More can sometimes be too much

While new features can be fun, sometimes all they do is create clutter. As in the offline world, just because a new gadget’s available, it doesn’t mean you necessarily need it. While many add-on products do indeed increase value to your online store, you have to stay aware of your customers’ basic needs and concerns.

While this multichannel merchant article is not new, I think it is still a valuable read. Basically, online shoppers want to find all the information they are looking for in an easily accessible manner. I found Gripe #3 particularly interesting.

And under other gripes, I was pleased to see something for which we have a solution. As the respondent said, “Another thing that makes me leave a Website is if there is no search box, or if the search box says ’search for products’. Sometimes I’m trying to find information other than product information…like shipping rates! Again, the search box should be very visible.” Hey, WE know it!

Au Naturel

I know you already know it, but let’s say it again – natural traffic trumps paid traffic any day, everyday. Not that I needed any further convincing, but saw a nice article about this very matter in InternetRetailing this week. There doesn’t seem to be any way to link directly to the article, so look for a piece entitled “Natural Beats Paid” (May 16, 2008).

And since we’re in the Traffic Builder business….

Only 92% of online stores use paid search?

Usually the words only and 92% don’t work together in a sentence, but I actually find it surprising that only 92% of online retailers use paid search to acquire new customers. It just seems weird to be an online store and not advertising in THE most obvious online way – SEO and paid listings with the major search engines.

The ebusiness article, where I got this stat from, based on a report released by Shop.org and conducted by Forrester Research, goes on to predict huge increases in online retail sales over the next five years.

The pic, as promised

The Celebros Sales Team at Internet World. Looking good guys!

Managing your time and your merchandise

Welcome back to our Sales Team. Internet World 2008, according to all was a big success. Lots of interest in our site search & navigation solutions, especially the newer products like Cross-Sell and Traffic Builder. I’ve been nudging them for a picture the past few days, so hopefully I’ll have one soon to post here.

On a not so related topic, someone sent me the following series of stats from a 2007 Aberdeen Group study regarding online retailers:

• 38% derive customer analytics data from site search activity, 31% personalize site search base on the purchase histories of unique customers or segments of customers
• 41% say they spend very little time managing research
• Amongst best in class 17% have staff dedicated to managing search results, and 33% spend more than 5 hours per week fine tuning search

What do we learn from all that? That not all retailers are using their time most effectively. That for many it really does pay to have someone else manage their merchandise. Hmmm, can you think of someone who can do that at a reasonable fee?……