13 Tips for Better Customer Service

13 Tips for Better Customer Service

Let’s face it: When customers think of online merchants, customer service is usually the last thing that comes to mind. Most e-commerce websites, even large well known sites, seem impersonal with mediocre customer service. Many online merchants don’t realize that their customers are a powerful marketing tool — word of mouth marketing — and if…

Top 5 Tips to Turn Your Customers into Word of Mouth Marketers

Top 5 Tips to Turn Your Customers into Word of Mouth Marketers

As a business owner, you’re constantly trying to increase your sales and gain new customers. However, when you’re an e-commerce merchant, you may feel as if social media marketing is your only outlet. This is entirely untrue. One effective way to grow your online customer base is by maintaining a good relationship with the customers…

Back to Basics: What You Should Know as a Start-Up E-Commerce Merchant - Part 2

Back to Basics: What You Should Know as a Start-Up E-Commerce Merchant - Part 2

We love helping start-up e-commerce merchants succeed in their new business endeavors. Last week, we talked about the risks involved in e-commerce businesses, including credit card fraud prevention and cyber attacks. Part 2 of the Back to Basics trilogy will cover the different written aspects of your website. Part 2: Website Content for the Startup…

Back to Basics: What You Should Know as a Start-Up E-Commerce Merchant -- Part 1

Back to Basics: What You Should Know as a Start-Up E-Commerce Merchant -- Part 1

We’ve been helping e-commerce merchants thrive, grow, and succeed with their businesses for a really long time — and with the global economy not exactly at its finest, I thought it would be a great idea to go back to the basics of running an online business. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be…

Using Technology to Maximize Your Revenue

Using Technology to Maximize Your Revenue

As an e-commerce merchant, you pay an arm and a leg to keep your business up and running. From hiring a web designer, to paying fees associated with your merchant account, to paying your employees–it all adds up fast, and you want to take every step to maximize your revenue. Understanding technology and using it…

Should I use an open source shopping cart for my online business?

Should I use an open source shopping cart for my online business?

When looking for a shopping cart for your e-commerce business, you will undoubtedly come across shopping carts that are labeled “open source.” You’ve probably even had sales reps or IT consultants recommend a shopping cart for your business. But you may be asking yourself: What makes an open source shopping cart different? Are they affordable? Are they…

Why Consider Free and Open-Source Solutions (FOSS)?

Why Consider Free and Open-Source Solutions (FOSS)?

If you’re an e-commerce merchant, you might have heard of “open source software.” Free and open source solutions are great for many online businesses–but sorting through the options can be confusing. If you are considering using an open source shopping cart or other open source software, this guide will help answer all your questions. What…