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Showing posts from January, 2021

Adding SMS to an Ecommerce Marketing Mix

Text messaging can help ecommerce marketers engage and retain customers, but it is not a replacement for email communication or mobile apps. How does an ecommerce marketer use SMS? Here are seven tips to help. The post Adding SMS to an Ecommerce Marketing Mix appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3oAeBkX

DecksDirect, a Pure Retailer, Thrives

According to many industry pundits, the future of retail is brands, manufacturers, and marketplaces. But don't tell that to Blair Budlong. His company, DecksDirect, doesn't own a brand, manufacture a product, or sell on marketplaces. And it thrives. The post DecksDirect, a Pure Retailer, Thrives appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2YqNSN7

Using TikTok for Ecommerce Marketing

TikTok is a relative newcomer to the social media world, having launched as A.me in 2016 in Beijing, China. Once viewed as a passing phase, TikTok now has more than 200 million downloads in the U.S. and 2 billion worldwide. It's among the most downloaded apps in Google Play and the Apple App Store. The post Using TikTok for Ecommerce Marketing appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2L0Hvgw

Want to Make Money Online? Here's 11 Real Ways to Earn Money From Home

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The past year encouraged all of us to embrace the great indoors. No surprise, then, that the interest in  making money online  from the safety of our homes is now on the rise.  The magic of the internet is that it’s a sales channel, marketing network, and community hub all in one—plus so much more. That said, some businesses and side hustles are better suited to the laptop lifestyle than others. In this guide, we’ll break down the strengths and shortcomings of a few of the top money-making options. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/3t0R3cF

Everything to Know about Amazon Marketplace Sellers

Amazon marketplace sellers are diverse, spanning many countries, age groups, and reasons for participating. What follows is a summary of demographic and psychographic data about sellers. The post Everything to Know about Amazon Marketplace Sellers appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3omylsp

What a Unique Selling Proposition Is (And Isn't) Plus 10 Examples to Inspire You

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A unique selling proposition is one of the keys to developing a memorable brand. Here's how to shape your own USP, plus 10 examples for inspiration. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2xORfAm

Don’t Overlook Technical SEO in 2021

Good ecommerce and blogging platforms should, by default, take care of most technical search engine optimization concerns. But this doesn't mean B2B and B2C ecommerce companies can ignore technical SEO in 2021. The post Don’t Overlook Technical SEO in 2021 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2MvhuX7

Sink or swim: 10 Milestones to Hit in Your First Year of Business

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Sometimes the hardest part of entrepreneurship isn't starting a business, it's knowing where to go next. Check out our guide to the most important milestones to hit in your first year of business. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/3podzK2

Charts: Conversion Rates by Ad Channel

Benchmarking digital marketing campaigns is a good way to track their effectiveness. Monitoring conversion rates will help optimize the creative, target market, placement, and channel. But a better indicator of marketing success is the cost per conversion. The post Charts: Conversion Rates by Ad Channel appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3a4xbfN

Launching a Wearable Technology Through Accelerator Program

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Aneela Idnani Kumar experienced subconscious hair pulling for more than 20 years, after one severe session Aneela’s husband, Sameer saw Aneela without her eyebrows. From that moment on, the life and business partners decided to find a way to help Aneela out of this trance-like behavior. In this episode of Shopify Masters, we chat with Aneela about her business journey of launching HabitAware to create wearable technology that can help the 1 in 20 Americans who live with hair pulling, skin picking, and nail-biting. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/3qQ8vhZ

What’s the Future of Traditional Retail?

The combination of Covid-19 lockdowns, supply chain problems, and economic woes accelerated the adoption of digital retailing in several areas of the economy. While some experts believe this will result in more individual retail businesses, it may be an indication that the traditional retail model will not work or at least not work as well in the near future. The post What’s the Future of Traditional Retail? appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3a0dIwV

8 Commercial Drone Delivery Companies

The development of autonomous drone technologies has surged in the last five years. New FAA rules anticipate a commercial drone industry in the U.S. Here is a list of companies spearheading the advancement of drone delivery. The post 8 Commercial Drone Delivery Companies appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3sTKrfQ

B2B Lessons from 2020

Covid-19 forced all of us to change. Companies and employees who had resisted digital innovation suddenly had no choice. Some of the changes have created value and are worth keeping. Others not so much. What follows are pandemic-induced B2B changes that will likely become permanent. The post B2B Lessons from 2020 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3qR5VYT

Dr. Squatch Scales to $100 Million with Natural Soaps for Men

Dr. Squatch, Jack Haldrup's company, sells its own natural soaps and other grooming products for men. Revenue in 2020 was roughly $100 million, having exploded from $5 million just 18 months earlier. How does a company grow from $5 million to $100 million in 18 months? I asked him that question and many more in our recent conversation.  The post Dr. Squatch Scales to $100 Million with Natural Soaps for Men appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3iC7rey

The Big List of 40+ Tools to Set, Track, and Conquer Your Goals

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After making new year’s resolutions to, say, drink less coffee or exercise more or launch your website, it’s time to look at your progress. Have you already fallen short of your goals? We’ve amassed over 40 great tools, books, apps, and other resources to take your goals from vague resolutions to measurable action plans. Plus, learn about our new course, Goal Setting with Daymond John. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2NQ2Gjp

More Bang for Your Buck: 7 Cost-Saving Tips for New Entrepreneurs

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Turns out, there are some common financial missteps almost all founders reported making in their first year. We share their biggest mistakes—and their advice to new entrepreneurs.  More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/3o3guX7

Pandemic-driven Shoppers Expect More from Ecommerce

The pandemic has upped consumers' digital expectations. What was once the exception is now the norm. Telemedicine, online learning, virtual meetings — all have advanced in the past year. Ecommerce stores must evolve, too, in how they engage and interact with shoppers. The post Pandemic-driven Shoppers Expect More from Ecommerce appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2Np1ZjU

Porch Piracy Is Growing

Porch piracy is on the rise, with 43 percent of American consumers surveyed saying they had an ecommerce delivery pilfered from their front porch in 2020, according to a recent report. C+R Research asked 2,000 self-reporting shoppers about delivery theft in November 2020. The post Porch Piracy Is Growing appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3p5PI1y

Insight of the Month: 3 Types of Businesses that Thrived in 2020

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We identified three business types that thrived in 2020, according to their founders. Plus, based on our research, we’ll make predictions of the most profitable small businesses to pursue this year. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2XTUTWH

Online Fraud in 2021 Is Booming

Fraud-prevention expert Uri Arad will give an exclusive, live-stream presentation to the CommerceCo by Practical Ecommerce peer-to-peer community on Thursday, January 21, at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. The post Online Fraud in 2021 Is Booming appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/38XQcBu

17 Free Design Tools for 2021

Here is a list of free tools to design a website, social media ad, logo, infographic, and more. There are editing applications, resources libraries, and tools to find the right font and color palette. All of these are free, though several also offer premium plans with extended features. The post 17 Free Design Tools for 2021 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2XW7GrE

The Marketing Strategy That Grew Sales 10x in 18 Months

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Joycelyn Mate and Rachael Corson always had a hard time finding safe and effective hair care products for afro, coily, and curly hair. The duo founded Afrocenchix to create the products they’ve always dreamed of that are good for people and the planet. In this episode of Shopify Masters, we chat with Rachael on how the business was created and how COVID-19 has challenged the duo to find new ways to grow. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/38YgaVw

Quick Refresher of U.S. CAN-SPAM Requirements

New consumer privacy laws in this U.S. and elsewhere apply to many forms of digital promotion, including email marketing. Thus it's worth reviewing the requirements of the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, which sets rules for the use of commercial email to U.S.-based recipients. The post Quick Refresher of U.S. CAN-SPAM Requirements appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3bNDoPJ

Print-on-demand Services Create Sourcing Opportunities

Technology, software, and business innovation are enabling the print-on-demand industry to expand from second-rate t-shirts, mugs, and wall art to quality manufacturing-as-a-service solutions. The post Print-on-demand Services Create Sourcing Opportunities appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/38Tgp3Q

Ecommerce Product Releases: January 17, 2021

Here is a list of product releases and updates for mid-January from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on delivery services, loyalty programs, social media management, payment solutions, and headless commerce. The post Ecommerce Product Releases: January 17, 2021 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2LZe26y

Generating Affiliate Commissions In Our Shopify Stores – First $1000 Month

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This is copy of an email blast we sent out to our subscribers on 17-1-2021 Hey,  Just a quick email today to follow on from my last email where I mentioned one of our side projects (Shopify / Affiliate hybrid store) will do over  $1000  in pure profit this month just in affiliate revenue (not including physical product sales). While it sounds like peanuts, the golden nugget is the margin in a project like this. ie 90% profit margins. Build this to $10,000 per month , and then you’re really winning.  Anyway, I talk about it here in a video I posted yesterday.     Cheers, Jono https://ecomxseo.com ShopifyX SEO V2  – The Most Comprehensive Shopify SEO course on the planet: ShopifyX SEO V2 Course            (Get $150 with code:  v2launch )         (Payment plan also available) The post Generating Affiliate Commissions In Our Shopify Stores – First $1000 Month appeared first on EcomX SEO - Shopify SEO Services & Courses . from EcomX SEO – Shopify SEO Service

Elements Brands Founder on Moving from Doer to Manager

The required skills to launch a business are typically much different from managing it for the long term. Bill D'Alessandro has done both. He launched a single ecommerce business in 2010 and then transformed the company into an operator of multiple online brands. He has evolved from performing most every task to focusing on a few. The post Elements Brands Founder on Moving from Doer to Manager appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/38LSZNW

2020 Holiday Sales Wrap-up

Challenged by a pandemic and an unstable economy, online and brick-and-mortar retailers scrambled to salvage the 2020 holiday shopping season. Most merchants started offering discounts much earlier than in previous years to accommodate the changed shopping dynamics. This is my third consecutive holiday sales wrap-up, following installments in 2018 and 2019. The post 2020 Holiday Sales Wrap-up appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/35EYUSQ

Our New Ecommerce Community for Growth

CommerceCo by Practical Ecommerce is for exceptional folks who work in the retail and ecommerce business — be it at a retailer, B2B merchant, or brand — to learn, share, and grow. It's our new exclusive community for experience ecommerce professionals. The post Our New Ecommerce Community for Growth appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/35zyj9S

Bloomreach CEO: Future of Retail Is Marketplaces, Brands

Raj De Datta, CEO and co-founder at Bloomreach, said it succinctly, "The future of retail is marketplaces which require scale. But, the future of retail is also brands. The industry is seeing an explosion of small brands setting up shop online." The post Bloomreach CEO: Future of Retail Is Marketplaces, Brands appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3sfOa7c

Charts: Social Media’s Impact on Ecommerce Revenue

Social media's impact on global ecommerce revenue varies depending on the platform. Almost half of Pinterest users shop on the site. Pinterest users also generate the highest average order value, at $154, versus other social media channels. Less than 10 percent of Snapchat and Twitter users shop for goods or services on those sites. The post Charts: Social Media’s Impact on Ecommerce Revenue appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2LJGcm4

The Founder’s Zodiac: Fail-Proof New Year’s Resolutions—a Guide for Every Sign

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It’s time to predict your own future, Stargazer. Set new year’s resolutions that look less like vague ideas and more like a map, guiding you through each step toward greatness. You’re the driver—we’re here as your co-pilot, offering advice and inspiration along the way. 2021 is your year. We just know it. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/3oHoLRH

2021 Plans At EcomXSEO

The following is an email blast that went out to our subscribers on 13-1-2021 Hey,  It’s been a few weeks since I last sent out an email blast. Like most of us, the end of the year, Christmas & New Year was crazy, we had a number of clients running Boxing Day sales, and bedding down stores for the holiday period. As a family we took off camping on the Murray River here in Australia for a few days. It was awesome…. 2021 Plans Shopify App:  Firstly, our Shopify app  Optizen , is getting a major upgrade with some cool new features, and is in beta testing right now. This should be live in the store in a few weeks. You guys will be the first to know. Agency Scaling:  We’re currently in the process of updating our systems and processes to be able to scale our  Shopify SEO agency  in 2021. We’ve had many store owners and students asking if we are taking on  new clients .  We simply didn’t have room in 2020, and needed to focus on our current clients. We will let everyone know w

Local consumers are your next online customers

In normal years, January and February is the time to review the just-completed holiday sales and look for ways to improve. But not much is normal about the last three months. Instead, look ahead. What if you had mainly local customers? The post Local consumers are your next online customers appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3nyoAHb

The Journey Of Being A Distributor Of A 100-Year-Old Brand

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After a decades-long military career, Michael Hagen entered the business world when he noticed a gap in backcountry skiing with the lack of reasonably-priced and high-performance lightweight gear. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Michael shares with us how he received the distribution rights to Austrian-made skis from a century-old company and launched Hagan Ski Mountaineering. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/38yPdr2

Retail Returns Can Be Hazardous and Subject to Fines

Booming retail sales in November and December can lead to tons of returns and exchanges in January. Some of those returned items can be hazardous and require special handling and disposal. The return of hazardous materials poses several problems for retailers, including identification, reverse logistics, and disposal. The post Retail Returns Can Be Hazardous and Subject to Fines appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3i9BSZt

15 Tools to Get Things Done

Here is a list of tools to help you get things done. There are to-do lists, work timers, and project management platforms. Several tools are based on the Getting Things Done system. Others are based on the Pomodoro Technique. Nearly all of these have free plans. The post 15 Tools to Get Things Done appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3nzDIEa

What Merchants Should Know about ISOs

The pandemic-induced shift to online and contactless payments has been a boon for credit card providers and their sales agents. The industry depends on those agents, called "independent sales organizations." In this post, I will examine the role of ISOs. The post What Merchants Should Know about ISOs appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2MRrOsA

What Makes a Great Business Idea?

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You probably have a business idea or three rattling around in the back of your mind. Whether it’s monetizing a jewelry-making hobby or selling to a growing niche market, you’ve probably flirted with the idea of starting your own full-time business or side hustle. All you lacked was the confidence that you were going in the right direction. Here are some questions to ask to help you develop a good business idea into a great one. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/35n5CwF

Entrepreneur’s Hair Products Empower Black Women

In 2012 Vivian Kaye was a successful wedding decorator. But she had a problem. The climate in Toronto, Canada, was brutal on her hair. Kaye's solution was hair extensions, which were easy and attractive. Fast forward to 2021, and KinkyCurlyYaki, Kaye's company, sells hair extensions, wigs, and more. The post Entrepreneur’s Hair Products Empower Black Women appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/35mCbLw

Resolve in 2021 to Drive More Conversions

Consumer shopping habits changed drastically in 2020. Ecommerce sites experienced dramatic growth. Resolve in 2021 to capitalize on that momentum and convert more visitors. Here are three tips to help.  The post Resolve in 2021 to Drive More Conversions appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3nqVDg2

7 Customer Retention Strategies for 2021

Retaining ecommerce customers lowers costs and boosts profits. In 2021, customer retention could be critical. “In 2020 we saw multiple years of ecommerce growth….And when we look at [2021], the big question is 'Will this shift to ecommerce last?'" The post 7 Customer Retention Strategies for 2021 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3pUnffb

How to Find and Plug the Leaks in Your Conversion Funnels

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Your conversion funnel, a path your visitors take from arriving at your store to making their purchase, is a leaky bucket. Before you pour more water into the leaky bucket, learn how to patch the holes. Here's how to find and plug leaks in your conversion funnels so you get more revenue per visitor. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2qYtQs2

A Data Studio Template to Automate Ecommerce KPIs

Automating key performance indicators streamlines data collection and enables real-time reporting. Collecting and reporting from multiple data sources is possible in Google Data Studio, an excellent platform. To help, I've created a free Data Studio template that you can use for your business. I'll explain the template in this post. The post A Data Studio Template to Automate Ecommerce KPIs appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2Xcb1lN

20 New Free Commercial Fonts for 2021

Adding a new font to your ecommerce site can create a fresh and unique look. Here is a list of fonts released in the last year. All are free for commercial use, though several are from larger premium font families. Before using a font, be sure to verify its terms. The post 20 New Free Commercial Fonts for 2021 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2LnQnwB

Learnings from Hidden 6-Figure Manufacturing Costs

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Stay Sixty is the maker of stylish reusable water bottles created by Kirpal Bharaj. Driven by the environmental cause of reducing single-use plastic water bottles, Stay Sixty combines the ritual of hydration with thoughtful design. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Kirpal chats with us on the hidden costs of manufacturing and introducing new products with Facebook ads. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/3rStuCb

How Does Amazon Dropshipping Work? Your Guide to a Successful Dropshipping Business on Amazon

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With over 300 million active users, using Amazon as a sales channel for your dropshipping business can mean big returns. Learn how to use it to your advantage in this Amazon dropshipping guide. More from Shopify Blog - Company https://ift.tt/2X7lfnw

4 Uses for Google Ads’ New Insights Tab

Google Ads introduced Insights in late 2020. The new beta feature will roll out to advertisers in the coming months. Similar to the Keyword Planner, Insights provides advertisers a sense of trending keywords. The post 4 Uses for Google Ads’ New Insights Tab appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/2LgEAAa

5 Content Marketing Ideas for February 2021

Your company's February 2021 content marketing could cover the obvious, such as Valentine's Day, and the obscure, such as Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Content marketing is the act of creating content, publishing it, and promoting it with the goal of attracting, engaging, and retaining customers. The post 5 Content Marketing Ideas for February 2021 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3pLXAoV

China Is Dominating Ecommerce

In China, a drab gray Mao suit was once the required attire for men and women. No longer. The county is poised to become the largest luxury apparel market worldwide by 2025. With a 2020 population of 1.4 billion and a flourishing middle class with an appetite for foreign luxury goods, China is dominating ecommerce. The post China Is Dominating Ecommerce appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/3pJPv43

Ecommerce Product Releases: January 3, 2021

Here is a list of product releases and updates for late-December from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on augmented reality, fraud prevention, customizable product services, The post Ecommerce Product Releases: January 3, 2021 appeared first on Practical Ecommerce . from Practical Ecommerce https://ift.tt/38QKkso