Although the term “cloud” is seeing increasing use, it’s necessary to clarify what portion of “the cloud” is of interest to a particular audience. For small and medium businesses (SMBs), there are generally two areas of relevance in the evolution of IT services to the cloud. The first is the application layer, commonly referred [...]
By Melissa J Luther
Consumers are becoming more comfortable with online shopping, but are also still concerned with online security, and they have no problem aborting the buying process if they feel their personal information may be at risk. A recent poll of online shoppers by the National Cyber security Alliance (NCSA) found that when they abandoned a shopping cart, 63 percent of the time it was due to concerns about security. continue »
By Melissa J Luther
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer and is a protocol that allows for secure communication on the Internet. It is built into all the major browsers and servers, so enabling this capability on your site is as simple as installing a digital certificate. continue »
By Winmark Business Solutions
Some 98 percent of Internet shoppers leave ecommerce sites without buying. So to help refine search engine marketing plans and possibly recapture lost sales, Internet-savvy marketers are starting to use retargeting technology to pursue customers who have left their Web sites. continue »
By Winmark Business Solutions
People used to abandon online shopping carts because they didn’t understand how online stores and ecommerce works. Now, it’s because they do.
Despite ongoing efforts to streamline online purchasing processes, online retailers continue to experience staggering abandonment rates: studies estimate that 50 to 90 percent of all shopping cart purchases are abandoned midstream. continue »
By Winmark Business Solutions
No one likes waiting in line, and ecommerce is no exception. Express payment options from companies such as PayPal and Google provide online shoppers with what they’re looking for—a secure, hassle-free shopping experience. And they provide advantages to many online store merchants, too. continue »
By Joanna Fletcher
Although many people have successfully bought and sold items from Web sites such as Amazon or Ebay, there is still a hurdle for small businesspeople to overcome when selling online. Consumers need to trust that their personal information, especially credit card details, are in good hands, before they will even consider buying from someone they have never met. continue »
By Joanna Fletcher
Making money from your Web site can seem pretty straightforward – generate traffic then sell ad space, or create a virtual store to sell your own products, or join an affiliate program from one of the big guys like Amazon. Once you have a solid ecommerce process like Paypal or a shopping cart, there are some other ways to make your Web site work for you and start making some money. continue »
By Joyce V. Harrison
You want the sweat equity that you put into your retail Web site to pay off in profitability. Read on for some best practices to follow that may improve the ROI of your online business. continue »
By Emele Maisey
Before implementing the SEO tips below, you must first do thorough keyword (key-phrase) research. Do not guess what people are typing in the search engines. After all, what’s the point in showing up in the top position on Google for a phrase that no one searches for? continue »
By Monique Martin
With so many options for selling your products online, deciding which is best can be overwhelming for any small business. Web sites like eBay, Etsy and Amazon offer lots of buyers, but which, if any, are right for your business? continue »
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