As I predicted
months ago, Google’s social network initiative through Google+ is changing how the web views online privacy. Google+ status updates are now being fed into Google’s search engine, giving Google+ users a strong SEO advantage and a legitimate reason to switch from Facebook. Only a few days ago, Google announced that it would be changing its privacy policy and integrating activity across all Google products to show more relevant ads to users. This would not only mean more revenue for Google through its pay-per-click program, but would also mean Google would keep track of pretty much everything you do and use that information commercially.
Does that mean Google is overstepping the bounds of online privacy? After all, Facebook has been doing the same thing with ads for the last few years without a great deal of controversy. But critics rightfully argue that Google is an essential tool in some businesses, and that many people can’t simply choose to opt out. They argue that search, unlike ads, should NOT be personalized. After all, if you are Googling something for business, you probably would not want your personal hobbies to affect your results. Some proponents of the new changes, however, argue that if they have to see ads, they’d rather see ones they’re interested in. Ultimately, it is Google users themselves that must make the decision to support or to reject the new policy.
Do like customized ads and search?
Which shipping companies do you use?Webgistix gives you a choice of shipping companies to choose from. We have strong relationships and real-time integration with UPS, FedEx, and USPS. Webgistix provides shipping discounts to qualified customers based on specific requirements.
The growth of online and mobile commerce last year continue an exciting trend that shows no signs of slowing down. But perhaps the biggest news for online retailers comes out of a field not unrelated to eCommerce: social media. Recent statistics from eConsultancy unveil some growth numbers for major social media sites that nearly defy belief. A year ago, Twitter had around 75 million user accounts. Today, it has over 175 million. LinkedIn’s membership have jumped 100% to a high of 100 million, and over a million companies have pages on LinkedIn. Facebook reached 640 million users from 350 million last year, and experienced a 200% growth in number of users accessing the social media site through their mobile devices. So what accounts for this growth?
One interesting note is that while social media sites like Facebook have grown at remarkable speeds, the growth of other sharing sites has slowed or even stagnated. Sites that have experienced this slow down are generally single purpose sites like Blogger, or Flikr. Taking this into account, it’s not only possible but likely that more internet users are consolidating their activities into social networks. Thanks to the growth and changes to existing social networks, it’s easier than ever to upload photos and videos to your profile, and a typical internet user no longer has to go to an image uploading site to share a picture.
The prevalence of mobile devices with internet access have undoubtedly contributed to this consolidation. New, built-in apps on smartphones allow users to upload pictures and videos instantly with the touch of a button. Social media with its status updates, and twitter with its short messaging, are ideal for mobile users to access on-the-go. Even users who wouldn’t actively use social networking might type up a short twitter update on the train or bus.
Causes of growth aside, there is one concrete conclusion that can be drawn from this: the social media phenomenon is not going anywhere. More people are jumping on the bandwagon than ever before, and online businesses most integrate social media into their strategies or lose out on a significant platform that can be used to sell products and connect with their customers.
Christmas is one the most exciting, and one of the most stressful, days of the year for most eCommerce retailers, and more so this year than any other in history. The National Retail Federation has projected that retail sales will climb 3.8 percent from last year to 469.1 billion this year, a record number. How important is the speed and accuracy of order fulfillment to taking advantage of that Christmas rush? eConsultancy surveyed holiday buyers in the UK to find out.
During Christmas 2010, 26.24% of customers ordering online for Christmas received late orders. While some of that can be attributed to poor weather in some parts of the country, slow fulfillment can also be the result of an inadequate fulfillment operation. The worst Christmas gift is a late Christmas gift, so it shouldn’t be surprising that 28% of respondents said they would not shop again at an online retailer if they received a late package. In other words, slow fulfillment can cost you almost a third of your potential future business. Even having festive holiday theme for your website, a good product, and strong customer service aren’t enough to offset the importance of getting orders to customers quickly.
If you fulfill your orders in-house, remember to keep your warehouses as organized and focused as possible during the holidays to avoid any errors. If you don’t want to worry about any of that, consider outsourcing your fulfillment to a service like Webgistix, which guarantees shipping within 24 hours and has a comprehensive 2-day delivery model.
Happy Holidays!
Webgistix ships a wide variety of products from clothing to coffee to exercise equipment, but does not ship hazardous materials, adult materials, or perishable food products. Webgistix has ten years of expertise in shipping all types of products. A few examples of the industries Webgistix serves are:
- Nutraceuticals
- Fitness Equipment
- Pet Supplies
- Electronics & Accessories
- Cosmetics & Beauty Supplies
- Books
- Apparel
- Housewares
- Coffee
- Toys
- Jewelry
- Home Accessories
Webgistix has recently rolled out a complete overhaul of its award-winning eCommerce order fulfillment technology: SmartFill X. Why not take a look at this announcement and see how Webgistix' cutting edge fulfillment technology can save your eCommerce store time and money?
Webgistix Unveils SmartFill X, Newest Version of eCommerce Fulfillment Platform
Here is a great new article from the Wall Street Journal about how sellers can create their own online store without being dependent on an existing platform such as Amazon or eBay.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203413304577088902478632204.htmlWhy not take a look at all the ways you can make an online store more compelling to potential customers?
Do I get software upgrades for free?Some fulfillment companies will charge for software to make their pricing appear lower than it actually is. Make sure that your fulfillment partner's technology is both useful and free.
Webgistix SmartFill is Cloud-based technology that integrates directly with market leading shopping cart systems to automate your order fulfillment. You deserve a fulfillment solution that’s just as sophisticated as your shopping cart system. The Webgistix API (Application Programming Interface) is currently integrated with:
- 1 Shopping Cart
- 3D Cart
- Amazon
- Channel Advisor
- eBay
- GoogleCheckout
- Magento
- Miva Merchant
- NetworkSolutions
- osCommerce
- Paypal
- Shopify
- Ultracart
- Volusion
- Yahoo
- ZenCart
Webgistix is dedicated to giving eCommerce retailers the ability to sell across multiple platforms. Besides pre-existing shopping cart integrations, Webgistix also offers you the option of integrating with our custom API.
How often do I pay you for your services?Ask how often the company plans to invoice you. Some companies make you pay weekly for shipping charges and some require you to pay in advance. Still others invoice you for all charges on a monthly basis.