Newsletter for Ecommerce and Catalog Retailers – Nov 18

November 18, 2011
Industry News
FIFTH GEAR Choice of the Week

The taxman is coming
60% of Americans believe state sales tax should also apply to online sales. In addition, state governments stand to gain $24 billion in additional revenue if the online sales tax bill is passed. But is implementing an online sales tax fair?…
(Source: NRF.com)

Free shipping does increase sales
Forrester Research confirms that shipping costs are the main reason for shopping cart abandonment. Many retailers offer free shipping – but it doesn’t make sense for everyone. Here are a few ways to work it into your operations strategy…
(Source: Multichannel Merchant)

Add personality to your call center operations
Making the most of your interaction with customers in your contact center largely involves using personalized content. Make every word count and write like you talk to immediately connect your brand’s personality with your customers…
(Source: TMC Net.com)

What will 2012 bring for marketers?
This year has been a roller coaster for marketers – so how do we prepare for the next one without knowing what’s ahead? Huge increases in the discount economy, social personalization, location-based marketing, and social experience management are just a few predictions for the coming year…
(Source: Marketingprofs.com)

Dazzle your ecommerce customers with colors
Did you know that colors increase brand recognition by 85%? That darker blue indicates reliability, while lighter blue means friendliness? The next time you add a dash of color to your website, think in terms of hue, saturation, value and context!…
(Source: Practical Ecommerce)

‘Tis the Season
Retail News for the 2011 Holiday Season

Get ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Ecommerce retailers are gearing up as the holiday season’s biggest weekend approaches – Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Here are 4 quick tips you can use to tweak your ecommerce strategy just in time for the holiday rush…
(Source: Multichannel Merchant)

Videos make holiday sales more magical
Customers are increasingly expecting retail product videos when shopping online, and for good reason. Videos better convey product uses and descriptions than still pictures and text, which could actually decrease post-holiday returns. Be sure to add them to your marketing mix!…
(Source: Video Commerce.org)

Fill their carts and your wallet
E-retailers struggling with high shopping cart abandonment rates don’t have to fret this holiday season. From highlighting seasonal offers to outlining your shipping costs and returns policy prior to checkout, there are ways to increase conversions without spending much money…
(Source: Practical Ecommerce)

Make their mad dash easier
One thing that most online shoppers need is to find what they are looking for quickly. This holiday season, ensure that your ecommerce site helps them search quickly and effortlessly by clever usage of colors, images, and navigation bars…
(Source: eMarketing and Commerce)

Accelerating Commerce
Featured Content from the FIFTH GEAR Blog

• Creating Convenience in the Call Center

• DMA Keeps a Watchful Eye on Retail Threats

• The Perfect Provider for Ecommerce Technology

• Free Shipping Without the Fuss

• Create a Customer Experience Leader for Your Brand

• Fifth Gear Creates Promotional Planning Guide for Retailers