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New: Packing slips, tracking info, shipping notifications

We have just added some cool new features to make your order fulfillment process a snap. Look for these new options on the bottom of each order page in your Headquarters.

New order features

Step 1:  Print Packing Slip

Click Print Packing Slip to display a printable page that functions as a receipt and a mailing label. It includes all the order information, your store contact information, and a snail-mail friendly section that you can cut off and attach to the package. Print this on label paper so all you have to do is cut and stick. [Note: print in Landscape mode for best results.]

New order features

Step 2: Add Tracking Info

Your package is ready to go and you have purchased postage through your favorite shipping service (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL). You can now save the shipping service and tracking number with the order so the customer can track the location of the package after it has been shipped.

New order features

Step 3: Send Shipping Notice

Send your customer a personalized message to let him/her know that the order has shipped. We provide you with a basic message (including tracking info, if available) but you can modify the message as you wish. Shipping notifications are now done on an individual basis, rather than as an automatic option as they were before. This allows you to give your customers a more customized experience.

New order features

Step 4: Check It Off

Click on the shipping icon (picture of an envelope) to mark it as shipped. When you are done processing the order completely, click on the check icon to put the order in your archive. A blue icon means that step is complete. Look for these icons on the top of each order page.

New order features

2009 01 05 margo Features
News Comments (1) Permalink

Poll: What is your online store New Years Resolution?

Every year I make 1 goal personally for my business.  What is yours?  I am looking forward to your answers.  Feel free to use the “Other” option and tell me what specifically you are going to do to grow your business.

2009 01 02 rishi News Comments (5) Permalink

Be Different!

Everyone has heard of Band Aid brand.  Its a household name!  No one says “Do you have a adhesive bandage?” they say “Do you have a Band Aid?”.  That is why it would be crazy to compete with them.

Then a CRAZY company called Curad came around and they wanted to make adhesive bandages.  You know what they did?  Something super simple.   They put fun characters on them and marketed towards little kids.  This worked and now they have captured some of the adhesive bandage market from Band Aid!

awesome curad bandage

I learned this from the most amazing book I have read in a really long time called The Purple Cow.  Its a short book and will take about 5 hours to read but a must read for any business owner.  I have a copy and would be happy to loan it out to you.  Just let me know in the comments.

How can you be different?

- If you sell Ipods - What about selling them with pre loaded songs

- If you sell candles - What about selling smells big companies like Glade could never create

- If you sell clothes - What about selling naturally faded clothes by washing them 10 times first

2008 12 24 rishi Marketing Tips Comments (2) Permalink

Dirty Shirt - Submit your Product

The Dirty Shirt BlogCheck out The Dirty Shirt Blog written by a mother who reviews and promotes products.  If you have a product targeted towards mothers I would definetely submit yours.

2008 12 22 rishi Marketing Tips Comments (1) Permalink

Frustration Free Packaging

The best part of ordering something online is getting something in the mail.  When you see a big package in your mailbox or on your doorstep your eyes light up and your heart skips a beat (I think I am being over dramatic BUT I get a ton of useless garbage in the mail so its exciting to see something you want).

The worst part about it is the 20 minutes that comes after it.  Ripping through all that plastic packaging and getting 20 different cuts all over your hands.

Amazon realized this problem and launched Frustration Free Packaging.

Amazon\'s Frustration Free Packaging

“It’s designed to be opened without the use of a box cutter or knife and will protect your product just as well as traditional packaging (on the right).”

Think about your customers experience when they open your package.  Is it delightful or a pain?  

2008 12 19 rishi Marketing Tips Comments (0) Permalink

Are you blogging?

To Blog or Not to Blog Image

I want to know which of our stores are blogging.  If you have a blog - email it to me or even better post it in the comments.

I like stores that blog.  It brings out the personality behind the company.  The most common comment I get is “Rishi, who is going to read my blog?  What is the point?”

The reason I am asking you to start a blog isn’t to gain more customers.  It is to to become more passionate about your business and increase your expertise in what you do.

Here are some ideas for your first post:

  1. Tell everyone about your favorite product
  2. Post a picture/video of you (or a friend) using the product
  3. Talk about something totally personal… like what you did over the weekend
  4. Blog about the things you enjoy (I enjoy ecommerce and helping small business owners like myself)
  5. If you make your products talk about the process

From my experience the first 10 or so posts are hard.  After a while new post ideas spring up automatically.

Flying Cart uses Wordpress for our blogging platform.  For beginners I would reccomend Tumblr.  Super easy to use and it’s free.

Tell me about your blog.  I will read it, post a comment, and I will like you more.

2008 12 17 rishi Marketing Tips Comments (6) Permalink

Top Product Searches

Google Zeitgeist LogoEvery year Google tells us what the top searches were in Google Zeitgeist. They have a product zeitgeist too.

What I found most interesting was the “Cold Weather” category. I was surprised to see Pea Coat as the #1 searched item.

2008 12 15 rishi Marketing Tips Comments (0) Permalink

Managing Customer Expectations

Last night I went to a thai restaurant with my mom.  Before I walked in, I saw a sign that said “Sorry… Heavy Door”.  I can just imagine customers getting frustrated with the door and then coming in with an angry mood.  This simple sign totally prevents that.

Heavy Door

This made me think of ways that online stores can manage expectations:

  • If your product is going to arrive late tell your customer
  • If self assembly is required tell them how long it will take and how hard it is to put together
  • If the customer needs to buy additional items to use your product, point them in the right direction
What are other ways you can manage customer expectations?
2008 12 13 rishi Marketing Tips Comments (1) Permalink

The Fashion Bus

The folks over at The Fashion Bus did a great job designing their store using our Custom CSS. Check out their store.

The Fashion Bus Screen Shot

2008 12 12 rishi Featured Stores Comments (0) Permalink

MP3: Community Call Summary

We had a great community call yesterday. I really enjoyed it.  Download the entire discussion here on MP3 here for free.

We discussed:

In our next community call we will be discussing Google Adwords and building trust.

2008 12 11 rishi News Comments (0) Permalink