22 Jul 2010

The Vendor Client relationship

by Greg Randall

Customer Service, Project Management No Comments

If you ever wondered what is is like for the Exceed Online Project Managers to deal with some customers, watch this video titled, The Vendor Client Relationship – in real world situations.

It is the nicest and most accurate portrayal of what our Project team deals with on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis.

Is this you? If so, take care next time you put forward a request to your website project team.

21 Jul 2010

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

by Claire Anderson

Business Practice, Online Strategy, Project Management, eCommerce 1 Comment

Setting up an online business can be as simple or as complicated as you choose to make it.I have been involved in countless projects, both as a client and on the other side as a an Online Consultant working to deliver a website that meets the clients needs. The downfall I see all too often, is people focussing on the finer detail instead of the larger picture, a profitability online business. Continue Reading…

21 Jul 2010

Optimising images for search engines

by Arshiya Ali

SEO No Comments

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Images play an important role in web design. They not only add an aesthetic appeal to your site but help in expressing ideas and thoughts.

They can influence buying habits, grab attention and create a lasting impression about your site on the customer. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Continue Reading…

20 Jul 2010

Building Loyalty the old fashioned way – earning it

by Greg Randall

Business Practice, Customer Service No Comments

Over a year ago I wrote an article which was not in favour of Online Loyalty functionality. At the time, I felt (and still do feel the same) online businesses are trying to find lazy methods to lock in customers.

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19 Jul 2010

Client Q & A – Building a Business Requirement document

by Greg Randall

Business Practice 1 Comment

Well…hear I am New Years Day morning dealing with another client question. Everyone is still asleep so I thought I would catch up with some work.

The client question I am dealing with in this article came from a meeting I had last week. They asked a good question which we continually deal with about the creation of a Business Requirements document, the critical first step when beginning a new project.

This client has never put together a document like this before and asked for guidance.

Below is my reply:

Continue Reading…

18 Jul 2010

Automating the Business to Business model

by Greg Randall

Business Practice, Business to Business, eCommerce No Comments

The two primary tools required to automate business to business (B2B) models of the future is the use of an eCommerce website which is effectively integrated into business systems. The website (element #1) provides the accessible channel, and integration (element #2) builds automation and scalability of business systems. If these two elements can work harmoniously together, competitive advantage results.

Whether businesses are trying to automate a part or the entire business, the concept of change is not the problem; it is the steps to get there which creates the stumbling block.

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18 Jul 2010

Client Q&A – Stock availability

by Greg Randall

Business Practice, Customer Service, eCommerce No Comments

I have been very bad over the last few months. My last post was back in June! Exceed is growing and I have had no time to even think about writing a blog article. However, this morning I wrote an email to a client and thought, I get this question all the time! Then I realised, I have hundreds of great articles but all in emails to clients who ask great questions.

From now on, if a new or existing client asks me a good question, I am going to throw it in here. This is my first of many to come.

This morning a client wrote to me:

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17 Jul 2010

Building a Database to grow your online business

by Greg Randall

Business Practice, Email Marketing, Online Strategy 1 Comment

When a new business starts its life, whether it is online or off, one of the biggest and more costly challenges is to acquire new customers. This cost is a reality, however, the growth of any online business can be balanced with direct marketing strategies and around the use of building a database.

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16 Jul 2010

Affiliate Marketing – How can it help you grow

by Greg Randall

Email Marketing, Online Strategy 1 Comment

When growing an online business, the challenge is in your methods to vary the sources of qualified traffic coming to your website. Both SEO and PPC efforts will do a very good job but like all businesses, building depth in qualified traffic sources will assist in reaching growth targets.

Affiliate marketing is the act of building commercial relationships with other websites who acquire the targeted traffic you would like sent to your website. If traffic is referred on to your website, you provide the referring website a commission (percentage of the sale).

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15 Jul 2010

Fulfilment – Building Scalability and Profitability

by Greg Randall

Business Practice, Customer Service, Online Strategy, eCommerce No Comments

The potential problem all online businesses face is, as sales increase, ROI decreases. This is due to the increase in cost/resource to deliver the orders. It is fine for online businesses to say they are acquiring 250 + orders per day through the website, but how profitable are they? The automation of processes reduces cost and builds efficiencies.

The focus on fulfilment is two pronged, building fulfilment processes is critical in both building customer loyalty and in creating a scalable and profitable business.

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