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Archived news of: March 2010
2010-03-01
Do not neglect product pages, online retailers warned
Before customers get to the credit card processing stage they will want to gather product information, so ecommerce firms should ensure these sections are not neglected.
Before customers get to the credit card processing stage they will want to gather product information, so ecommerce firms should ensure these sections are not neglected.
Often, only basic details are given or the manufacturer's standard blurb is used, pointed out online seller Vangie Beal in an article for ECommerce-Guide.com.
Brief descriptions are not enough and will not encourage shoppers to make a purchase via online payment processing, she explained.
"Every product page on your site should be unique, compelling and contain your very best sales copy," Ms Beal stated.
Furthermore, the description should incorporate keywords and a call to action, suggesting how the product will fit into the customer's lifestyle or home.
Use an appropriate tone of voice for the type of customer and allow previous buyers to leave a review, the expert added.
Research by user experience consultancy Webcredible has also highlighted the importance of web design, pointing out that those with visual impairments and other disabilities must be able to navigate the pages, V3.co.uk reported.
read more 2010-03-01
Social media campaigns 'must be aligned with other marketing efforts'
Firms offering online payment processing must ensure that any social media efforts they make to attract customers are aligned with other marketing campaigns, it has been highlighted.
Firms offering online payment processing must ensure that any social media efforts they make to attract customers are aligned with other marketing campaigns, it has been highlighted.
The first step is to be clear on the objectives of using websites such as Facebook and Twitter to connect with customers in real-time, explained Nathan McDonald, managing partner at digital conversion agency we are social.
"Communications teams and marketing teams, and even customer service teams, are starting to adapt and are realising that at the very least they need to learn about these platforms and understand them," he commented.
The same tone of voice should be used across communication, PR, advertising and direct marketing efforts, Mr McDonald continued.
Research on the Fortune 500 companies shows that Twitter is the fastest growing social media channel, with more than a third running active accounts.
The figures, compiled by the Society for New Communications Research, also reveal that a fifth have a public-facing corporate blog, up by six per cent on the previous year.
read more 2010-03-02
How to keep ecommerce sites at their best
Online merchants are likely to see a fall in revenue at the moment with sales coming to an end and consumers tightening their belts ahead of summer.
Online merchants are likely to see a fall in revenue at the moment with sales coming to an end and consumers tightening their belts ahead of summer.
This provides the perfect time to reassess online payment processing and other tactics and update pages, suggested ecommerce advice site ZippyCart.
Offering a speedy and secure online shopping experience are the top two recommendations from the news provider, as these will ensure customers enjoy their experience, return and tell others.
Providing clear and accurate information on postage charges, online payment processing methods offered and returns policies are also advised.
Furthermore, the website should be easy to navigate and be regularly updated to encourage repeat visits, ZippyCart continued.
The information on products must also be carefully considered, online seller Vangie Beal has said.
Writing for Ecommerce-Guide.com, she urged retailers not to simply copy the manufacturer's description and avoid using bland writing.
read more 2010-03-02
Online billing solutions via mobiles 'becoming more popular'
Direct debit payment processing and other forms of banking are likely to be carried out more and more via mobile phones, new research has shown.
Direct debit payment processing and other forms of banking are likely to be carried out more and more via mobile phones, new research has shown.
Figures from ABI Research suggested that in 2015 around 407 million people worldwide will use their handsets to carry out financial transactions and online billing solutions with their banks.
The Asia-Pacific market is moving fastest in terms of mobile banking, explained senior analyst Mark Beccue.
However, the European and North American markets are not growing as strongly, as online access and the ability to visit physical banks restrict the need to use mobile banking. These areas do offer the best long-term conditions despite this, Mr Beccue continued.
Other mobile use studies by ABI Research have revealed considerable interest in person-to-person payments.
Again, consumers in the Asia Pacific countries were more attracted to online payment processing via a handheld device than those in Europe and America.
read more 2010-03-02
Firms meet internet merchant account sales targets, report shows
Online payment processing has helped 70 per cent of online firms meet their sales targets for the last 12 months, a survey has revealed.
Online payment processing has helped 70 per cent of online firms meet their sales targets for the last 12 months, a survey has revealed.
The latest eBay Online Business Index tracked the performance of more than 700 firms with internet merchant accounts.
It found that just two per cent said sales were below target and nearly two-thirds have confidence in the outlook for their business in the next quarter.
Fewer online firms are worried about the future and more than half have upped their sales targets for the coming year, confident of more people turning to online payment processing and reflecting the finding that the number of companies struggling to find finance has halved.
To stay competitive in the online marketplace, website owners should ensure that their pages are easy to navigate and offer a speedy and secure experience, ecommerce advice site ZippyCart has said.
Keep information up-to-date and provide clear details on things such as posting charges, it advised.
read more 2010-03-02
Consumers 'want to get to online payment processing simply'
Consumers want to be able to choose their products and go through the online payment processing system with ease, one expert has pointed out.
Consumers want to be able to choose their products and go through the online payment processing system with ease, one expert has pointed out.
Online shoppers will not "jump through hoops" to make a purchase if the process is complicated, warned business journalist Helen Bradley in an article for eCommerce-Guide.com.
She advised against making customers log in to an account to complete their transaction, saying that if this is necessary the registration form and log in links should be easy to find.
"Don't make customers have to remember how to work your site," Ms Bradley commented.
"They rely on you to make it easy for them buy."
Browsers should not have to re-create the aisle wandering they would do in a physical store to find what they are looking for - a search facility should be offered and properly coded, she added.
Ecommerce advice site ZippyCart has also spoken of the importance of keeping web pages updated and easy to use, urging retailers to offer a speedy and secure online shopping experience.
read more 2010-03-03
Contactless credit card processing to grow in 2010
Contactless credit card processing is set to increase in popularity this year, it has been predicted.
Contactless credit card processing is set to increase in popularity this year, it has been predicted.
The system allows consumers to make credit card payments much faster, explained Jemma Smith, head of public relations at UK Payments.
"If there were any great issues in any big regard we would have seen them already," she commented, pointing out that the technology is very secure and presents no major fraud risk.
Consumers are already used to credit card processing so the contactless technology should be accepted, Ms Smith continued.
Mobile credit card processing could also be a possibility in the future, the payments expert added.
Figures from ABI Research also predict growth in new forms of payment systems, with 407 million people worldwide expected to use their mobiles for online billing solutions in 2015.
Person-to-person payments may also become more popular, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
read more 2010-03-03
Digital Britain plans target older people
The government's Digital Britain plan to get more people online and using facilities such as online billing solutions is to focus on older people and those less well-off.
The government's Digital Britain plan to get more people online and using facilities such as online billing solutions is to focus on older people and those less well-off.
Being online is crucial for participation in 21st century society, minister for Digital Britain Stephen Timms explained.
"The internet unlocks a wealth of information and services, giving people more choice in life and access to a range of education, health and financial opportunities," he commented.
Under the plan, the government wants to get nearly two-thirds of the 12.5 million people not using the internet online within the next four years.
This will allow people to interact more and enrich society, Mr Timms added.
Initiatives as part of the scheme include £300 million of funding for computers and internet connections in homes, the setting up of online centres in places such as libraries and ensuring every home and business can receive broadband speeds of at least 2Mbps.
read more 2010-03-04
Expert highlights key trends for online payment processing
There are three trends to be aware of in the online payment processing and ecommerce sectors, one commentator has pointed out.
There are three trends to be aware of in the online payment processing and ecommerce sectors, one commentator has pointed out.
Payment expert Erin McCune said mobile payments and billing solutions are top of the list of upcoming areas and urged retailers to consider how transactions fit into a mobile world.
Speaking to the Financial Women's Association of San Francisco's weekly newsletter, she also highlighted the globalisation of commerce and the resulting need for online payment processing to cross boundaries, and the battle for "ready funds" access.
If a consumer wants to pay with funds they have, will that be done through debit networks, ach processing or a mix, Ms McCune queried.
She also spoke of the emergence of new application platforms for online payment processing, suggesting the most successful will have strong risk management, extensive reach and a reliable way of processing many transactions.
read more 2010-03-04
Generation Y 'frequent users of online billing solutions'
Generation Y members are frequent users of mobile and online payment processing services, according to a new report.
Generation Y members are frequent users of mobile and online payment processing services, according to a new report.
The Fiserv survey carried out by Accelerant Research also showed that generation Y are more likely to have debit cards and savings accounts than other generations.
"It is clear that generation Y is actively seeking new accounts as their financial needs evolve," explained Geoff Knapp, vice-president for online banking and consumer insights at Fiserv.
He pointed out that financial institutions must deliver accessible banking services to generation Y to satisfy their needs and establish strong relationships.
The survey also revealed that generation Y is more likely to sign up for new online payment processing accounts and use online banking. Furthermore, mobile banking is growing among generation Y.
Other technological advances in credit card processing, including contact payment systems, are also expected to become more widely used.
This system is fast and secure and already seeing growth, said Jemma Smith, head of public relations at UK Payments.
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