How does my Company Become an Information Resource for my eCommerce Customers?

Become a One Stop Resource for Site Visitors

There are many occasions when it seems necessary to link to another website or webpage that compliments your products or services.  Becoming the ‘one-stop-shop’ as an information resource will re-enforce the fact that people should start with your company first to satisfy their needs and answer their questions.

In order to establish a listing of complimentary websites and recommended reads, Web Shop Manager™ (WSM™) has constructed a module that will allow for easy organization of these recommendations. 

The benefits of linking to another site are often times overlooked.  Consider a few side effects of external linking:

Increased Google Page Rank (PR) – Google takes into account many different factors when determining page rank.  One of these factors is external linking.  Increase your PR by linking to sites with a high PR. 

Established Expertise – Provide content and resources that are relevant to your target audience and you will become the go-to company in your industry. 

Shared Links – Link sharing is a powerful tool in Internet Marketing, especially when those sites have a high PR.  Use the eCommerce Resource & Links feature to highlight companies that align with your goals.  These companies could include:

• Manufacturers – Use this area to highlight brands that you represent.  This will increase brand awareness for the lesser known brands, and become an additional place for keyword rich descriptions.    

• Complimentary Companies – There are companies that are related to what your niche, but are not direct competitors.  This is a great place to showcase them, and they may return the favor which increases incoming links for both of you. 

• Associated Companies – You may have a number of strategically aligned companies that can be used to solidify your position as a reputable company.  Make the most of your relationships by bringing attention to your associations.

Powerful eCommerce Feature

Keep the listings short and sweet with a link and a description.  Or, take the opportunity to add a logo, and a sales brochure to enhance the resource listings.  With WSM™ it is incredibly easy to add resource listings just the way you want.  The Resource & Links module can be used in a wide array of ways.  Consider using it for the following applications:

Paid Sponsorships – Use the Resources & Links feature to sell advertising space.  If you run events, the sponsors could be listed easily, as well as their logo, as part of the sponsorship package they purchase.  WSM™ makes it simple to determine your site traffic to make it obvious how companies would benefit from being seen on your site.

Advertising Affiliates – At some point there may be companies that are authorized to sell your products, or offer your services.  Use the Resources & Links feature to validate them as authorized dealers and help drive traffic throughout your network.

Using the Resource & Links Module for eCommerce

The Resources & Links module is organized by topics.  Topics can be as broad or as specific as you wish, eliminating lengthy resource pages without focus.  Use topics to categorize your resources and links for easy site navigation.

To access the Resources module, highlight Module and click Resources.  Below is a site with one topic “Links”.

To add additional topics click “Add New Resource Topic” where you will be taken to the screen shown below.  Descriptions of each field are described beneath the graphic. 

1. Name - The name of the resource topic.  This field is visible to site visitors and will help them determine where to look for resources.
2. Description – This is an optional field, but can be used to describe more about the contents of this topic. 
3. Template - This determines which site template to use when displaying this page. If your site utilizes more then one template, click the drop down arrow and select the appropriate template for this page. If your site only has one template, you do not need to change this field.
4. Priority - Topics are sorted by priority in descending order. When topics are assigned the same priority, they will be sorted alphabetically.
5. Hidden - Clicking “no” will allow this Topic to be viewable.

Adding Resources to Existing Topics

To begin adding Resources, click the blue folder button to the left of the appropriate topic.  Then click Add New Resource button. Each numbered item is discussed below.

1. Name - The name to display for the resources link.
2. Url - The URL for the resource. You must type the http:// in front of the www in order for the link to work properly. When clicked, the site will open in a new window or tab.
3. Summary – This information, when provided, will be displayed below the linked Name.
4. New Image - Upload an image to use for this resource. Click the Browse button and locate an image file on your computer (gif, jpg, jpeg, or png). The image will appear above the Name and will also be linked to the URL you provide.
5. Priority - Resources are sorted by priority in descending order. When resources are assigned the same priority, they will be sorted alphabetically.

Organized Resource Guide for eCommerce Sites

With WSM™ the Resource & Links feature is a standard product offering that is anything but standard.  With the WSM™ Content Management System /p-907-content-management-system-cms.html (CMS) for eCommerce you will be empowered to optimize your site presence and take advantage of what we consider the most comprehensive eCommerce suite available on the market. 

Begin to optimize your eCommerce site today.  It all starts with a free web design quote from WSM™.