A customer review system is one of the top features of an ecommerce website. It provides credibility through the word of others who have previously purchased the products or services. This singular feature differentiates the online shopping experience from brick-and-mortar stores more than any other. While many ecommerce websites prominently display customer reviews on their product pages, not all customer-review platforms are equally effective.

Analyzing Customer Review Platforms; Amazon’s Example

International orders are an often overlooked market for ecommerce merchants. Prior to accepting them, however, merchants should configure their sites to increase international profits and reduce potential losses. Here are eight tips to help.

Configuring an Ecommerce Site for International Orders; 8 Tips

One of the main goals of an ecommerce site is to decrease the time it takes consumers to add products to their cart. By utilizing a “quick view” feature, a site can remove many obstacles — including clicks — and help shoppers initiate their ordering with relative ease and efficiency.

“Quick view” is also known as “quick look,” among other names. It enables visitors to view product details — on a category page, a cart, or any other page — without a page refresh. The product details are launched in a modal (i.e. pop-up) window, which opens on the page the visitor is on, and typically displays a truncated set of product details.

Using ‘Quick Views’ to Increase Conversions

Many successful ecommerce businesses focus their marketing efforts on search engine optimization, shopping feeds, email, affiliates, and pay-per-click advertising. However, websites that sell consumable products — such as supplements, batteries, food, snacks, vitamins, beverages, and condiments — can tap into a new revenue source: the “auto ship” program.

‘Auto Ship’ Programs Generate Repeat Sales

Back in October, Google made an update that blocks website analytic systems from tracking Google search terms used by visitors to your site who are logged into their Google account. This search update was touted by Google as “protecting the personalized search results”

Google (not provided)

The W³ Awards is the first major web competition to be accessible to the biggest agencies, the smallest firms, and everyone in between. Small firms (us) are as likely to win as Fortune 500 companies and international agencies.

The W³ Awards honors creative excellence on the Web, and recognizes the creative and marketing professionals behind award winning Websites, Web Video and Online Marketing programs. Simply put, the W³ is the first major Web competition to be accessible to the biggest agencies, the smallest firms, and everyone in between. Small firms are as likely to win as Fortune 500 companies and international agencies.

The W3 Awards is sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from a “Who’s Who” of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms. Please visit www.iavisarts.org for a full member list and additional information.

Low prices, fast shipping and good customer service are expected by most consumers. What can you do to differentiate your company and create a vibrant community of customer advocates?

Consider a “questions and answers” system. It solves the needs of (a) prospective customers not knowing enough about a product to buy it, and (b) existing customers who purchased a product but are unsure on how to use it.

Admiring Apple’s ‘Questions & Answers’ Feature

AmazingGrass.com features a brand new systems: Auto Ship!  Auto Ship allows customers to sign up to receive recurring orders of products on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis! Customers can choose the frequency, quantity, and shipping address of their recurring Auto Ship order.

Some of the feedback received with the launch of the site:

“I thought the site was visually appealing, user friendly and gave very good information/descriptions of its products which helped convince me that these products would be worth trying out.”

“I would rate it a 9 (out of 10). I really felt the design, functionality and overall professionalism of the site was very good and as I indicated above it did convince me of wanting to look further into these products and try them out. I liked the simplicity of the site – nothing complicated or confusing about it and the descriptions of the products were straightforward and easy to understand benefits etc.

“I like the simplicity, the navigation and set up is great. anyone would be able to find and order from the site and feel taken care off. the ordering is simple and the recurring option is very easy to understand and select. checkout is standard, and simple to view and understand. “

“9 (out of 10) it’s a great working site.”

“It is simple; user friendly, easy to understand and anyone can make an order blindfolded”

“the mechanics of the site are pretty awesome. simple and easy to use”

“Excellent site that is attractive on the eye, quick loading, intuitively navigable, and has enough to interest and inform me about the benefits of consuming healthy green grass.”

With demand at the office growing every day for ‘Grandpa’s greens,’ Brandon and Todd ditched their corporate jobs and started Amazing Grass on a kitchen table in San Francisco.  Now, a decade later, this grassroots company is the leading producer and distributor of organic Green SuperFoods.  For over 60 years, their family farm in Kansas has perfected the growing, harvesting, dehydration and storage of organic alfalfa and cereal grasses – ensuring optimal nutrition in some of the world’s most nutrient dense Green SuperFoods.

In working to help develop eCommerce websites for small businesses, I have seen a few successes and failures over the last 12 years. There are myriad articles to be read on how to start an eCommerce site, and how to market your eCommerce site, but there aren’t many articles on why NOT to start an eCommerce business!

Why NOT to Start an eCommerce Business – Part 1

Optimizing conversion rates can sometimes seem like a daunting task. You know that you’ve got a good product to sell, but how can you get people interested in your website? More importantly, how can you do this without spending a lot of money? Here are 5 techniques to utilize the tools that are most likely already at your disposal!

5 Quick and Easy Methods to Get and Keep Customers