Onsite search deployed on eCommerce sites is one of the top three most effective ways for buyers to find the products they want to purchase. So why is it that 7 in 10 adults that shops online at least monthly, have come to the conclusion that onsite search functionality deployed on most webstores they visit don’t deliver relevant results and expectations. I didn’t realize how poor the implementation of onsite search was for eCommerce sites until I decided to write this...

  Having been employed by such technology titans as AT&T and IBM, I have seen far too many situations where companies move to a new eCommerce platform but didn’t understand the reasons why. I remember a B2C site that suffered from sluggish performance from day one. I was told after the fact that the company didn’t have to migrate to a new platform if someone had known to update a configuration file to allow the site to consume more available memory...

  A survey of B2B companies with at least 1,000 employees, conducted by Forrester Consulting during the 3rd Qtr 2014 titled “Building The B2B Omni-Channel Commerce Platform Of The Future", determined that B2B buyers expect B2B supplier sites to provide a similar user experience to what they are accustomed to from B2C sites. Top features B2B customers expect when conducting business on B2B sites includes automated pricing options (62%), enhanced site search (60%), product reviews and ratings (58%) and improved personalized...

  PRODUCT BUNDLES.  Product bundles make sense when a product is likely to require complimentary accessories like a camera, smart phone or a computer. Price bundling promotes a higher average order value for the merchant's online profit margins, while providing a discount and convenience to the shopper. Consolidating separate products into a packaged bundle leads the shopper away from thinking price and showcases the value and benefits of purchasing a product bundle. The merchant is no longer competing on price– a tactic that is not sustainable for...

  The following summary is a list of technical features found in the IBM WebSphere Commerce platform that may be beneficial to you as you expand your online business. B2B CONTRACT PRICING AND PROCESSING. Manage B2B relationships based on predefined rules and contract terms. •    Fast, cost-efficient, error free – every time your partners purchase online, they get the same negotiated terms•    Utilize the built-in approval process to complete purchase authorization across organizational levels•    Increase sales by focusing sales staff on...

The following summary is a list of marketing features found in the IBM WebSphere Commerce platform that may be beneficial to you as you expand your online business. INTERNATIONAL SITES. Each online store can be configured to handle commerce from a global perspective.•    Supports 25 currencies – DEM, EUR, FRF, GBP, USD …•    Supports 13 languages – English, French, Japanese, German, Korean, Spanish …•    Multiple payment methods – credit card, check, COD, gift card, PayPal, PO, BillMeLater …MARKETING CAMPAIGNS An extensive set...

User-generated content is a highly prized commodity with marketers who use it to prove their brand’s authenticity. When marketing to Millennials, a segment of consumers who are particularly swayed by user-generated content, visual content is especially useful. Instagram, a social media platform that relies heavily, and in some cases, solely, on visual content, is quickly shaping up to be a perfect match for marketers pushing a brand. Instagram has had somewhat of a meteoric rise among social media platforms. Within...

    Most folks are more than familiar with the following idiomatic phrases: “diversification is the key to success” and “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” And many are familiar with them in a business context. For example, when you sell products and services from your company’s website, you benefit by increasing the number of sales channels available to your customers – diversification is the key to success. Selling through a third-party marketplace also helps you mitigate the financial...

NetSphere Strategies and CoreMedia, a NetSphere Strategies partner, wrapped up their three-part webinar series last month with the third installment focusing on how to create microsites without the help of an IT team. Easy-to-Use Tools One of the goals for any company involved in eCommerce is to create an immersive experience for shoppers who search the site. With the right tools, technical proficiency isn’t even a prerequisite for improving site search and creating memorable and effective experiences. To drive conversions, retailers...

RJMetrics’ latest report on eCommerce proves that the company continues to be thorough in its research. The 2015 benchmark report titled “eCommerce Buyer Behavior” comes after analysis of data from 176 eCommerce retailers and 18 million customers. In doing so, RJMetrics uncovered several insights on how customers behave, giving retailers a leg up in strategies to improve their business processes and impact more consumers. The report is comprehensive and incredibly detailed; check it out, here. For those who may not be...