The goWholesale Blog

Comment Etiquette - Say What?

May 7th, 2008

If you are in any way involved in a blog you know that positive comments are awesome, negative comments are…well, good for balanced feedback and spam comments are downright infuriating. Its the latter variety that this post is about.

You know them when you see them. Sometimes they are blatant, “Great blog! Visit my site www.bestsiteintheworld.com!”

Sometimes they are incoherent, “Greek should thy savage health insurance agents make light business contact manager windows mobile wheat.” (Whaaa?)

But most of the time, they are a little sneakier than that (in response to one of my Valentine’s Day Trend Alert posts), “Its true! We sell more Heart Valentines Day Votive candles on blacktaisaltco.com months after V Day. The Pure Himalayan Salt Lamps and regular Crystal Salt Votive candle holders sell during valentines day… most people send them to themselves as presents and not to anyone else… we had a questionnaire…proves our point.”

Yeah…so clearly, that’s marketing at work but because it was relevant to the blog post I felt inclined to allow it. And it didn’t make me feel very good either. It got me wondering if there is any sort of formal comment etiquette out there that would help marketers who are posting these comments to get what they want and not tick off bloggers?

My research led me to a SmallBusinessNewz.com article on the subject. The article’s author Chris Crum writes about how each blogger generally makes up their own policy regarding comments. There is quite a range from very lenient to very strict and not all of them are made known to commenters/readers. He links to Daria Black’s The Blogger’s Guide to Comment Etiquette which outlines guidelines the average blogger uses. Be sure to pay heed to number 1 on the list (it IS number 1 for a reason ya know…).

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E-signature Services Offer Safe and Fast Alternative to Fax Machines

May 2nd, 2008

I know I’m not the only procrastinator out there. If you’re like me, then you know that it’s one of those things that can’t easily be switched on and off, thus generally leaking over into your professional life as well. The good news is that now technology is on your side, making it easier for you to get last minute signatures on documents and contracts before they must be submitted. And what is this glorious invention? Well my friends, it’s called an “e-signature” and it’s reshaping the way people do business.

Wikipedia has a very in depth explanation (read: technical and boring) for what exactly it entails but the short and simple version is that it’s magic. :)

If you are a company that requires many signatures (such as insurance companies, law firms, real estate businesses, etc.) here’s why you need this technology:

-Saves time

-Saves money (after all, time IS money right?)

-Convienient

-Safe/Secure

-Easy to use

-Economically priced

-No IT

and probably the biggest benefit of all…

-Your customers will love you for making their lives that much easier (which as we know, is always good for business!)

For help on getting started check out 10 Tips for Selecting the Best Digital Signature Software Solution (free registration required)

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SEO Rapper Spits the Basics–Word.

April 29th, 2008

Alright, so who says SEO has to be dull and boring? The SEO Rapper a.k.a. Poetic Prophet a.k.a. Charles Lewis is on the scene and his SEO tutorials on YouTube are informational AND entertaining. He relays just the basics but that’s about all this format will allow for. So if you’re just starting out with your website and you have a well trained ear for deciphering rhymes layered over thudding bass beats (or an old pro looking for a little entertainment) check it out:

He’s also got clips on link building and paid search. Enjoy!

**Remember this as a great example of thinking outside the box as well. This guy’s getting a lot of buzz for doing something different…yeah it’s a little cheesy and high school presentation-y but it’s got people talking…and that’s the key.

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Consumers Wary of Customized Ads

April 17th, 2008

A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive and Dr. Alan F. Westin Professor of Public Law and Government Emeritus at Columbia University showed that the majority (59%) of U.S. adults are uncomfortable with customized ads directed at them based on their web surfing habits. It doesn’t really surprise me either.

After all, have you ever been reading your GMail and glanced over at the ads down the side and noticed that the ads have been determined by scanning the content in your email? I’ll admit that when I first noticed that going on, it weirded me out a bit. It made me feel as though someone must be looking at my private emails! Apparently I’m not alone.

The survey goes on to report that more people would be slightly more comfortable with the practice if they were presented with a privacy policy first but not by a huge margin. From a consumers standpoint it does tend to send up some privacy red flags.

But as an advertiser, this type of focused strategy is enormously beneficial. It makes sure that the ads are far more targeted on the individual which saves the time and money of both the advertising business and the consumer. However, if the uneasiness remains, don’t be surprised if you see some battles ensue.

The question for business owners and advertisers (also being consumers themselves) will be: which side of the fence will you come down on?

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Oh So Textual! *Text Message Shopping Has Arrived*

April 7th, 2008

I remember the days when cell phones were exciting because they were cordless AND you could use them past your front porch without it crackling and buzzing you deaf. Then came the ringtones. And the cameras. And the text messages, email, internet, music and video. I can’t afford the latest and greatest (mine simply allows for phone calls and a few texts) but when they add a “Makes You Breakfast in Bed” feature I’ll seriously consider upgrading.

But as is, I, along with countless others, still possess the capability of participating in text shopping, the latest service offered by Amazon.com called TextBuyIt. Here’s how it works (courtesy detnews.com):

“It lets people text the name of a product, its description or its UPC or ISBN to 262966 (that’s “Amazon” on the keypad) from anywhere their cell phones work — including from inside physical stores.

If Amazon stocks matching items, the service returns two results at a time. Shoppers can immediately buy one of the first two the selections by texting back the number “1″ or “2,” or they can ask for more by texting the letter “M.”

New TextBuyIt customers will be prompted to enter the e-mail address associated with their existing Amazon account plus a shipping zip code. The service then calls them and walks through the checkout process using an automated voice system. Shoppers get confirmation by text message and e-mail.

From there, the customers can check on order status on Amazon’s Website.”

First I just have to say that I think this is pretty awesome–as a consumer that is. I keep thinking that there is no way things can get easier and lo and behold, someone finds a way. I’m not so sure I would use this personally (remember, I’m too cheap to upgrade to a cooler cell phone so I’m not exactly a ’shopping on demand’ kind of person) but I do know that this service will likely be widely accepted by shoppers and replicated and perfected in different forms by Amazon’s top competitors.

So what kind of effect do you think this will have on brick and mortar stores? Or small businesses for that matter that do not possess the capabilities of offering such a service in order to compete with Amazon?

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Posted in E-Commerce and E-Business, In the News | 2 Comments »

Avoid Spring Cleaning (sort of) - 4 Ways to Clear Computer Clutter

April 1st, 2008

April 1st. Many know it by it’s widely known and celebrated OTHER name…April Fool’s Day. Unfortunately, for many others it’s also officially the first day of facing projects they’ve managed so diligently to put off all winter. And what is usually at the top of everyone’s list? That’s right, (cue Beethoven’s 5th):

Spring Cleaning!

(Yeah, I know…I thought maybe the happy colors would make it less painful but alas, there is no way to overcome the incredible demoralizing strength of those two words combined. They continue to stand the test of Time…and apparently the test of Color Wheel as well.)

Fortunately, I have an alternative for those who wish to avoid the catastrophes otherwise known as basements, garages and landscaping. Why not take this opportunity to a little spring cleaning–er–organizational restructuring for your business? Now I don’t mean you’re whole business. Just focus on your computer. It’s probably full of backlogged information that you could easily do without not only from an aesthetic aspect but also in the sense that getting rid of needless files and emails will make your computer run faster.

Courtesy ManageSmarter.com and My Computer Works, a PC repair company, here are 4 easy ways to clear your computer clutter:

1. Slow E-mail
Topping the list of performance issues for most people is e-mail problems. Some issues are caused by settings that are incorrectly entered into the e-mail application. However, it is possible to speed up Microsoft Outlook and other popular e-mail programs by archiving or pruning old e-mails, especially those with attachments. Deleting unneeded messages from the Sent folder and emptying the Deleted Items folder will also allow the software to open and operate smoothly.

2. Sluggish Operations
Another common problem is deteriorating PC performance. Boot-ups seem to take forever, applications don’t load as fast and the dreaded “blue screen of death” shows up more and more often. There are a number of things owners can do to improve the situation: defragment the hard drive using the Disk Defragmenter utility in Windows, remove unneeded personal files as well as old or unused programs, many of which get automatically loaded with new software whether you want them or not, remove unused programs. If run-time is still down after deleting the digital clutter, users should look into purchasing more RAM from a local retailer.

3. Security
Malware, spyware, viruses and other PC infections can slow PC performance, but they can also damage files and compromise highly confidential information such as email and financial data. It’s essential to install, and routinely update, anti-virus and anti-spyware/malware programs. Make sure the programs are set to scan files, e-mail and memory on a regular basis.

4. Periodic Cleanup/Backup
A little housekeeping can extend a PCs life and ensure that important information is never lost. Dust is a major problem with both laptops and desktop units; tower units are especially prone to dirt and dust since they usually sit on the floor. To clean a PC case, remove the side panel and use a can of compressed air to blow away dust. Never use a vacuum, as the suction causes static that can short-circuit delicate electronics. The last and perhaps most important task of all is to back up data at least weekly: PCs are replaceable, but photos, videos, financials and business data can be lost forever.

Taking the time to give your computer a little love will likely save you time and gray hairs…so grab a snack, plop down in front of that PC and knock it out. Come on, it’s gotta be better than whatever is waiting for you in the attic, right?

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Social Shopping Sites Bring More Opportunity to Small Businesses

March 31st, 2008

Interesting thing isn’t it? How the internet has completely replaced the need to leave your house to buy things. Shopping malls were once the great meccas of consumerism. What a shame….What’s that you say? They still are? Oh….how is that possible? The internet has EVERYTHING and you don’t even have to get off your duff to get it!

Sarcasm aside, in spite of the incredible convenience the internet affords, people are still flocking to malls around the world to find what they are looking for. So why is that? I thought the internet was supposed to make things easier?

The reason for this according to a recent Inc.com article, is that while shopping can be done individually, it is largely a social activity. We rely on recommendations from our friends and family to locate sources for certain products we may be interested in because we trust these people to give us good leads. In the internet world, all we’ve had to rely on are the search results Google and the like produce for us which, as we savvy internet users have come to find out, is based primarily on variables that do not have the consumer in mind, often producing the most prominent (read “well known”) sites first.

We’re in luck though. Smart entrepreneurs have recognized this and are doing something about it. For the first time, we are starting to see websites dedicated to tailoring the online shopping experience directly towards the consumer. Sites such as ThisNext, Shoposphere and Kaboodle are what is called “social shopping” sites. And here’s what they do:

As a small business marketer here’s how and why you can use these sites to grow your business:

Just remember to be a responsible member of these communities. Many of them self police anyway but you cannot approach it from a strict marketing standpoint. Don’t be intrusive and abuse the system. Merely develop good relationships and allow it to work for you.

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The Online Shoppers Cometh - Are You Ready(eth?)

March 26th, 2008

Well friends, it’s finally happened. People are now officially computer savvy. Or at least according to a 2007 Forrester Research report almost 75% of us have learned how to successfully shop online and the the number of late comers to the internet party continues to dwindle each year. That’s great news for online businesses! But it’s also a bit of a double edged sword.

These findings indicate that more and more people are getting familiar with navigating the internet and therefore learning how different websites hinder or facilitate their online shopping experiences. And guess what that means? It means that on the whole, people’s expectations are much higher–and growing alongside their experience.

So what does this mean for you? Well, quite simply it means that your emphasis on getting customers to your site should now be shifting to retaining customers. People are now quite comfortable with turning to the internet to get whatever products they need so you know that the traffic is there. You must now “wow” these customers with your quality of service and streamlined shopping experience. If customers think, even for a split second, that it’s too difficult to find what they’re looking for on your site, they’ll be out of there faster than you can blink.

So do yourself a favor and invest a little time and money into making your website stellar! Visit our Ecommerce and Ebusines Articles for more advice, tips and info!

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10 Totally Free Blogging (among other things) Guides…Totally!

March 21st, 2008

There’s no question anymore as to whether or not blogging is beneficial to businesses–it IS. Wait. Allow me to rephrase…GOOD blogging is beneficial to businesses. If you run your blog poorly, it becomes a waste of your time as well as the time of your readers (dare I say customers?) and no one likes to be inconvenienced, especially not consumers. I know, I know…nothing you don’t already know.

Well, if you have decided not to pursue blogging due to time, money and/or resource constraints then I suppose you needn’t read on. But if you do run a company blog and are looking to make it worth your while, by all means, check out these 10 completely free guides to building a better blog courtesy chrisg.com:

1. The Blogger’s Guide to SEO - Written by Aaron Wall of SEOBook, learn how to optimize your blog.

2. Remarkablogger’s How to Start A Business Blog - 12 Step Business Blogging eBook

3. “Attention Age”- Web 2.0 Marketing by Rich Schefren

4. Forget Everything You Know About Making Money Online - Brian Clark’s free ebook shows you how to forget everything you know about making money … and start making some.

5. Blog Profits Blueprint - ebook about how to make money with a blog.

6. SEO Benefits of Press Releases - optimizing your web page with good content.

7. Authority Black Book - Social Media Marketing ebook.

8. Deep Secrets of Successful Blogging - Chitika’s ebook…also links to the BlogBash ebook.

9. Keyword Research for Bloggers - the title says it all!

10. The 4 Phases of Internet Marketing - This report provides you an overview of all the tactics you should be looking at building into your internet marketing strategy.

Do you find these helpful? Let me know so I can either keep trying to find similar resources or move on to different ones. Also feel free too add your suggestions to the list!

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Posted in E-Commerce and E-Business | 1 Comment »

The Counterfeit Crisis

March 18th, 2008

There is quite a lengthy article on the Modern Distribution Management website that explores one of the biggest problems the wholesale/retail industry faces — counterfeiting. It sites statistics such as “The Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau estimates counterfeiting accounts for 5 percent to 7 percent of world trade” and “most counterfeit goods (close to 95 percent) can be traced back to China, according to a report from the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition.”

While counterfeiting is not a new trade by any means, what IS new is how the development of e-commerce has aided in its proliferation. “The Internet has made it possible for people to represent themselves more readily to more people in a professional manner that makes it look like they are legitimate.” So what is the industry doing to counteract this widespread (and growing) problem?

Well, there have been many associations; national government policies; and international agreements that were formed as part of the World Trade Organization. Individually, companies can create agreements with “authorized distributors” as well as pursue legal action upon catching any counterfeiters.

What are you doing to protect yourself from fakes?

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