What is in your Online Future? e-Commerce?

According to Wikipedia, "Stay the course" is a phrase used in the context of a war or battle meaning to pursue a goal regardless of any obstacles or criticism. In business it used to mean just hang in there... but in today’s economic uncertainty, a business cannot afford to simply hang in there less they experience a long slow death, or even worse sudden death. Eastman Kodak was a great example used in Margaret Case Little’s article below. Eastman Kodak never thought its business would ever be taken away by digital technology… why? They thought of themselves as a film company rather than a photography company. That was the kiss of death.

Today even the smallest business can overcome the kiss of death, but they must take action… remember David and Goliath? Today’s technology affords owners of even the smallest business to take advantage of high tech advances to level the playing field, or even beat the most successful of their rivals. Having a professional internet presence no longer costs tens of thousands of dollars… not even $5,000… and in “Most” cases, less than $3,000 with everything a business requires to conduct a fully integrated and interactive online presence.

Small budget or not budget, there is no better way to economically measure, monitor, adjust and control a business’s marketing strategy than having an all-inclusive menu of features and services that sets them on the path of becoming leaders in their industry!

U.S. vs. Europe: The future of e-commerce
By MARGARET CASE LITTLE, DIRECTOR, NRF | Published: JUNE 5, 2012
Be the first to comment | This entry was posted in Events, International

NRF is flexing its international chops this week as three of the organization’s top executives lead the charge at the 4th annual Global E-Commerce Summit held in Barcelona. Kicking off the conference, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay shared a few of statistics to put online growth in the United States and Europe in perspective.

• Forrester Research is projecting online sales of $210 billion in the United States alone in 2012. The number is expected to hit nearly $250 billion in 2014. More than two-thirds of the online population buy something online every year, and that number is growing rapidly.
• In Europe, Forrester says online retail sales in 17 major countries were close to 97 billion Euros in 2011 and are expected to hit 172 billion Euros by 2016. That’s a compound annual growth rate of 12 percent. By 2016, online sales will account for more than 14 percent of total retail sales in the UK and more than 10 percent in Germany.

In light of these statistics, Shay noted, “In the U.S. we’re hearing two key takeaways from our members on how to live in this omnichannel world—first, make sure that the way you present your brand is optimized for the devices that your customers are using—and second, upgrade your in-store technology to meet your consumers’ needs.”

Shay also used the example of the death of historic companies and products to prove that technology truly is king. Like for instance, Eastman Kodak thought of itself as a film company rather than a photography company and saw its business taken away by the digital technology it invented but failed to embrace. Movie studios that once resisted the VHS tape are now rushing out digital downloads of their blockbusters nearly as quickly as the movies appear in theaters.

Shay concluded, “The world is changing, and it’s up to us to continue to imagine the next great thing for our customers. If we don’t someone else will.”

Other executives from NRF are sharing their industry knowledge as well over the 3-day conference, as NRF SVP and Shop.org Executive Director Vicki Cantrell takes the stage on June 6 to lead the discussion on social commerce.

Three critical factors for picking perfect keywords!

As we all know by now, SEO relies heavily on keywords - the words and phrases used by search engines to determine a website's page rankings. As SEO expert Jeff Quipp writes, "Choosing the right keywords is often the difference between getting found in search and not getting found. As a result, keyword research is the foundation of an effective online marketing strategy."

So how does one begin to research the best keywords for their business' website? Here are three things business owners can keep in mind!

Brand Names
When choosing keywords, people tend to overlook brands names, but those descriptors are vital for boosting SEO!

• What brand names do you sell? 
• What is the name of the company that makes the products you provide? 
• What are some common names or terms used to describe your services? 

Consider these descriptive words, and take into account any variations that people use (such as abbreviations for product names).

Qualifiers
Qualifiers are like brand names in that they are descriptive phrases used for specificity. But qualifiers in this case would be used to identify keywords that are geographically-oriented, or terms that narrow down a field of expertise. A doctor, for instance, would use a qualifier to describe their specialty.

If you consider the nuances of your own industry, you can creatively come up with a keyword to qualify your business.

• A hairstylist with a penchant for color services becomes a "colorist." 
• A photographer who prefers to shoot sporting events becomes a "sports photographer." 

In this way, you're not just separating yourself from the competition; you're also adding valuable SEO qualifiers.

Competitive Edge
Business owners should evaluate their own power as a competitive entity when selecting keywords. By using a tool like the one available for free on Google AdWords to evaluate the competitiveness of certain keywords, businesses can determine whether those keywords are a good fit. Generally, a keyword ranked "highly competitive" - one that is used often - means you've got a tough match against the competition...and that usually means lower page rankings.

This is something to be experimented with and modified as a business' online presence strengthens. When a business thrives online, it becomes a stronger competitive force, so those "highly competitive" keywords might not be so formidable!

Did you know... 
If your business sells to the female demographic, then you certainly will want to evaluate our solution - it's a perfect fit (no puns intended!) According to the Total Beauty Media Group:

• Women spend 20 minutes online researching products before shopping trips.
• Women spend 50 percent more time than men reading content like reviews and ratings about products. 
• Sixty-six percent of women who research products are brand-specific when they search. 
• Thirty-two percent of women said free samples convert them from browser to purchaser! 

That's valuable market research for owners of boutiques or salons that carry specific product lines.

Helpful Hint: 
When evaluating different platforms to help your business target niche markets, always look for companies providing comprehensive solutions and services. Ask if they have add-on services or capabilities and ask for a full disclosure of their costs. What sounded as a great deal at first could come back to cost much, much more.

The Story Behind "Looking for Paradise"

"We're all looking for something...that's what connects us"- Alicia Keys

I oftened wondered what makes this company so special... The story behind this song made me realize it is all about families, creating friendships, bringing people together and actually helping people find their own "Paradise". I hope you enjoy the story behind this song which was inspired by the sincerity of a couple who become friends with everyone they meet. Perhaps this story and song will spark something in you like it has for millions who have heard it; and for many of us who have been inspired by Loren and JR and the opportunity they brought to the world to help us all look for our "Paradise".

Obviously Alajadro Sanz and Alicia Keys were just as inspired! 

Serendipity brought them together. A twilight cruise on the Utopia III with mutual friends Loren and JR Ridinger, the breezy Miami air, and a shared love for music became a magical recipe for paradise for Alejandro Sanz and Alicia Keys. Alejandro strummed his guitar while Alicia hummed an intoxicating melody—one which would eventually evolve into “Looking for Paradise”, a song with the ability to transcend culture and language and speak to humanity and our common search for paradise: a place as authentic as it is uplifting.

Click to watch Alicia and Alejandro tell their story.

Alejandro Sanz and Alicia Keys perform live their World Wide Hit "Looking For Paradise"

As you watch the video below you will see Loren, JR, & Daughter Amanda Ridinger along with Ava Longoria (minute 3:15). Looking for Paradise was a #1 WorldWide hit when released and is still a favorite to this day. Enjoy and let yourself be lifted. 

Are you Coachable? An Interesting Perspective on the term Client Centric!

As a result of a post written by Anne Bachrach in LinkedIn’s Group The Business Growth Network™, I was directed to her blog and even though it was written in June of 2009, it is one of those pieces that will be relevant for an eternity. All I could say was Ditto to others who found Anne’s article spot on. Two sentences near the near the end of her article “What If Your Business Was Truly All About Them?” got me thinking. Anne made the statement:

It’s not an easy thing, being client-centered. But if you’re going to make it all about them, it’s what you have to do.

Those two sentences made me realize that Anne mostly had it right, but there was an additional ingredient which could be included to this stellar piece. It all has to do with the way we think.

When a business owner is client-centered, or what I like to refer as “Client Centric”, customers or clients remember and greatly appreciate the excellent service they received. And we know the influence “word of mouth” has in our business. And in today’s high tech and viral environment, the word of mouth buzz can either make or break a business. Given today’s me, me environment, isn’t it refreshing when “we” come across a service provider who is actually genuine and sincere in wanting to fulfill our needs rather than only interested in selling us something? I certainly found those two sentences in Anne’s article extremely accurate. If there was anything to add it would be people first need to mentally make a transition in their way of thinking – from “me” to “thee.” But what does that mean, mentally make a transition? What transition?

It’s all in how we think when it comes to be about ourselves, about our potential. How often have you heard the term stinking thinking? It all starts out with our thought process, and it’s that thought process which first requires changing; transitioning from one way of thinking, to another. 

It’s just like someone who has been obese and wants to not only become healthy, but also look that way. How many times have we seen major success stories after first changing their thinking and believing in themselves, developing a positive mental attitude, and building up their self esteem? It’s the same with being client-centered or client centric. By the way, I really like the definition of “client-centric” as seen in Investopedia.com: “A specific approach to doing business that focuses on the customer. Client centric businesses ensure that the customer is at the center of a business's philosophy, operations or ideas. These businesses believe that their clients are the only reason that they exist and use every means at their disposal to keep the client happy and satisfied.” 

Another approach to being client-centered or client centric is by actually considering oneself as being a servant; one who comes from the perspective that they are in business to serve the public, or as in my particular case to serve my clients and customers. Approaching from the perspective of being a servant of people makes being coached by professions like Anne Bachrach much easier, understanding and implementing tasks becomes more accomplishable because mentally the thinking transitioned in becoming more focused on “what are the needs” of the client or customer rather than how can I make a sale. “What can I do that will be of value to them” becomes a habit. Once that perspective has been achieved, implementation of corrected activities becomes easier and attainable. 

Now how to get them to that point? That may be the million dollar question… it’s like the old idiom “You can lead a horse to the water, but you can’t make it drink!” The question has to be asked of the business owner, are you coachable? Are you able to transition into becoming a servant, a professional who is client centric, or client-centered? Give it serious thought and then find a good coach to work with you and your business.

Is there opportunity for SMB Owners & Entrepreneurs?

With today’s economic uncertainty, Small- and Mid-size Business (SMB) owners are tightening their belts just to survive. Employees being laid off has had a huge impact on our economy as we all know by listening to the news. The Bureau of Labor Statistics makes it sound as if things are looking up, however layoffs have a compounding effect, and not normally in an accurate direction. Government statistics are always skewed from a political point of view, regardless of who’s in office and simply are not a credible, non-biased gauge on reality. The fact is, a great many jobs have been lost and on top of reducing employees, business owners have decreased marketing and advertising.

Over 700 small businesses responded to a survey about their marketing for 2010. This survey conducted by Zoomerang in association with Growbiz Media found that 89% of businesses employed less than 25 people, 3% employed between 26 and 50, 4% between 51 and 100, and 1% for both 250 – 500 and 501 to 1,000 employees.

In November of 2011, over 1,000 SMB decision makers were surveyed. When it came to the question of hiring, 66% said they would not be hiring in 2012 as a result of the impact 2011 had on their business. It was also discovered that of those surveyed last November, the top 3 areas which SMBs plan to invest are in Marketing (35%), Sales (28%) and Technology/IT (22%).

When it came to their annual marketing budget, every business owner stated cuts were necessary. Over half of the respondents stated they had reduced their marketing budget to less than $1,000. And in 2010, less than 20% had budgets up to $9,000. The survey did not specify or go into the various markets or types of businesses. Not all businesses market the same way or even use their website for marketing however, one concept which has proven to be reality is word of mouth and social marketing.

In a little over a year a great deal has changed. Of those business owners surveyed in 2010, 54% stated they had websites however most were using their websites for informational purpose only. What is important today? It’s not about information anymore; it’s about creating “The Buzz”. The purpose of a website for Informational purpose only is so counter productive. Information is passive and extremely non productive. Smart business owners are finding how to become active with their website usage.

Here is the huge difference – a passive marketing strategy only draws traffic to the site and requires a great deal of SEO effort which is still important but could become costly depending on the SEO service. Compare that to an active marketing campaign strategy that pushes traffic to the site which is accomplished through outside sources on the web promoting the site. Social Media has become the fastest growing medium by which to push traffic to sites and SMBs are beginning to catch on.

Overall, the internet is the leading marketing media among almost all businesses, with print media coming close behind (including direct mail which is a form of print media). 35% of the surveyed are using some form of social media for marketing, and among the leading social media are Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. It is taking SMB owners time to realize the importance in using Social Media. When asked, 11% stated they were going to use Social Media as their primary source for getting new customers yet 25% were going to focus on Word of Mouth. It was interesting to see that 66% believe Social Media was the most affordable method and 41% saw no value.

For 2012, the top 4 areas SMB will increase their budgets will be website (17%), Direct Mail (15%), Email Marketing (15%) and Social Media (13%). Increase in SEO budget falls to only 4% for 1012.

And what was the one area SMBs will focus their attention for improving in 2012? Getting more customers; growing their customer base. Almost 60% said they plan to focus in getting new customers while only 38% would focus on retaining existing customers.

Is there a silver lining in today’s economy? Is there an opportunity for both Business Owners and Entrepreneurs? There certainly is! 
It is obvious businesses are looking for economical ways with which to improve their business. Many are beginning to see the importance in having an active rather than a passive internet marketing strategy. But it is not equally among all age groups. The younger generation of SMB owners are seen to be leaning heavily towards Social Media Channels while the older generation either do not plan on using it or just don't know but even they are looking for solutions. For those who have lost jobs may be optimistic in knowing there is an opportunity for them to help SMB owners. If one looks, there is always opportunities. The question is, how?

That is where GrowOnlineNow.com comes in. Not only do we have solutions for SMB owners, we also have opportunities for those individuals who seek out and seize opportunities. We have an Internship Program designed for individuals who have not been able to secure a job after being laid off, or those wanting to position themselves with a secondary plan of action in order to protect against having the family income totally eliminated.

The Internship Program provides a win-win solution for both individuals and SMBs:

• For the average person we provide the infrastructure through our Internship Program to start a new business. We provide tools, training, mentorship and support to get their business started including the ability to attain the necessary capital.
• Our Internship Program provides the intern tools to assist SMBs in attaining an “affordable” solution with the industry’s only “all inclusive” web site platform and services which includes high tech Web Sites, unlimited technical support, customer support, SEO support, Social Networking support, as well as Email and Domain support as well as other services.

For more information and to get details on our Internship Program, visit ExploreGrowOnlineNow.com.

For SMB owners wanting to know more information on our “All Inclusive” web site platform and services, visit us at GrowOnlineNow.com.

For details on surveys used in this article, go to SMB Bbusiness perspective for 2011 and 2012 and SMB Marketing Practices Survey for 2010.

Excellence in Service: What's in Your Shopping Cart?

Statements of fact:

1. Businesses that have a store front and sell products and/or services should know their competition is online.
2. Business that educate such as conducting class either online or in a physical location should have a professional online appearance.
3. Businesses traveling from one show to another should have an online storefront so that the person who visited their booth last week can purchase that cool necklace this week.
4. The merchant who thinks they can do without an eCommerce site is loosing to their competition.

What do all of the above have in common? They provide credibility and promote definite of purpose! Even if one isn’t planning to sell anything online, they should still have a well-crafted site; but for this edition of Excellence in Service we will focus on businesses that are selling a product or service.

All four of the above facts should be obvious however some may think why an eCommerce site for #2. What better and less expensive way is there to process registration and collect fees for classes or online courses than through a virtual registration secretary? There are three essential reasons for an eCommerce site:

1. Increase Sales: Reach a larger number of potential customers through virtual channels
2. Lower Costs: Using word-of-mouth marketing strategies greatly reduces conventional marketing costs; can replace costly promotional materials and events with virtual material and videos; online order processing not only is done 24/7 but can help reduce distribution costs; rather than handling customer calls for frequently asked questions, the information is provided by the web site; if products are already ordered and shipped to store front locations, eCommerce reduces inventories by simply forwarding the order to the supplier and have them directly ship (drop ship) to the customer.
3. Increase Profits: The magic behind all successful businesses is to increase profits which is accomplished by increasing sales volume; a quality eCommerce site greatly increases sales volume.

Here are 5 basics for a quality eCommerce site:

1. eCommerce Tools: All quality eCommerce web sites should provide access to all of the components necessary to help make money online:
1. Merchant account access
2. Fully customizable product catalog
3. A virtual shopping cart
4. Advanced pricing features
5. Shipping, handling and tax rules
6. Payment options
7. Order processing features.
2. Product Catalog Management: A quality eCommerce site should include a user friendly or intuitive Product Catalog Management tool which:
1. Provides an intuitive eCommerce Dashboard
2. Can Import/Export Products
3. Provide Product Inventory Management
4. Provide Google Base Integration
5. Includes an Invoice and Packing Slip Tool
6. Provides Product Tags
7. Includes Multiple Billing Option
3. Enhanced Customer Experience: Never forget customers. The easier and more enjoyable the shopping experience, the better the odds are they will make the purchase. A quality eCommerce site should be able to:
1. Pan and Zoom Product Images
2. Provide Wish Lists
3. Compare Products
4. Include Customer Reviews
5. Provide Easy Re-order Features
6. Provide Configurable Products
7. Purchase Virtual & Downloadable Products -- MP3s, eBooks, PDFs
8. Include Customer and Shopping Cart Discount Options
4. Multiple Billing Options: A quality eCommerce system should be versatile and designed to give a variety of online order processing options. It should be able to:
1. Process credit cards online in real time
2. Have orders automatically sent to you by e-mail
3. Provide safe and secure transactions through an SSL-encrypted network
5. Dedicated and Extraordinary Support: There is nothing more frustrating than technical support that is not sensitive to a business owners needs… and one that understands the English language. Not to be insensitive here to other countries or cultures, but in this case technical support for someone who is not tech savvy requires a bit more understanding and be more understanding. Steer away from companies that export their technical support offshore. The reason technical support is used is to resolve an issue you have… this is not the time to have to explain something several times to someone who doesn’t understand our culture. Anyone can speak English, but to understand what was meant when spoken to doesn’t always or easily translate.

Here are a couple examples of fully featured eCommerce Dashboard found in the back-end of a quality eCommerce site.

One of many Dashboard Displays

Menu Items which should be Available 

Always ask lots of questions when evaluating a company to provide a “business” eCommerce site solution.

In the Cloud Computing – Are You Secure?

Microsoft came out with an excellent “Planning” guide to Cloud Security which everyone should read either before deciding to move their IT assets into “The Cloud”, or if you have already done so. Actually, if you have moved your assets into the Cloud then most likely you did your homework and deployed the appropriate security measures. This brief overview is to help small- and mid-size business owners better understand the security issues which need to be evaluated, and the steps taken to best secure your data and infrastructure before migrating into the cloud. The planning guide looks at how advanced server technologies—in particular, Intel® technologies—can help you build trust and compliance into your data center and set the foundation for cloud security.

Moving into The Cloud is not realistic for the average small business owner.

“Cloud computing security is a broad topic with hundreds of considerations—from protecting hardware and platform technologies in the data center to enabling regulatory compliance and defending cloud access through different end-point devices.  The focus of this planning guide is to provide you with suggestions and recommendations for strengthening data and platform protection in your cloud implementations.”

The seven steps in the “Cloud Planning Guide” include:
Step 1: Start Security Planning Early
Step 2: Identify Vulnerabilities for Your Selected Service(s)
Step 3: Four Things an IT Manager Can Do To Mitigate Security Vulnerabilities
Steps 4 -7 in the guide are based on the above four areas.
Step 4: Protect Data—in Motion, in Process, and at Rest
Step 5: Secure Your Platform
Step 6: Extend Trust across Federated Clouds
Step 7: Choose the Right Cloud Service Provider

Intel provided a great service with their guide... for the full details go to Cloud Planning Guide and please share with others to help keep everyone’s data secure.