|
krackajackfoo
|
 |
« on: July 28, 2010, 06:31:09 PM » |
|
To those of you that are running e-stores, what are some of the best nuggets of wisdom you've come across? I would say learning how to track keywords into conversions in google analytics was pretty high on the list for me!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
washoutinc
|
|
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2010, 06:34:26 PM » |
|
I'm all about attacking the major keywords with tons of traffic. Even if it takes me 5 extra months to rank, when it does it pays off and stays remarkably consistent.
The only other tactic that works for me and this is just more business in general is stay extremely consistent with the work that has to get done.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Getting addicted to success.
|
|
|
|
PritchB
|
|
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2010, 08:00:25 PM » |
|
I saw a pretty good jump in conversions when I added a merchant account.
Also, from an operations point of view, people generally don't read. If it says free shipping, they call and ask if there is free shipping. If it says 'out of stock' people call to see if it is in stock. I found if I want to get an important point across, I needed to do it graphically or with a photo of some kind.
Also, answering your phone=more sales.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
jody
|
|
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2010, 09:21:31 PM » |
|
I agree with Pritch that answering the phone has proved to be important in my case. I can't say I have a major ecommerce empire at this point...yet, but I am making some sales and am trying to build up for the Christmas shopping season.
My contribution for those of us who depend on drop shippers: get more than one supplier lined up if at all possible, even if things are going smoothly with your current supplier. For some items, I was getting requests for orders that my original supplier could not fill and they weren't going to have more stock from China for an extended period. Getting another supplier preserved some important sales for me. The thing about drop shipping is that you can make the sale, but you'll never get any money if the supplier doesn't deliver. If the supplier can't fill some of your orders, put priority on shoring up your supply line rather than putting out the next blog post or social bookmark. It can take time to get suppliers lined up and if you wait until your only supplier is not filling orders, you're already behind the eight ball and losing money.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
krackajackfoo
|
|
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2010, 12:16:04 AM » |
|
I agree, answering the phone has been much more paramount then I had hoped... but a necessary evil I suppose. Also, I find people ask questions that only I, knowing the products very well, could actually answer. So if I WERE to ever try and outsource things, answering of my phone calls would be very difficult.
I also found that really pursuing existing customers helped generate more sales from them. They say it is like 6x easier to sale to an existing customer than it is to create a new customer.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
dustinrm
|
 |
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2010, 07:35:31 AM » |
|
Hey guys. As an aside to the phone answering thing, I remember when I read the 4 hour work week that the author used to get a ton of email and phone calls from his ecommerce store which bogged him down all day. So he basically took the most common questions and answers and made an "FAQ" page to help cut down on emails and calls. I'm sure this is nothing new but thought I'd mention it if the questions you are getting are the same ones over and over.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Dustin Miller
|
|
|
|
Steven Clayton
|
|
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2010, 08:06:48 AM » |
|
we've got the "live chat" thing going on all our stores right now...working very well
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Lashey
|
|
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2010, 09:24:52 AM » |
|
Do you guys hire out to the Phillipines to respond or is someone in the states doing it?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Clayton
|
|
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2010, 10:20:29 AM » |
|
states
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
krackajackfoo
|
|
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2010, 10:44:54 AM » |
|
Ya, I may soon need to look into hiring a Customer Service rep. They would be American and preferably local to me. One person could easily learn how to answer the phone, emails and online chat as well as how to fulfill orders... Light Bulb!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
panthary
Jr. Member
Posts: 96
|
|
« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2010, 11:10:10 AM » |
|
states
What's the price difference like?? Bad, I'm guessing. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
krackajackfoo
|
|
« Reply #11 on: July 31, 2010, 08:28:23 PM » |
|
Well, min. wage is 5.25$ or so an hour... and that won't get your anyone with a brain. Phil you can pay around $1.50/hr and get a decent VA.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
deanpeterson
|
|
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2010, 08:51:02 PM » |
|
I learned now that marketing and sales is the one thing I never outsource - that is the money! I always answer the phone - when it rings it's money!
Plus I plan my marketing - when was last promotion and what is next one.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Eric D. Burdo
Uber Geek (see Brett)
Administrator
Hero Member
Posts: 3234
It's 2010 - Do you know where your Goal Plan is?
|
|
« Reply #13 on: August 02, 2010, 06:51:05 AM » |
|
Well, min. wage is 5.25$ or so an hour... and that won't get your anyone with a brain. Phil you can pay around $1.50/hr and get a decent VA.
I wish... min wage is $8.00 per hour here (but same problem, hard to hire someone with a brain for that). |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
ady
Niche Blueprint
Full Member
Posts: 166
|
|
« Reply #14 on: August 15, 2010, 08:14:50 PM » |
|
To those of you that are running e-stores, what are some of the best nuggets of wisdom you've come across?
If you don't mind the adult niche, no one ever complains/ demands a refund/ sends an item back/ phones you up to tell you they need it for tomorrow night so if it doesn't arrive in the morning post they want to cancel....... and for that reason alone its my favorite niche so far :-) |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
