Newsletter For Ecommerce and Catalog Retailers – Mar 4 2011

February 25, 2011
Industry News
FIFTH GEAR Choice of the Week

Test, test, test for success
Testing your ecommerce site is one of the most important factors in driving conversion and elevating customer experiences. A recent online survey of 160 merchants found that 28% of them test their website monthly. But is that enough?…
(Source: Retail Online Integration)

Stores think small as online shopping becomes big
As consumers trim their spending and shift their shopping to cyberspace, American retailers are acting on a realization that many of their stores are too big. This means beefed-up ecommerce channels and an even larger commitment to growing other sectors…
(Source: Wall Street Journal)

And the credit goes to…
Confused as to where your leads are coming from – website, Facebook, banner ads, or search engines? Marketers now advertise on a growing number of ad channels, which can make it hard to figure out which channel gives the maximum returns. But have no fear: new research tools can help you figure out who gets the credit…
(Source: Internet Retailer)

Convert them when it counts
The majority of shoppers encountering checkout problems will simply abandon shopping carts and look elsewhere. The final point of conversion - the checkout process - is your last chance to seal the deal and complete a sale…
(Source: Practical Ecommerce)

Why "all hands on deck" isn't always a good thing
Dealing with peak demand can be a fulfillment nightmare for retailers. Many companies cross-train workers from other departments or bring in temporary staff to fill the void. While it might foster some team spirit around the warehouse to have others helping out, it could also be the recipe for a complete disaster…
(Source: Multichannel Merchant )

Customers canning in-store shopping in favor of online?
Internet retail sales in the U.S. will grow 10% a year through 2015 as shoppers spend more time online, Forrester Research says, and the implications aren't good for brick-and-mortar stores. The 12.6% growth in 2010 outpaced that of 2009, aided by the economy's recovery, more first-time online shoppers, and greater spending…
(Source: Wall Street Journal)

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Accelerating Commerce
Featured Content from the FIFTH GEAR Blog

• Want Big Ecommerce Changes? Start Small.

• Location, Location, Location Online

• Fifth Gear is Off to Boston for NEMOA

• Dialing into a Mobile Friendly Ecommerce Site

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