Web Shop Manager News

Wireframes

The team at Web Design Solutions firmly believes in the power of planning and strategizing concepts in order to produce a final product of the highest quality. Too often web design companies will put all of their effort into the aesthetics of a website, and worry about functionality after the fact. That’s not how we operate; at WDS we will begin your process by building a Website Wireframe. This ensures that your site will be built efficiently and work properly when it’s time for launch.

Conceptually, a wireframe is like the blueprint by which your website will be designed and built. We work with you, take the creative visions you have for your e-business, and make sure that every page layout used on your site is exactly what you want. Taking the time to wire frame your website allows us to frequently address numerous structural questions and concerns that more than likely would have been overlooked otherwise.

While it’s always possible to use a website wireframe template in order to make sure your website is put together properly, why bother with a template when you can make your vision a reality with our custom wireframes? Created specifically for you and your online business, a custom eCommerce package with WSM will include a wireframe put together specifically for your business plan. This wireframe will include:

• A home page layout complete with explanations on the functionality of the different areas
• Visual representation of key internal site pages
• Map of the structures of your category and product pages
• Page layouts of site modules; such as your news or blog page

Before your website is built you will have the opportunity to give us feedback on the wireframes we have presented to you, and discuss any alterations or tweaks that you’d like to see. After all, our goal is to give you the site you envisioned at the start of the project.

Okay, but what's a sitemap?

A sitemap is an outline of all the pages on a website and the ways in which they are interconnected. It is useful to both users and your SEO value, because search engine bots will crawl the pages and a sitemap makes finding them easier. If your website is relatively new and doesn’t have much interlinking, a sitemap will allow Google to find and crawl pages that otherwise would have gone unnoticed. The reasoning behind this is actually pretty simple; since a sitemap is technically a single page that contains all the links on your entire website, a search engine will hit it and index every single page on your site! Without a sitemap it is very common for certain pages to get skipped over, which will hurt your page rank in the long run.

Building a robust and detailed sitemap prior to launching your website will ensure that your entire site is set up exactly the way you want, from top to bottom. This will guarantee that the layout is as functional and immersive for users as possible. When the time comes to expand your website and add new pages, a sitemap will be a lifesaver. Since it offers a bird’s eye view of the entire site, you will be able to find the most relevant and effective place to insert your new web page. A detailed sitemap is included in the package purchased with Web Shop Manager and includes the following:

• Visual representations of each page and how they are interconnected
• Color coded details, complete with a legend, so you can quickly identify the function of each page
• Descriptions of the content that will be displayed on individual pages

Our team at WDS will work with you every step of the way leading up to launch to make sure that your website is laid out the right way, and represents the vision you have for your online business.

Search Engine Optimization is a complex and intricate process that takes time to perfect. It’s safe to assume that every web page has certain SEO aspects that can be improved upon. Optimizing your site is a marathon, not a hundred yard dash; it’s important to constantly be on the lookout for improvements you can make. Below is a list of a few do’s and don’ts that can instantly increase the SEO value of your website.

• First and foremost, write quality content. You can throw in all the keywords and links you want, but if the writing on the page is subpar it’s a safe bet that any visitors won’t stay very long. This doesn’t mean you need to write with the complexity of a scientific journal, it’s much more important to make your site an easy read. This can be accomplished by catering to the audience your company appeals to; write for who will be reading the information


• For each individual page, choose a relevant keyword or phrase that you want to represent the theme of that specific page, and choose keywords that aren’t too popular. The competition for these phrases is extremely high; Google Keyword Tracker is a great tool for deciding what exact words you want to commit to


• When using keywords, utilize different sized fonts and bolded words. Search engines recognize this as an indication that those words and phrases are more important than the ones surrounding it


• Keyword Density is also a major factor that needs to be considered while writing content. It is possible to use too many keywords and have your site blocked from Google. To avoid keyword stuffing, primary keywords should consist of about 7% of the page, while secondary words should be around 5%


• Embrace the power of linking. Whether it’s interlinking to other pages on your own website, or getting other companies to provide inbound links to your page, the importance of quality links cannot be overlooked


• Make sure the pages you’re linking to are related to what is being discussed. Search engines recognize the relevancy of links within your website, and using them correctly can drastically improve your page rank


• Contact companies in the same industry as you and try to get them to link to your page from theirs. If competitors are linking to your site, Google will come to the conclusion that your website is relevant and useful

Getting your online eCommerce website up and running is a huge step for you and your growing e-business, but it’s not the only step that needs to be taken. The work isn’t done just because you have some sort of online presence. Just like a brick and mortar store, your site needs to be constantly growing and evolving with the flow of business in your industry. There are so many different options nowadays for people who are browsing the web that a kind of “browsing impatience” has become the norm. If your website doesn’t deliver something relevant and important right off the bat, people will simply move on to the next one. Here are some tips for keeping your eCommerce website fresh and interesting:

Tips On Growing eCommerce Success

• The only constant in any industry is change. In other words, the only thing you can be sure of is that information, techniques, prices, and ideas in general will always change. It’s tremendously important to keep your website up to date for two reasons; you don’t want a customer who is up to date on industry information to read your outdated site, and you don’t want an uninformed customer making bad decisions based off of your website


• Focus on the quality of content written for your site. Utilizing the talents of someone who can put together easy to read content that is also full of valuable eCommerce SEO content is a huge advantage. If the writing on your website is not only grammatically advanced, but easy to read and personable, customers will feel encouraged to come back. Don’t be afraid to occasionally use some kind of witty humor as well, it will do nothing but good for building relationships with clients


• Blog! Not only does a consistent eCommerce blog keep people coming back to your page, it also provides you with an easy way to generate SEO rich content. Recently Google introduced a new system in the way their search engine crawls web pages, and how recently/often the site has been updated is now a major factor. The reasons for keeping a regularly updated and relevant blog just keep stacking up!


• Keep dead links off of your page. Linking is a vital component in keeping your page rank for search engines as high as possible, but the links need to work and be relevant. Clicking on a link that takes the potential customer to an error page will be a huge deterrent in continuing to browse your eCommerce website. It’s frustrating and it makes your site look as if it hasn’t been updated in forever, and if it seems like it isn’t being updated, why not go find one that is?


• Communicate with your customers by sending out information on any new updates. Whenever a new feature, product, or site function is launched, make sure people know about it! This will keep your e-business on peoples’ minds, and keep them coming back to your website. Stay updated on new features in your CMS (Content Management System), and maximise how much use you get out of it.


• Update Visuals that are displayed throughout your website. You need to give visitors a reason to stay on your page, and the unfortunate reality is that a lot of people do not have the patience to read through pages of written content, so visuals are important. Often times, good visuals will influence people to stay longer and delve into your website a little more, simply because they are curious as to what the pictures represent. Constantly updating and changing your visuals will also give returning clients a reason to keep coming back.

For any kind of business, it is much easier and more cost effective to maintain returning customers than it is to bring in new ones. For an eCommerce website, it is especially crucial. Marketing, ad campaigns, and the numerous other advertisement strategies that are necessary to bring in more business consume a massive amount of resources. Even after spending all this time on generating more clients, it is entirely dependent on timing. A new prospective customer will only bring their business to you if it’s something they happen to need at that moment. Not only is it cost effective to you and your growing e-business, but a repeat customer is like your own personal promoter. If someone is bringing their business back to you, they obviously liked what they got the first time around. Chances are they will spread the word to anyone they know that might be looking for a similar service. Here are a few tips to maintaining a solid foundation with your clientele:

• Be reliable. Offering a quality good or service is obviously essential in drawing people back to your business, but being consistent with this quality is just as important. Your online store will keep people coming back if they know that they will be satisfied every time they come to you.


• Hire positive, energetic people. Anyone that might be interacting with the customers has the opportunity to either attract them or push them away. Let’s face it, everyone has had a bad experience with someone from a customer service department, and few things will repel you faster than an unpleasant employee. A friendly staff will allow clients to feel comfortable calling you, and often times are the deciding factor in whether or not that person comes back.


• Develop a personal relationship with customers whenever possible. This doesn’t mean you have to invite them over on your birthday, but you can still get to know them over time. A repeat customer is someone you get to know, that’s the whole goal here, and connecting on a personal level is a huge competitive advantage; especially in the eCommerce field. Everyone loves walking into their favorite deli and an employee calls you by name and remembers your favorite meal.


• Keep in contact through email and social media. Send emails with special offers that are exclusive to those who signed up. This will separate you from the pack, and give customers incentive to stick with you. Promote discounts and specials on your Facebook page. Not only is this an effective form of online marketing, but everyone loves a good deal. A consistent flow of email blasts and advertising through social media will show your customers that you care, and will do whatever is in your power to make them happy.

The Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, is one of those things that sound like a great idea, an idea that will do nothing but good. Piracy is illegal, right? People who make their living in the entertainment industry lose a ridiculous amount of money each year to websites dedicated to pirating and torrents, so it's easy to take a step back and feel sympathetic for them. But is SOPA the way to fix this issue? This is the question a number of online industry leaders have been asking, including Google, Yahoo, Facebook, and Twitter. These companies didn't waste any time taking a stance against the bill and it's easy to see why; user generated content plays an important role in their success. With users having free reign to post whatever they want, they could easily be targeted as violators of SOPA.

Even A Former Vice President Is Against The Stop Online Piracy Act

Despite some of its questionable applications, the internet is responsible for an almost overwhelming amount of good. It has connected people in a way that never could have happened otherwise, and has been a stepping stone for many positive movements. Speaking out against SOPA, Al Gore recently called the internet the incubator of change movements in our modern society. This statement in and of itself is the primary reason that we need to do whatever we can to protect the freedom of the internet. With the bill, could there have been a revolution in Egypt, or in Russia right now? Would Occupy Wall Street have come to fruition? These are extreme examples, but they all show the kind of power the internet offers to people all over the world.

How Could eCommerce Websites Be Affected By SOPA

SOPA was introduced in the House of Representatives on October 26, 2011 by Texan rep Lamar Smith and a group of initial supporters. The idea is to expand the ability of law enforcement to fight online trafficking of intellectual property and counterfeit goods, a noble cause. The issue that many major online players (Google, Yahoo, etc.) have with it lies in the broad and sweeping nature of the language in the bill, which is the same reason some eCommerce websites might be feeling a little nervous right about now. Technically, if your site has any image or video protected under copyright law, posted by either you or a user, it can be targeted and the DNS address blocked. While the intentions behind the bill are good, it’s this possible collateral damage to innocent businesses that is causing many web based corporations to protest.