Develop a Better Converting Web Shop Manager Website with Google Analytics

Information is power, and with the astonishing amount of information that you can get from a Google Analytics account you will start making better decisions for your company’s website. The purpose of using Google Analytics is to observe your website’s traffic, monitor your site’s goals as well as your shopping funnel, track your email campaigns, banner ads and social media efforts, create customized reports and dashboards and so much more!

If all of this sounds way over your head, do not get discouraged. Utilizing your Google Analytics account to its fullest potential should be an ongoing project. You do not need to try and figure out how to use all of its features in one day. The purpose of this article is to provide you instructions on how to set up your account, add the tracking widget to your WSM site and create site ‘Goals’ to be tracked.

First, you will need to set up your Google Analytics account. When entering your URL, make sure that you select HTTP or HTTPS depending on your site. Web Shop Manager eCommerce sites are HTTP sites.

Web Shop Manager Makes Using Google Analytics Easy

Now that your account is created and your profile is set up, it is time to start tracking! For all of our Web Shop Manager (WSM) website design clients, we have made tracking conversions with Google Analytics so easy. Typically you would need to add a tracking code onto every page of your site, but with WSM simply log into your site and edit the Template section of your site. You can find this page in the backend of WSM within the Content section. For most WSM accounts you will have one template titled Default, click edit template and paste this widget code {{google_tracker id='UA-XXXXXX-X'}} just before the </body> tag in your template. (see left image)         You will now need to replace the Xs with your UA number. To get your UA number from your newly created Google Analytics account go to your Analytics Settings page and click on Edit under the Actions column. (see below image)

Then click on Check Status on the top right hand side of the page. Your tracking code can be found and copied from that page.

Once you have added this code to your template page make sure to Save Changes. Now Google will begin tracking information from your website. Even though tracking has started, I would recommend allowing at least two weeks for it to gather data before you start making decisions based on these statistics.

Hints About Your Google Analytics Profile

Get the most out of your reports by updating your Website Profile correctly. Since your home page can sometimes get linked to as two different URLs you should add www.website.com/index.html to your default site so that Google does not track www.website.com and above as two different pages. You can learn more about Google Analytics default url on Google’s Analytics help page.  If you are an e-commerce site, then make sure to select YES to e-commerce reporting. These seemingly minor changes will help you analyze more accurate data from your new analytics account.

The Most Important Step to Setting up Your Google Analytics Account

Since the Goal of almost all eCommerce websites is to create conversions, we will need to set up analytics Goals to track your conversions. Conversions vary for different website owners. Most often they are a sale, but they can also be a request for more information, a Contact Us form fill or a sign up for your monthly eNewsletter.

Whatever your goal may be, you will need to determine what URL will equate a conversion for you. Examples of URLs triggered by conversions are a Confirmation Page, an order Thank You page, or any other page that can only be seen by those who have completed a conversion.

Now, go back to your profile page, click on your account name and then click Edit under the action column (you should be on a different page than where you retrieved your UA number).

Select one of the four goal slots available and select Edit. Enter your goal URL and goal name, (purchase, eNewsletter, Contact, etc) and then turn the goal ON.

Since you have already added your tracking code and now you have created a goal, you will not only be tracking visitors but conversions as well. There are a couple ways to see if you set this up correctly. If you typically get at least a few orders a day you can simply wait for an order to come in and see if your account tracked it. If you want more instant gratification, you can place a test order (or test eNewsletter sign up, etc) through your site and check to see if it got tracked.

Want More Google Analytics & eCommmerce Guidance?

Here at Web Shop Manager, your success is our success. We strive to stay on top of all eCommerce trends and to relay this information to our users. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/webshopmanager to get updated when we post more guides and tips for using your website to its fullest potential.  We will continue our ‘Help With Google Analytics’ blog series next month were we will cover Funnel Tracking!

ADP Lightspeed and Web Shop Manager™ eCommerce Data Integration

ADP Lightspeed is an Order Inventory management and processing system. Used to take orders and monitor physical inventory. From www.adplightspeed.com “ADP Lightspeed dealer software products help dealers maximize: parts inventory control, business processes, sales management control, service management control, rental management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and dealer profitability.”

ADP Lightspeed is not the first third party software provider that Web Shop Manager™ (WSM) has integrated with.  WSM integrates with QuickBooks using the QuickBooks web connector, Shipworks, Authorize.net payment gateway, and can automatically import product data from database such as DCI-Catalog Rack for the Automotive Aftermarket industry. WSM’s ability to interface with third party software is what helps to make it the most comprehensive eCommerce Content Management System.  With WSM we have the ability to help our clients make more money more efficiently.  One way is with eCommerce developments like ADP Lightspeed data integration.

Inventory Management Software and eCommerce Content Management System

Real time data integration with ADP Lightspeed means that our customers can process orders, manage content and products from the WSM CMS and the following data is automatically imported to ADP Lightspeed:

1. New orders made on WSM
2. Customer information, order details, etc for the new orders
3. The ability to update Order Status' from ADP Lightspeed (canceled, backordered, complete, etc)
4. Brand Information for mapping in Lightspeed
5. Sales tax selections within WSM System>Configuration
6. Enhanced product information from the customer’s selection

Enhanced product data importing from WSM to ADP Lightspeed meant that combinations of product options, for instance red-small t-shirts or medium small t-shirts, would need their own specific SKUs and inventory management controls within WSM. WSM answered this challenge with Product Options with Inventory Management the WSM inventory management software. Within each product in WSM, product option configurations can be assigned essentially creating sub-products. This eCommerce feature enables products listed within WSM to map with ADP Lightspeed.

Comprehensive Powersport Dealer eCommerce Solutions

Because WSM is a proprietary eCommerce CMS, we can adapt and make changes as necessary to accommodate the challenging needs of our eCommerce customers. We can now offer ADP Lightspeed data integration to our Powersport Dealer clients to help them be as successful as possible. 

When it is time to start looking for a customized eCommerce solution for your company be sure to request your one-on-one CMS demonstration. We pride ourselves on the fact that you have constant contact to real human’s when you need it most.  If we are able to help you design the eCommerce website of your dreams we certainly will.  Contact WSM today for more information about how you can start moving towards the eCommerce partnership your company deserves. 

What is Google PR and why should I care?

In a nutshell PageRank, often referred to as Google PR, is Google’s way of determining the “importance” of a web page by looking at what pages are linking to it, or the quantity of backlinks.  PageRank is defined by a scale of 0 to 10 with 10 being the highest possible score. Google PageRank determines the position of your eCommerce website on the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPS). PageRank is based on a complicated algorithm, with importance weighted on backlinks.  

From Google “in general, webmasters can improve the rank of their sites by increasing the number of high-quality sites that link to their pages.”

Building links with high quality, relevant websites is where you should concentrate. Yes, this is time consuming but so is updating your fantasy football league and you find plenty of time to do that!

Be sure to stick to best practice guidelines when partaking in link building activities. Just like all things you do online, make them genuine and sincere or they aren’t best practices. If the line begins to blur, or Google thinks that you are asking for links, you may be penalized. Think of it as building relationships versus just simply building backlinks. Here is a roundup of some of our favorite ways to build relevant backlinks online:

Directories & Bookmarking

You shouldn’t have to pay for your friends and you don’t need to pay to be added to directories either. There are many great directories and bookmarking sites out there which will be happy to include your url and company listing. Take some time to search for industry specific directories that may not be listed here.

Business Listing Directories

List your website in all the business or search directories like Google’s Places, Yahoo!, Bing, Yellowpages.com, Yelp, and Hot Frog. Be sure to add as much pertinent information as possible to these listing for both potential customers and search engines.

Encourage customers to leave reviews on directories for word of mouth marketing, and content value. In addition to fantastic content, these reviews can be used for keyword research.  Remember, it is what your customers would think to query, not what you, industry leader would use.

Search Directories

Add your listing to search directories where topics are organized by categories, a few of which include; DMOZ, Yahoo Directory, Squidoo, and Google Directory.

Social Bookmarking Sites

Social Bookmarking sites encourage linking to articles and websites that their users find interesting. Typically they are given tags and descriptions.

Establish a profile, with a link to your eCommerce website, and then encourage your faithful flock to bookmark your posts to find later on, and of course give you another link. Some popular Social Bookmarking sites include digg, delicious, and StumbleUpon. Each one of those Book Marking sites may be more or less popular for use in your industry. Ask your colleagues where they keep their bookmarks, or search for your peer group within the bookmarking sites to see which is the most widely used.

Social Media

Develop profiles on social networking sites like; Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. Providing valuable content is the most effective way to get the attention of readers and grow the amount of traffic to your eCommerce site. Use these profiles to promote blog posts, eCommerce products, and site pages. The larger the following the greater the chances for the buzz to generate incoming links for your eCommerce website.

Article Syndication Sites

Google Feedburner, ezinearticles and other blog syndication sites work like a syndicated TV show and will help you get exposure for all your hard work. Leverage a larger network than you would have with your own mailing list for instance. Once you have done the dutiful deed of writing fabulous content make sure to maximize your reach.  These submission sites will provide a link back to your eCommerce website in addition to helping grow your readership.

Online Reference Sites/ Industry Specific Sites

Each industry will have its own industry specific sites which may link to interesting content. Submit your work for consideration, and add your url to online reference sites like Wikipedia.

Write Content Worth Linking To

Writing content of value for your target audience is ultimately the trump card in link building. Interesting, helpful blog posts, and content pages that answer common questions, review products, and examine industry issues will become invaluable to your potential clientele. From within this content actively look for ways to link to other areas of your own eCommerce site using keywords or phrases as the “anchor text” (text used for the hyperlink) to help build relevancy within your own site. Well researched, thoughtful content may be used as reference material for other websites and will only further your relevancy and status as an industry leader.

Fresh and Re-Fresh Content

Update content often. Review stats and figures and what was the 2009 industry outlook can easily become the 2011 industry snapshot. Staying relevant with current trends will draw the attraction of potential customers and search engines alike.

Add URL to Collateral

If your url is not recognizable and everywhere, you will not get noticed. Add your url wherever you might add your phone number, or email address. Your well designed, easy to navigate eCommerce website is a reflection of the level of service your company will provide, so put your best foot forward on everything you do.  Get in front of people, over and over again. The more they see your website the likely hood that they will link to it will increase.

Give Away Information

Want your content to spread faster than a wildfire? Give it away for free. Ask only for a mention in exchange for the use of photos, content, stats and figures.

Blog Search Engines

Have a blog? Include your blog in blog search engines including; Technorati, Google Blog Search, and Ask.com Bloglines.

Cross Promote Collaborate with colleagues on co-authored blog posts in order to leverage both networks. Encourage respected “guest bloggers” to write blog post on your site about topics they are experts on.  Your audience will benefit from their knowledge, and the “guest bloggers” network is more likely to become familiar with your website. Similarly, you may suggest to a complimentary website, or blog that you would like to write a blog post for them regarding a specific topic that you are an expert on, hyperlinking your signature back to your website. 

Shopping Data Feeds

Find targeted leads for your eCommerce sites as well as increasing the number of backlinks. There are many comparison shopping sites, some work like PPC advertising, while there are several free sites that you should be aware of; Google Product Search, bing Shopping, and thefind.

Leave Comments

Well written blog posts are begging for a comment. Many blog posts have a field for your url when you sign in to leave a comment. Leave a url for future generations and a backlink to your website!

Use SEO Keywords and Phrases Whenever Possible

Use keywords and phrases selected to correlate with your target market to create titles, and content. Leave no opportunity for powerful keyword phrases unturned!

If you enjoyed these tips to increasing your Google PR, please be sure to sign up for the WSM RSS feed. We don’t want you to miss a thing!

Looking for an eCommerce design company that wants you to succeed and make money as much as you do?  Look no further than WSM for all your online hosting, web development, and website design needs.  Contact WSM today to see how we can help your eCommerce company thrive online.

Product Options with Inventory Management

Web Shop Manager™ (WSM) is introducing a new Inventory Management system that works in conjunction with Product Options that our eCommerce clients are already familiar with. Product Options with Inventory can be used for Inventory Management when there are 10 red-small t-shirts, and 12 red-mediums. Assigning inventory levels to these configurations will ensure that your customer will not be able to order more than you have on hand.  In addition, you can use this system to assign specific SKUs to configurations.  For instance if red-small has its own SKU you can assign that only to that particular configuration, in a sense creating a brand new item.

Process for Activating Inventory Management with Option Sets

Please notify a WSM team member if this seems like something your eCommerce website could benefit from. This feature will need to be enabled for you. Once this has been enabled the steps to proceed are as follows.

Create Global or Local Option Sets

The procedure to create Option Sets with Inventory is very similar to creating Option Sets in general.  The procedure and more details can be found on the Product Options page.  Remember to use Global Options wherever possible to help save time and to help keep your eCommerce Product Options organized. For instance, if small – medium – large are used for more than one item it makes sense to add that as a global option. 

On Option Sets that are to be used in conjunction with Inventory Management, check Yes next to Inventory. Please see the image below for an example:

Assign Options Sets with Inventory to Products

The next step is to assign the corresponding Option Sets to the product.

Navigate to the product you wish to assign Option Sets with Inventory too and follow the steps below:

1. Scroll to the Options & Attributes section of the Product Page
2. Add a Local Option Set if applicable, and/or select the Global Option sets that correspond to this product
3. Save Changes

Edit the product with Option Sets assigned, and follow these steps:

1. Scroll to the Inventory section of the Product Page
2. Click Open Inventory Config, where you will see the following screen with numbered items discussed below:

1. Availability – Availability can be changed to a number of settings including Available, Out of Stock, Sold. Each selection will modify the way the product appears on the frontend of your eCommerce site. Leaving the setting to Available is the recommended selection if using Option Sets with Inventory.
2. Remaining Inventory – Should be used in conjunction with the Inventory availability setting. This number indicates the number of products available and site visitors will not be able to purchase more than this number.
3. Availability Remarks – This field gives a description about the main products availability. Good for letting customers know any special instructions about the availability such as, lead times.
4. Condition – Identifies whether a product is newly manufactured, used, or used with refurbishing.
5. Option Sets with Inventory – Each Option Set with Inventory that has been assigned to this product will display here as a drop down. You must choose one item from each drop down and then click:
6. Create Configuration – Click Create Configuration once your selection is finished from each of the Option Sets dropdowns.
7. Create All Configurations – Clicking this button will automatically generate each combination possible. Ie white – small, white – medium, white – large etc.

Assign Inventory to Configurations

Each Configuration can be edited in the fields that are numbered and explained below:

1. Delete – Clicking this button will instantly remove the configuration. Once deleted, it will no longer be visible on the backend or frontend of your eCommerce site.
2. Name – The Name is generated from the Option Set Name field. However, this can be edited on this screen if you prefer that the combination of the (2) Option Sets have a unique identifier.
3. SKU – This is automatically generated from the WSM Item number and portions of the Option Set Name fields. However, this can be edited to a unique SKU if you wish.
4. Inventory – This number dictates the amount of products available for each configuration. In this example there is (1) item available in each configuration. If a customer tries to select more than the available amount on the frontend they will receive an error message.

Save your Configurations once you are satisfied.

Customer View of Options with Inventory Management

Your eCommerce customers will see something that appears like all other Option Sets on your site blending seamlessly.

Best Inventory Management Software

Managing eCommerce Products and Inventory has never been easier. Our customers can take something that was already familiar to them and now use it for Product Inventory Management.  Our modular eCommerce Content Management System (eCommerce CMS) makes it easy to take existing eCommerce features and use them in new ways.  We are thrilled to offer this new eCommerce enhancement to our existing clients, and hope this may alleviate pain for those that have yet to discover how WSM can help them.

Contact WSM today to find out how we have helped 100s of others and how we can help your eCommerce aspirations become a reality.  Just one warning: if you are looking to pull a number and get a cookie cutter experience, we are not the right fit for you. However, if you are looking for personalized attention and a devoted team of web designers, website developers, and eCommerce support staff, you may have just found your new home.

The Best eCommerce Catalog & Product Pages

Web Shop Manager™ (WSM) has released version 3.3.3 with some exciting changes to the Catalog and Product page views. You may have already noticed some subtle differences around your eCommerce website. The recent enhancements include:

Enhanced Catalog Layout

A new option has been added to the System>Configuration>Catalog tab. When “Enhanced Catalog Layout” is enabled, additional information regarding Categories and Products will be displayed. This additional information may include product descriptions, product availability, product condition and an “Add to Cart” button for each product listed. Here is an example of Enhanced Catalog Layout being enabled:

On Category and Brand pages where products are listed, you will notice that customers have the ability to sort products, and to toggle between list and grid view. These view preferences will be remembered as they continue to shop your eCommerce website. This has been implemented on all eCommerce sites and requires no further action to take advantage of this.  When Enhanced Catalog Layout is disabled (default setting) only Category and Product names are displayed.  Same example as above but with the default setting:

A New Look for Product Pages

 You may also notice some subtle differences on Product Pages. Option Set boxes (when applicable) have a slightly new look.  The remainder of the product listing including the extra details should look very familiar to you.

While the new look of Option Sets will affect all of our eCommerce clients, the addition of Product Page Views found on the dashboard under System>Configuration>Catalog will not.  Product Page View allows you to select different display options for your product pages. “Tabbed” will format the additional information in a horizontal view; this is not the default view (see the image above for an example of the default). NOTE: This setting may conflict with your eCommerce website’s Style Sheet. A consultation with a WSM employee is recommended before use of this setting.  The default view will not look any different than what you are used to. The Tabbed view however will look similar to this:

Additional Features of Web Shop Manager – v 3.3.3

Connect with external programs with Custom Order Exports chose from (4) different order exports; (1) XML, (3) CSV. Click to learn more about custom order exports.

From the order administration screen take a look at the new Sales Tax Feature. Use the calculator tool to add sales tax on products and/or shipping.

Free shipping can be specified for individual products rather than eCommerce site wide. Find it in the Shipping & Handling portion of the Product pages.

Specifying warehouses for each product is available for Dealers. If you’re a Dealer you can add Warehouses under the System tab and assign products to them. For products assigned to each warehouse, shipping will be calculated from the Warehouse address versus the address given in the configuration tab.

Increase or decrease the UPS and FedEx rates given to your customers by amount or percentage. This affects both negotiated and non-negotiated rates. These changes can be set under Configuration – Shipping & Handling tab.

Best eCommerce Content Management System. Period.

When our eCommerce customers give us feedback on how we can help to make their lives easier, or make them more money we listen. If you are currently a WSM customer please let us know if you have any questions or concerns regarding the recent changes and their affects on your site. And please keep the suggestions and feedback coming.

On the other hand, if you have yet to experience WSM and the incredible eCommerce features that are available right out of the box, we suggest taking a moment to contact WSM today to figure out how you can get all of your eCommerce needs (web hosting, website design, and web development) taken care of under one roof.