Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has more than 6,000 reviews on Amazon.com, and the movie Mean Girls has nearly 5,000. In addition to proving the popularity of J.K. Rowling or Lindsay Lohan, it just goes to show how much consumers like sharing their opinions on the things that they buy.   And thank goodness for consumer reviews because how could consumers possibly shop without them? These days, it seems almost impossible to purchase something without first consulting with...

The dawning of a new age is upon us. And no; we’re not talking about December 21, the end of the Mayan calendar and the end of the world as we know it. We’re talking about the dawning of the mobile payment revolution. That’s what Crain’s Chicago is calling it, at least, and if we know what’s good for us, we should start preparing for it now.   “Industry giants including Google Inc., Microsoft Corp., Starbucks Corp. and eBay Inc.'s PayPal...

With highlights ranging from the London Olympics to the presidential election, 2012 will truly be a year to remember. But as is true with every changing of the annual guard, the collective world looks forward to what’s to come. The e-commerce community alone is anxiously awaiting new developments in 2013.   Over the past 12 months, e-commerce businesses have grown by leaps and bounds thanks to a surge in online retail spending. E-tailers continued to adapt to consumer shopping habits, and...

As a company integrates more and more e-commerce best practices into their e-tail site, usability, navigation and the overall consumer experience are bound to improve. And when these methods become the norm, sales are sure to pick up.   But that doesn’t mean that a company can then go on autopilot. There are constantly new elements to address that will further enhance an e-commerce business. And sometimes it’s the simple things that get overlooked when giving a website an overhaul.  ...

Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, isn't something to take lightly. Considering the crowds that will be lining up in just three days, it’s highly advised to start practicing your defensive moves now. And, you might want to be armed with more than just a super-charged coffee. Last year, a woman pepper-sprayed fellow shoppers to get her hands on a discounted Xbox 360 – and that was one of the minor incidences.   Or, you can just skip...

As any e-tailer knows, getting all your eggs into one basket is an ongoing task. And it’s one that requires a mighty big basket. From social media initiatives to website overhauls, there’s always something that has to be added to the ever-growing to-do list.   Finding new sales outlets isn’t necessarily something new on the list, but it does require a bulk of an e-tailer’s time. For starters, there are a whole host of third-party marketplaces worth considering. Amazon and eBay...

Every four years, our nation has the chance to get a fresh start. Whether it be by voting in a new president with crisp ideas or by keeping a reinvigorated incumbent on for a second term, the opportunity is alive.   And with Election Day behind us, we must use that momentum and incorporate it into our daily work lives. There is always room for improvement, after all – at the government level as well as on the business level.  ...

Online shopping is no longer the wave of the future. It is the here and now. Instead of flocking to brick-and-mortar locations to make purchases, consumers are flocking to their computers, smartphones and tablets.   In a recent article published on Forbes.com, Hil Davis, co-founder of the online men’s retailer J. Hilburn, cites various experts on the matter of today’s consumer shopping habits. He makes mention of a recent Internet Retailer study, which forecasts a doubling of mobile commerce sales in 2013. And he...

At NetSphere, we’re always yammering about all of the stuff that folks are supposed to do to make it in today’s business world: Set up a Pinterest account to diversify your web presence, create effective meta descriptions, implement social logins, live and die by your analytics, launch a mobile marketing strategy, employ third-party marketplaces, start producing videos and for Pete’s sake, take out the trash. And yes, we know; we’re beginning to sound a bit like your mother. All kidding...