Contests as Ecommerce Marketing Tools

Contests have always been a popular marketing tool, right from the days of clipping and mailing in entry forms to online contesting, where people find thousands of legit contests to enter on any given day. But is an online contest right for your ecommerce site?

When it comes to running an online contest, Ben Pickering, CEO of Strutta, a company that allows organizations of all sizes to create dynamic contest campaigns, says that it's important to define your marketing objectives before launching a contest.

“It can be a great tool for user engagement,” he said, “but at the same time you have to plan, market and promote your contest for it to be successful.”

Contests and Small Business Marketing Objectives

Before you can plan a contest, you have to set your marketing objectives and goals. If, for example, your goal is to increase your email subscriber list, then a basic online contest entry form asking people to submit their details and click a box to join your mailing list would suffice.

The Strutta platform lets anyone create dynamic contests for community-building and to meet other ecommerce marketing objectives.
(Click for larger image).

You can also consider a marketing contest designed to build a community and to increase user engagement. For example you might allow customers to post user-generated content (UGC) such as a video or photo, and have community members vote for their favorite submission.

Sometimes an online contest can promote a special feature or product-line launch. Using Crate and Barrel as an example, Pickering said the company is running a large contest that encourages newly married or soon-to-be married couples to create a gift registry on the site.  “This type of marketing objective”, he added, “is designed to collect relevant marketing data that translates directly into sales.”

Legal Issues to Consider

Legal issues surrounding contests can be the tricky part that prevents many smaller, ecommerce businesses from using contests as an Internet marketing tool. Not only do government rules and regulations governing contests vary from state-to-state, they also vary from country-to-country.

Pickering says that because there is no clear mandate, most companies play it safe and exclude entry by anyone who resides where there could possibly be an issue.

Another legal issue to consider is if your contest is a sweepstakes, where winning is like a lottery with winners picked by chance. For example, choosing a random email address as a winner would be “chance,” where a judged photo contest would not be considered chance. There are also different regulations to follow when your contest prize is valued at more than $5, 000.

Most small businesses could easily run a contest that offered a smaller prize, excluded residents in states where there may be a problem, and ensured that winners were not chosen by chance. Pickering said that you should assess the options and be sure to consult a lawyer on any gray areas.

“Check with lawyers in your area and find one with a decent hourly advice rate. The last thing a small merchant needs,“ he said, “is to be fined or sued over a contest.  Paying a lawyer for an hour to ask questions is worth it.”

The Strutta Contest Platform

Since contests are so hugely popular in North America, it was not surprising to find a number of do-it-yourself (DIY) contest platforms, like the one offered by Strutta.  The idea behind using a platform is that the service offers a step-by-step wizard to build your contest Web site, and that the service's rules and regulations cover the ecommerce business offering the contest.

 The Strutta platform is designed to run user-generated content contests for community building at an affordable price. These types of contents have always been popular, but due to the costs associated with bandwidth, traffic and hosting space, only larger corporations with large marketing budgets would offer these types of popular contests.

Using Strutta you can offer a basic-plan contest for photo or video contest entries where winners are selected by community votes and a final judge. Or you can offer a process of elimination before a judge picks a winner. The basic platform, at $499 provides everything you need to build your contest site.

Larger companies that want more flexibility can use the $2,400 Pro Plan that includes options to run the contest longer, offers Facebook widgets and social features and allows contest entrants to post “vote for me” messages to further drive traffic.  Strutta also offers a free trial version that lets you run a contest and pay only if you opt to download customer data. The cost is 25 cents per lead downloaded.

While Pickering says that a well-run contest can be an important part of an overall marketing strategy, not every company needs a contest. That, he said, depends entirely on your campaign objectives.

Vangie Beal is a veteran online seller and frequent contributor to ECommerce-Guide.com. She is also managing editor of Webopedia.com. You can tweet with her online @AuroraGG.

A Guide to Small Business MarketingBanks get contrite about role in crisis

Ecommerce Entrepreneur: Business-Building Strategies

Every week the Web TV show, Help! My Business Sucks delves into unconventional small business marketing strategies to help you build the business of your dreams. It's fun, informative and a great place for tips, ideas and resources.

This week Andrew Lock interviews three entrepreneurial coaches, each with respective expertise in building seven-figure businesses, improving productivity and Internet marketing tools for small businesses. Small Business Computing has the full story.

Read the complete Entrepreneurial Strategies for Small Business Marketing article

Ecommerce Entrepreneur: Business-Building StrategiesBusiness briefs: Nashville Capital Network acquires new sponsors

Web Tools and Resources: Track Your Site Stats

Here are three cool and useful Web tools to help your work day flow a little easier. Want want to know who's coming to your Web site? Even better, want to know what they’re doing when they arrive? CrazyEgg displays all the vital details in Technicolor glory.

Maybe you could use free ebooks as a marketing giveaway on your ecommerce site, or maybe you just like a great bargain. Either way, you'll want to check out Project Gutenberg.

And as any small business ecommerce owner knows, time is money. XNoteStopWatch lets you track time -- and display it on any size computer screen -- down to the 1,000th of a second. It's the perfect tool for trimming a presentation down to size.

Check 'em out. Small Business Computing has the details.

Crazy Egg is a useful, low-cost, Web analytics service that visually represents data generated by visitors to your Web site or blog in the form of heat maps and other methods.  When you sign up for the service, you choose from four different payment options, ranging from as low as $9 a month to as high as $99 a month, depending on the number of Web pages you gather data from and how many visitors a month you expect to have visiting those pages. 

CrazyEgg.com
(Click for larger image).

None of those plans offer exclusive features. The only difference between the least-expensive plan and the most expensive plan is actually the number of pages that it covers and the number of visitors it tracks. If you over- or under-estimate the number of visitors you expected, or if you want to track more pages, you can upgrade at any time. The service also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the service out for a month without risk.

Read the complete Internet Marketing Tools: Web Analytics Service article

Web Tools and Resources: Track Your Site Stats‘City Paper’ owner SouthComm lays off 7

Web Tools and Resources: Track Your Site Stats

Here are three cool and useful Web tools to help your work day flow a little easier. Want want to know who's coming to your Web site? Even better, want to know what they’re doing when they arrive? CrazyEgg displays all the vital details in Technicolor glory.

Maybe you could use free ebooks as a marketing giveaway on your ecommerce site, or maybe you just like a great bargain. Either way, you'll want to check out Project Gutenberg.

And as any small business ecommerce owner knows, time is money. XNoteStopWatch lets you track time -- and display it on any size computer screen -- down to the 1,000th of a second. It's the perfect tool for trimming a presentation down to size.

Check 'em out. Small Business Computing has the details.

Crazy Egg is a useful, low-cost, Web analytics service that visually represents data generated by visitors to your Web site or blog in the form of heat maps and other methods.  When you sign up for the service, you choose from four different payment options, ranging from as low as $9 a month to as high as $99 a month, depending on the number of Web pages you gather data from and how many visitors a month you expect to have visiting those pages. 

CrazyEgg.com
(Click for larger image).

None of those plans offer exclusive features. The only difference between the least-expensive plan and the most expensive plan is actually the number of pages that it covers and the number of visitors it tracks. If you over- or under-estimate the number of visitors you expected, or if you want to track more pages, you can upgrade at any time. The service also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the service out for a month without risk.

Read the complete Internet Marketing Tools: Web Analytics Service article

‘City Paper’ owner SouthComm lays off 7Web Tools and Resources: Track Your Site Stats

Ecommerce Entrepreneur: Business-Building Strategies

Every week the Web TV show, Help! My Business Sucks delves into unconventional small business marketing strategies to help you build the business of your dreams. It's fun, informative and a great place for tips, ideas and resources.

This week Andrew Lock interviews three entrepreneurial coaches, each with respective expertise in building seven-figure businesses, improving productivity and Internet marketing tools for small businesses. Small Business Computing has the full story.

Read the complete Entrepreneurial Strategies for Small Business Marketing article

Business briefs: Nashville Capital Network acquires new sponsorsA Guide to Small Business Marketing

How (and Why) to Copyright Your Web Images

When you’ve spent time and money creating product photos for your small business ecommerce Web site, the last thing you want is someone else helping themselves to your content. Not only is it annoying when they steal your property but -- in cases where other businesses link to images on your site -- your Web server is working to serve up content to your customers and to theirs.

One protection option: Add a copyright symbol and text to your image, and then blend it in so it's visible but not overly distracting.
(Click for larger image).

While there is no guaranteed way to stop people from stealing your images, there are ways you can discourage them from doing so. Let's look at some of your options.

Watermark Your Images

Adding a visible watermark is one of the most popular to protect your images and make them either less attractive or more difficult to steal or to link to. Typically this watermark will be your site name, logo and often a copyright symbol. When you embed this in your photo, you make it unattractive for someone to take or link to the image because it's marked clearly with your business name and not theirs.

If you have a small number of photos you can watermark your images yourself in any graphics program. In Photoshop, for example, open the photo and click the Type tool. Select a good sized, easy-to-read, plain font and type your copyright details. To get the copyright symbol, hold the Alt key you type 0169 on the keyboard number pad. If you choose to add your company logo, copy and paste it into a new layer in the image.

Blend the copyright text into the image so that it’s visible but not unappealing. Reduce the opacity of the text layer so the text blends into the image underneath. To ensure that you can see the text over images with a background color that's similar to the type, add a contrasting color drop shadow to the text.

Other blending options you can use include applying a blend mode to the text layer such as overlay, or you can apply a bevel and emboss effect to the text.

When you are done, save the copyrighted image in a different location to the original file so you don't lose your original. This is important because, when you save an image as a JPG image for the Web, the layers are flattened so you will not be able to remove the copyright details from the image if you overwrite the original.

Figure 1
(Click for larger image).

Online Watermarking Tools
Other methods of adding copyright details to your image include Web services such as WaterMarkTool, which is free for images up to 200 kb in size. In addition, PicMarkr offers a free option as well as a for-fee Windows download tool that you can use.

Other Image Protection Options

Of course, watermarking is only one way you can protect your images and discourage theft. Other options include "shrink-wrapping" your image where, instead of displaying the image on your Web site you code it to display as a background image for a single cell HTML table and you place a small transparent image stretched to fit inside the table cell itself.

SignMyImage combines a hidden watermark and a Web spider that seeks out sites using your images.
(Click for larger image).

If someone right-clicks the image to save it all they will save is the transparent image. This solution requires a small amount of coding, which is not difficult, and a single transparent image. The code in Figure 1 is a sample of the type of code you can use.

You can also disable your visitor's browser's right-click menu but I don't recommend that because there are other options on the right-click menu that many users might wish to use. These include bookmarking the page and sending the link to someone else. If you disable the right-click menu you may frustrate visitors who have no intention of stealing your pictures.

It’s also possible to protect your images at a server level using ASP, PHP or Flash scripts. If you use these you will need to have some scripting expertise or to pay someone to do it for you. Some scripting solutions will add watermarks to your photos on the fly as your visitors download the images.

Another option is a service like SignMyImage. This relatively inexpensive service not only embeds an invisible copyright symbol into the pixels in your image, but you can also sign up to receive reports from the spider service that tells you where your images are being used.

Rather than stealing your photos and serving them up from their Web sites, some people simply link to your images. In this situation your server is serving up images to someone else's visitors. You can add code to your server that ensures that images are delivered only to sites you specify and not any others. Again some skill is required to implement this solution, but it can help you protect your bandwidth and discourage others from using your images.

If your images are valuable, which is the case for many sites, you'll want to take steps to protect your property. Remember, however that most of these solutions can only discourage theft and a really dedicated person can generally find a way around most of them.

Helen Bradley is a respected international journalist writing regularly for small business and computer publications in the USA, Canada, South Africa, UK and Australia. You can learn more about her at her Web site, HelenBradley.com

E-commerce Content: Be Ready for Any HolidayMobile market ripe for growth

Web Tools and Resources: Track Your Site Stats

Here are three cool and useful Web tools to help your work day flow a little easier. Want want to know who's coming to your Web site? Even better, want to know what they’re doing when they arrive? CrazyEgg displays all the vital details in Technicolor glory.

Maybe you could use free ebooks as a marketing giveaway on your ecommerce site, or maybe you just like a great bargain. Either way, you'll want to check out Project Gutenberg.

And as any small business ecommerce owner knows, time is money. XNoteStopWatch lets you track time -- and display it on any size computer screen -- down to the 1,000th of a second. It's the perfect tool for trimming a presentation down to size.

Check 'em out. Small Business Computing has the details.

Crazy Egg is a useful, low-cost, Web analytics service that visually represents data generated by visitors to your Web site or blog in the form of heat maps and other methods.  When you sign up for the service, you choose from four different payment options, ranging from as low as $9 a month to as high as $99 a month, depending on the number of Web pages you gather data from and how many visitors a month you expect to have visiting those pages. 

CrazyEgg.com
(Click for larger image).

None of those plans offer exclusive features. The only difference between the least-expensive plan and the most expensive plan is actually the number of pages that it covers and the number of visitors it tracks. If you over- or under-estimate the number of visitors you expected, or if you want to track more pages, you can upgrade at any time. The service also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the service out for a month without risk.

Read the complete Internet Marketing Tools: Web Analytics Service article

Marketing Tools: Set Up An Ecommerce BlogNew Metro Nashville bus service offers free rides downtown

eBay, FBI, Retail Federation Target Ecommerce Crime

eBay and the National Retail Federation announced they will team up to identify organized crime groups responsible for stealing large amounts of merchandise and fencing them through the online auction site.

The online auction site has become a key outlet through which e-commerce marketers ranging from small and midsized businesses to far larger operations to move their wares on the Internet. But eBay has also taken a lot of heat in recent years from manufacturers, software developers and industry trade organizations for failing to do more to prevent pirates and other thieves from unloading their ill-gotten or counterfeit goods through its site.

eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) and the NRF will work together to develop technology and transaction-monitoring techniques with the FBI to put a dent in the estimated $115 billion in retail theft perpetrated last year.

"Through this partnership, NRF and eBay are putting criminals on notice that they will no longer be able to steal from retailers and abuse the online marketplace for profit," Paul Jones, eBay's global director of asset protection, said in a statement.

An NRF study completed last year found that 92 percent of retailers said they were victimized by organized retail crime and 73 percent also reported the level of organized retail crime activity had increased.

"eBay has invested in a number of new resources and is making tremendous strides assisting retailers and law enforcement with tracking illegal behavior," Joe LaRocca, a senior asset protection advisor at the NRF, said in a statement. "The partnership between NRF and eBay will create standards and best practices to stop criminals from fencing their stolen goods."

Along with improved technology and vigilance, the partners plan to meet on a regular basis to review new types of crimes and crime syndicates and work with the FBI and legislators to advocate for stronger laws and penalties for criminals.

In January, eBay and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) worked together with law enforcement to bring a notorious software pirate to justice, resulting in a 21-month prison sentence for man responsible for ripping off more than 8,000 online customers.

In 2008, the last year for which complete data was available, IDC estimated that software vendors lost more than $53 billion in sales to software pirates.

Larry Barrett is a senior editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

Retailers see best month in 2 yearseBay’s ‘Garden’ Grows New Features

E-commerce Content: Be Ready for Any Holiday

No one loves holidays more than the retail industry -- after all, any occasion is good for sales. People like to buy presents for family and friends, and they also like to invest in decorating and readying their homes for these special days.

Regardless of how big or how small your online Web shop is, you can cash in on the consumer’s love of holiday celebration by adding relevant and creative e-commerce content to your site, and leaving it online all year long.

Getting Started with Holiday E-commerce Content

The first thing to do is to compile a list of holidays and special occasions. This should go well beyond the big ones, like Christmas and Thanksgiving.  Don't forget Easter, St. Patrick's Day, New Years and all the different federal holidays plus the nationally recognized days like Valentine's and Earth Day.

Then you want to work on content for special occasions, including birthday, back-to-school, Cyber Monday, and so on.  You can start by choosing a few to get the ball rolling, and then add more holiday content over time.

Holiday E-commerce Content Helps SEO EffortsThere are two main reasons to create this type of e-commerce content. First, it will help shoppers find special-occasion and holiday products on your site from a relevant Web page. Second, the search engines will index these pages, which will improve SEO, boost traffic and convert visitors into customers.

When you have the e-commerce content written, your holiday page URL will not change. Each year as the holiday approaches you can put a link to the content from your main page and give the content a bit of a freshening up. This will give you a Web shop that is holiday-ready for any occasion, 365-days a year.

Start with a basic template that matches your Web site design and layout. Use good titles and meta tags that include the holiday name and your own keywords.  Your holiday content pages should contain product descriptions and images for gift-giving ideas and for any product you stock that could be used to decorate or prepare for the occasion.  Be sure to use our write better product descriptions guide when you write holiday-themed product description for these special pages.

Other Content to Include on a Holiday PageHoliday content is more like creating a good "landing page" or portal page to your Web shop than designing a product page. It will appeal to consumers who are searching for special occasion gifts and an entire segment of consumers who are searching for knowledge.  These pages can label you as an expert when you write excellent knowledge-based e-commerce content and include it with your sales pitch.

To create really effective holiday e-commerce content, you need to offer a mix of sales and knowledge on each individual holiday page. For example, if you sell cookware, showcase related product images and descriptions, then write an article on how to prepare the perfect turkey on your Thanksgiving page or offer 10 tips on how to prepare a meal for a large guest list.

The knowledge portion of your e-commerce content is going to be the key to getting these pages found by consumers searching for general help, hints and tips. Just make sure the knowledge you offer relates directly to your product and area of expertise.

Dress up the special content pages with a few headline colors that are typically associated with the holiday, and add one or two elegant clip-art images to offer an eye-pleasing and pertinent page design.  Keep it nice and tidy, keep it relevant to your business, and be sure to work in your keywords.

How to Display Holiday Content on Your Web ShopOf course, you don’t want to link the Valentine’s Day page on your main Web shop page in November, so create a sub-section to hold all these special e-commerce content pages, and use a main holiday/occasion page that links to each individual page by the holiday name.

On your main Web shop page, simply add a new navigation link to “Special Occasions” or to “Holiday Shopping Guides.”  Come up with a few brief descriptions and use Google Trends to help you narrow down your navigation phrase.  You should also Google the phrase you decide on to see how much competition you will have to get your main Holiday link page in the first page of search results.

The Benefit to having Holiday E-commerce Content All Year LongPeople search all year long for tips and knowledge on topics that can be associated with a holiday or special occasion -- not just in the week leading up to that special day.  Not only will this type of e-commerce content showcase your store’s relevant products, but you will reap the benefits from providing expert advice with your knowledge-based articles and tips.

Relating the content to a holiday or special occasion gives you a believable reason to have that content on your site, and it also saves you from needing to design multiple holiday-specific pages each year.

You can expect these pages -- provided you use good SEO tactics -- to be the incoming link to your site for a decent portion of your search engine traffic. Be sure to include a good call-to-action statement and plenty of links to your main Web shop page and also to other related product categories from each holiday content page you create.

Trustworthy and useful content will encourage consumers to bookmark these pages, peruse your Web site and eventually come back when they go online to shop.

More Resources for Holiday E-commerce ContentOur E-commerce Content: Writing Product Descriptions article will help you perfect the descriptions you use on these special content pages.  This article offering tips on "dressing" your Web shop for Thanksgiving will help you create holiday-specific content pages. You can take the tips and apply them to the single holiday page and use it as a guideline for dressing up other holiday pages you create. Search Engine Optimization: SEO Tips for Small Business  is an excellent resource to help ensure that your holiday pages will be found on Google and other search engines.Wikipedia offers a list of holidays by country that you can use to choose the special occasions you will write e-commerce content about. Remember to include holidays for people who live outside the United States if you offer international shipping.

Vangie Beal is a veteran online seller and frequent contributor to ECommerce-Guide.com. She is also managing editor of Webopedia.com. You can tweet with her online @AuroraGG.

Mobile market ripe for growthHoliday e-Commerce Showed Signs of Stability

FTC Concerns over Social Media Privacy Linger

How much information do you collect about your customers? The FTC has real concerns that social networks and other online companies are over-stepping the boundaries as they collect customer data. Datamation.com has more details.

As the Federal Trade Commission concludes a series of public workshops into the privacy implications of Internet advertising and data collection, senior commission officials on Wednesday reiterated their concerns that Web companies are overreaching when it comes to collecting personally identifiable information, or PII.

"The march of technology has blurred and indeed threatens to obliterate the distinction between PII and non-personal information," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "On the Web, at least, it is getting harder and harder to choose anonymity."

Today's proceeding is the last of a series of three roundtables the FTC has held since December, calling on a broad array of industry representatives, consumer advocates and others as it mulls updating its self-regulatory guidelines for behavioral targeting and online advertising.

Read the complete social networking privacy article

Tame Web Marketing with Social Media ManagementLawmaker says Toyota withheld crash lawsuit evidence

Ecommerce Marketing Tips: Writing Better Copy

Writing good product copy is an essential part of a successful ecommerce shop. But if writing's not your thing, check out one of the many marketing tips and resources from Andrew Lock. SmallBusinessComputing.com's got more.

If you don’t have a flair for writing compelling marketing copy (or even if you do), then you'll love Andrew Lock's latest free Web tool. In addition to a mini-rant on the TSA, Andrew shares more marketing solutions and real-world examples that you can incorporate into your small business marketing strategy.

The TSA is in trouble, at least I think so. It needs serious good PR because the public image of the organization is very poor; at least that’s been my observation. Not that the situation in England is any better – it’s not, but most of my travel is now within the USA. Young Mikey, an 8 year-old school kid keeps getting frisked at airports because he shares the same name as a terrorist! The fact that the TSA can’t tell the difference between an 8 year old kid and a terrorist is extremely worrying, don’t you think?

This week’s “Ask Andrew” question relates to productivity. See if you can adapt the lesson to your business.

Read the complete small business marketing article

Web Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct MailingsBanks get contrite about role in crisis

Ecommerce Design: Save Money on Stock Photos

Competition in the stock photo business means you get to save money on the images you need to bring your ecommerce site to life. Check out Andrew Lock's other great small business marketing tips in the latest webisode of Help! My Business Sucks. SmallBusinessComputing.com has the scoop.

When it comes to small business marketing, creativity counts. In fact, it's the ability to stand out from your competition that can make the difference between success and failure. Andrew Lock is a master at tapping the unconventional; and his insightful, free marketing advice can help you achieve your goals.

I’m sure you heard about the tragic events at SeaWorld in Orlando, where one of their most experienced trainers was killed by a killer whale after one of their shows. This reminded me of the incident some years back where Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy, was near fatally mauled by one of the tigers they featured in their Las Vegas show. See if you agree (or disagree) with my opinion on this topic.

There are a number of reliable and inexpensive services that help you to transfer and store large files. I’ll mention a few of my favorites in this episode, including Amazon S3, Box.net and DropBox.com.

If you need photos to use on your Web site or blog, take a look at VivoZoom.com, which promises to provide you with 100 percent legal images at a discount of at least 40 percent compared with iStockPhoto.com, another popular source for images.

Watch the small business marketing video

Marketing Tools: Set Up An Ecommerce BlogBanks get contrite about role in crisis

CoreCommerce Adds Free Mobile Shops to Platform

In 2009, research firm ComScore, said that more than 234 million people in the States used a mobile device. Industry experts also peg the number of iPhone users at somewhere around 21 million and BlackBerry owners at more than 28 million. For small e-commerce Web shops, that is a huge number of potential customers you could be missing out on if your Web shop cannot be viewed properly on mobile devices.

The biggest problem for mobile device shoppers is that sites that aren't optimized for mobile browsing and shopping offer poor usability; both poor viewing quality and limited functionality. On a PC your Web shop might look great and work well, but load that same Web shop on an iPhone and your customer has to scroll through 2 to 3 inches of the Web site at a time, and some features of your shop may not work or display correctly.

CoreCommerce 7.7 Offers Free Mobile-optimized Storefronts

Designing a mobile version of your ecommerce Web site may exceed your own technical and design limitations, but thankfully a number of e-commerce platforms, like Sum Effect Software's CoreCommerce Platform, make it easy for Web shops owners to offer mobile-optimized versions of their sites.

Designed for the small business retailer, the CoreCommerce shopping cart platform offers flexible payment processing, shipping integration, Web shop templates, SSL security and more. The service is a good choice for businesses that want to  add e-commerce to an existing Web site, to replace their current shopping cart provider or to build their first online store.

Matt DeLong, president and CEO of Sum Effect Software said that the new mobile features give all platform customers the capability to reach millions of smartphone and cell phone users in the global mobile marketplace.

CoreCommerce 7.7's  mobile-optimized storefront in is designed to automatically detect if a mobile device is being used to access the Web shop. If the software detects a device, it will instantly adjust and optimize the storefront display for these smaller screens.

DeLong says that the company rolls out new CoreCommerce features every couple weeks, and back in January of this year they noticed a lot of "mobile commerce chatter" from their customers. "We listen to our customers, worked on developing the mobile-optimization for the platform, and rolled it out. So far it has been well-received."

A key aspect of offering mobile-optimized storefronts to customers is ensuring that the feature is easy to use. DeLong said that the feature is automatically enabled and that customers don’t need to do anything different to offer shoppers mobile versions of the Web shop.

CoreCommerce 7.7 Support, Availability and Pricing

Current CoreCommerce customers will automatically upgrade to version 7.7 at no extra cost, and the platform includes the mobile storefronts at no charge. CoreCommerce accounts start at $24.99 per month, with no additional per transaction fees.  

Other platform features include social commerce options which, for example, let you post your storefront on a Facebook profile tab, complete with checkout options so shoppers can purchase from your store right from the Facebook interface.

The mobile commerce storefront supports the iPhone and Blackberry mobile devices. DeLong said that future updates to the CoreCommerce platform will include more mobile options, such as support for other popular mobile devices and the capability to track which mobile devices access your storefront.

Vangie Beal is a veteran online seller and frequent contributor to ECommerce-Guide.com. She is also managing editor of Webopedia.com. You can tweet with her online @AuroraGG.

Local publishers rush to fill digital demandMobilize Your Ecommerce Web Site

Tame Web Marketing with Social Media Management

You know that marketing on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites can drive a lot of traffic to your ecommerce Web site. But how can one person handle it all? Social media management tools can help, and SmallBusinessComputing.com has the lowdown on what they are and why you should care.

What is Social Media Management?

As described in the article, “What is Social Networking, and Why Should You Care,” Internet-based social media make it easier for people to listen, interact, engage and collaborate with each other. But, as the volume of social media venues and conversations rises, it quickly becomes a time- and labor-intense process to effectively track, converse, monitor and manage them.

Social media management solutions can help you manage outbound and incoming online interactions -- along with other small business marketing activities -- in a more efficient manner. They streamline and consolidate how you listen to and participate in relevant conversations in the different places they’re taking place -- blogs, social networks like Twitter or Facebook, and other public and private Web communities and sites.

They also help you to more easily monitor what people are saying about your business, and by automating the process of delivering your outgoing messages through multiple social media outlets simultaneously, help you to amplify your social media presence across several social networking sites.

Read the complete social media management article

A Guide to Small Business MarketingSmart phones take hassle out of travel

A Guide to Small Business Marketing

Looking for affordable ways to get the word out on your small business ecommerce site? Check out the marketing tools and strategies compiled over at Webopedia.com.

When it comes to small business marketing, you need a strategic plan that will help you expand your customer base and aim to sell more products and services to each of your customers. Marketing can help you achieve those goals, but as is the case with many small businesses owners, we often find ourselves with limited marketing budgets to work with.

Small business marketing is easier when you have a nice cash-flow backing it, but if that isn't your situation, don't give up. There are many small business marketing activities you can take advantage of — without breaking the bank.

In this Small Business Marketing Guide we provide details on five different Internet and communications-based marketing solutions that any business owner can take advantage of to help grow your small business.

Our do-it-yourself small business marketing guide provides details and reference articles on the following topics: business blogs, email marketing campaigns, social media tactics (Facebook and Twitter for business), attracting brand advocates, and SEO tactics.

Read the complete small business marketing article

Nashville Business PeopleWeb Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct Mailings

Marketing Tools: Set Up An Ecommerce Blog

Everyone needs and loves affordable Web tools because they make your work day easier and, well, they don't cost much. And sometimes they're free. Andrew Lock's the king when it comes to finding the best online resources. Check out SmallBusinessComputing.com's latest crop below.

Ninja Blog Setup

If you’re involved in ecommerce on the Web and you are not blogging, you’re probably leaving some money on the table.  Well, here’s a great way to get going for free: NinjaBlogSetup.com.  This is a great. The guy who runs this site sets up professional, WordPress-style blogs. 

He’s got everything you want, and he does it for free — when you sign up for hosting through one of the companies listed on his site. The hosting organizations, pay this guy a small commission.

So who is this guy?  His name is Shawn Swisher, and he's been building WordPress blogs since 2007. He figured why not get a small commission and help other folks get their own blogs going.  And you get all the work done for free.  Obviously, you are going to pay the hosting. 

Read the complete Blogging Made Easy articleYou'll find lots more marketing tips and resources from Andrew Lock in our Small Business Essential series, Lock in Your Marketing Resources.

Andrew Lock is a self-described maverick marketer and the creator and host of Help! My Business Sucks, a free, weekly Web TV show full of practical marketing tips, advice and resources to help small businesses "get more done and have more fun."

Nashville Business CalendarWeb Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct Mailings

Mobilize Your Ecommerce Web Site

Why do you need a Web site that's optimized for mobile devices? Gartner research firm predicts that more people will access the Internet with a mobile device rather than a PC by 2013. Mobile's on the move, and unless you get with the mobile marketing program, your customers will move elsewhere. SmallBusinessComputing.com has the details.

According to marketing research firm ComScore, as of December 2009 more than 234 million Americans were using mobile devices -- 28 percent of them to surf the Web. That’s 60 million potential customers you could be missing out on if your Web site isn’t optimized to be viewed on a mobile device (such as a BlackBerry, an Android smart phone and/or an iPhone).

Even if only 20 percent of visitors to your Web site use a mobile device, if those people can’t access or view your site properly, your Web site is only 80 percent effective, stated Aaron Maxwell, the president of Mobile Web Up, a company that specializes in helping small and mid-sized businesses mobilize their Web sites.

Moreover, as the cost of accessing data on mobile devices decreases and the availability and quality of broadband for mobile devices increases, the number of people surfing the Web from a mobile device will go up, with the number of desktop or laptop-based visitors going down, said Annette Tonti, the CEO of MoFuse, a mobile application provider.

Read the complete mobile Web site article

Smart phones take hassle out of travelMobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Using mobile devices to access the Internet is fast-becoming a way of life in the U.S. More than 80 million U.S. mobile phone owners will access the Internet via their handset this year, according to research firm eMarketer.

That's almost 35 percent of all mobile phone users and almost 27 percent of the U.S. population. But online shopping on mobile devices is not necessarily following the same fast track growth curve.

According to the eMarketer's report, "Mobile Commerce: Ahead of Its Time," mobile phone users say they would make more purchases if the process were not so cumbersome, products were easier to find and their devices supported secure credit card transactions. Web-enabled mobile phone users are much more likely to use their devices to get weather forecasts, read news, find movie times and bank online than to buy products, according to eMarketer.

"We're at an early stage, but the market for mobile e-commerce is definitely accelerating," Jeffrey Grau, senior analyst at eMarketer and author of the report, told InternetNews.com .

Grau said mobile e-commerce is going through a similar stage of guarded acceptance among U.S. consumers that e-commerce on the broader Web did a decade or so ago. "People were concerned about credit card security back then, even more so than today, so that was a big barrier to overcome. On mobile there's that security concern, but also other issues, like the screens are so small you're not necessarily comfortable buying household goods or higher end items you can't see that well."

He notes that the advent of Apple's iPad, due out next month, and other tablet devices, will give e-tailors more screen real estate to display their wares.

For now, smartphones are best-suited for time-sensitive and location-oriented transactions, like ordering a pizza or making dinner or event reservations from your car. "Where you're buying a service or some relative commodity like pizza or flowers you don't have to see in a larger screen, these are good areas for mobile ecommerce," said Grau.

He also notes mobile technology is helping to facilitate these kinds of purchases. For example, a GPS in the mobile device helps the user find the nearest theater or store and provide other location-based services. Even when you're in a physical store, Web access on the mobile device offers plenty of price comparison and review options to help you make a purchase decision.

Grau said a lot of retailers made the mistake of trying to optimize their standard Web site for mobile. "They try to optimize, but a lot of those sites end up looking pretty crude and hard to use on a mobile screen," said Grau. "With a mobile application, like we've seen on the iPhone, you can really provide a much richer experience."

eMarketer is forecasting that by 2013, almost 50 percent of mobile phone subscribers in the U.S. will have Internet access.

David Needle is the West Coast bureau chief at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers EmergingTN 911 districts to get $25 million

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Using mobile devices to access the Internet is fast-becoming a way of life in the U.S. More than 80 million U.S. mobile phone owners will access the Internet via their handset this year, according to research firm eMarketer.

That's almost 35 percent of all mobile phone users and almost 27 percent of the U.S. population. But online shopping on mobile devices is not necessarily following the same fast track growth curve.

According to the eMarketer's report, "Mobile Commerce: Ahead of Its Time," mobile phone users say they would make more purchases if the process were not so cumbersome, products were easier to find and their devices supported secure credit card transactions. Web-enabled mobile phone users are much more likely to use their devices to get weather forecasts, read news, find movie times and bank online than to buy products, according to eMarketer.

"We're at an early stage, but the market for mobile e-commerce is definitely accelerating," Jeffrey Grau, senior analyst at eMarketer and author of the report, told InternetNews.com .

Grau said mobile e-commerce is going through a similar stage of guarded acceptance among U.S. consumers that e-commerce on the broader Web did a decade or so ago. "People were concerned about credit card security back then, even more so than today, so that was a big barrier to overcome. On mobile there's that security concern, but also other issues, like the screens are so small you're not necessarily comfortable buying household goods or higher end items you can't see that well."

He notes that the advent of Apple's iPad, due out next month, and other tablet devices, will give e-tailors more screen real estate to display their wares.

For now, smartphones are best-suited for time-sensitive and location-oriented transactions, like ordering a pizza or making dinner or event reservations from your car. "Where you're buying a service or some relative commodity like pizza or flowers you don't have to see in a larger screen, these are good areas for mobile ecommerce," said Grau.

He also notes mobile technology is helping to facilitate these kinds of purchases. For example, a GPS in the mobile device helps the user find the nearest theater or store and provide other location-based services. Even when you're in a physical store, Web access on the mobile device offers plenty of price comparison and review options to help you make a purchase decision.

Grau said a lot of retailers made the mistake of trying to optimize their standard Web site for mobile. "They try to optimize, but a lot of those sites end up looking pretty crude and hard to use on a mobile screen," said Grau. "With a mobile application, like we've seen on the iPhone, you can really provide a much richer experience."

eMarketer is forecasting that by 2013, almost 50 percent of mobile phone subscribers in the U.S. will have Internet access.

David Needle is the West Coast bureau chief at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers EmergingTN 911 districts to get $25 million

Web Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct Mailings

Get ready for another great lesson in unconventional marketing. It doesn’t matter what you sell, if you need help standing out from the crowd, you've come to the right place.

Direct mailing is still an important part of a small business marketing plan, but how can you track the results and measure success? Andrew Lock covers that and other affordable marketing strategies for small business entrepreneurs. Check it out below.

I was almost stuck in the massive snowstorm dubbed “Snowmageddon” that hit the East coast last week. In my time in New York City I noticed the demise of one of the most well-known landmarks in the middle of Times Square – can you guess what it is?

Postcard marketing is a valuable tool for advertising and promoting a product or service in almost any business. Our question relates to the subject of tracking the results from a postcard marketing campaign. Any ideas? See if you agree with my recommendations.

Go watch the "Help! My Business Sucks" webisode

Hillsboro Road Kroger has grand re-opening todayWeb Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct Mailings

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Using mobile devices to access the Internet is fast-becoming a way of life in the U.S. More than 80 million U.S. mobile phone owners will access the Internet via their handset this year, according to research firm eMarketer.

That's almost 35 percent of all mobile phone users and almost 27 percent of the U.S. population. But online shopping on mobile devices is not necessarily following the same fast track growth curve.

According to the eMarketer's report, "Mobile Commerce: Ahead of Its Time," mobile phone users say they would make more purchases if the process were not so cumbersome, products were easier to find and their devices supported secure credit card transactions. Web-enabled mobile phone users are much more likely to use their devices to get weather forecasts, read news, find movie times and bank online than to buy products, according to eMarketer.

"We're at an early stage, but the market for mobile e-commerce is definitely accelerating," Jeffrey Grau, senior analyst at eMarketer and author of the report, told InternetNews.com .

Grau said mobile e-commerce is going through a similar stage of guarded acceptance among U.S. consumers that e-commerce on the broader Web did a decade or so ago. "People were concerned about credit card security back then, even more so than today, so that was a big barrier to overcome. On mobile there's that security concern, but also other issues, like the screens are so small you're not necessarily comfortable buying household goods or higher end items you can't see that well."

He notes that the advent of Apple's iPad, due out next month, and other tablet devices, will give e-tailors more screen real estate to display their wares.

For now, smartphones are best-suited for time-sensitive and location-oriented transactions, like ordering a pizza or making dinner or event reservations from your car. "Where you're buying a service or some relative commodity like pizza or flowers you don't have to see in a larger screen, these are good areas for mobile ecommerce," said Grau.

He also notes mobile technology is helping to facilitate these kinds of purchases. For example, a GPS in the mobile device helps the user find the nearest theater or store and provide other location-based services. Even when you're in a physical store, Web access on the mobile device offers plenty of price comparison and review options to help you make a purchase decision.

Grau said a lot of retailers made the mistake of trying to optimize their standard Web site for mobile. "They try to optimize, but a lot of those sites end up looking pretty crude and hard to use on a mobile screen," said Grau. "With a mobile application, like we've seen on the iPhone, you can really provide a much richer experience."

eMarketer is forecasting that by 2013, almost 50 percent of mobile phone subscribers in the U.S. will have Internet access.

David Needle is the West Coast bureau chief at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

TN 911 districts to get $25 millionMobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Web Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct Mailings

Get ready for another great lesson in unconventional marketing. It doesn’t matter what you sell, if you need help standing out from the crowd, you've come to the right place.

Direct mailing is still an important part of a small business marketing plan, but how can you track the results and measure success? Andrew Lock covers that and other affordable marketing strategies for small business entrepreneurs. Check it out below.

I was almost stuck in the massive snowstorm dubbed “Snowmageddon” that hit the East coast last week. In my time in New York City I noticed the demise of one of the most well-known landmarks in the middle of Times Square – can you guess what it is?

Postcard marketing is a valuable tool for advertising and promoting a product or service in almost any business. Our question relates to the subject of tracking the results from a postcard marketing campaign. Any ideas? See if you agree with my recommendations.

Go watch the "Help! My Business Sucks" webisode

Web Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct MailingsHillsboro Road Kroger has grand re-opening today

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Using mobile devices to access the Internet is fast-becoming a way of life in the U.S. More than 80 million U.S. mobile phone owners will access the Internet via their handset this year, according to research firm eMarketer.

That's almost 35 percent of all mobile phone users and almost 27 percent of the U.S. population. But online shopping on mobile devices is not necessarily following the same fast track growth curve.

According to the eMarketer's report, "Mobile Commerce: Ahead of Its Time," mobile phone users say they would make more purchases if the process were not so cumbersome, products were easier to find and their devices supported secure credit card transactions. Web-enabled mobile phone users are much more likely to use their devices to get weather forecasts, read news, find movie times and bank online than to buy products, according to eMarketer.

"We're at an early stage, but the market for mobile e-commerce is definitely accelerating," Jeffrey Grau, senior analyst at eMarketer and author of the report, told InternetNews.com .

Grau said mobile e-commerce is going through a similar stage of guarded acceptance among U.S. consumers that e-commerce on the broader Web did a decade or so ago. "People were concerned about credit card security back then, even more so than today, so that was a big barrier to overcome. On mobile there's that security concern, but also other issues, like the screens are so small you're not necessarily comfortable buying household goods or higher end items you can't see that well."

He notes that the advent of Apple's iPad, due out next month, and other tablet devices, will give e-tailors more screen real estate to display their wares.

For now, smartphones are best-suited for time-sensitive and location-oriented transactions, like ordering a pizza or making dinner or event reservations from your car. "Where you're buying a service or some relative commodity like pizza or flowers you don't have to see in a larger screen, these are good areas for mobile ecommerce," said Grau.

He also notes mobile technology is helping to facilitate these kinds of purchases. For example, a GPS in the mobile device helps the user find the nearest theater or store and provide other location-based services. Even when you're in a physical store, Web access on the mobile device offers plenty of price comparison and review options to help you make a purchase decision.

Grau said a lot of retailers made the mistake of trying to optimize their standard Web site for mobile. "They try to optimize, but a lot of those sites end up looking pretty crude and hard to use on a mobile screen," said Grau. "With a mobile application, like we've seen on the iPhone, you can really provide a much richer experience."

eMarketer is forecasting that by 2013, almost 50 percent of mobile phone subscribers in the U.S. will have Internet access.

David Needle is the West Coast bureau chief at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers EmergingTN 911 districts to get $25 million

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Using mobile devices to access the Internet is fast-becoming a way of life in the U.S. More than 80 million U.S. mobile phone owners will access the Internet via their handset this year, according to research firm eMarketer.

That's almost 35 percent of all mobile phone users and almost 27 percent of the U.S. population. But online shopping on mobile devices is not necessarily following the same fast track growth curve.

According to the eMarketer's report, "Mobile Commerce: Ahead of Its Time," mobile phone users say they would make more purchases if the process were not so cumbersome, products were easier to find and their devices supported secure credit card transactions. Web-enabled mobile phone users are much more likely to use their devices to get weather forecasts, read news, find movie times and bank online than to buy products, according to eMarketer.

"We're at an early stage, but the market for mobile e-commerce is definitely accelerating," Jeffrey Grau, senior analyst at eMarketer and author of the report, told InternetNews.com .

Grau said mobile e-commerce is going through a similar stage of guarded acceptance among U.S. consumers that e-commerce on the broader Web did a decade or so ago. "People were concerned about credit card security back then, even more so than today, so that was a big barrier to overcome. On mobile there's that security concern, but also other issues, like the screens are so small you're not necessarily comfortable buying household goods or higher end items you can't see that well."

He notes that the advent of Apple's iPad, due out next month, and other tablet devices, will give e-tailors more screen real estate to display their wares.

For now, smartphones are best-suited for time-sensitive and location-oriented transactions, like ordering a pizza or making dinner or event reservations from your car. "Where you're buying a service or some relative commodity like pizza or flowers you don't have to see in a larger screen, these are good areas for mobile ecommerce," said Grau.

He also notes mobile technology is helping to facilitate these kinds of purchases. For example, a GPS in the mobile device helps the user find the nearest theater or store and provide other location-based services. Even when you're in a physical store, Web access on the mobile device offers plenty of price comparison and review options to help you make a purchase decision.

Grau said a lot of retailers made the mistake of trying to optimize their standard Web site for mobile. "They try to optimize, but a lot of those sites end up looking pretty crude and hard to use on a mobile screen," said Grau. "With a mobile application, like we've seen on the iPhone, you can really provide a much richer experience."

eMarketer is forecasting that by 2013, almost 50 percent of mobile phone subscribers in the U.S. will have Internet access.

David Needle is the West Coast bureau chief at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

TN 911 districts to get $25 millionMobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Web Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct Mailings

Get ready for another great lesson in unconventional marketing. It doesn’t matter what you sell, if you need help standing out from the crowd, you've come to the right place.

Direct mailing is still an important part of a small business marketing plan, but how can you track the results and measure success? Andrew Lock covers that and other affordable marketing strategies for small business entrepreneurs. Check it out below.

I was almost stuck in the massive snowstorm dubbed “Snowmageddon” that hit the East coast last week. In my time in New York City I noticed the demise of one of the most well-known landmarks in the middle of Times Square – can you guess what it is?

Postcard marketing is a valuable tool for advertising and promoting a product or service in almost any business. Our question relates to the subject of tracking the results from a postcard marketing campaign. Any ideas? See if you agree with my recommendations.

Go watch the "Help! My Business Sucks" webisode

Hillsboro Road Kroger has grand re-opening todayWeb Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct Mailings

Web Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct Mailings

Get ready for another great lesson in unconventional marketing. It doesn’t matter what you sell, if you need help standing out from the crowd, you've come to the right place.

Direct mailing is still an important part of a small business marketing plan, but how can you track the results and measure success? Andrew Lock covers that and other affordable marketing strategies for small business entrepreneurs. Check it out below.

I was almost stuck in the massive snowstorm dubbed “Snowmageddon” that hit the East coast last week. In my time in New York City I noticed the demise of one of the most well-known landmarks in the middle of Times Square – can you guess what it is?

Postcard marketing is a valuable tool for advertising and promoting a product or service in almost any business. Our question relates to the subject of tracking the results from a postcard marketing campaign. Any ideas? See if you agree with my recommendations.

Go watch the "Help! My Business Sucks" webisode

Web Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct MailingsHillsboro Road Kroger has grand re-opening today

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Using mobile devices to access the Internet is fast-becoming a way of life in the U.S. More than 80 million U.S. mobile phone owners will access the Internet via their handset this year, according to research firm eMarketer.

That's almost 35 percent of all mobile phone users and almost 27 percent of the U.S. population. But online shopping on mobile devices is not necessarily following the same fast track growth curve.

According to the eMarketer's report, "Mobile Commerce: Ahead of Its Time," mobile phone users say they would make more purchases if the process were not so cumbersome, products were easier to find and their devices supported secure credit card transactions. Web-enabled mobile phone users are much more likely to use their devices to get weather forecasts, read news, find movie times and bank online than to buy products, according to eMarketer.

"We're at an early stage, but the market for mobile e-commerce is definitely accelerating," Jeffrey Grau, senior analyst at eMarketer and author of the report, told InternetNews.com .

Grau said mobile e-commerce is going through a similar stage of guarded acceptance among U.S. consumers that e-commerce on the broader Web did a decade or so ago. "People were concerned about credit card security back then, even more so than today, so that was a big barrier to overcome. On mobile there's that security concern, but also other issues, like the screens are so small you're not necessarily comfortable buying household goods or higher end items you can't see that well."

He notes that the advent of Apple's iPad, due out next month, and other tablet devices, will give e-tailors more screen real estate to display their wares.

For now, smartphones are best-suited for time-sensitive and location-oriented transactions, like ordering a pizza or making dinner or event reservations from your car. "Where you're buying a service or some relative commodity like pizza or flowers you don't have to see in a larger screen, these are good areas for mobile ecommerce," said Grau.

He also notes mobile technology is helping to facilitate these kinds of purchases. For example, a GPS in the mobile device helps the user find the nearest theater or store and provide other location-based services. Even when you're in a physical store, Web access on the mobile device offers plenty of price comparison and review options to help you make a purchase decision.

Grau said a lot of retailers made the mistake of trying to optimize their standard Web site for mobile. "They try to optimize, but a lot of those sites end up looking pretty crude and hard to use on a mobile screen," said Grau. "With a mobile application, like we've seen on the iPhone, you can really provide a much richer experience."

eMarketer is forecasting that by 2013, almost 50 percent of mobile phone subscribers in the U.S. will have Internet access.

David Needle is the West Coast bureau chief at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

TN 911 districts to get $25 millionMobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers Emerging

Using mobile devices to access the Internet is fast-becoming a way of life in the U.S. More than 80 million U.S. mobile phone owners will access the Internet via their handset this year, according to research firm eMarketer.

That's almost 35 percent of all mobile phone users and almost 27 percent of the U.S. population. But online shopping on mobile devices is not necessarily following the same fast track growth curve.

According to the eMarketer's report, "Mobile Commerce: Ahead of Its Time," mobile phone users say they would make more purchases if the process were not so cumbersome, products were easier to find and their devices supported secure credit card transactions. Web-enabled mobile phone users are much more likely to use their devices to get weather forecasts, read news, find movie times and bank online than to buy products, according to eMarketer.

"We're at an early stage, but the market for mobile e-commerce is definitely accelerating," Jeffrey Grau, senior analyst at eMarketer and author of the report, told InternetNews.com .

Grau said mobile e-commerce is going through a similar stage of guarded acceptance among U.S. consumers that e-commerce on the broader Web did a decade or so ago. "People were concerned about credit card security back then, even more so than today, so that was a big barrier to overcome. On mobile there's that security concern, but also other issues, like the screens are so small you're not necessarily comfortable buying household goods or higher end items you can't see that well."

He notes that the advent of Apple's iPad, due out next month, and other tablet devices, will give e-tailors more screen real estate to display their wares.

For now, smartphones are best-suited for time-sensitive and location-oriented transactions, like ordering a pizza or making dinner or event reservations from your car. "Where you're buying a service or some relative commodity like pizza or flowers you don't have to see in a larger screen, these are good areas for mobile ecommerce," said Grau.

He also notes mobile technology is helping to facilitate these kinds of purchases. For example, a GPS in the mobile device helps the user find the nearest theater or store and provide other location-based services. Even when you're in a physical store, Web access on the mobile device offers plenty of price comparison and review options to help you make a purchase decision.

Grau said a lot of retailers made the mistake of trying to optimize their standard Web site for mobile. "They try to optimize, but a lot of those sites end up looking pretty crude and hard to use on a mobile screen," said Grau. "With a mobile application, like we've seen on the iPhone, you can really provide a much richer experience."

eMarketer is forecasting that by 2013, almost 50 percent of mobile phone subscribers in the U.S. will have Internet access.

David Needle is the West Coast bureau chief at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

Mobile Commerce Advantages for Retailers EmergingTN 911 districts to get $25 million

Web Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct Mailings

Get ready for another great lesson in unconventional marketing. It doesn’t matter what you sell, if you need help standing out from the crowd, you've come to the right place.

Direct mailing is still an important part of a small business marketing plan, but how can you track the results and measure success? Andrew Lock covers that and other affordable marketing strategies for small business entrepreneurs. Check it out below.

I was almost stuck in the massive snowstorm dubbed “Snowmageddon” that hit the East coast last week. In my time in New York City I noticed the demise of one of the most well-known landmarks in the middle of Times Square – can you guess what it is?

Postcard marketing is a valuable tool for advertising and promoting a product or service in almost any business. Our question relates to the subject of tracking the results from a postcard marketing campaign. Any ideas? See if you agree with my recommendations.

Go watch the "Help! My Business Sucks" webisode

Hillsboro Road Kroger has grand re-opening todayWeb Marketing Tips: Tracking Direct Mailings