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Showing posts from August, 2020

Achieving High Conversion Rates in a Saturated Market

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Instead of going on a gap year, Dean Legg started his second business after selling his first. Honing in on his interests, Dean launched PureChimp to showcase matcha and natural skincare through commerce and pledges 5% of profits to charities that provide care for chimpanzees. In this episode of Shopify Masters, we chat with Dean about social media ads and how to achieve high conversion rates in a saturated market. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2GaWqSl

Print on Demand: A Low-Risk Way to Sell Custom T-Shirts, Books, and More

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Print on demand is a process where you can customize white-label products and print them on a per-order basis. No buying in bulk. Here's a rundown of popular print-on-demand services and what you need to know when creating custom products. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2PNHlGX

Using Site Search Reports in Google Analytics to Improve Product Selection

Internal site search is the equivalent of someone walking into a physical store and asking for a product. The storekeeper would develop an understanding of what shoppers want based on these requests. In the digital world, Google Analytics can store all of these questions. In this post, I'll address how to configure site search in Google Analytics to improve your ecommerce product selection. The post Using Site Search Reports in Google Analytics to Improve Product Selection appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/32KamdA

August 2020 Top 10: Our Most Popular Posts

Our mission since 2005 is to publish articles, webinars, and podcasts to help ecommerce merchants. What follows are the 10 most popular articles that we published in August 2020. Articles from early in the month are more likely to make the list than later ones. The post August 2020 Top 10: Our Most Popular Posts appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3bbr7SQ

25 Top Amazon Marketplace Sellers Based on Number of Reviews

Reviewing the top sellers on Amazon's marketplace could provide ideas on products, descriptions, and customer service. Here is a list of top sellers on the Amazon marketplace based on the number of reviews. The post 25 Top Amazon Marketplace Sellers Based on Number of Reviews appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/32KIqq2

Using Instagram Video for Ecommerce

Since it launched Stories in 2016 and TV in June 2018, Instagram has positioned itself as a destination for consuming videos. Instagram's "Reels," which mimics TikTok, follows that trend. In this post, I'll address options for posting videos on Instagram to drive awareness and sales for your ecommerce company. The post Using Instagram Video for Ecommerce appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3gJBTkx

Supply.co Founder: Day of Reckoning Is Coming for DTC Brands

Patrick Coddou launched Supply.co with his wife, Jennifer, back in 2015. The company, which sells razors and shaving supplies, is bootstrapped — no outside investors. He has little patience with the concept of lifetime customer value or paying more to acquire a customer than he can recoup on the first purchase. The post Supply.co Founder: Day of Reckoning Is Coming for DTC Brands appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/31CM9a8

How to Start a YouTube Channel for Your Business

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Every day, YouTube users watch over a billion (yes, with a B) hours of YouTube videos and yet only 9% of small businesses have started their own channels. As YouTube usage continues to soar, the opportunity is just getting bigger for businesses ready to jump in. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2lCy9ax

Ecommerce in Q2 Takes a (Much) Bigger Share of Total Retail Market

The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that ecommerce as a percent of all retail sales jumped from 11.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020 to 16.1 percent in the second quarter, representing a 31.8 percent increase to $211.5 billion. The data also shows a 44.5 percent bump from the second quarter of 2019, adjusted for seasonal variations. The post Ecommerce in Q2 Takes a (Much) Bigger Share of Total Retail Market appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3b8qGJ5

12 Shopify Apps for Finding Products to Sell (Without Shipping Them Yourself)

What Is Performance Marketing?

With performance marketing, businesses pay only when they get results. While it doesn't necessarily guarantee a good return on investment, performance marketing is often a contributor to success for ecommerce merchants. The post What Is Performance Marketing? appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3hHYSxu

Outraged: T-shirts and the 100-Year Fight for Women’s Equality

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In honor of Women’s Equality Day, we’re highlighting women founders who continue the fight—100 years later. Rebecca Lee Funk prepared to launch her brand, The Outrage, just as the first woman president was expected to be announced. “There was a bit of a plot twist,” she says. Find out how Rebecca reacted and how a viral t-shirt campaign became an activist movement. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2QpZts0

OTT Ads Are an Opportunity for Established Retailers

Streaming commercials — which are called over-the-top (OTT) ads because most cable and streaming boxes used to sit on top of televisions — can provide a level of audience targeting that is similar to search engine marketing, social media advertising, and affiliate marketing. The post OTT Ads Are an Opportunity for Established Retailers appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3gmOji8

SEO: Where to Start When You Need to Fix Everything

The complexity of optimizing a site for organic search can be overwhelming when you’re staring at a blank slate. Where do you start? The good news is that there are three definitive steps when you're getting started. The post SEO: Where to Start When You Need to Fix Everything appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3gsCAP5

The Pre-Launch Strategies of A Million-Dollar Brand

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Making it easier to keep track of daily hydration goals, Emily Chong and Nathan Chan started Healthish and created sleek water bottles with timestamps. In this episode of Shopify Masters, we chat with Nathan and Emily on product development and building their business through influencer marketing. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/3lf0Sjc

What Merchants Should Know about ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’

"Buy now, pay later" allows consumers to purchase goods and pay in installments, similar to a credit card. Why is BNPL gaining popularity? I’ll answer that question and more in this post. The post What Merchants Should Know about ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/31lxKii

Drinking in the Haus: How Funding Helped This Booze Brand Grow 500% During the Pandemic

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Husband-and-wife duo, Helena Price Hambrecht and Woody Hambrecht, founded Haus in their living room with a bucket of chardonnay, and lemons and elderflower from their yard. Find out how they used Shopify Capital to ramp up their digital marketing efforts and grow their business by 500% during the pandemic.  More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2Eeje3j

23 Chrome Extensions for Productivity

Looking to supercharge your workflow? Consider installing productivity extensions on your Chrome browser. Here is a list of useful extensions from Google’s Chrome Web Store. There are tools to keep you on task and block distractions, utilize video and audio, distribute content, automate, and reduce digital clutter. The post 23 Chrome Extensions for Productivity appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2wQDrTS

9 Holiday Selling Tips to Pandemic-driven Consumers

The holiday 2020 shopping season will be unique. Pandemic-driven concerns of safety and economic uncertainty will prompt shoppers to look for both functional and entertaining gifts at competitive prices. Here are some tips for ecommerce merchants to gear up now. The post 9 Holiday Selling Tips to Pandemic-driven Consumers appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2EoOKeu

A ‘Love for Making’ Propels Schmidt’s Naturals to Worldwide Sales

The progression for most direct-to-consumer entrepreneurs is to conceive a product idea and then locate a manufacturer to produce it. But Jaime Schmidt took the opposite approach when she launched Schmidt's natural deodorant in 2010. "I started in our kitchen with batch sizes of maybe 20 deodorants on the stove," she told me. The post A ‘Love for Making’ Propels Schmidt’s Naturals to Worldwide Sales appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3j2W0Mc

The 3 rules of ecommerce design

My ecommerce website went through many visual changes in the 20 years that I operated it, from 2000 to 2020. Sometimes I retained a designer, and sometimes I did it myself using the ecommerce software I was using at the time. One of the worst designs was by a professional in 2002 who persuaded me that my demographic of science-fiction geeks would love it. The post The 3 rules of ecommerce design appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3iZOEch

Live Streaming Can Drive Affiliate Revenue

Live streaming is a popular way to sell products in 2020, thanks, in part, to how the pandemic has impacted retailing. But within this larger trend, at least a few entrepreneurs are finding a new niche promoting products to social media friends and followers. The post Live Streaming Can Drive Affiliate Revenue appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/318SlWQ

2020 Holiday Email Marketing Starts Early

With the fluid retail environment surrounding Covid-19, protocols and expectations change daily. According to Coresight Research, a consulting firm, 23 percent of U.S. consumers plan to start 2020 holiday shopping earlier than in prior years. Ecommerce merchants should plan holiday marketing now. The post 2020 Holiday Email Marketing Starts Early appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/317YK4N

Introducing I Quit, a New Discovery Channel Series by Shopify Studios

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We’re excited to announce the premiere of Shopify’s first production with a major cable network. Produced by Shopify Studios and airing on Discovery, reality series I Quit follows business owners who give up their 9-to-5s to pursue entrepreneurial goals. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/3g5Ko9b

SEO How-to, Part 12: Technical Tools

Implementing a search engine optimization strategy typically requires tools that can be dangerous when mishandled. Knowing those tools — when to use them and how — can make all the difference. This is the 12th installment in my “SEO How-to” series. The post SEO How-to, Part 12: Technical Tools appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3geI9Re

Pizza In The Post: How Pizza Pilgrims Moved Their Restaurant Online

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Thom and James Elliot are the brothers and owners behind Pizza Pilgrims, a chain pizzerias in London and Oxford, United Kingdom. From road tripping and learning throughout Italy for a summer to hustling at street markets to operating 13 locations, The Elliot brothers had to pivot quickly when the impacts of COVID-19 closed their restaurants’ doors. In this episode of Shopify Masters, we chat with Thom Elliot on how they created mailable pizza kits, established employee retention programs, and are planning for the future.  More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2YcDHMp

How Two Teachers Grew a Side Hustle Into a 7-Figure Lifestyle Brand

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Jeb Matulich and Brian Wysiong are the complementary partners behind Tumbleweed Texstyles, a lifestyle business sharing the culture of Texas through clothing. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Brian Wysiong of Tumbleweed Texstyles shares their bootstrapping strategy of growing a business from a side hustle along with their key retargeting tactics. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/34aNDd1

13 Logo Galleries for Inspiration

A logo is an opportunity to establish your brand and convey your company’s unique identity. A logo gallery can help via examples and inspiration. Here is a list of helpful logo galleries. The post 13 Logo Galleries for Inspiration appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/311A65C

‘Payment Request API’ to Streamline Ecommerce Checkouts, Improve Security

A standard application programming interface is helping to eliminate website checkout forms and improve the ecommerce experience on desktop, laptop, and mobile devices. Ecommerce businesses that adopt the approach early could gain a competitive advantage. The post ‘Payment Request API’ to Streamline Ecommerce Checkouts, Improve Security appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2EdhNli

Ecommerce Product Releases: August 16, 2020

Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-August from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on virtual conferences, international payments, ad tracking, carbon-neutral deliveries, returns automation, and seller financing. The post Ecommerce Product Releases: August 16, 2020 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/31R2NBC

Banned by Google Ads, SpyGuy.com Ponders Alternative Channels

Ecommerce entrepreneurs understand the need for multiple revenue channels.  Relying exclusively on, say, Facebook or Amazon or Google can lead to disruptions. And that's what happened to Allen Walton's company, which depends on Google Ads for most of its traffic and revenue. The post Banned by Google Ads, SpyGuy.com Ponders Alternative Channels appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3iyK8kO

How to Start an Online T-Shirt Business: Everything You Need to Know

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T-shirts aren’t just a staple of casual wear—they’re articles of clothing that often reflect our personalities, interests, and identities. Because of this, selling t-shirts online has become a popular choice, especially for entrepreneurs and artists looking for a relatively inexpensive way to start a business. Here’s our complete guide to creating your own t-shirts to sell on Shopify. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/378BDYt

Ecommerce in France: Loyalty to Domestic Sellers

France has the third-largest population in Europe with 65.3 million residents and the second-largest ecommerce market. French consumers are loyal to their national brands and often shun cross-border ecommerce. Roughly 60 percent of French shoppers make only domestic purchases. The post Ecommerce in France: Loyalty to Domestic Sellers appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3gWdI3b

What Should I Name My Online Store?

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Having a relevant, memorable brand name gives you an immediate advantage when you're first starting your business. Today, we’re sharing the key traits of catchy business names, along with a few modern examples. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2aIN7cG

Google Lighthouse SEO Scores of Every Shopify Theme

This is the third article in my series on analyzing Shopify themes. This post addresses the search-engine-optimization capabilities of every Shopify theme, using Lighthouse, across various page types — home, products, collections, blogs — for desktop and mobile. The post Google Lighthouse SEO Scores of Every Shopify Theme appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3gRaRsp

Overdraft: How One Founder Built A Braiding Business—from her Living Room

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Melony Armstrong painstakingly built Naturally Speaking—her hair studio dedicated to the art of traditional African hair braiding—from nothing. For years, she worked out of her small living room, sometimes for no money, gaining experience and saving every penny. Two decades have passed since Melony opened her salon’s doors. Here, she shares how perseverance, the kindness of strangers, and a pinch of luck helped her realize her dream. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2Mhv2mg

Share Customer Data Anonymously to Combat Fraud

Ecommerce fraud prevention depends on good data. That data can come from payment card providers, credit bureaus, address listings, and, more recently, other merchants. The post Share Customer Data Anonymously to Combat Fraud appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2PPB1zD

Is Apple Entering the Payment Acceptance Business?

In July Apple acquired Mobeewave, a relatively unknown payments-technology startup in Montreal, Canada for, reportedly, $100 million. For nine years, Mobeewave has been developing technology to convert conventional smartphones into payment-accepting devices without requiring additional hardware components. The post Is Apple Entering the Payment Acceptance Business? appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3aemB5G

13 Robust Newsletter Plugins for WordPress

WordPress is a highly customizable content management system. With the right plugins, it can be a robust email marketing platform to create a newsletter and build a list of subscribers. Here is a list of newsletter plugins for WordPress. The post 13 Robust Newsletter Plugins for WordPress appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/33OW3Xt

SEO How-to, Part 11: Mitigating Risk

The risk to organic search performance from altering a website usually comes from changes to content, linking structures, and underlying technology. With careful planning and execution, however, you can mitigate the risk from those changes and increase the likelihood of better rankings. This is the 11th installment in my "SEO How-to" series The post SEO How-to, Part 11: Mitigating Risk appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2Fb2kTd

Holiday Selling without the Crowds

Pandemic-induced social distancing, reduced hours of operation, and even continued lockdowns and closures could dramatically change Christmas shopping behaviors in 2020, requiring retailers to find new ways to serve holiday shoppers and generate sales. The post Holiday Selling without the Crowds appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3ini0kp

2PM Founder: Successful Entrepreneurs Are Polymaths

Having founded and sold multiple ecommerce companies, Web Smith believes broad economic trends determine entrepreneurial success as much as tactical execution. Successful entrepreneurs, Smith asserts, must be polymaths to understand opportunities. The post 2PM Founder: Successful Entrepreneurs Are Polymaths appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2C6gNys

How to Get More Followers on Instagram: 15 Reliable Ways to Grow Your Audience

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I nstagram can be a highly targetable, visual marketing channel for your brand and an opportunity to build a loyal audience that grows with your business. In this post, we’ll show you how to effectively build a big, engaged following on Instagram. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/1Ml3Fia

Use Purchasing Trends to Merchandise Products

You are not alone if confused about the products people are most apt to buy today. Even consumers aren't always sure. Most consumers have opted to stay closer to home during a time when family vacations and festivals would have been the norm. How we present information on the home page, landing pages, and across social media impacts sales. The post Use Purchasing Trends to Merchandise Products appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/33LQ6L9

5 Content Marketing Ideas for September 2020

Content marketing is the act of creating, publishing, and promoting articles, podcasts, and videos with the intent of attracting, engaging, and retaining customers. Here are five content marketing ideas your business can try in September 2020. The post 5 Content Marketing Ideas for September 2020 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2DhaA3x

Need Traffic? Here's How to Get Visitors to a New Website (Even If You Don't Know Where to Begin)

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“How do I get traffic to my website?” No matter what product you sell, driving targeted traffic to your online store is a crucial part of growing your business—whether you’re trying to make your first sale or scaling to your 1,000th customer. But knowing where to begin, and how much to spend, can be tricky. To help, we’ve put together a list of proven ideas to try, organized by cost, effort, and upside. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2apaGp4

When to Pursue Capital: Key Financial Moments for Entrepreneurs and Growing Businesses

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From seasonal downturns to crucial scaling periods, there are many situations when an entrepreneur needs to seek business financing. We take a look at the key financial moments to be aware of when you're planning and how to conquer the financial ups and downs of building a business.    More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2ZQ5fcB

‘Buy On Google’ Opens to All Merchants

Google Shopping has made its second significant change in the last few months.  The first change was implementing free Google Shopping listings. The second is opening the“Buy on Google” program for all merchants, commission-free. The post ‘Buy On Google’ Opens to All Merchants appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/31gWiHY

The Founder’s Zodiac: How to Make Money Work for You, Based on Your Sign

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In this month’s edition of The Founder’s Zodiac, we’re shining a bright light on the oft-taboo topic of money. What’s the best way to track, save, and invest? And, based on your Founder Sign, how does your own relationship with money impact your entrepreneurial journey? More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2ERVlyk

Amid Covid-19, it’s time to build

"It's Time to Build" is a popular blog post by Marc Andreessen, the Internet pioneer and investor. He wrote it in April 2020 at the onset of the worldwide pandemic. Ecommerce businesses are lucky. Amid the global pandemic, our industry is thriving and pushing forward. The post Amid Covid-19, it’s time to build appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/39TJGdC

Who Reads Practical Ecommerce? Please Take Our Short Survey

Please take a minute or two to respond to our latest reader survey. We do this periodically to help ensure our editorial content matches your needs. Our August 2020 survey consists ... The post Who Reads Practical Ecommerce? Please Take Our Short Survey appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3hZ77oS

SEO How-to, Part 10: Redesigns, Migrations, URL Changes

Changes in content, linking, and URL structure can dramatically impact organic search performance. Thus it's critical to understand the search engine risks and rewards from a new design before you start developing it. This is the 10th installment in my "SEO How-to" series. The post SEO How-to, Part 10: Redesigns, Migrations, URL Changes appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/33mbarf

Catch-Up with 3 Previous Guests: Growing Through COVID-19

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In this episode of Shopify Masters, we catch up with three previous guests on how they are growing through the impacts of COVID-19. We chat with Chris Meade from CROSSNET on how they experienced a 500% increase in sales, Jess Ekstrom from Headbands of Hope on their masks donation program, and Gamal Codner from Fresh Heritage on tripling their marketing budget.  More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/33n4F7u

12 Platforms for Shoppable Video

Video is increasingly impacting ecommerce. Consumers use it for purchase decisions. Influencers live-stream product endorsements. And brands deploy video for engagement and product offerings. Here is a list of platforms for shoppable video. The post 12 Platforms for Shoppable Video appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/30pv0A8

Using Google Tag Manager to Track Visitor Interactions

Online merchants need data to drive decisions. An example is tracking visitor activity. In this post, I'll review how to set up the reporting of common site interactions using Google Tag Manager. The post Using Google Tag Manager to Track Visitor Interactions appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2XjH4kg

Ecommerce Product Releases: August 2, 2020

Here is a list of product releases and updates for late July from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on live commerce, installment payments, cross-border sales, packaging, targeting, and omnichannel services. The post Ecommerce Product Releases: August 2, 2020 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3i3BcUn

The First Steps in Adding Ecommerce to a Brick-and-mortar Store

Brick-and-mortar retail businesses are turning toward ecommerce to generate revenue — online and click-and-collect. As they make this digital transformation, those merchants will likely have questions about ecommerce platforms, themes, and design. While all of these are important, a company's focus should be on products and marketing first, in my experience. The post The First Steps in Adding Ecommerce to a Brick-and-mortar Store appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3k33y2O