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Is Your E-Commerce / Online Store Ready for the Holidays?

e-commerce online holiday shopping and your business rosewood va deanna simone york region

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, let’s take a tally. How many people shopped online? And how many people went into a physical store?  If you’re like me, I did both, although the majority of those days were spent online shopping.

There is a Fine Line Between Informative and Annoying

My inbox was LIT. Full of emails boasting 40% off, 50% off, 80% off, etc. And you know what? These emails worked! There were two companies I purchased from on Cyber Monday, simply because their promotions notices went straight to my inbox. And the deals were just too good to pass up.

That being said, there were a few companies who overdid it. Some companies that I regularly purchase products from sent me no less than 15 emails on Cyber Monday, and about 30 emails in total from Black Friday through the weekend. This was absurd, and very annoying. It left a bad taste in my mouth about the company and their products.

Authentic Marketing All Year Round

Rosewood is a proponent of Authentic Marketing. If you are providing a service of value, people will purchase it even at full price. Your product/service should speak for itself. If you decide to run a promotion, make sure people know about it, but do it in a respectful way. Think about your own habits as a consumer.

Taking Advantage of Automated Tools:

Abandoned Cart

We’ve all been there: shopping on a website, adding items to your cart, and then leaving before you finish the checkout. Most companies have enabled some sort of an “Abandoned Cart” tool. If the person is logged in or has input their email address before abandoning the cart, the store will email them, notifying them of the items in their cart. Sometimes they’ll even offer an incentive discount. This can be a great strategy, since you already know they are a qualified lead, and perhaps just need a little push (ex. free shipping) to close the deal.

Sales Countdowns

This tool comes in and out of fashion. It offers a countdown sale unique to every visitor. It is incredibly smart, and tracks the IP address of the visitor so it knows how long is left in their specific sale period.  You can also set up automations that will offer incentives if they’re closing in on the end of their sale period. There are many possibilities!

The holidays are competitive for online sales. If you have an online store, what tools are you taking advantage of this holiday season? We would love to hear from you in the comments below.

If you’d like to discuss your website needs with us feel free to contact me. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. And don’t forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter as well for more education and inspiration!

Deanna

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To Blog or Not to Blog, That is the Question

Blogging, RosewoodVA, Deanna Simone, Aurora, Newmarket, York Region, Website Designer

As an entrepreneur it can feel like you are endlessly changing hats. You are simultaneously your CEO, IT team, marketing agency, financier and cheerleader. When every moment matters and time management is essential, adding one more task to the mix, blogging, might have you skeptical. But blogging, writing small topic-specific posts on your website, can have incredible benefits for your business.

The Benefits of Blogging

We live in a world where people want to feel connected to the companies and services they choose to spend their time or money on. It’s the reason you will see any large company like Coca-Cola, or Nike with a ‘news’ page on their website.

Blogging on your website is a quick way to create these connections with your clients, while controlling the topics you share. It gives you the opportunity to resonate with your readers, to give clients a taste of your personality and the things that matter to you as a business owner, and to boost your credibility by communicating your knowledge of your industry.

And the marketing machine that is Google loves new content! Google wants to show searches the most recent and most relevant content specific to their search terms. Every time you create a new post for your website you help your SEO (search engine optimization) by letting the cyber world know that you are still an active thriving business.

What to Blog About

For those just starting out, this is one of the biggest hurdles, what do I write about? I’m an aesthetician, an arborist, a lawyer, what do I have to say? The answer to that is, anything.

The problem with blogging falls under our perceptions of it. Sometimes we view it as mindless drivel, when really it’s an opportunity to share knowledge about our industries. Whatever you’re business, you’ve probably been asked a question about it.

Every time someone asks you a question, this is a potential blog topic.

Maybe they want to know what the benefits of using essential oils in pedicures are, or what type of trees grow best in full sun. In my case, people often ask me what the benefits of blogging are and is it really worth their time.

Regardless of the business you’re in, questions equal opportunities for blogs, and more importantly questions equal connections with those asking.

If you’re still struggling with where to start, think about the question you get asked the most. Right there you have at least ten potential blog topics. Challenge yourself to answer those questions in a minimum of three hundred words and show your clients what you know, who you are, and why you deserve their business.

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‘Tis the Season for Local Networking!

Local Networking Tips - Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Uxbridge

In my experience, the two best seasons for networking are the same as the real estate market.  People are rested after the winter/summer holidays, and ready to get down to business in the Spring and Fall.  Make the most of the Fall Networking Season with some ideas for networking groups, and keep reading for my #1 tip for successful networking.

Green Connections Networking Group Newmarket/EG

To kick off fall networking season, I’ve joined the board of a networking group called Green Connections.  Green Connections’ mission is “to explore and share environmentally-friendly practices, products and ideas. Through networking and mentoring, our goal is to encourage all businesses to ‘Go Green’”. I had previously been to an open meeting and decided to join. It just so happened they were searching for a secretary – a position that fits me perfectly!

Networking Events with a Philanthropic Intent

I was recently invited to attend the inaugural Successful Women Achieving Goals (SWAG) event in Newmarket.  The monthly dinners help educate and empower women, while donating proceeds to a chosen charity.  Why not network and do some good at the same time?

Health & Wellness Events

I will also be attending a York Region Women’s Wellness Circle on October 26th hosted by the wonderful Karen Armstrong.  Not only is this a great opportunity to connect with like-minded women in York Region, but also a chance to learn something new about health & wellness.  Nicole Tomingas will be leading us through EFT techniques using the fingers to gently tap on acupuncture points. Very interesting!

Use Your Local Chamber of Commerce

If you’re looking to get involved, now is a great time to visit some open networking breakfasts. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce. They usually host monthly breakfasts open to new members. It’s also a great time to check their schedule of free and paid seminars.  There are lots of opportunities to learn about social media marketing, online marketing and e-commerce.  Not only can you learn a few things, but you can also use this as an opportunity to network.

My #1 Tip for Successful Networking

I have been networking for over 10 years.  My biggest piece of advice is… LISTEN!  Engage in conversations, listen to what others have to say.  Ask questions, listen to their networking pitch, but only offer yours if they ask. This is the best piece of advice I can offer, and has worked incredibly for me.  If someone takes the time to ask what I do, they are more likely to listen to what I have to say.

Does Your Business Card Stand Out?

When they do ask what you’re all about, make sure that your business card stands out. Whether it be a great logo, an awesome design, or a thick card stock.  Make a lasting impression.  My business card has my logo large on one side, and is in a thick matte stock.  I made a contact at a networking event, and she kept my card for a full year until her business required my services.  My card made that impression.

Nervous about attending your first event? Contact us and tag along!  Sign up for our newsletter for even more tips.  You can find us everywhere online on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Until next time,

Deanna

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