Amanda Zantal-Wiener says, “Once upon a time, back in 2005, there lived on the internet a website called YouTube. It’s a name that, today, many people recognize as a video-sharing website — and much more — that’s owned by Google. But over a decade ago, YouTube wasn’t what it is today. In 2005, YouTube was a dating site. Yes, you read that correctly. YouTube began as a dating site. It’s something that the co-founders have discussed in interviews, but the rest of us rarely do. Since the late 90s, how many websites have transformed into something completely... [...]

Nikki Gilliland says, “With 78% of people reportedly making a purchase on mobile within the last six months, it is clear that mobile shopping is on the rise. However, despite this fact, basket abandonment remains a particularly big problem for online retailers – especially considering the often spontaneous and time-sensitive nature of buying on a smartphone. According to MEF’s new Mobile Money Report, 58% of people have started to pay for something via mobile, only to abandon it before the final checkout. With 31% saying this was because they were asked for too much sensitive information,... [...]

Ronald Dod says, “I feel like everything I have been writing lately has been “doom and gloom,” but I don’t think SEO, or SEM in general, is all negative. It doesn’t have to be this way. There is light at the end of the tunnel, my fellow startups and small businesses in the eCommerce space. Here is why: Everyone Started Somewhere One of the first things you have to realize in this field is that everyone started somewhere. We all know that eCommerce is ridiculously hard and competitive. Just because you are small doesn’t mean every other business you see started as this behemoth... [...]

Shelly Banjo says, “Investors cheered a fourth consecutive quarter of sales increases, and maintaining a full year of gains helped quiet concerns that without PayPal Holdings Inc., the subsidiary it split from in 2015, eBay would be left for dead. It’s no time for self-congratulatory pats on the back, though. Growth initiatives touted by eBay management during its earnings call last week, such as ramping up millennial-focused TV advertisements and making it easier for consumers to find new stuff on its sites, just aren’t aggressive enough to match eBay’s grand ambitions... [...]

Shubhomita Bose says, “It’s a question every business owner has to ask himself at some point: what price do I sell my product at? Truth be told, pricing is tricky even for the most seasoned entrepreneurs. Price your product low and you might receive a lot of sales but less profit. Price too high and you will end up attracting a niche audience that expects top quality. It’s a fine balance, really and determined by the product you’re trying to sell. How to Price Ecommerce Products Depending on your situation, you may at times want to mark-up your products lower or higher. A simple formula... [...]

Kane Jamison says, “At least once or twice per month, I talk to a small e-commerce store owner who wants to invest in content marketing. Often times, I have to break it to them that they’re not ready for content marketing. You see, before you spend a bunch of time generating traffic from your target audience, it’s important to make sure those visitors get the best experience possible while browsing your store. So, in this post, I want to give store owners and e-commerce newbies a clear idea of where they can invest their time before investing in more paid and organic traffic to their... [...]

Tracy Maple says, “E-commerce teams throughout Wal-Mart’s operations are affected, says Marc Lore, Jet.com founder and Wal-Mart’s new head of e-commerce. E-commerce continues to drive change at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and the most recent restructuring involves the loss of about 200 jobs within its U.S. e-commerce team. A memo sent Tuesday to Wal-Mart employees from Marc Lore, the retailer’s president and CEO of U.S. e-commerce, informed staff of the cuts. “We’ve made the hard decision to eliminate around 200 positions today. These changes touch teams across the U.S. e-commerce organization,”... [...]

An avid surfer (nicknamed Lyfe Lyte) travels the world (and has for years) to every surfing beach he can find, always hunting down his next wave. In fact, he just got back to America a few months ago after spending 2 full years surfing. This isn’t a cheap lifestyle that he has chosen, even though he often sleeps on the beach. But he has the income to live this way because he has set up processes for his business, so he doesn’t have to be tied down to a desk just to keep his business going. Lyte said, “I didn’t start a business online just to be on the computer 15 hours... [...]

Don Davis says, “That includes $17.4 billion worth of sales on its online marketplaces during the annual Singles’ Day sale. Net income for the first nine months exceeds $5.5 billion. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. reported a 54% year-over-year increase in revenue in its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31 as China’s mostly mobile shoppers continued to flock to its giant online marketplaces, Taobao and Tmall. A highlight of the quarter was the $17.4 billion worth of purchases on Alibaba’s shopping portals on Nov. 11, the annual Singles’ Day online shopping extravaganza in China, with 82%... [...]

Nathan Resnick says, “Your company’s ability to thrive in today’s ultra competitive e-commerce industry hinges upon your ability to create an extraordinary experience for your customers. This experience begins with an inviting, captivating website that helps your customers achieve their goals quickly and easily. Below are five ways to increase your e-commerce conversions. 1. Revamp your website Your path to e-commerce prosperity begins with a fantastic website. After all, new customers will never make it to the decision-making phase unless they are drawn to your website. While the extent... [...]