E-commerce

If all computer systems had identical software running, website testing would be a breeze. However, it is not. Unlike printed media, a website can be accessed and viewed from a number of systems that are composed of countless variables to take into account when designing a website. This is the very reason why website testing takes place.

The ultimate goal of website testing is to make sure every visitor has a pleasant and smooth experience on a website, regardless of the system they have. The core areas covered in website testing are stated below:

Mobile Usability

As much as 91% of Americans today own a smart phone out of which around 48% use it to shop online. According to Google, 90% of people start off a task on one device and wrap it up on the other. Keeping this trend in view, the significance of mobile usability testing cannot be overlooked. The ultimate purpose of mobile usability testing is to ensure the following:

• Easy transition between mobile and desktop testing scenarios mid-session,
• Allow users/viewers to watch gestures and facial expressions in real-time,
• Capture the respondent’s finger gestures and facial expressions simultaneously,
• Permit users to use the mobile device in natural ways rather than conforming to technical norms.

Browser Bugs

Most of the old browsers, and some of the new ones, do not adhere to established standards as they should. This means that an identical code may look perfect in one browser but not in the other. This is the result of browser bugs that surface in various forms such as broken page layouts, multi-sized fonts, spacing and alignment issues etc. The purpose of website testing is to fix these issues by revising codes to ensure compatibility across major browsers.

Accessibility Concerns

This area is specifically covered during website testing to ensure a smooth browsing experience for handicapped and impaired individuals. Determining the alt tags in images, ease of accessing key definitions, screen readers and contrast of colors used for the color blinded people are some of the accessibility issues that are resolved during website testing. Most of these enhancements are easy to implement on a standardized website and testing for these issues promises a good navigational experience.

Functionality Problems

Even a perfect-looking website is bound to fail if it falls short of functioning appropriately. One of the basic examples of functionality is if a website has a registration form, what should happen if a ‘*’ field is left unfilled? What if inaccurate information is provided in the email field? Is the checkout process user-friendly and bug-less? The ultimate purpose of testing for functionality is to make sure the website is free from any slip-ups.

If you are looking for a complete web solution to have a perfect start for your online store, then you’ve come to the right place. At Earth Skater, you will be assured of the best services and web hosting solutions at affordable rates. We provide website testing for our clients ensuring everything is perfect before going live. Browse through our Web Hosting Features and Web Design Gallery to find out more about our best online store hosting services.

One of the basic pillars of setting up an online store requires you to completely understand necessary security measures before starting out and making it big in the online world; having said that, SSL certificates are an important piece of this puzzle. SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer and is a form of security for sites that handle sensitive information such as customer names, phone numbers, credit card information, addresses etc. Moreover, SSL security certificates help to establish a secure connection between a customer’s web browser and the server they are collaborating with. All in all, if you are willing to maintain privacy and security of your website, SSL certificates are a pre-requisite.

Some of the most important benefits you can expect from SSL Certificates include:

Information Encryption

The primary purpose of SSL Certification is to encrypt the information on the website so that it can be read and comprehended by the intended parties only. Since the information sent to reach the final destination surpasses several stops, the chances of third party intrusion and misuse of information increase. In this instance, SSL certificates insert random characters in the original information so that no one can decrypt the message without the encryption key.

Renders Authentication

If you want to be sure that the information on the website stays safe and secure without interception, then SSL certification is what you need. The certificate acts as a mediator between browsers and SSL servers to show that SSL certification provider can be trusted. Customers are allowed to view these documents to authenticate your site’s SSL and that the page they are about to enter is real, not an imitation.

Required For Payment Acceptance

As per the Payment Card Industry Compliance, on online business needs SSL certification with an encryption of at least 128-bit. According to PCI, SLL Certificates are one such source that can be trusted as it uses the right strength of subscription and provides a private connection on any page that requires customer information. Without such certificates, a site won’t be able to accept credit card payments.

Some common types of SSL Certifications include:

Basic Domain Validation SSL Certification

The Certificate Authority checks the right of the applicant to choose a specific domain name. However, no company identification is examined and no information is exhibited other than the encrypted information that lies within the security seal. Also, this certificate does not include a clickable link or a trust badge.

Premium Organization Validation SSL Certification

In addition to checking the right of applicants to use a domain name, it allows to scrutinize the organization as well. This vetted information is presented to customers when they click the Secure Site Seal. This provides greater visibility and trust in regards to who is behind the site. OV certificates include a clickable link and a trust badge.

Ultra Premium Extended Validation SSL Certification

According to this certification, the Certificate Authority checks the right of the applicant to use a domain name and conducts a thorough examination of the organization. It verifies the legal, physical and operational existence of the entity. This certification is available for all types of businesses and governmental entities. Also, it includes a green address bar on HTTPS secure pages.

If you are willing to set up an online store with secure online store hosting, then you’ve landed at the right spot. At Earth Skater, we allow our customers to opt for a Standard SSL, Premium SSL and Ultra Premium SSL so that your business grows securely. To find out more about our services, visit: www.earthskater.com/affiliate-tracking.asp

Considering the fact that most of us are dependent on our smart phones in our daily routine, it should come as no surprise that a mobile friendly website is essential for an online business. Competition in the virtual world today is rife with businesses using a wide variety of means to maneuver technology in their favor.

One of the best marketing strategies to invest in is to develop a mobile friendly website for your products or services. This will not only help you generate more traffic onto your website, but it will ultimately result in streamlined management of clients and their requirements.

Here are a few things that point towards the value of a mobile friendly website.

Riveting and Appealing

A mobile friendly website is a great deal more appealing than a simple, HTML based website. Incorporating mobile friendly features such as tap to call, map specifications according to geographical locations results in increasing average time on the website. Open a website that is not mobile friendly and makes navigation difficult and people are more likely to opt for your “mobile-friendly” competitor.

Superior SEO

According to the Webmaster Central Blog, Google has now deemed the mobile-friendliness of a website as a ranking signal. If you need to generate more traffic on your website, you will have to rank higher on search engine searches, and one of the best ways to do that is to invest in a mobile friendly website!

Enhanced User Experience

The way you treat your customers plays a huge role in retaining customers. Putting a mobile friendly website into operation will greatly enhance user experience by a reduced page loading speed and convenient navigation. A report by Kissmetrics actually indicated that about 60% of mobile users over the past year had abandoned websites since that were not compatible with their smart phone devices.

Get Effective Online Store Hosting Here!

If you are hoping to collaborate with an effective team that helps you stand out from the competition, look no further than Earth Skater! We are not only one of the best website design company in the market, but our team gives special importance to customer service. Whatever your requirements are, we are here to help with web design layouts, customer support systems, and affiliate tracking program among other services. Get started on standing out from the competition today! Feel free to contact us to set up a meeting or if you have any questions, we will be happy to respond!

Crowd funding can be simply explained as a technique used to elevate capital amounts with the help of family, friends, investors and current customers. Since social media has become a platform that is easily accessible by everyone, crowd funding proves to be an effective method to generate traffic and exposure to the business.

If you are at the initial start up for your online store, crowd funding may be an effective tool for gathering investments form the right sources. Here are some of the many advantages of crowd funding for an online store, in comparison to traditional and conventional fundraising options.

Effective Networking and Marketing

One of the best things about crowd funding is that you meet new people throughout the launch and close of the campaign and marketing becomes easier. Promoting the campaign through social media platforms, newsletters, corporate videos, etc reaches a broader audience. Moreover, the different media channels covering the fundraising progress can be used to direct more traffic towards your website.

Streamlined Processes

Appealing to different investors on an individual basis requires a great deal of time, energy and investment. Moreover, this can lead to chances of simple, human errors, since the volume of interaction becomes huge. With online crowd funding, you have the capability to streamline these processes to an entire pool of different investors through a single profile that highlights your prospects and potential.

Pinpoint the Package

Once you have embarked on the crowd funding campaign, you have the chance to look at your entire business from a bird’s eye view, eventually giving you control to pinpoint the essential parts. The final result is a polished and refined package that includes the best aspects of your business including history, target market specifications, offerings, value propositions and ideas and many more.

Consider Web Store Hosting With Earth Skater!

If you are hoping to collaborate with an effective team that helps you stand out from the competition, look no further than Earth Skater! We not only provide the best online store hosting in the market, but our team gives exceptional importance to customer service. Whatever your requirements are, we are here to help with web design layouts, customer support systems, and affiliate tracking program among other services. Get started on standing out from competition today! Feel free to contact us to set up a meeting or if you have any questions, we will be happy to respond!

One of the most pivotal tools to success in a business is to have an effective customer service strategy in place. Even if you have the best online store software, retaining customers ultimately comes down to the quality of services you provide.

Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind as per expert entrepreneurs for a streamlined customer service!

Team Building

In order to have one of the best customer service teams, you need to make sure that the team you have hired is dedicated and at the same wavelength with the company’s vision. According to Mike Mondello, president of SeaBear, “For me, it’s more than just hiring experienced people. It is important to demonstrate the type of organization we want to be. It’s mission critical that everyone on our team understands how they fit into the brand and what they bring to the value chain that delivers a successful customer experience,”

Moreover, Leon Gorman believes that, “Customer service is just a day in, day out ongoing, never ending, unremitting, persevering, compassionate, type of activity,” indicating the importance of a compassionate team at hand.

Enhancing Customer Experience

Customer service is a segment of an organization that can grow and improve on a regular basis. Bill Gates once said, “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” Brainstorming to improve and enhance customer experience can inevitably lead to growth and productivity within an organization.

Moreover, make sure that the third parties you are dealing with for shipment, etc are dependable. According to Lisa King, owner of Brownie Points Inc, “You need to know that you’re partnering with someone who can manage your shipments and make sure your packages arrive on time.”

Never Compromise on Quality

Most businesses provide the best service possible in the initial days of their launch. As the business grows, most tend to cut down on costs by compromising the quality of the product and services. This is not only a mistake, it also compels loyal customers to leave.

According to Bud Weisbart, IFM, Vice President of AR Tech and AR Industries, divisions of A&R Tarpaulins Inc., Fontana Calif, cutting quality means, “you’ve sharpened the knife that’s going to slit your throat.”

Moreover, Larry Sweet, founder and president of Save-A-LoadInc says, “The key to the success of any business is to establish a philosophy and have everyone in the business buy into it.”

Need More Tips on Startup?

If you are hoping to collaborate with an effective team that helps you stand out from the competition, look no further than Earth Skater! We provide efficiently running online store builder software in addition to web design layouts, customer support systems, and affiliate tracking programs among other services. Our team gives special importance to customer service, so, whatever your requirements are, we are here to help! Get started on beating the competition today! Feel free to contact us to set up a meeting or if you have any questions, we will be happy to respond!

In addition to the previously mentioned tips, there are a few more tips that can be considered for increasing business revenue. The key is to focus on long term planning. Train yourself to brainstorm for ideas and tactics that can ultimately make your business flourish.

Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Expanding Your Market

You can implement a number of strategies to expand your target client base. Consider augmenting your current customer base by launching new products or complementary services and discounts on existing products. In addition, since there are a number of cost effective shipping vendors available in the market, you can expand the geographical territory as well!

Staying Up To Date With Technology

As an online business entrepreneur, you should know that technology is ultimately your best friend. These days, you can use up to date technology to analyze your target audience in an efficient manner. Moreover, it is not technology that helps you fight off competition in the market, it is the way you use it. If you are not inclined towards IT, make sure that you have a reliable team at hand that can help you make the best of your web store.

Mobile Friendly Websites

Currently, most people prefer browsing and shopping via their smart phones, tablets and other devices. Since these devices are easily accessible to prospective customers, make sure that your website is compatible with them. This can enhance the visitors’ overall user experience, making chances of them converting to customers brighter.

Need Help Setting Up Your Web Store?

Finally, having a reliable and dependable company to help you set up an online store is the concluding step. When it comes to this, look no further than Earth Skater! We are not only one of the best website design companies in the market, but our team is renowned for highly proficient and adept customer services. Whatever your requirements are, we are here to help with web design layouts, customer support systems, and affiliate tracking programs among other services. Get started on standing out from the competition today! Feel free to contact us to set up a meeting or if you have any questions, we will be happy to respond!

In the past decade or so, the ecommerce industry has taken leaps and bounds to get to where it is today. It is well on its way to becoming the favorite shopping destination of shoppers around the world. We have been part of the industry for more than a decade, and have seen all kinds of highs it has experienced. We continue to provide high standards of complete ecommerce store services to our clients at amazing prices.

The secret to our continued success in the business is that we have continued to grow with the industry and innovations in technology. As with every New Year in the past, 2015 has brought its own predictions of the ecommerce trends that are likely to be popular this year and the years to come. We thought it prudent to look at some of these trends and share it on our blog. So, here we go; these are the ecommerce trends that you will likely have to incorporate in your web store soon enough:

Customized Products

This trend has been picking up steam for the past couple of years, with retail giants like Nike offering customers the option to customize their apparel. This trend will only become more popular in the future, because more and more customers will prefer unique products.

Preference will Matter

Offering customers similar products, to the one they purchase, is present in every online store in some form. But this small aspect will take on a life of its own in the future; online stores will offer up tailored item lists to customers, so they can have a more convenient shopping experience.

Geo Targeting

Personalized marketing will reach a new level with the help of smartphones. Geo targeting will allow web store owners to send relevant information about products, shipping costs, taxes etc. It would make shopping online a whole lot easier especially when customers can receive all this information about their purchases without having to navigate through 3 or 4 different web pages.

Image Based Marketing

The recent surge in the popularity of sites like Pinterest and Instagram is a telltale sign of this quickly growing trend. More online stores will rely on image based advertisements, because they will help them generate more traffic for their store.

As you may have probably realized, some of these trends have already picked up steam and become quite common. We can help you market your business using the latest marketing techniques including image based social media sites. All the rest of the trends have a lot of catching up to do, and we will make sure to keep all our clients well-informed about them.

For more detail visit :

http://www.earthskater.com/

One of the most effective ways to attract more traffic to your online store is to personalize it on different levels. Starting with the design of the web store, which we can help you with, and ending with how your products are represented on the store. You have to offer your customers a unique online shopping experience and adding a personal touch to it can do the trick.

1.     Segmented Customers

Everyone visiting your site is different; depending on what the audiences are searching for, you can add a unique message for them on your website. This personal message or a visual can help raise the appeal of your website to the visitors.

2.     Personalized Information

This doesn’t mean that you have to tweak your web content for each segment of your target market; it actually means adding the extra bits of information about each product, which can be extremely useful for your customers. For example, you can tell the customer looking at a particular product about when the product will be out of stock or how long it will be out of stock for.

3.     Call to Action Approach

Every web store on the internet has the same old calls to action; buy now, click here, download now etc. Although these clear calls to action are useful, but adding more creative calls action will help you capture the attention of the audiences in a better way. For example, rather than using “call now” you can use “we are just a phone call away”. With the help of our marketing services, you can generate a lot of traffic, but it’s on you to convert that traffic into customers.

4.     Focus on the 3 Ws

Content writing is all about who, what, where, when, why and whatever else, but you just need to focus on the 3 Ws; who, what and where. Who the visitor is, what are they looking for and where they are accessing the store from?

5.     The Visuals

The images or videos that you place on your online store need to speak to your audiences on a personal level. For example, if you are trying to attract female customers to a sale you are having, you should use visuals and imagery that appeals to them.

The 5 approaches above will help you to personalize your ecommerce store to a certain extent, and you will be able to increase the traffic on your online store. If you require any of our design or marketing services, then feel free to contact us (877-627-2492) and we will find the solution you need to achieve success with your online store.