Similar to the Heartbleed bug that was detected in April 2014, the Shellshock bug is creating headlines and headaches throughout the World Wide Web. In regard to this new cyber threat, it is important for IBM WebSphere Commerce users to understand that although the IBM WebSphere Commerce software itself is not directly susceptible to this bug, the bug can be present in the underlying operating system on which WebSphere software runs, possibly making those systems vulnerable to being manipulated by black-hat hackers....

Typically, business blogs and articles focus on specific strategies and tactics that can help a business owner support his or her bottom line. And many of those news pieces can be incredibly helpful. However, without a strong corporate culture, the effort to boost sales and increase customer engagement ends up being more difficult than it should be. Growth can be stymied when employees are lacking enthusiasm and motivation. It can be further stymied when a business has to constantly train a...

Saying that content is king can sound a bit cliché these days, especially considering the importance of a website's performance. If your pages don't load properly, consumers can't be expected to twiddle their thumbs to access your content – no matter how good it is.  However, content should still be considered the crowning jewel for any high-performing website. In the same way that smart technology can boost the way a website functions, smart technology can also help business owners create great...

The International Retailer Conference & Exhibition took place at Chicago’s McCormick Place more than three months ago. Oh how time flies. Regardless of the time that’s passed, however, the team at NetSphere Strategies is still benefiting from the networking and educational opportunities provided there. Long story short, if we were to give the event a rating and review, we’d be sure to bestow it with a high number of stars as well as a comment indicating the caliber of speakers who...

In a recent whitepaper published by CoreMedia, a leading developer in web experience management solutions, the editors there discussed the importance of adapting the way businesses design their respective eCommerce and marketing content websites to be more fluidly integrated. Strong emphasis was placed on a more streamlined and less convoluted experience for the consumer when shopping online, especially when targeting the key millennial demographic. Further enabling customers to feel they have all the tools necessary to make informed purchases not only...

On Aug. 15th, the advanced eCommerce sales report for Q2 2014 was published by the U.S. Census Bureau. As could be expected, business owners were anxious to see how Q2 fared in comparison to its predecessor – especially those business owners who have invested in omni-channel marketing initiatives. According to the U.S. Census Bureau report, Q2 maintained the upward momentum that eCommerce has been experiencing for quite some time. The estimate of eCommerce sales was set at $75 billion, an increase...

At this very moment, bright minds are working hard to develop new tools and technologies to help businesses of all shapes and sizes drive their online sales operations. Thanks to their ingenuity, business owners are streamlining their sales and marketing activities with a level of sophistication not imagined just a few years ago. And it’s not just the sales and marketing departments that are benefiting. From fulfillment to eCommerce to finance, business units are leveraging smart systems that are bringing them...

As an eCommerce development firm, NetSphere Strategies constantly stresses the importance of website performance audits. From site speed to the overall user experience, when a business understands the inner workings of its online operations, it’s easier to make improvements. And the same could be said for a business’s marketing activities. When marketing assessments are employed, campaigns have more potential for success. Historically, pay-per-click advertising has been seen as an advertising expense, removed from real business metrics, such as revenue and profit....

Across the nation, kids are tossing on their backpacks and hitting the books. School is back in session! As most parents know, though, straight As won’t just materialize out of thin air. They must encourage their children to employ hard-work and diligence at every turn.    Likewise, eCommerce website owners must be hard-working and diligent to ensure that their websites score well on tests like WebPageTest.org’s web page performance test. When a website scores well on performance tests, it will also...

In the whitepaper titled, “From Ripple to Wave: The Ascent of Authentic Visual Content,” the editors at Olapic, a company focused on visual content, brought to light the flood of customer photos that are being taken every day. They also focused on the benefits that can come from taking advantage of all of those selfies and pics shared on Instagram on eCommerce websites.   “Customer photos are the most authentic and compelling brand assets available today,” the editors said. “Thanks to the...