It’s a holiday ritual as common as egg nog and mistletoe. Resolutions. But they make sense, right? New year — clean slate. I’ve made my own list for e-commerce operators. Please feel free to add one or two (or ten) of your own. Then follow them for a record year of e-commerce success!
1. Update My Look! – Around December, too many of us look in the mirror and don’t like what we see. Well, your e-commerce site is also a reflection of you. Is it crying “makeoverâ€Â?
Research shows that a fresh look is good for business and leading developers recommend a site redesign every three to four years. How long has your store been online? Is it outdated? Is it user-friendly? Keep in mind that a redesign is more than updating graphics. There are many new back-end features that make shopping easier for customers and more profitable for you. A redesign can give you a competitive edge both aesthetically and functionally.
2. Save Money – Could you be saving money doing e-commerce? Pay-per-click campaigns are costly. Do you fully understand how to analyze and manage these marketing tools? Find a company or software to help you maximize your budget. Are you losing money on shipping costs? Software is available to help you streamline. Is your e-commerce site easy to modify, or do you have to pay a developer every time you need a simple change? Analyze what you are doing on your own and what it costs in time and money. Investing in tools or professional services up front can save you money down the line. Money saved is money made!
3. Spend more time with family and friends – Is your online business taking you away from your friends and family? The good news is; you’re probably successful. The bad news is; success can compromise your quality of life. Don’t let it happen. If you are still a slave to the phones or doing all the picking and packing yourself, it may be time to take your business to the next level and hire help or outsource your office duties.
When choosing a call center, be picky! Are they native English speakers? Do you participate in training the reps so they can better represent your company? Will the call center increase your revenue by up-selling and cross-selling? A call center will give you more time away from the phoneâ€â€instead of bringing your Blackberry to your son’s track meet.
4. Be More Active – There are many new aspects in e-commerce which get you actively involved with your customers. Use them! Viral marketing is becoming huge. Blogging is huge. Stay active in other web communities and social networking sites to supplement any marketing you are already doing. These activities take time, but most can be done free. Blogs can also be custom-built to match your website, so branding can carry over. Not only are blogs and social networking great to share news and stay in touch with customers, but blogs specifically have another hidden advantage: they increase your search engine ranking.
5. Quit Bad Habits – Quitting cigarettes and alcohol make many New Year’s Resolution lists. When it comes to e-commerce a host of bad habits could bring you down. Are you sticking with bad people, bad products, service glitches, shipping woes? Identify your e-commerce bad habits… and kick ‘em!
6. Continue My Education – Continuing Education is a common New Year’s resolution. This is especially true in e-commerce where things change constantly. Read trade magazines that speak to your problems. Many online mailing lists and blogs pertain to marketing, web design, business and more that you can access easily. Bookstores are filled with aisles of books on all aspects of running a business. You don’t know it all- read and learn.
Learn in person as well. Don’t toss away mailers for seminars; register for some. You’ll find many nearby seminars and conventions which can help you specifically. Try to attend a few each year– they’re great for networking too. There is a wealth of knowledge out there. Learn from the pros. Make some e-commerce resolutions this year and keep them!
