Returns are so commonplace that some shoppers today don’t feel the need to try on clothing or test drive electronics. In fact, retailers have made the returns process so simple that many consumers consider returning multiple items as part of the decision-making process. According to an article posted on DailyFinance.com, industry estimates put consumer returns each year at about $264 billion – about 9 percent of total sales. And although there are many reasons that could justify a return, many happen... Subscribe to this list via RSS Blog posts tagged in best practices
Returns are so commonplace that some shoppers today don’t feel the need to try on clothing or test drive electronics. In fact, retailers have made the returns process so simple that many consumers consider returning multiple items as part of the decision-making process. According to an article posted on DailyFinance.com, industry estimates put consumer returns each year at about $264 billion – about 9 percent of total sales. And although there are many reasons that could justify a return, many happen... 
During a recent discussion with one of our clients, the team here at NetSphere Strategies was posed with the following question: How can we make our customers feel more secure when making purchases on our site? When we answered that question by equating the checkout process to a party, our client was a tad surprised. But believe it or not, comparing an online shopping cart to a party isn’t as far-fetched as it might sound. There are plenty of reasons... 
Social media is no longer a fad when it comes to generating traffic and building buzz around a business. In fact, social media is essentially synonymous with marketing. It’s all about creating interest and turning that interest into qualified leads. To harness the benefits, businesses will develop a social media strategy that has all the right elements – appropriate platform selection, well-developed content and incentives for engagement. Unfortunate for many, however, conversion rates aren’t reflecting the efforts put forth. And... Success on Facebook has thwarted some businesses, leaving them with what they consider to be an unacceptable number of likes and worse off, leaving them with a depleted sense of social media self-esteem. What these businesses may be forgetting, however, is that it’s not the quantity of likes that matters; it’s quality that reigns supreme.
Regardless of the quality-over-quantity mantra, businesses still feel compelled to strive toward bigger numbers. And who can blame them?
So, to encourage your Facebook counter to grow, take advantage of the sage advice from Get the Dash, the social media gurus that created the video above. By implementing these approaches, any business should be able to grow their friend-base – in an honest and sincere way.
Tip #1:
Review the businesses that you “like” on Facebook and ask yourself: Why did I like them in the first place?
Is it because you simply wanted to support their social media efforts? Is it because you truly love the brand? Was it because you received a special offer that required a “like” to obtain it?
By asking yourself these questions, you’ll be able to apply the answers to your own Facebook strategy.
However…
Tip #2:
Don’t simply mimic the efforts of others. Inject a little personality.
That approach will resonate with the individuals who have shown interest in your business. It’s important to remember that your “likes” are more than just a number; they’re living, breathing human beings who for one reason or another, want to interact with you and your business.
In a recent article, published on Inc.com, a small toy store owner lamented the fact that she could not compete with the big box retailers when it came to price. When shoppers would leave her store, claiming that the same items could be bought elsewhere at significantly lower prices, her defeatist mentality would get the best of her. It seemed like she wasn’t willing to fight for shoppers’ business. She just let them furrow their brows at her prices and go.... 
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. ...