I … [Read more...]
Classic Landing Page Tips that Work (INFOGRAPHIC)
Landing pages are key for both Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and conversions. While visitors can land on any page in the site, directing traffic to a designated landing page helps convert by showing all the key features of a service, product or group of products. Unfortunately, most websites get it wrong. This useful infographic from PPC Hero (via Hanapin Marketing) … [Read more...]
PeC: How to Boost Sales on Gift-giving Pages
During the holidays, specialty stores often see boosts in traffic as people hunt for both common and unique gifts. Most other stores put a great deal of focus on the Christmas shopping season, but nearly any ecommerce site can benefit year-round. Read My Post at PracticalEcommerce > … [Read more...]
Online Retailer Shows Us How to Give Shoppers What They Want
Typically infographics come from consulting and marketing firms, so I was surprised to find that alight - plus size clothing - an online retailer of plus size clothing - shared one that focuses on increasing conversions and handling post-order issues. Note, that while mobile apps better keep shoppers "inside" a store, a mobile site brings in more traffic because shoppers … [Read more...]
Optimizing the Welcome Email
Every new subscriber to your email list should receive verification. Typically this is in the form of an email that first thanks the subscriber, and then highlights any key points, such as a current sale, links to a community, and details on how to get in touch. Welcome emails can actually help convert shoppers. This is dependent upon what is marketed in the mailing. Take … [Read more...]