Archive

Archive for the ‘Marketing’ Category

What’s your E-mail address?

January 25th, 2009

E-mail marketing is a powerful tool that allows you to keep in touch with customers, drive repeat business and reinforce a brand. But it’s more than simply typing up a quick letter. There’s technique, best practice guidelines, regulatory compliance, look, feel and other aspects that go into sending a successful, well-received e-mail.

Your sites could collect e-mail addresses through a web form and your community partners then can e-mail them (making sure to use a good e-mail marketing software like Vertical Response to comply with e-mail privacy regulations.)

At any rate, no matter how you manage it collecting e-mail addresses is a great way to build loyalty.

Speaking of which, use the links on the left navigation to sign up for the contest e-mail lists.

General, Marketing, Tools and Resources

Video on your Site

January 23rd, 2009

youtube_logoYouTube, Vimeo, and Hulu. Are they just buzz words that have become part of our daily vocabulary or are they related to a better marketing opportunity? We’ve all hopped on the web video train in the past few years, but there are doubts about whether or not e-commerce sites been making the most of it. New studies and recent reports indicate that adding video to your site can boost conversions, increase customer trust levels, and differentiate your e-commerce site from the competition. Read more…

Marketing, Programming, Tools and Resources

Common Navigation Element

January 21st, 2009

One of the contest criteria is a common navigation element, but what exactly does that mean?

From a design standpoint, it means that your site’s visitors will see the same navigational element on every single page.   This is most often done via a top or side nav.  For example, this website uses a right-side common navigational element  that is the exact same thing no matter what page you’re on.   There is also a less prominent TOP navigational element that exists for the homepage and About pages.

From a programming standpoint, it means that if possible, the same file should be used on every page Read more…

General, Load Time, Marketing, Programming, Tools and Resources

Social Media and “Web 2.0″

January 21st, 2009

Social Media and “Web 2.0″ is quickly becoming a very relevant part of any business who wants to compete in 2009.   Learn more here:  http://www.ebizinsider.com/2008/09/03/using-social-media-optimization-smo-to-drive-traffic-to-your-e-commerce-site/

Some easy-to-integrate social media and web 2.0 applications include: Read more…

Marketing, Tools and Resources