Business

Managing an eCommerce store can be challenging, especially if it’s your first venture into the world of online marketplaces. Whether you’re running an online retail store, subscription service, or other eCommerce variety, these five tips are universally applicable in just about any eCommerce business. Follow these five tips for greater efficiency and success with your eCommerce store.

1. Be Mobile-Friendly

If you’re running an eCommerce platform, it’s pretty much a requirement that your site is mobile friendly. In fact, ideally, you’ll have your own app so customers don’t have to use their mobile web browsers to access your products. An app is a simple but effective way to bridge the gap between you and your customers and keep your brand at the forefront of their minds.

Mobile-friendly sites will load quickly and be responsive on mobile devices. This is important, considering that most people prefer to use their mobile devices anyway to do their online shopping. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re going to run into trouble attracting new customers and keeping your current customers engaged. Let’s be honest, a slow-loading or unresponsive site is simply too frustrating to spend much time on. Disengagement, and therefore lack of sales, will occur for your business without a mobile-friendly eCommerce site.

The best thing you can do is pay a developer to create an app for your business. That way, you can be certain your customers can access your brand and products no matter where they are. With an app, you’ll be able to offer a more customized and personal experience for your customers.

2. Chatbots

It can be difficult to reply to every inquiry your customers make when visiting your site, especially if you have thousands of users on a monthly basis. The best solution to this problem is a chatbot or an automated chat system that will pop up when customers navigate to your site. The chatbot will say something like, “how can I help you today”, which will prompt a response from the customer.

Once the bot knows what the customer is looking for or needs help with, the correct representative will be notified. With some systems, the AI handles the entire process; directing customers to the specific pages or products they’re looking for based on their feedback to the initial contact questions.

3. Streamline Your Web Design

An overly-complicated website can be both difficult to navigate and slow to load. Sites that are laden with graphics, videos, and pictures are simply ineffective in that the visual elements quickly become distracting. It’s best to keep your site design as simple as possible; you want to get your point across without employing too many details on the aesthetic side of things.

Simplicity is king when it comes to effective websites. The best websites are responsive and not oversaturated with graphics and flashing ads. If you’re not sure how to streamline a DIY design you did on a site like Wix, it’s best to just get a designer/developer. The expertise and customization these professionals can offer your site simply can’t be matched by doing it yourself.

4. Use a POS

There are dozens of options in the POS world that can help your site streamline its payment processing and better manage inventory. POS software for retail is affordable and versatile, with several built-in features that will help better your business overall and make the website much more efficient.

If you’re struggling with inventory management, or your current payment processing system isn’t working out, it’s time to make the switch. You can choose POS services like Square POS or Vend HQ for products that will meet your every need and bring a customer satisfaction guarantee along with them!

5. Pay Attention to Customer Feedback

Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to pay close attention to customer feedback when it comes to running your store. Customers will let you know if the site is difficult to access or navigate, or if there’s something wrong with the inventory system. The customers who shop on your site have plenty of valuable insight that you can utilize to streamline the buying process and the site itself.

As with any business, the customer is the key component to your success. Therefore, you should always take any complaints (or compliments) seriously and work to address them as quickly as possible. This will help you better manage the business as a whole, and continue to promote loyalty and trust among your customers.

Conclusion

For every eCommerce store, there are steps that can be taken to improve management and help streamline operations for a more efficient store overall. Don’t forget that a professionally designed and maintained website will ensure that things stay efficient and load properly. You want your site to function as well as it looks, or else customers will more than likely disengage from the site altogether!

 

My business spent a very long time looking for the right PR company before we finally settled on the amazing team at Interdependence PR, who have completely transformed our business with their expertise. During that search we learned an awful lot about PR companies and how they go about their business, and we also sat through many meetings with companies who just weren’t the right fit for us. We learned during this stage that there are many red flags to watch out for when looking to get the perfect company for your particular business. Owing to this experience I wanted to give you the skinny on a few things which you need to watch out for during your meeting with a potential public relations company.

Track Record of Success

Let’s just get one thing clear, almost every PR company who you speak to is going to be able to talk a good game, why? Because this is what industry they are in, in fact it is the least that you should expect from them. Unfortunately however there are many who can’t quite back up their words with actions and this is why you have to focus on the track record of a company. If a PR firm can show you evidence of their past successes then great, if they cannot then it may be time to look elsewhere.

Results Driven

My team and I are incredibly passionate about our company and we are absolutely committed to delivering results for the company. Understandably then we also expect the same thing from any company who will be working on our behalf, especially if that company is one which specializes in public relations. During the meeting you need to feel this from the guys sitting across the table, that they are just as committed to delivering results as you are, if you don’t feel it, you won’t do well working with this company.

Customer Service

Something which we learned after meeting with many of these companies is that many of them really lack customer service skills. Quite why this happens I am not sure, perhaps they think that we need them more than they need us. Ultimately however this is a service industry and by virtue of that you must feel a strong level of customer service towards you. If they cant get that right, how well do you think they can help your business?

Jack of All Trades

Sometimes being great at many things is beneficial, when it comes to PR however you want a company who is specialized on your industry. They need to know how to speak to your market and how to strategize within it, if a PR company says that they can turn their hand to any market then you may wish to look elsewhere for a company which really specializes in what your business does.

Keep an eye out for these items when you have a meeting with a PR firm.

 

There are some people you’d rather never hear from if you can help it: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is one of them. However, you may end up being one of the “lucky” taxpayers who are chosen to undergo the IRS audit process. The question you may be asking yourself in this situation is “How exactly will the IRS audit me?” According to the experts at TaxAudit, which has earned a number of glowing audit defense reviews, the IRS might choose to audit you in a couple of key ways.

First, the IRS may send you what’s called a CP2000 notice. This notice matches up the documents that third parties have sent to the government about income you’ve received – such as 1099s and W-2s – with the income-related information you’ve reported on your tax return. Let’s say you missed an individual retirement account distribution; in this case, the notice you receive from the IRS will show the income-related information you reported, the information that your employer, banks, and financial institutions reported, and the amount by which these two totals differ. Then, you’ll see how much extra tax you may be required to pay. If you believe that the CP2000 notice is erroneous, you can dispute the taxes being proposed within the next 30 days.

The IRS might also decide to complete a field examination audit. Revenue agents typically use this audit method for business entities or for individuals with high incomes or complicated incomes, according to current tax audit reviews. You can expect your audit to take place at your business location or at your residence. This might seem intrusive, but fortunately, it can also save you on the time and hassle associated with reporting to an IRS office.

Facing a tax audit can no doubt be stressful. However, staying organized and consulting an audit defense firm to find out what your rights are during a tax audit may help you to more confidently complete the process.

The very first step in carrying out a successful digital marketing campaign is to have a full understanding of what digital marketing actually is. Many people understand that digital marketing is a method for promoting a company’s brand, but there’s way more to it than just that. Marketing through digital means involves many moving parts, so creating a marketing campaign can quickly become overwhelming.

The other overwhelming fact of digital marketing is that results are unlikely to come about instantly. It can take 3, 6, or 9 months, sometimes even a year, for your desired results to come about. Patience is a virtue, and it is even more virtuous when applied to the marketing industry. So whatever you do, stay calm, have patience, and follow these tips on how to create a foolproof digital marketing campaign.

Try to Get an Expert’s Opinion

The best thing you can do for marketing your brand is to hire an expert. Even if you’re trying to save a buck, do what you can to set aside the necessary funds for hiring a marketing professional. Consult with a few different agencies, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Try to have some idea of what marketing strategies you think your brand needs. If you have no idea whatsoever, no worries, the experts often give you some free advice during the initial consultation.

There are many different sectors of digital marketing, so knowing what you need is an important step. Perhaps you could benefit from optimizing your website, or maybe you’re in the market for more advertising opportunities. Whatever it is, try to have a clear understanding of your marketing needs before officially hiring a company.

Utilize Free Marketing Tools

Whether you choose to go at it alone or hire an expert, you should be taking advantage of the easy-to-access online marketing tools. Not only are there many easy to use resources, but there are also tons of marketing tools that won’t cost you a penny. These tools all take unique forms; some are aimed at social media marketing and others for SEO. So think about what you need, consider the popularity of the resource, and start taking advantage of those free memberships.

Always Remember, Patience is a Virtue

We’ve already discussed the importance of patience, but it’s important enough to have its very own section. Try to remember that your marketing strategy is not a quick-fix and it is very unlikely that you’ll see instant results. Whatever you do, put aside that need for instant gratification when it comes to your newly launched marketing campaign.

Instead, start using the proper analysis tools, such as Google Analytics, to keep tabs on the progress. You might start seeing slow results, or maybe results will come all at once after a few months of the campaign. These analysis tools aren’t just helpful for measuring progress, but also for determining what’s working and what’s not so that you can make changes accordingly.

 

Building a brand name is one of the biggest challenges for businesses in 2019. You’d think that building a brand could be accomplished with the proper advertising, a solid website, and top-notch customer service.

But in today’s competitive consumerist world, it takes so much more than that. In addition to the things just mentioned, building a brand takes a great deal of reputation management. So how does one go about using reputation management to build a brand? Here’s what you need to know.

Start with Analysis

Before you can even think about building a reputation, you need to go through a lengthy analysis period. First, you must analyze your target audience, specifically who your target audience is. If you know who is likely to buy your product, how can you expect to reach out to them? There are quite a few tools that can help you to determine who your target audience is.

You should have a fairly good idea of this before your company is even established, but if not, you can use tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Business Page Insights, and Consumer Barometer. Tools like these will give you very specific details on who you need to be focusing your attention on most.

Determining the specifics of your target audience isn’t the only thing that needs to be analyzed. You also need to perform analytics on your competition, brands that have already established themselves within the industry. This will give you a chance to not only see who you’re competing with but also give you a good idea of what is working for the other guys, as well as what isn’t.

Establish a Brand Personality

If your brand doesn’t stand out from your competitors, you’ll have a difficult time establishing yourself as a well-respected industry leader. Just think about the most well-known brands in the world, like Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, McDonald’s… they all have one thing in common. They’ve all established their own unique personalities. Establishing your own personality will take time and patience, but there are a few things you can do to make the process easier.

Shopify says that “thinking about your brand as a metaphor or personifying it can help you identify the individual qualities you want it to have. This can be a vehicle, an animal, a celebrity, a sports team, anything—as long as it has a prominent reputation in your mind that summons the sort of vibe you want your brand to give off.”

Create a Slogan

One of the best ways to establish your personality is through a catchy slogan. Consider the slogan used by McDonald’s… “I’m lovin’ it.” Every time you hear that catchy tune containing the words “I’m lovin’ it” there’s a good chance your mouth starts watering as you crave a Big Mac and fries.

Creating a slogan that’s catchy is important, but the main thing to focus on is creating a slogan that epitomizes your brand. Don’t be afraid to hire a professional marketer with help with slogan creation.

 

The business practice of EDI is nothing new. Electronic data interchange has been a key player in many business industries – nearly all businesses, actually. But even though EDI has been around for decades, major changes are happening to the practice of data communication via electronic means. For one thing, EDI cloud services are being chosen over traditional EDI services. But why?

First, let’s cover the basics of EDI and how it all works.

EDI got its beginnings back in the 1950s. At this time, the second wave of major technological innovations was happening, and EDI was one of those innovations. The entire practice of EDI is based around the idea that communication between businesses (B2B) can be simple, and it can be done entirely through electronic resources.

This concept is nothing new in today’s day and age; businesses and individuals alike are using electronic means for communication each and every day. But back in the day, this was a HUGE deal, and some experts say that it has paved the way for the way businesses operation and communicate with one another today.

From the beginning, EDI used data encryption tools to format all business documents in the same way. Basically, it works by receiving a document, using the encryption tools to change it into the “EDI language”, and pass it on to the recipient or integrate it into the existing ERP system. The same goes for sending a document; the information is uploaded, formatted and encrypted, and sent to the intended recipient.

Companies Are Moving from Traditional to Modern EDI Solutions

With so many changes happening throughout the technological world, it makes sense that EDI software companies are making major changes as well. The only way to avoid becoming obsolete is to keep up with these changing times, which is why traditional EDI is turning into a cloud-based service. Here’s what an EDI expert has to say about this drastic transformation:

“Cloud EDI software offers a combination of technological and business process improvement designed to meet the demands of a 2019 business. From data transformation capabilities to streamlined automation, cloud EDI tools put your enterprise in a position to tackle any potential integration challenges that arise, without having to deploy and manage the software and hardware.”

How a Cloud-Based System is Changing the Concept of EDI as We Know It

There’s no denying that EDI has experienced some challenges in the past few years. Some experts are even predicting that EDI will become obsolete within the next decade or two. Others are saying that this switch to cloud-based operating will make a huge difference. A modern business just wants to have a modern solution for information exchange, one that is easy to use and actually meets the hopeful ROI.

With cloud-based EDI, that’s exactly what you’ll get. EDI companies that have migrated to the cloud are now offering a service that is easy to use, and more importantly, actually makes a difference in the day-to-day business operations.

 

If you’ve been slowly working your way up the corporate ladder, it might be time to start searching for executive resume writers USA services. Holding a high-paying, executive position is a dream held by many, but not many people actually attain it. Many professionals apply for executive positions to no avail, and a poorly written resume is often to blame.

This is where an executive resume writing professional can help. There are so many resume writing services to choose from, many of which offer executive resume writing assistance. But there’s a huge problem; many resume writing agencies outsource their work to countries like India and the Philippines thanks to the cheap labor offered on the other side of the world.

Even though you think you’ve hired a highly-qualified English-speaking resume writer, this is not always the case. For this reason, it is extremely important to do your homework on resume writing services. The entire point is to up your chances of landing an executive job, and if you don’t do your research this might not happen.

Ask for Referrals Before Anything Else

This best way to find a top-rated resume writing service is to ask among other industry members. Don’t be afraid to ask your colleagues or superiors if they have advice on the matter. You can even ask to see the final product of the resume that the professional helped to create. Getting a referral is by far the best way to do things, but it won’t always work. In that case, you’ll have to move on to the steps below.

Start Googling

We all know that Google is an all-knowing wealth of information on every imaginable topic, and this includes resume writing. So go ahead, type “Best Executive Resume Writing Service” or something along those lines into the Google search engine. Just be weary of the results that show up, and try not to assume that the first result is always the best option.

Keep an eye out for the “Ad” phrase next to the search results; this simply means that the company has paid a great deal of money to show up high on the results. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the company is the right fit for you and your resume writing needs. Google doesn’t actually know if the company writes a solid resume, so it is up to you to dig even deeper.

Narrow the Top Contenders Down

Once you’ve compiled a list of a few solid options, it is time to do that digging. Before anything else, reach out to the resume writing service to let them know you’re interested. They should respond in a timely manner and answer all of your questions thoroughly. Don’t be shy to ask to see a resume and cover letter sample from the past. If they refuse to show you something as simple as that, move on to the next candidate. Other considerations to help you narrow it down are cost, services provided, and success rates.

 

Working in a call center can be a great way to increase your income while providing valuable services to a company and its customers. With the average call center employee making about $30,000 a year, with the potential to earn more, there are many reasons why you might decide to start working in a call center. If you aren’t sure what to expect from the job, here’s what you should know.

What are call centers for?

There are two different types of call centers: inbound call centers and outbound call centers. While there are a few key differences between each type of call center, both play a role in streamlining operations of a business.

Inbound call centers field communications from customers like returns, orders, and troubleshooting requests. Outbound call centers are more sales-oriented and entail an agent making a call to a customer.

What do call center agents do?

Whether you work in an inbound call center or outbound call center, your job function is generally the same. Using inbound or outbound call center software and other tools like a microphone, you will interact with customers to either make sales or resolve problems. While some call centers operate primarily through voice, many companies are switching to an omnichannel approach to providing customer service.

An omnichannel software solution allows you to interact with customers through a variety of channels like web chat and even SMS messaging. So just because you’ve taken a job in a call center, it doesn’t mean you’ll only be talking on the phone. No matter what tools you’re using, at its heart, your top priority as a call center agent is to provide a great customer experience each and every time.

What is the general process for fielding calls?

Fielding calls in a call center can seem overwhelming at first, but there are a variety of safeguards in place to make answering a customer’s questions as simple and efficient as possible. In an inbound model, you receive a call from a consumer and gather information about the client in order to find them in the system; then, verify that you have access to their customer records. This allows you to provide much more specialized support.

Once you’ve looked the client up, you use a knowledge base to walk the customer through various steps in order to try and resolve their problem. In cases like scheduling a return or issuing a refund, you may have to verify other aspects of their order.

If keeping track of the wide range of interactions you may have has you a bit concerned, don’t fret! It’s important to remember that you will have the resources you need to understand and implement best practices for your business when you speak with a customer. Plus, with modern software solutions, you have powerful tools at your disposal.

The benefits of working in a call center

Although working in a call center may seem straightforward, there are plenty of challenges that await you should you pursue a career in this fast-developing field. In addition to building up your customer service and communication skills — traits which transfer to almost any job — it’s easy to make a competitive wage working in a call center.

This makes becoming a call center agent a great choice for recent graduates or those looking to switch careers and still make a living wage. Some positions even allow you to work remotely if you have the right computer setup and fast internet, making it even easier to get a job as a support agent.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

It’s a tricky one: how do you tell if your content marketing strategy is working? You’ve spent time planning, designing and writing your content, you think it does a great job of distilling your brand’s key messages, and you’re sure that your audience will love it. Look out for these five key signs that your content marketing strategy isn’t working as well as you’d hoped, and follow the accompanying tips to improve the issues and drive your content to success.

Problem 1: Your audience isn’t engaging with your content

When you publish a piece of content, you should be measuring KPIs like social shares, comments, scroll depth and time spent on the page. If you’re not hitting these KPIs, it’s a sure-fire sign that your content is missing the mark somehow.

Solution: Seek assistance from professionals

Working with a copywriting agency will take your content from lacklustre and under-performing to memorable and effective. Agencies can offer years of experience within your business’s niche, meaning that they already know how to connect with your audience and drive key messages home.

Problem 2: Your content isn’t getting any links

For your content marketing to really shine, it’s important that important influencers and publishers want to share it within their networks. If you’re not getting any traction from key names in your industry, it’s time to wonder why.

Solution: Refine your approach to meeting your audiences’ needs

Your content should above all things be useful, interesting, helpful or important to your industry. Think about your audience – what questions and problems do they have that need solving, and what valuable insight or information can you give them? Meet their needs and you’ll earn authentic shares and links to your website.

Problem 3: Your content isn’t ranking in Google

61% of marketers say that growing their SEO presence is a high priority – and if it’s top of their list, it should be top of yours. If your content isn’t ranking well for any of the keywords that matter to your business, there is a problem with your content marketing strategy.

Solution: Optimise your content for search

Google wants to see useful, relevant content that answers the questions or intent behind a person’s search term. The more helpful and relevant your content is, the higher you’ll rank. Use natural language that includes the keywords in question plus lots of supporting, related language. Make sure your content is technically optimised, too.

Problem 4: Your content isn’t designed for mobile

Test your content on your mobile device and ask your colleagues to do the same on theirs. If it’s slow to load or not designed responsively, your audience (and Google) will immediately black-mark you.

Solution: Always design your content mobile-first

Your content has to provide a fast, simple and pleasing mobile experience to be taken seriously in the modern, digital landscape. Use Google’s free tool to test your existing content and if it’s not fit for purpose, fix it immediately.

Problem 5: Your content isn’t driving leads or sales

The ultimate goal of your content marketing strategy should be to drive business growth. If you aren’t growing your lead or customer base through your content, something is wrong.

Solution: Use data to shape your strategy

Talk to your customers, review what your competitors are doing, listen out for the latest industry news and trends. Use this insight to create data-driven content, then use an analytics package to track key metrics and learn which pieces of content drive more growth than others. Take these learnings and apply them to your upcoming pieces.

Your content marketing strategy should be a work in progress, always open to optimisation, iteration and improvement. Don’t get disheartened if your content is suffering from the issues above. Follow the solution tips, take note of what you learn in the process and steer your strategy towards success.

 

If you don’t care about the customer experience, then you’ll never see an increased revenue on your products and services. The sooner you focus on it, the better your brand will perform. Increased customer experience will help win your customers over and make you stand out among the competition. Here are five ways why the customer experience is important for maintaining your brand.

1. Treasure Your Loyal Customers

You should treat both your new and existing customers in the same way. Don’t value your new customers over your existing customers. Loyal customers are ten times more valuable from their first purchase, according to the White House Office of Consumer Affairs. Research has shown that it’s six to seven times more expensive to attract a new customer than it is to keep your existing customers around.

So, go above and beyond for your loyal customers. You’re more likely to keep them around. It’s better to have a customer who’s satisfied with your products or services than to have a new customer who’s willing to jump ship. Take this information into account when working on the customer experience and do your best to engage with them.

2. Customers Could Leave Your Business for Another

As stated before, those new customers are more likely to jump ship. This is usually caused by poor customer service. Customers who wait forever to get a response are more likely to switch to another brand. It can take up to 12 positive experiences to gain your customer’s trust to make up for an unpleasant experience.

You have to find unique and clever ways to gain their trust back. Engage with them, instead of talking at them. Ask questions or offer support. You can also use e-mail newsletters, online surveys, and personalised messages that allows you to engage with your customers. Then you can reward them for their time with an offer or discount. This can help improve the customer experience.

3. Customer Experience is Reflected in Your Revenue

Customer experience is seen in your revenue on a monthly basis. How your customers feel about your products or services can create a positive or negative experience that’s reflected in metrics and transactions. Satisfied customers don’t consider leaving your brand for another. They will make more happy returns and future purchases.

If you satisfy all of their needs and meet their requirements, then they will come back. It’s that simple. Analysing the customer experience should become a part of your daily efforts. It’s not something you should do once in a while to prevent a customer from jumping ship. If you don’t know how to measure the customer experience, use customer success software to help you out.

4. Customer Experience Makes You Stand Out

Your competitors want you to make a mistake so they can scoop up your customers. Sometimes being prepared is not enough. You need to know how to deal with negative backlash and a ruined reputation. If you consistently provide exceptional customer service, then you don’t have to worry about this problem from happening.

5. A Positive Customer Experience Can Elevate Your Brand

Customer experience can take your brand places you never thought you could go. The value of customer experience should never be underestimated. This is an important factor to consider when planning your marketing and sales campaigns. Loyal customers are more likely to recommend your brand on social media and to their family and friends.

They’re also more likely to engage with your posts. They may leave some glowing reviews behind. You can use these reviews for your case studies and success stories. Every brand should work hard to strive for excellent customer experience. Getting your business on Google and social media have both become crucial factors for gaining feedback from customers and identifying areas where you can improve.

Offering great customer service will satisfy your business and your target audience. They’ll receive the service they want, and you’ll get increased revenue as a result. The sky is the limit — your brand can always find ways to improve.