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  • Simple UX Tips to Keep Your eCommerce Store from Losing Money

    Simple UX Tips to Keep Your eCommerce Store from Losing Money

    Shopping cart abandonment is a big problem that can lead to huge loses in revenue for your eCommerce business. However, there are various reasons why shoppers abandon their carts. Some customers might just want to browse your store items while others are simply not interested in what you have to offer. While some reasons for shopping cart abandonment are out of your control, improving the user experience of your online store will get more customers pass the checkout. 

    Understanding the Importance of UX

    User experience, or UX for short, pertains to the overall feeling a customer has when interacting with your eCommerce store. How positive the UX is usually depends on how enjoyable and easy it was for the visitor to navigate the store, find what they were looking for, and place an order. Conversely, issues like unclear pricing, site errors, and insufficient payment methods can cause people to abandon their carts.

    Companies might argue that loyal customers will put up with slight inconveniences. But these days, shoppers have numerous options for buying products and services online. Shopify.com alone has more than 500,000 merchants in about 175 countries. Regardless of how good your product or service is, there are competitors that offer something similar. And if they also provide a better user experience, well, it’s not hard to imagine where the customers would go.

    Ways to Improve UX in Your eCommerce Store

    A good UX can help attract new customers. More importantly, it helps online retailers retain existing customers and boost customer returns. If you want your clients to remain loyal and keep coming back, then you should look for ways to improve your store’s UX. Here are some suggestions:

    1. Enhance Search Results

    About 30 percent of your site’s visitors will be using the search tool. These guests know what they want and are very motivated to purchase it. So you should make it easier for these shoppers to find the product they want by enhancing your site’s search feature.

    Consider where your search bar is located. Place it in a prominent location, like the page’s header. Look at how Amazon positioned theirs—at the top center of the page. Make sure your website’s search feature can be found on every page. This consistency will make your product catalog more accessible and browsing go more smoothly.

    2. Use Good Photos and Improve Product Description

    One disadvantage to online stores is that you can’t hold the product, and customers want to see and touch things they plan on buying. One way to counter this dilemma is to provide clear and captivating images of the product.

    Online sellers have to make sure that they capture key product details in the photograph. Brands should ensure they display large product images and complement them with several alternative pictures and zoomed-in images. Don’t forget the product description. Add key information like available colors, size guides, weight, and other important specifications.

    3. Improve the Checkout Process

    A long and complicated checkout process is one of the main reasons for shopping cart abandonment. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make checking out go more smoothly. First, get rid of all unnecessary fields on the checkout form, like Gender or Birthday. Just stick to the information you really need.

    It’s also a good idea to optimize your site for mobile checkout by using big fonts, larger input fields, and a clear call-to-action (CTA) button. There should also be an indication to the user that their order is being processed. The “loading spinner” can be useful at this point, and it’s something that users would expect to see.

    4. Provide Good Customer Service and Positive Customer Interaction

    There are a number of small, and often neglected, things that can lead to positive customer interaction. Ensuring that banners, CTA buttons, and photos link to the right product is one. Using area maps to link to a specific product when there’s more than one being shown in a photo is another. You don’t want to get your customer’s frustrated. Help them find what they’re looking for and give them a positive experience to remember.

    Image result for live chat

    [Graphic via Wix.com]

    Pay attention to customer reviews, comments, and emails. Make sure you respond to all your users on your different social media outlets. A live chat system is useful since it gives users the chance to contact you immediately, like when they’re about to order but have some questions before making a purchase.

    A positive customer experience will do wonders for your store. Take advantage of the numerous tools and suggestions open to you on how to improve your site’s UX. But make sure you test it thoroughly.

    [Featured image via Pixel.com]

  • Amazon Exceeds Analyst Predictions, Posts its Highest Q4 Profits Ever

    Amazon Exceeds Analyst Predictions, Posts its Highest Q4 Profits Ever

    Buoyed by strong holiday sales and the robust performance of its cloud computing division, Amazon exceeded previous expectations set by analysts for its fourth quarter performance. The eCommerce giant posted a staggering $60.5 billion in revenue, surpassing Wall Street estimates which projected its revenues for the period to only reach $59.83 billion.

    For the fourth quarter last year, Amazon posted a net profit of $1.9 billion, which is a record for the company. By comparison, the 2017 Q4 profit is more than double its net profit for the same period the previous year.

    However, Amazon’s profits got a big boost from a tax benefit. The company received a provisional $789 million boost from a new tax law passed in December.

    In addition, the strong performance of its cloud computing business Amazon Web Services (AWS) is also a contributory factor to its record performance. AWS’s $5.11 billion revenue for the same period likewise defied analysts’ expectations, which was only anticipated to reach $4.97 billion.

    The biggest factor to Amazon’s stratospheric Q4 performance still comes from holiday shopping especially during the period starting on the Thanksgiving holiday until New Year. Pushed by the holiday shopping rush, Amazon’s sales rose to $60.5 billion or a 38 percent increase from the year-ago level.

    According to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the company’s success is, in large part, a result of its AI-powered digital assistant Alexa. In fact, there are indications that Amazon could be investing more in the technology given its initial success.

    “Our 2017 projections for Alexa were very optimistic, and we far exceeded them. We don’t see positive surprises of this magnitude very often—expect us to double down,” Bezos said in a statement.

    For its 2017 full year performance, Amazon posted a 31 percent rise in sales with its 2017 full year revenue of $177.9 billion, as compared to its 2016 sales of only $136 billion. However, its operating profit is only $4.1 billion, a 2 percent decrease from the previous year due to reinvestments.

    Wall Street still remains overwhelmingly positive on Amazon’s future prospects. Recently, its stock rose by 70 percent which resulted in Jeff Bezos overthrowing Bill Gates as the world’s richest man.

  • Snapchat is Now Selling Merch with Launch of New Snap Store

    Snapchat is Now Selling Merch with Launch of New Snap Store

    Is Snapchat trying its hand at eCommerce? That just might be in the works with its launch of a new feature that would essentially enable the company to sell merchandise through the messaging app.

    Snapchat Inc. just opened up the Snap Store today, a new feature that lets users buy merchandise. Currently, it appears that the company is still testing the waters as the online store does not yet offer a lot of items for sale. For now, you will be able to purchase a Dancing Hot Dog Plushie that costs $20 and  Dog Lens T-Shirt costing $30 among others

    The new store can be accessed on the messaging app’s media section, which is called Discover. Before the store’s arrival, the section was reserved solely for video and articles of channels run by media companies such as BuzzFeed, Conde Nast, Hearst, and Vice. Channels for the National Football League, NBC, and ESPN can also be found in the Discover section.

    It is not Snapchat’s first time selling merchandise under its own brand. Previously, the company sold branded items via Amazon such as the Spectacles, a video-recording pair of sunglasses. However, with the introduction of the Snap Store, it would be its first time selling items inside its own app.

    But Snapchat is not really expected to make serious money from selling these items. An unnamed spokesperson for the company confirmed that it did not open the store to see some serious revenue stream but rather it is something it did for the Snap community. It’s mainly a strategy to drive loyalty to the brand and get some free marketing courtesy of the people wearing the branded merchandise.

    But of course, the company could just be testing out the eCommerce potential of the app. A more serious revenue stream could be coming its way if the idea catches up and it could start charging other brands for selling their stuff through the app as well.

    [Featured image via Snap Store]

  • eBay Breaks Up with PayPal for Another Partner

    eBay Breaks Up with PayPal for Another Partner

    Even in business, some partnerships are just not meant to last. Despite working closely together for more than a decade, eBay recently announced that it would be ditching long-time partner PayPal as its primary payments processor by 2020.

    In a post on its company website, eBay announced on Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with Adyen, to replace PayPal. Ayden is an Amsterdam-based global payment company and one of PayPal’s rivals.   

    eBay acquired PayPal in October of 2002 for $1.5 billion. At the time, the two services seemed to be well-paired with eBay controlling the lion share of the online auction market while PayPal was the top player in online payment processing. However, by July of  2015, the two returned to being standalone businesses.

    While Adyen will eventually be easing out PayPal from its current role, eBay assures that PayPal will remain one of the payment options that buyers can choose upon checkout. eBay further revealed it has an “Operating Agreement with PayPal, which remains in place through mid-2020.”

    According to the auction giant, the shift to Adyen will bring in multiple benefits to both sellers and buyers. The cited benefits to sellers include lower costs and a simplified pricing structure, easier tracking of transactions and payment information as well as greater sales conversion due to the expanded payment options.

    Buyers, on the other hand, will now have more payment options upon checkout. eBay likewise promised a more streamlined checkout experience.

    Working together with eBay is a big win for Adyen especially considering the company’s relatively small size. Adyen posted a net revenue of $178 million in 2016. In comparison, rival PayPal posted almost $11 billion in revenue for the same period.

    Understandably, eBay’s announcement negatively affected PayPal shares with its price plummeting by as much as 10 percent on Wednesday’s trading. However, it is unclear how much the Adyen deal will affect its bottom line. At the moment, PayPal’s market value is around $102 billion, more than twice Ebay’s value of $42 billion. In addition, PayPal seems to be doing fine and has recently reported a 59 percent rise in profit for the fourth quarter of 2017.

  • 13 Ways to Grow Your Brand With Pinterest

    13 Ways to Grow Your Brand With Pinterest

    Pinterest is not quite a social media behemoth like Facebook and Twitter, but with 200 million users a month, it can certainly hold its own. The platform’s user base also covers a wide demographic, making it an ideal place for businesses of all kinds to find new customers. As a matter of fact, 50 percent of all millennials in the U.S. use Pinterest. Older people use the platform as well, with 68 percent of American women aged 25 to 54 happily pinning and creating boards. Men are getting into the action as well, with 40 percent of new users being males.

    If you never considered using Pinterest as a marketing tool before, here are 13 ways you can use the platform to grow your brand in 2018:

    How to Grow Your Brand With Pinterest

    1. Integrate Save Buttons to Your Website

    It’s always a good idea to make it easy for people to take action, and adding a Pinterest Save button allows them to Pin your content. You can even choose between using automatic or hover buttons. The former appears on every image on your site while the latter appears when the mouse hovers over an image.

    2. Concentrate on Amazing Visuals

    Pinterest is a largely visual medium, so you have to make sure you’re using well-crafted images. Use photos that are bright, have good composition and are in focus. You can also add some text to give people an idea about your content.

    3. Pin Daily and Wisely

    Consistency is critical when it comes to Pinterest. The best practice is to have a minimum of one Pin day. If you’re planning on posting a lot of content for the week, divide them up so you’ll have several posts per day. Meanwhile, post seasonal or themed Pins about 45 days ahead of the event.

    4. Have Good Timing

    When to Pin and post largely depends on your target demographic. You’ll have to do some testing to identify which times are ideal. But generally, the optimal times to post are between 2-4PM EST and 8PM-1AM EST and on Saturday morning.

    5. Utilize Rich Pins When Necessary

    Rich Pins are upgraded Pins that utilize metadata from your website to give additional information on what Pinners will find when they click on the Pin. These Pins can be used for apps, articles, recipes, and products. More importantly, it highlights the link to the article and has a clear call-to-action button.

    6. Optimize Pins

    All Pins have a uniform width, although the length varies. Pins that are 800px by 1200px are considered the perfect size. Long pins are also good and are shared more.

    7. Try Instructographics

    A term coined by Pinterest, instructographics/infographics are very popular with users. Advertisers also love it because of the platform’s length allotment. So if possible, try this style with your content.

    8. Take Advantage of Analytics for Better Results

    Pinterest analytics can provide you with crucial information, like the most popular Pins and content. From there you can tweak and enhance your strategy so that you’ll target the right audience.

    9. Re-Pin Regularly

    You want to keep your brand in people’s minds, and re-pinning content from other users can do that. It also keeps your own page populated with new content. But never re-pin posts from rivals.

    10. Encourage Engagement

    Never forget that Pinterest is a social platform so you have to be engaged and engaging. Follow relevant boards and engage with Pins in your niche. Encourage employees and influencers to join an share something on your group boards.

    11. Try Out Promoted Pins

    Also known as Pinterest Ads, Promoted Pins are another way to give your brand more exposure. These posts are clearly distinguished by the “Promoted” tag underneath the Pin and when clicked, shows your brand name. Data has shown that companies using these ads received a 20 percent boost in organic clicks.

    12. Diversify Your Board

    Don’t limit yourself by focusing on Pins about a specific niche. Branch out to slightly different topics as they can draw in a different audience. If you’re selling kitchen appliances, Pins about recipes can pave the way for other groups to become interested.

    13. Include Pins in Your Newsletter

    Help your customers find your Pins by sending it directly to them. Include the latest ones in your newsletter. It will also lead your direct subscribers to your account.

    Pinterest is a very diverse platform, giving you the perfect opportunity to reach different demographics. Grow your brand and become a force to be reckoned with in the Pinterest community with relevant content and well-crafted images.

    [Featured image via Pixabay]

  • 5 Ways to Boost eCommerce Sales with Product Recommendations

    5 Ways to Boost eCommerce Sales with Product Recommendations

    Businesses know that acquiring new customers is more difficult and costlier than selling new products to existing customers. This is why eCommerce businesses prefer to invest in a good loyalty program. And product recommendations is one of the best marketing tools that a retailer can have in its arsenal. After all, the right recommendation helps sell more products to existing customers.

    Simply put, recommendations are suggestions made by the retailer on various things that the customer might also be interested in. But in order to do this, the company has to know its customers and what they want. This is to avoid scenarios like recommending red stilettos to a client who prefers white trainers.

    The question now is how to successfully use recommendations to improve eCommerce sales. Here are five suggestions:

    1. Generate Personalized Product Recommendations

    Personalized recommendations are carefully calculated and chosen products that are offered with the customer’s shopping behavior and history taken into consideration.

    Image result for amazon personalized product recommendation

    [Image via Amazon.com]

    Amazon is a prime example of personalized recommendations. First-time site visitors will initially see some generic suggestions that are either crowdsourced bestsellers or what other visitors are checking. But once a purchase has been made, they’ll see recommendations based on items they’ve bought or searched for recently. These suggestions are found in the product description of the item a customer is currently checking or on the homepage that they’re logged into.

    2. Have Well-Timed Customized Email Recommendations

    Email marketing is still one of the most effective marketing strategies. It’s affordable, practical, and can boost conversions. But to have a more robust customer engagement, personalized email recommendations are the way forward. After all, the more relevant the email’s content is, the higher the rate of emails opened, website visits and sales.

    Amazon is again a good example of this strategy. The company’s AI sends well-timed emails that recommend products that the customer has just browsed on the site. The emails are also sent as soon as the customer leaves the site, thereby ensuring that they’re still receptive to recommendations.

    3. Make Product Pages More Appealing With Relevant Suggestions

    The product page is one area where you can make more recommendations. However, it’s important that you find the best way to showcase your items because at this stage, you’ll either push your client towards the checkout process or drive them away altogether. Data-backed recommendations can provide shoppers with more choices at this key stage. By putting together selections based on the customer’s interest, the odds of conversions can increase by as much as 411%.

    Image result for customers who bought this item also bought amazon shoes

    [Image via Shopify.com]

    Brands can boost conversions by suggesting complementary items. For instance, if the shopper is looking for shoes, they can cross-sell by suggesting a shoe rack. Product recommendations can also be based on the shopping patterns of other shoppers. For example, if previous shoppers also bought a necklace after buying a blouse, then the product page would recommend what “people who bought this product also bought.”

    4. Don’t Stop at a Confirmed Order

    A successful order confirmation doesn’t mean you have to stop making recommendations. This stage of the shopping process can still be a good arena for recommending items that the customer could buy. Think of it as a last chance to add more products to the deal.

    There are two good ways to make the most of order confirmations. One would be to have recommendation popups. Aside from thanking your customers for their latest purchase, include messages that suggest “you might be interested in this product.” The second way would be to integrate recommended products in the order confirmation email. Make your offer more compelling with the promise of freebies or discounts in their next purchase.

    5. Making Friendly Referrals

    As already mentioned, recommendations shouldn’t stop just because a purchase has been made. Recommendations can be used as a referral tool, one that can push a brand further, generate traffic, and boost more sales.

    Brands can do this by asking customers to share the news of their latest purchase with their friends via social media. Bear in mind that people are more likely to buy or use the same brand that a trusted friend has used and recommended. To make this easier for your customer, integrate a “Share This” button on the customer’s order confirmation page.

    There’s no question that recommendations have positive results. It’s a marketing strategy that eCommerce businesses can easily adopt. So this year, put more emphasis on recommendations and see your sales numbers grow.

    [Featured image via Pixabay]

  • How Your eCommerce Business Can Emotionally Connect with Customers

    How Your eCommerce Business Can Emotionally Connect with Customers

    Most business owners know that providing good customer service is crucial to fostering customer loyalty or winning new clients. While this is true, there is another element to doing good business that often gets overlooked, and that’s making an emotional connection with your customers.

    In addition to offering the best shopping experience or quality products and services, brands should consider appealing to customers’ emotions. As Harvard Business Review succinctly explained it, businesses should meet their clients’ “deep, often unspoken emotional needs.”

    However, the idea is particularly challenging to eCommerce companies, as most conduct their business solely online. Connecting emotionally with customers without the help of physical staff or a brick-and-mortar store experience can be difficult, but it can be done. Here are some suggestions how:

    Create a Story for Your Brand

    Brand stories give your company the opportunity to show off the characteristics and values it puts in high regard. It also gives customers something they can relate to and it helps explains how your brand faces your clients’ problems. The more open and transparent your brand’s story is, the higher the chances are of customers trusting your company. A simple and direct narrative that clearly speaks about your brand’s purpose can be a very effective way of generating positive emotions from customers.

    A good example of this approach is Trader Joe’s. The company replaced its “About Us” page with an “Our Story” page and the rest is history. The story humanizes the brand by explaining the company’s approach to doing business and what it values most. The new page also has a link to a company timeline that shows how it grew from a small chain of convenience stores to becoming a nationally recognized brand with over 400 locations.

    Irresistible Images Make Compelling Emotional Triggers

    Videos and photos are good at providing instant emotional triggersImage result for apple silhouette ads, regardless of whether that emotion is joy, sadness, fear, love, or lust. Intersperse interesting videos and eye-catching photographs throughout your website that visitors would love to share with their friends and family. You can also use photos of your staff, your offices, and maybe some behind-the-scenes images so visitors to your website will see who’s behind the brand. Putting a face to the people behind the brand makes it more relatable.

    Apple, for example, does an excellent job of using emotive imagery in its marketing campaigns. This has helped it to maintain one of the highest rates of customer loyalty among corporate brands.

    Tap Into People’s Greed

    Greed has been the unabashed battle cry of the 80’s, thanks to Michael Douglas’ awesome portrayal of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street. While the emotion might be considered a deadly sin in some social circles, there’s no question of its effectivity in persuading people. Consider how the words “free,” “all yours,” or “valuable” are often used in advertising. Whether it’s a free gift or a limited time offer, advertisers know that tapping into people’s greed can reap rewards. After all, it’s human nature for people to want to believe that they’re getting something good for almost nothing.

    If you want to use this emotion, you have to give your customers a little push and help them realize what they will be missing if they act too slow. Using phrases like “Limited Offer” or “Buy Now Before It’s Too Late” have always been effective. You can also emphasize the benefits they’ll get or the return of investment they’ll enjoy.

    Touch on People’s Desire to Give Back

    Most people want to give something back to the world, and brands that support a charity or are deeply involved in theirImage result for TOM shoe campaign community engenders a lot of positive emotions among consumers. A Cone Cause Evolution Study determined that 83 percent of Americans want the services and products they support to also support charities. It’s not surprising then that 80 percent of American consumers are likely to change brands to ones that do support a charity.

    TOMS epitomizes this idea. In its One for One campaign, the company pledged that for every purchased pair of shoes, they would also donate a pair to underprivileged kids. So far, the company has already donated 45 million pairs to charity.

    Finding a way to incorporate charity or community work will boost your brand’s awareness, reputation, and revenue.

    [Featured image via Pixabay]

  • Stripe Announces That it Will Stop Accepting Bitcoin in April

    Stripe Announces That it Will Stop Accepting Bitcoin in April

    Stripe, the Ireland-based payment platform, seems to be backtracking on its previously enthusiastic stance on cryptocurrencies as a mode of payment. In a statement issued January 23, the company announced that it is winding down support for Bitcoin and plans to ditch the cryptocurrency.

    The announcement was made by Stripe product manager Tom Karlo in a blog post on the company’s website. According to Karlo, the company will slowly wind down its support for BTC and, in three months, will totally end support for the cryptocurrency by April 23. Of course, this move is a reversal of its position on cryptocurrencies four years ago, when it proudly announced that it was the first payment platform to accept bitcoin as a mode of payment for transactions.

    Karlo gave three major reasons why Stripe is ending Bitcoin support. One reason for the company’s withdrawal is lengthy transaction confirmation which sometimes leads to failed transactions. “Transaction confirmation times have risen substantially,” Karlo explained. “This, in turn, has led to an increase in the failure rate of transactions denominated in fiat currencies.”

    Another reason is that Bitcoin’s price volatility makes it less than ideal as a means of payment. In fact, it is said that it sometimes takes hours for entering a transfer into a blockchain. Coupled with Bitcoin’s lengthy transaction confirmation, its price fluctuations could spell disaster for either of the transacting parties. “By the time the transaction is confirmed, fluctuations in Bitcoin price mean that it’s for the ‘wrong’ amount,” Karlo points out.

    And, lastly, Karlo explained that the hefty transactions fees were another reason for dropping Bitcoin. He pointed out that BTC fees cost about as much as bank transfers, making it less attractive as a payment option. “For a regular Bitcoin transaction,“ a fee of tens of U.S. dollars is common, making Bitcoin transactions about as expensive as bank wires,” Karlo observed. “Bitcoin has evolved to become better-suited to being an asset than being a means of exchange.”

    But Stripe is not totally discounting cryptocurrencies as payment options and is closely monitoring developments in the segment which might justify “enabling support for in the future.”

    [Featured image via Stripe]

  • How to Deal With After-Christmas Returns in January

    How to Deal With After-Christmas Returns in January

    People think that the weeks before Christmas are the most profitable time for retail and eCommerce businesses. That certainly is true, as evidenced by the $114 billion that eCommerce businesses are estimated to have generated in the last holiday season. But January is also a very important time for businesses in terms of profit and product returns.

    January is the month of the dreaded “return season.” According to the National Retail Federation, Americans returned $284 billion worth of products in 2017. About 25 percent of those products were returned within the weeks following the Christmas holidays, mostly in January. Moreover, the rate of product returns is particularly high for eCommerce businesses with about a 30 percent return of all products ordered online compared to only 8.89 percent purchased in brick-and-mortar stores.

    Given the numbers, retailers and eCommerce businesses that do not have a solid return policy in place could see significant cuts into their business’s bottom line at this time of year. 

    While dealing with product returns is admittedly not ideal, research has shown that customers who had a good return experience also become repeat customers. Here are 3 ways you can deal with Christmas returns and keep customers loyal.

    Make Sure Return and Exchange Policies are Clear

    It’s vital that your customers know what your company’s return and exchange processes are. Make sure you have clear and easy to understand policies and instructions posted on a page designed specifically for returns. Use several strategies to make this easier for customers, like utilizing a how-to video or web page with diagrams and a list of bullet points. Some retailers even go so far as to include return instructions and return labels in every order.

    Have a Sound Return and Exchange Process in Place

    Having a reliable exchange process firmly in place before big shopping seasons will ease the pressure on your staff and make transactions go smoother. This is essential for companies that allow goods to be purchased online and returned in the store, and vice versa. This multi-channel system not only ensures customer loyalty, it also encourages shoppers who return items in-store to make additional purchases while at the shop.

    But in order for this to be successful, retailers should use a platform where the staff can easily see online and in-store inventories and check whether the product is covered by the company’s return policy. It will also make it easier to see whether there are any cash back or on-the-spot credit promos in place.

    Transform Returns Into Exchanges

    Another way to deal with returns is to transform it into a product exchange. A lot of customers want to or are willing to exchange an item. Maybe they want to exchange a dress for one with a different color or gadget for one of a different model. However, some consumers are not aware that they can exchange their item for something else.

    Make sure your customers know they can do this. Have the information posted on your site or place friendly customer service staff on the floor who can point out promos and explain the exchange process. Remember that exchanges are far better than giving refunds.

    Product returns and exchanges are part of doing business. Retailers can cut down on their losses by ensuring that their customers keep coming back. A good return and exchange policy, great customer service and a solid return process go a long way in keeping customers happy and loyal.

  • Amazon’s Checkout-Free Store Opens in Seattle

    Amazon’s Checkout-Free Store Opens in Seattle

    Amazon could forever change the way we do shopping. Today, Amazon opened its first checkout-free grocery store, a move that will definitely alter the retail scene.

    Of course, the system has been tested for a year now. Although previously, the outlet, which is located at 2131 7th Avenue in Seattle, was open only for Amazon employees as they tried to look for bugs in the system.

    Also known as “Amazon Go,” the store is outfitted with the latest in surveillance equipment. Cameras and sensors are ever watchful on what items customers remove from shelves to determine the billable amount. Of course, the system also understands that shoppers tend to hesitate and change their minds a lot, so it also tracks the items customers put back on the shelves.

    While shopping, customers are allowed to put any item they wish to purchase directly into their shopping bags. And no, they don’t have to unpack the items before exiting the store because there is no one at the counter to swipe them. In fact, the store keeps a real-time tally of exactly what’s in the bag and how much they cost.

    The only time customers will encounter a store employee is when they need to be ID’ed for alcohol purchases. Otherwise, there is no checkout line because customers are billed directed to their credit cards on file.

    If you plan to go shopping at the new store, you’ll first need to download the Amazon Go app to your smartphone. To gain entry, you’ll then need to tap on the app to unlock the turnstile at the front of the store. Once you’re in,  just remember that your every move is being monitored.

    Of course, it still remains to be seen if customers will warm up to this new shopping experience. With a horde of cameras planted all around the store, it does feel a bit like Big Brother which could be a turn off for some shoppers.

    [Featured image via YouTube]

  • 5 Tips to Help Your Business Identify Payment Fraud

    5 Tips to Help Your Business Identify Payment Fraud

    Previous data security breaches that targeted large retailers like Neiman Marcus and Target have caused merchants and consumers alike to be more wary about payment fraud. Credit card companies have automated processes that allow them to spot fraud even before their clients realize that something is wrong.

    Unfortunately, payment fraud doesn’t just happen online. Business owners should remember that it can happen in brick-and-mortar stores as well. To avoid this kind of problem, businesses should be able to recognize potential payment fraud.

    5 Tips for Identifying Payment Fraud

    Suspicious Shopping Behavior

    A customer’s behavior while shopping can give a hint as to whether something illegal is happening. Shop personnel should take note of customers who look agitated, nervous, or in a rush to leave. Take into account people who appear to be ringing up purchases in numbers that are greater than what the average customers buy, or those who buy items indiscriminately, regardless of the size or cost.

    Other red flags to watch out for are those who seem to take an unusually long time to sign the sales slip or who look at the signature on the back of the credit card before signing.

    Unusual Order Amount

    It’s practically unheard of to buy 50 items of the same product, especially if they’re expensive. While most consumers won’t do this, cybercriminals would since they’re using stolen cards. Pay attention to multiple orders, particularly if the orders are for electronic devices, clothes, jewelry, and other high-end items.

    Billing and IP Address are Not Compatible

    An Internet Protocol (IP) address is used to identify devices and to give a general location of the user. So an IP address that’s incompatible with the customer’s billing address requires closer attention. For instance, if the person’s IP address is located in Japan but the credit card is registered to someone in Lexington, Kentucky, the transaction might be fraudulent. Verify details by calling or emailing the card company.

    Owning an Abundance of Credit CardsImage result for many credit cards

    The typical American consumer only has an average of 2.6 credit cards. Having an abundance of credit cards associated with a lone IP address or account could be an indication of fraud. While it’s possible the account holder just likes having numerous credit cards, it’s still best to take a closer look at the account.

    Expedited or Rush Shipping

    Some malicious individuals want to give off the impression that they’re in a hurry by demanding rush shipping, regardless of whether the cost of shipping will cost more than the actual value of the purchase. Businesses should be wary of high shipping cost and take additional steps to check the transaction. They should also be extra careful of expedited orders where the billing address is different from the shipping address.

    What to do if In-Store Fraud is Suspected

    Personnel in brick-and-mortar stores face a conundrum when it comes to probable payment fraud. On one hand, no business wants to antagonize innocent customers but on the other hand, personnel can’t ignore fraud. So what is a business to do?

    Major credit card issuers like American Express and Visa have issued guidelines on what staff could do. One very important rule is to never confront or try to apprehend the customer. Doing so would only put the employee and other people in danger.

    Employees can also verify the card’s validity by calling the authorization center and ask for a Code 10 authorization.  The call involves a series of yes or no questions, so the customers will not know that their purchase is being flagged as a suspicious transaction.

    [Featured image via Pixabay]

  • Amazon Sold ‘Millions’ of Alexa Devices Over the Holidays, Brands Will Need to Focus More on Voice Advertising in 2018

    Amazon Sold ‘Millions’ of Alexa Devices Over the Holidays, Brands Will Need to Focus More on Voice Advertising in 2018

    The recent holiday was a happy one for Amazon, if the company’s latest report is anything to go by. The eCommerce giant alleges that “tens of millions of Alexa-enabled devices” were sold worldwide during the 2017 holiday season, making it a breakout year for the voice-activated digital assistant.

    Alexa Ruled the Holidays

    The Amazon report was decidedly low on hard data but high on self-promotion. It was not surprising though, as the company won’t be releasing its actual financial status from the recent holiday until January when it unveils its fourth-quarter revenue. However, it’s clear from the report that Amazon did a pretty good job hawking its own devices.

    The Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice remote and the Echo Dot were bestsellers on Amazon over the holidays. The Echo Dot, however, holds the distinction of being the top seller “from any manufacturer in any category across all of Amazon.”

    The former is a streaming device that allows the user to search for their favorite shows and other information using voice commands. Aside from easily finding interesting shows in the genre they want, users also enjoy the fact that the Fire TV Stick doesn’t need the latest TV model in order to work.

    Meanwhile, the Echo Dot is a hockey puck-shaped, voice-controlled device that uses Alexa to manage smart home gadgets, make calls play music and a host of other skills. Products like the Echo Buttons and the Echo Spot were also sold out this season. These gadgets are also part of the Echo family, with Buttons designed specifically for family games while the Spot is the perfect alarm clock that does more than tell time.

    Alexa’s dominance was corroborated by the fact that the software for the voice-based assistant was the most downloaded app on both the Apple App Store and on Google Play. Real-time data also indicated that people started downloading the app on Christmas, probably as soon as they unwrapped their presents and saw they got an Echo device.

    Aside from the millions generated from the sales of Alexa-enabled gadgets, Amazon also had one amazing week that saw a staggering 4 million consumers signing up for Amazon Prime. According to the retailer’s report, these were people who either opted for the free trials or who outright paid for full memberships.

    The report also revealed interesting tidbits, like the 70% rise in worldwide use of the Amazon mobile shopping app. There were also more than a billion items ordered from the multitude of independent retailers on Amazon’s Marketplace. These retailers accounted for half of the products bought on the Amazon site in recent months.

    Voice Advertising on the Rise

    Amazon’s success with Alexa this past holiday season has given it a major advantage over Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, Microsoft’s Cortana, and others in the market for smart speakers and voice-based assistants. This achievement was undoubtedly helped by Amazon revitalizing its Alexa-backed Echo devices and from third-party gadget manufacturers integrating the digital assistant into their products.

    More importantly, it cemented Alexa as the de facto choice of companies as more focus is given to voice advertising. Marketers are expecting the voice trend to really be felt in 2018 as more businesses invest in the creation of voice interfaces. And with Amazon corralling 70% of the market for voice-activated smart devices, it’s easy to see why Alexa would be in the forefront of this burgeoning technology.

    Brands now face a unique challenge in 2018. They need to find out the distinct capabilities and benefits of various hardware while offering their users a consistent experience. Brands who also want to make a mark using voice apps would also need to develop a way for consumers to discover them, particularly as voice assistants have no visual interface. This means that new ways of browsing and searching will probably be introduced.

    [Featured image via YouTube]

  • Amazon’s Whole Foods Purchase Raises Demand for Same-Day Grocery Delivery Services

    Amazon’s Whole Foods Purchase Raises Demand for Same-Day Grocery Delivery Services

    Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods was met with wariness and a not-so-unexpected round of hostility from rival supermarket chains. There was little doubt that the company’s foray into grocery retail would have made a big impact on the industry. What’s surprising, is how the buyout is also opening doors for suppliers and grocery-delivery startups like Instacart and Shipt.

    It didn’t take long for Amazon’s $13.7 billion deal with Whole Foods to disrupt the grocery retail industry. The first and most obvious impact was the pressure that supermarkets like Kroger felt when Amazon began lowering prices at Whole Foods. However, after having its shares rattled by Amazon, Kroger was able to regain investor confidence by partnering with Instacart and several other grocery delivery services, allowing it to outpace Amazon over the past three months.

    Corporations like Target and Walmart also hurried to hammer out deals of their own. In fact, Target announced on Wednesday, that it would acquire Shipt for $550 million. The delivery startup already saw a 60% upsurge in orders since Amazon’s Whole Foods takeover in June. It’s now expanding its reach from 30 U.S. markets since 2016 to 70 before year’s end.

    Instacart, a company that had described itself as the American grocer’s ally against Amazon, admittedly had a challenging time pushing its service before Whole Foods was purchased. But according to Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta, that all changed after Amazon’s acquisition, as retailers started calling them insisting that they launch in as many stores as possible. Now they have 165 retailers, a far cry from last year’s 30.

    Independent retailers are also seeing an upside to the Whole Foods deal. The rising interest in local food and the fears local producers have over losing their market to Amazon could force small and independent retailers to develop systems that allow for a mix of different products.

    The Good Food Merchants Collaborative, a group of around 22 independent groceries, is planning to roll out a cooperative buying system that will offer competitive prices for consumers and help expand the buying power of small retailers. To that end, these small grocers are hoping to tap into local food producers, since they have stronger ties to the community and consumers. It’s an interesting gamble, and one that could have a big payoff. Research has shown that consumers are also looking to independent grocers for local food.  

    [Featured image via Whole Foods Market]

  • 5 Ways to Use PopUps to Drive eCommerce Conversion

    5 Ways to Use PopUps to Drive eCommerce Conversion

    Popups – you either love them or hate them. But no one can deny how essential they are to eCommerce businesses. When used correctly, popups can give companies the conversions they need.

    Understanding PopUps

    While a lot of people find popups annoying and blame them for disrupting their website visits, successful bloggers, top SaaS companies, global online publications, and premiere eCommerce brands all utilize popups.

    The reason is simple – popups work really well. And one reason why they are so effective is due to today’s typical consumer attitude. Most consumers have short attention spans, minimal brand loyalty, and are often looking for products that give the utmost value. Popups can engage people in a compelling manner through visible call-to-action and incentives.

    The SkinnyMe Tea company is a prime example of the power of popups. The Australian-based business came up with an email popup that gave shoppers a promo code for a 10% discount, provided said shoppers subscribed to their newsletter. These customers clearly saw the value in the offer and email sign-ups increased by 758%. Aside from the padded email list, the company also saw a 50% rise in conversions for the duration of the campaign.

    skinnyme tea Shopify Plus email list growth

    5 Ways to Use PopUps to Boost Conversion

    Many other eCommerce businesses were also able to use popups successfully by thinking outside the box. Here are five ways to use this type of advertising to boost conversion rates and sales.

    1. Offer Something Extra With Your Welcome Popup

    It’s vital for eCommerce businesses to try and convert new visitors to either social followers or email subscribers. Even if the visitor doesn’t end up buying initially, the odds become better if you can get them to return, either with a newsletter or some form of social media interaction.

    One way to do this would be to have a well-designed popup that asks them to like the company’s social profile or to submit their email address. Once done, the visitor will be rewarded with a promo code for a substantial discount.

    1. Reduce Cart Abandonment Rates With a Catchy Exit Popup

    Cart abandonment slows revenue down and hinders conversion rates. But exit-intent popups can do a lot in deflecting customers from their intention of leaving the page without finishing their order.

    Related image

    It’s a good bet that most of your customers are interested in buying but are wary of clicking that final button because of the price. This could also cause prospective clients to check out the competition. If you want to prevent lost sales from these customers, try enforcing exit-intent offers that blatantly interrupt their leaving. Maybe you can prevent them from leaving prematurely by offering special discounts or giving away a free product if they continue with their purchase.

    1. Use Specially Triggered Popups to Upsell or Cross-Sell Products

    Amazon is a prime example of how beneficial upselling or cross-selling is to online retailers, and this technique could be enhanced further with the use of popups. You can design ones that are triggered when a customer searches for a particular product. For instance, a customer shopping for new Levi’s might encounter a popup suggesting boots that look good with that style of denim.

    You can make it even better by offering discounts for the cross-sell or upsell product. This gives the customer an incentive to buy another product that would go well with the item that they’re already purchasing. This is an inspired way to boost sales, as selling to current customers is easier than trying to convince new customers to buy something.

    1. Subtly Push Customers into Action with Time-Sensitive Popups

    Another useful strategy is to create time-sensitive popups that will give customers a push into taking immediate action. For instance, a company can implement a popup that offers a $10 discount and free shipping if the customer can complete their order at a certain time. Aside from providing a sense of urgency, it also gives the customer an incentive to complete the checkout process.

    1. Use Popups to Inform Customers of Shipping Policies

    Shipping is one of the main concerns of online shoppers. Unfortunately, customers are not in the habit of scrolling to the end of the page just to check out the company’s shipping policies. So if you’re shipping to their location, it’s best to use a popup to let the customer know that in advance. Auto geolocation technology can be used to detect and identify the customer’s IP address. Once that data has been ascertained, a popup can be triggered that informs the client of their shipping options.

    Image result for geolocation popup example

    Don’t drive your customers away with run-of-the-mill popups. Find creative ways to harness the power of these little windows and use them to enhance conversion rates and boost sales.

  • Facebook and PayPal Collaborate to Allow Peer-to-Peer Payments

    Facebook and PayPal Collaborate to Allow Peer-to-Peer Payments

    Facebook is making it easier for users to send and receive money. Online payment giant PayPal announced that Facebook users can now make peer-to-peer payments via Messenger by using their PayPal accounts.

    The agreement between Facebook and PayPal will also make it easier for the social network’s users to fund online purchases or send money even if they cannot provide credit or debit card information. The peer-to-peer payment started going live on October 20, 2017, but is currently only available for users within the United States. At the moment, it is not yet clear if the service will be made available for users located in other parts of the globe in the future.

    The new feature can be accessed in the same manner as setting up a credit card or debit card payment method by simply tapping on the plus icon to access the Payments option.  Users will then be presented with two methods to choose from—cards or PayPal. Choosing PayPal will link you to Facebook Payments, which doesn’t require credit card or debit card information.

    PayPal’s entry as one of the social media platform’s payment option is expected to boost Facebook’s status as an eCommerce hub. Online transactions within the social media platform are already on the rise with around 450 million active users per month.

    The online payment system is continuing its thrust to be the payment system of choice for online transactions. Recently, PayPal also partnered with the popular messaging app Skype, making it possible for users to send money even in the middle of a chat, a useful feature for those living a mobile lifestyle.

    [Featured Image via PayPal]

  • Google, Target Form Alliance to Take on Amazon

    Google, Target Form Alliance to Take on Amazon

    A war among titans is silently brewing in the online retail arena. Recently, Google announced a partnership with Target, a move that could signal the start of Google’s challenge to eCommerce giant Amazon on its own turf.

    Amazon is a serious threat not only to traditional retailers such as Target but to the search engine king Google as well. While Google might be the leader among search engines, many people are heading to Amazon first when looking for a particular product online. According to a Kenshoo survey, Google maintains a relatively small edge over Amazon when it comes product searches.

    Which of these online sites are you likely to use to help you find product ideas and information before making a purchase? Facebook - 27%, Retail Websites - 36%, eBay - 38%, Amazon - 72%, Google - 85%

    Image via Search Engine Land

    In an effort to widen its lead on product searches, Google has set in motion plans to keep Amazon at bay. It has steadily formed alliances with a number of retailers, to collectively put up a stand against a common enemy.

    Google announced on Thursday that it will be expanding its year-old delivery deal with Target. Previously available only in New York City and California, the two companies agreed to provide coverage nationwide, according to The Verge.  Shoppers can now order products carried by Target through Google Home smart speaker.

    Of course, the arrangement between Google and Target is seen as a direct challenge to Amazon’s service that allows customers to easily order what they want from the online retailer using voice commands through Echo. Though it may be difficult for Google to fend off Amazon in the segment, the company hopes that by partnering with a host of well-known brick-and-mortar stores, people might start seeing Google Home as an alternative to Echo when it comes to voice-activated shopping. And with the growing number of stores joining the alliance, the breadth and variety of products available via the service might be able to compete with Amazon’s dazzling array of options.

    Aside from Target, Google already has a similar partnership with Walmart.  In August, the company gained access “hundreds of thousands of items” being sold by the Walmart, Adweek reported. Google also managed to secure agreements with other big retailers such as Home Depot.

    What is interesting to note is that the Google and Target deal will likely employ either augmented or virtual reality to lure customers into the service according to a Recode. The speculation is based on the press release given by Mike McNamara Target’s digital chief.

    “Target and Google teams are working on … building experiences that digitally replicate the joy of shopping a Target store to discover stylish and affordable products,” McNamara previously announced. Of course, the details are yet to be revealed but it will be interesting to see just how the search giant utilizes an emerging technology like augmented reality to further its business objective.

    [Featured Image by Mike Mozart/Flickr]

  • 7 Ways to Improve Customer Service for Your eCommerce Business

    7 Ways to Improve Customer Service for Your eCommerce Business

    Online businesses have been booming in recent years due to the conveniences they offer. If you’re planning to enter this industry, you should bear in mind that an online shop is significantly different from a physical store. Unlike the latter, where location and the establishment itself plays a role in attracting customer, online businesses rely mostly on the products and customer service.

    To help you conquer this industry here are seven ways you can improve customer service for your eCommerce business.

    1. Personalize Each Customer’s Experience

    Nearly 80 percent of customers from the U.S. expect a personalized shopping experience when visiting an online store.  If you want to stand out from other eCommerce companies, you must reach your customers on a personal level remotely.

    You can offer this by providing an account for each customer where they can see their past purchases and save personal information for easier checkouts. You could also call customers once their order has been completed to verify their orders and to inform them of the delivery date. There are many ways to make shopping at your online store more personal for your customers, so don’t hesitate to experiment.

    2. Provide a 24/7 Live Chat

    This is one of the customer service platforms you must invest in if you have the means to do so. Having 24/7 chat Image result for eCommerce customer servicesupport readily available will provide your customers with peace of mind.

    Try putting yourself in your customer’s shoes. Would you prefer waiting for an email response over a real-time conversation with a customer service representative? Sites like Influx can handle chat support for your online business.

    3. Establish an Easy-to-Understand Return Policy

    There are few things that can earn a customer’s trust better than a simple return policy. Make sure that your customer is properly informed about the terms and process of the after-sales service. About 15 to 30 percent of online purchases are returned and 68 percent of online purchases are influenced by the availability of easy and free return options, so this is something you shouldn’t overlook.

    4. Create a FAQ Section on Your Page

    Although some may find this hard to believe, many online buyers look for a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page before attempting to contact you to inquire about certain items or services. Setting up a FAQ page will save both you and your customers time and effort in the sales process.

    5. Open Customer Service Through Social Media

    If you have social media accounts like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram set up for your business, establish a direct Image result for customer service social medialine of communication with your customers using these platforms. While chat support on your website is useful, some customers prefer not to leave whatever social media site they’re in to make inquiries. This is also an excellent way to update your customers on policy changes, new deals, and other developments in your operations.

    6. Provide a Billing History

    Transparency is everything when it comes to customer service. Provide your customers with the means to access their account information. More often than not, customers need to have an account where they can access their preferred payment method, order status, and billing history. An eCommerce business that fails to deliver this will pale in comparison to its competition and customers will most likely flock elsewhere.

    7. Measure & Analyze Customer Satisfaction

    You deserve a good pat on the back if you’ve established all the customer service improvements stated above. Related imageHowever, there will always be areas for improvement and what better way to find them than by measuring customer satisfaction?

    There are plenty of ways to do this. One way is to send out customer satisfaction surveys after every completed order or inquiry. Your customers, regardless of how good or bad their shopping experience was, will appreciate this.

    Customer service will set your eCommerce business apart from the others. You have to be prepared to invest finances, time, and effort to provide your customers with a unique shopping experience. Remember that your business is as much about your products or services as it is about your customers.

  • Instagram Connects Shopping to Browsing

    Instagram Connects Shopping to Browsing

    Instagram announced today a new connection within the app to product information and then an easy click to an actual purchase on a retailers app or website. Starting next week Instagram will be testing this feature with 20 US retailers including Kate Spade, JackThreads and Warby Parker. This is likely the beginning of making Instagram a massive consumer marketing platform similar to Pinterest.

    Specifically, Instagram is adding a tap to view icon at the bottom left of a photo, which when clicked tags up to 5 items in the photo with prices and a link. Once a tag is clicked, more info about the product will appear including a Shop Now link which takes the user to the retailers product page. Eventually, expect Instagram to enable in-app purchases instead of sending customers to other apps or websites.

    “This functionality will bring important product information to the consumer earlier in the journey, all without having to leave the Instagram app to search,” noted Instagram. “Knowing that Instagrammers are open to discovery on the platform, and that people take time to better understand the products they’re interested in, this test gives our community valuable steps along their shopping journey before they make a purchase.”

    “Instagram is where we reflect the interesting life of the kate spade new york girl through relatable social moments which highlight the products that are characters in her story,” says Mary Beech, Chief Marketing Officer at Kate Spade & Company. “This post (above) features our favorite new bag and elements from our new personalization program that, together, make the bag uniquely hers. With this seamless shopping experience launching on Instagram, the possibilities for selling our products are endless.”

    Instagram is currently testing this feature with a subset of people in the US that are using iOS devices. They plan to learn from that, add additional functionality and then roll out globally.

    “We want to understand how to deliver the most seamless shopping experience for consumers and businesses on Instagram, and ultimately mobile,” said Instagram.

  • Google Proclaims 2016, “The Year of the Supershopper”

    Google Proclaims 2016, “The Year of the Supershopper”

    In a blog post last week Google declared 2016 as the year of the supershopper. They define a supershopper as someone who is shopping primarily on their mobile device, looking for deals on the best products and constantly searching Google to so all of this.

    “With the ability to instantly discover, research, and purchase, shoppers around the world are more informed and more efficient than ever before – they’ve transformed into supershoppers seemingly overnight.” said Julie Krueger, Retail Managing Director at Google. “We all have that friend – the one who somehow knows the latest brands, the season’s must-have products, and where to find the best deals at the snap of a finger.”

    Google says that in 2015 over 50% of holiday shoppers were open to buying from new retailers and that 76% of mobile shoppers have switch their intended brand or retailer after searching Google.

    “It used to be that shoppers would thumb through catalogues or stare longingly at the holiday window displays, but mobile is now the super shopper’s go-to source for inspiration,” says Krueger. “Over 64% of smartphone shoppers turn to mobile search for ideas about what to buy before heading into store. And 1 in 4 mobile video viewers in the U.S. have visited YouTube for help with a purchase decision while they were at a store or visiting a store’s website.”

    They also report that people more than ever before are search for phrases like “best gift” indicating that they are using search to find quality, not just deals. Google also believes that shoppers are looking for unique gifts too, reporting that searches related to “cool gifts” grew 80%.

    Mobile Search: A Door to the Store

    Searches on mobile are still really about driving business to the brick and mortar store, rather than just pure online shopping. “Although more and more people are willing to buy on mobile, we know that mobile is still used predominantly as a door to the store,” said Krueger. “In fact, 76% of people who search for something nearby on their smartphone visit a related business within a day, and 28% of those searches result in a purchase.”

    They say that once in the store, shoppers use their mobile device to find deals and information about the products they are interested in.

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    From a retailers perspective, expect online conversion rates to increase across devices as the holidays get to full stride. Google says that last year on mobile, sales were up 30% on Black Friday and 50% on Cyber Monday.

  • Facebook Launches Marketplace, Could Challenge Craigslist, eBay

    Facebook Launches Marketplace, Could Challenge Craigslist, eBay

    Facebook announced today a formal buy and sell platform called Marketplace, which is likely perceived by Craigslist and eBay as a new hugely powerful competitor nudging into their space. There has always been some buying and selling via Facebook Groups, but this is the first time that Facebook has focused this activity into a single feature. At launch, the goods available to buy and sell will only be viewable to people in your local geographic area.

    Although Marketplace is free (at least initially), it’s not hard to imagine that over time Facebook will add payment and shipping features that make it an eCommerce competitor to eBay. With Facebook’s tremendous reach and the massive amount of buying and selling already happening in Facebook Groups, it already is a competitor with Craigslist and classifieds. Facebook says that more than 450 million people visit buy and sell groups each month worldwide.

    Marketplace will be part of the Facebook mobile app, easily accessible by tapping on the shop icon at the bottom of the screen.

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    How To Buy Stuff via Facebook Marketplace

    Both selling and buying items on Facebook Marketplace is very easy. “Marketplace opens with photos of items that people near you have listed for sale,” notes Mary Ku, Director of Product Management, in a blog announcement. “To find something specific, search at the top and filter your results by location, category or price. You can also browse what’s available in a variety of categories such as Household, Electronics and Apparel. Use the built-in location tool to adjust the region you’re looking in, or switch to a different city altogether.”

    screen-shot-2016-10-03-at-10-50-14-am

    Once you find something you want, you simply send the seller a direct message right from the Marketplace feature and make an offer. All further negotiation takes place via DM and you will have to work out payment logistics.

    How To Sell Stuff via Facebook Marketplace

    Facebook provided this list of how to sell::

    1. Take a photo of your item, or add it from your camera roll
    2. Enter a product name, description and price
    3. Confirm your location and select a category
    4. Post
    Rolling Out to 4 Countries

    Marketplace is launching in US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand on the Facebook app for iPhone and Android. “We will continue expanding to additional countries and make Marketplace available on the desktop version of Facebook in the coming months,” says Ku.

  • New Google Merchant Center Launched

    New Google Merchant Center Launched

    Google introduced a new version of its Google Merchant Center today that offer more efficient navigation and makes additional shopping programs easier to find. The Google Merchant Center enables online retailers to connect their products to Google so that their products are included in search results, YouTube and partner websites.

    Responsive New Interface

    “With updates to Merchant Center, you’ll see a fast, responsive new interface, aligned with the modern look and feel of the rest of Google’s products,” says Sven Herschel, Product Manager for Google Shopping at Google. “We’ve changed Merchant Center navigation by bundling common tasks and actions. For example, you can use the new Home page to view recent announcements and dashboard data for your account, and you can find consolidated product feed and product data quality information under the Products page.”

    Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 3.36.59 PM

    The Merchant Center is the place for ecommerce sites to upload their product data to Google, literally letting millions of shoppers see their online and in-store inventory.

    Explore Google Programs for Your Products

    “Merchant Center now lets you discover new ways to apply your data to promote and sell your products,” said Herschel. “Use Merchant Center to explore additional Google programs for your products, including Local Inventory Ads, Merchant Promotions, Product Ratings and more, while continuing to manage and configure your product data for Shopping ads.”

    Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 3.43.51 PM

    Additional Updates to Merchant Center Features

    Google has also made updates and improvements to improve speed and functionality so that retailers can get their products online more quickly including Feed Rules, their Diagnostics Page and Currency Conversions. Find more info on those here.