Ecommerce Marketing and Social Networking

Whether you sell on eBay, just opened your first ecommerce website or have built an ecommerce empire, social networking can expand your reach into new markets and new customers -- at unprecedented low cost. Author Clara Shih calls it the era of Facebook. Find out what she means, and how it can help you. Datamation has the full story.

Social networks not only give companies broader access to new customers, they do it at unprecedented lower costs, according to Clara Shih, author of "The Facebook Era."

In a speech here Wednesday at the Web 2.0 Expo, Shih explained that she refers to the Facebook Era because the company dominates the social networking market with more than 400 million users.

"People spend over 20 billion minutes a day on Facebook -- you have to be there," Shih said. But it's the broader social network movement, including Twitter, LinkedIn and a growing number of social networks in other countries that represent "a cultural movement" and a "new psychology," she added.

Read the complete social networking article

Companies can pay for ads on TwitterEcommerce Marketing and Social Networking

Ecommerce Dictionary: 20 Words to Know

From launching an e-commercewebsite to understanding industry regulations, this Ecommerce Dictionary -- with 20 definitions and links to helpful tips and how-to articles on Ecommerce-Guide.com -- will make your transition from retailer to e-tailer easier a much easier task to understand.

Ecommerce Hosting Lingo

Before you can open up shop online, you first have to find a place to host the website. This Ecommerce Dictionary explains some of the more common types of ecommerce site hosting phrases you are sure to encounter when setting up your online business.

Dedicated hosting: Sometimes referred to as a dedicated server, it means your website is the only one on hosted on the server. With a dedicated server, security is often tighter; however you will largely be responsible for the server management -- not just the website.

Shared hosting: Sometimes called virtual hosting, or referred to as a shared server, it basically means your website will share resources with other websites as multiple sites are running (hosted) on the same physical server.

Virtual host: A provider of Web services that includes Web server functions and Internet connection services. A virtual host is often used by companies or individuals that do not want to purchase and maintain their own Web servers and Internet connections.

Web host: The company, or service provider, that provides server space, Web services and file maintenance for Web sites controlled by individuals or companies that do not have their own Web servers.

Web server: A computer that delivers Web pages. Every Web server has an IP address and possibly a domain name. When a user types your domain name into a Web browser, it sends a request to the server to fetch the page.

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  Buyers' Guide: How to Find a Web Hosting Provider, Hosting Plan Primer Common Ecommerce Website Processes

The following ecommerce phrases are ones you will encounter when designing, hosting and launching your own ecommerce website. There are a number of ecommerce standards and financial accounts you will need to be familiar with before you can accept online payments.

Credit Card Interchange: The phrase used to describe the process involved in completing a credit card transaction. The "Interchange" refers to all organizations involved in the transaction, including processors, acquirers and issuers.

Merchant Account: The type of account a business obtains from their banking institution that allows you to accept credit card payments. Merchant accounts are usually required for a retailer or e-tailer to accept customer credit cards and electronic payments

Payment Gateway: A service provided by a third-party organization, that automates a payment transaction between the shopper and merchant.  A payment gateway is actually a system of computer processes that process, verify, and accept or decline credit card transactions on behalf of the merchant through secure Internet connections.

Shopping Cart: Ecommerce software that acts as an online store's catalog and ordering process. A shopping cart is the interface between a company's Web site and its deeper infrastructure, allowing consumers to select merchandise; review what they have selected; make necessary modifications or additions; and purchase the merchandise.

Commerce Server: Web software that runs some of the main functions of an online storefront such as product display, online ordering and inventory management. This type of software is also called storefront software .

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  Choosing a Payment Gateway Provider Ecommerce Marketing: Email Marketing Lingo

Learning email marketing lingo is important to help you understand what features and options you will have for tracking your email marketing campaigns. To get you started, here are ten email marketing terms you should know before starting a subscriber list for your ecommerce business.

A/B split: A type of marketing test where an email subscriber list is split into two groups; every other name in the list is sent one email message and vice versa to see which marketing message has the most successful response.

Conversion rate:  In online marketing, this phrase refers to the percentage of visitors who take a desired action. For example the percentage of people who click a hyperlink in your message and make a purchase from your Web store.

Direct digital marketing: An online marketing method that is addressable -- meaning you can identify the recipient of the email message you're distributing. Addressability comes in a variety of digital forms including an email address, a Web browser cookie or a mobile phone number.

Event triggered e-mail: A message sent to list subscribers based on an event. For example, a special message or discount coupon delivered to subscribers on their birthday or anniversary dates. The events are determined based on the information the subscribers provided when joining the list.

Open rate: This is a common email marketing phrase that basically means the number of list subscribers who opened the email message you sent.  Open rates are used to track how successful your email marketing campaign is.

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  How to Find an E-Mail Marketing Service Provider, Small Business Marketing Guide Ecommerce Laws, Standards and Protocols

CAN-SPAM: The CAN-SPAM Act applies to almost all businesses in the U.S. that use email, and provides recipients of spam with the right to opt-out of these spam messages, and have their opt-out (or unsubscribe) request acted upon.  Under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, permission of the email recipient is not required prior to sending out the emails, however if a recipient wants to unsubscribe or opt-out of the mailings then the business must stop sending the emails as per the opt-out request or face severe penalties.

Certification authority:  An organization or company that issues digital certificates used to create digital signatures. The role of the certification authority (CA) is to guarantee that the individual or business that has been granted the unique certificate is, in fact, who they claim to be. CAs are a critical component in electronic commerce because they guarantee that the two parties exchanging information are actually who they claim.

Electronic Data Interchange:  The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a standard for the transfer of data between different companies using computer networks. EDI is becoming increasingly important as an easy mechanism for companies to buy, sell and trade information.

PCI-DSS:  Short for Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) , it is a standard that all organizations, including online retailers, must follow when storing, processing and transmitting their customer's credit card data. To be PCI complaint companies must use a number of security features, such as a firewall between a wireless network and their cardholder data environment, and also use the latest security and authentication. The PCI DSS standard specifies 12 requirements for best security practices

SSL:  Short for Secure Sockets Layer , SSL is a protocol for transmitting private documents via the Internet. SSL uses a cryptographic system with two keys to encrypt data -- a public key known to everyone and a private or secret key known only to the recipient of the message. Many websites use the protocol to obtain confidential user information, such as credit card numbers.

Definitions to hundreds of electronic commerce and email and online marketing terms can be found on Webopedia.com.

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

Ecommerce Dictionary: 20 Words to KnowMore debtors pay bills on time

A Mobile Goldmine? Growth in Smartphone Ad Clicks

In the latest indication of the rise in mobile Internet use and the growing potential there for marketers, a new survey finds there's been a jump in how many users click on ads while using their mobile phone.

In its most recent consumer survey, ABI Research said 27 percent of mobile phone users accessing Web site using mobile phones have clicked on a mobile banner ad or text link. A thousand U.S. consumers participated in the survey.

While the new results represent a bump from the 21 percent of mobile users who said they clicked on an ad or text link in a survey ABI conducted 14 months earlier, it still means the bigger number is the majority of mobile users who said they aren't clicking on ads on their mobile devices. Still, Neil Strother, ABI Research's practice director for mobile marketing strategies, said the latest results are encouraging.

"More people are accessing Web sites through their mobile phones today than 14 months ago, and clicking on ads is becoming more commonplace," Strother said in a statement. "This trend is a positive one for marketers and advertisers, and should give them greater confidence in their mobile efforts, knowing that well-targeted offerings can find traction among consumers.”

To get better response, Strother said mobile marketers should purchase inventory on mobile Web sites that have the most relevant audience profile for the products or services they're advertising. Another key, he said, is to present creative elements that meet the needs of those mobile consumers.

Beyond ads, the Mobile Marketing Consumer Survey includes some other interesting metrics related to mobile use. For example, the number of mobile users accessing the Internet on a daily basis is up. ABI said 28 percent of mobile phone users said they access Internet sites at least once a day from their phones, a jump from 16 percent in the earlier survey.

Companies looking to send promotions to mobile would find some measure of good news in the latest survey. About 45 percent of the respondents said they were willing to accept promotions like coupons and discounts if they have control over the process. In the earlier survey, only 36 percent said they would accept mobile promotions. However, ABI noted that even the consumers who said they were willing to accept promotions were "not enthusiastic" about the prospect of receiving them.

There was also some bad news in the findings for e-commerce marketers looking for signs of growth in mobile purchasing. Asked about using their mobile phone to make purchases, 76 percent of survey respondents said security related to such transactions is a major concern. That number is up from the earlier survey when 71 percent said security was a major concern.

The ABI Research survey was completed in February; meanwhile, mobile ad providers continue to push the envelope with new technology designed to get users to be more engaged with ads. Just this week iVdopia, which has rolled out ad formats for the Apple iPhone and Android mobile OSes, introduced a new "Viper" ad format for the iPhone. With the new iVdopia-powered ads, a simple fingertip swipe on an ad reveals a menu of interactive options to get more information and play multimedia content.

Google also previewed a similar kind of swipe-to-see-more in-depth ad feature for Android devices at its recent Google I/O developer conference.

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

Marketers put new American shopper under microscopeA Mobile Goldmine? Growth in Smartphone Ad Clicks

How to Pick the Right Web Host Provider

Trying to choose a provider to host your small business ecommerce site can be a daunting, detailed process. But it's important to understand exactly what you're buying -- and what's hidden in the fine print. After all, the fate of your entire business can depend on you making the right choice. This buyers' guide provides everything you need to know -- Small Business Computing has the complete story.

There are few service providers (except perhaps for lawyers) who are the subject of more derision than Web hosting providers. Indeed, ask any three business owners who have used the same Web hosting company (or read any online reviews) and you're likely to get very different opinions.

Some of the most common complaints among small business owners about Web hosting companies: the customer service sucked; their Web site went down or was unavailable for an unacceptable amount of time; and all the hidden fees.

Read the complete guide to Web Host providers

Tax credit for companies providing health care gets mixed reviewHow to Pick the Right Web Host Provider

How to Optimize an Ecommerce Press Release

An old adage says that the three most important things about real estate are "location, location, location. When it comes to your small business ecommerce site, it's SEO, SEO, SEO. Anything and everything related to your site should be optimized for search engines, and that includes press releases. We show you everything you need to drive traffic with a press release. Small Business Computing has the full story.

Like practically every other form of communication, the Internet has transformed the press release. And small business owners who understand how the press release has evolved -- and how to use SEO techniques within them -- can help boost their bottom lines.

Press releases used to be mailed or blasted over wire services to journalists and analysts. The media would then decide, based on the release’s contents, whether to pursue a story or not. In the best of circumstances, the shelf life of a press release was roughly equivalent to that of a spotted banana -- extremely brief.

Read Small Business SEO: How to Optimize Press Releases

How to Optimize an Ecommerce Press ReleaseBusiness plan matters, but other steps come first

How to Pick the Right Web Host Provider

Trying to choose a provider to host your small business ecommerce site can be a daunting, detailed process. But it's important to understand exactly what you're buying -- and what's hidden in the fine print. After all, the fate of your entire business can depend on you making the right choice. This buyers' guide provides everything you need to know -- Small Business Computing has the complete story.

There are few service providers (except perhaps for lawyers) who are the subject of more derision than Web hosting providers. Indeed, ask any three business owners who have used the same Web hosting company (or read any online reviews) and you're likely to get very different opinions.

Some of the most common complaints among small business owners about Web hosting companies: the customer service sucked; their Web site went down or was unavailable for an unacceptable amount of time; and all the hidden fees.

Read the complete guide to Web Host providers

Tax credit for companies providing health care gets mixed reviewHow to Pick the Right Web Host Provider

Google Predicts Mobile Ad Surge as AdMob Deal Closes

Less than a week after winning the blessing of antitrust authorities, Google has closed its $750 million acquisition of the mobile ad network AdMob, giving the search giant pole position in the emerging wireless advertising space.

"It's clear that mobile advertising is becoming a much larger part of our clients' and partners' strategies and with this acquisition, it's now a central part of our own business," Susan Wojcicki, Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) vice president of product management, said in a blog post.

Now that the papers are in order, Google is beginning the work of integrating the companies' personnel and platforms, offering mobile marketers the assurance of a smooth transition and more specific product announcements in the near future.

Google had a tough time selling the AdMob acquisition to antitrust officials at the Federal Trade Commission, who worried that it would extend the company's dominance in the digital advertising space and took a long look at the transaction. Ultimately, and largely aided by rival Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) subsequent acquisition of the mobile ad firm Quattro Wireless and launch of its own iAd advertising platform, the FTC commissioners unanimously voted to close the investigation.

Google had argued that the mobile advertising market is highly competitive and evolving rapidly, and that AdMob is only one of a growing number of mobile ad networks competing for marketers' advertising dollars.

AdMob was of particular interest to Google both for its reach and its innovation in new ad formats, such as units placed within third-party applications. Google's Android platform is actively courting developers as it looks to narrow the application gap with Apple's iPhone, its chief rival in the smartphone sector. Mobile Ads On The Rise

Wojcicki had high praise for AdMob's work in developing interactive and rich-media ad formats for applications, but she said that search remains the order of the day for mobile marketers.

In the past two years, Google has seen a more than fivefold increase in its mobile search queries, and it's only picking up steam, she said. In the first quarter of this year, smartphone users with full WebKit browsers submitted 62 percent more search queries than they did in the fourth quarter of 2009. Innovations such as the click-to-call feature found in many mobile search ads make the format more compelling for users, who often use their smartphones to search for local businesses while on the go.

"With many more advances to come, search advertising will remain the central way that many businesses connect with consumers on mobile devices," Wojcicki said.

Google executives have talked often of the enormous opportunity of the mobile ad platform as smartphones take on more of the functions of notebooks and desktops. Eric Schmidt, the company's CEO, has predicted that mobile ad revenues will eventually eclipse ad sales from the traditional Web on the company's balance sheet.

The narrative that Google is presenting to marketers holds that mobile is no longer an experimental medium, but rather an engaging digital platform that is attracting increasing levels of consumers' attention and deserves a proportional slice of the media mix.

Surveys such as the one released yesterday by ABI Research help bolster that argument. The firm found that of mobile users who had visited a website on their handheld device, 27 percent said they had clicked on a banner ad or text link, up from 21 percent in a similar survey 14 months earlier.

"Every day, more marketers are looking to take advantage of the mobile-specific capabilities, extended reach, great returns and value that mobile advertising provides," Wojcicki said. "Advertisers are now starting to see mobile as an essential part of their overall campaigns, not just a siloed experiment on the side."

Kenneth Corbin is an associate editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

FTC Greenlights Google’s AdMob DealCompanies can pay for ads on Twitter

Ecommerce Dictionary: 20 Words to Know

From launching an e-commercewebsite to understanding industry regulations, this Ecommerce Dictionary -- with 20 definitions and links to helpful tips and how-to articles on Ecommerce-Guide.com -- will make your transition from retailer to e-tailer easier a much easier task to understand.

Ecommerce Hosting Lingo

Before you can open up shop online, you first have to find a place to host the website. This Ecommerce Dictionary explains some of the more common types of ecommerce site hosting phrases you are sure to encounter when setting up your online business.

Dedicated hosting: Sometimes referred to as a dedicated server, it means your website is the only one on hosted on the server. With a dedicated server, security is often tighter; however you will largely be responsible for the server management -- not just the website.

Shared hosting: Sometimes called virtual hosting, or referred to as a shared server, it basically means your website will share resources with other websites as multiple sites are running (hosted) on the same physical server.

Virtual host: A provider of Web services that includes Web server functions and Internet connection services. A virtual host is often used by companies or individuals that do not want to purchase and maintain their own Web servers and Internet connections.

Web host: The company, or service provider, that provides server space, Web services and file maintenance for Web sites controlled by individuals or companies that do not have their own Web servers.

Web server: A computer that delivers Web pages. Every Web server has an IP address and possibly a domain name. When a user types your domain name into a Web browser, it sends a request to the server to fetch the page.

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  Buyers' Guide: How to Find a Web Hosting Provider, Hosting Plan Primer Common Ecommerce Website Processes

The following ecommerce phrases are ones you will encounter when designing, hosting and launching your own ecommerce website. There are a number of ecommerce standards and financial accounts you will need to be familiar with before you can accept online payments.

Credit Card Interchange: The phrase used to describe the process involved in completing a credit card transaction. The "Interchange" refers to all organizations involved in the transaction, including processors, acquirers and issuers.

Merchant Account: The type of account a business obtains from their banking institution that allows you to accept credit card payments. Merchant accounts are usually required for a retailer or e-tailer to accept customer credit cards and electronic payments

Payment Gateway: A service provided by a third-party organization, that automates a payment transaction between the shopper and merchant.  A payment gateway is actually a system of computer processes that process, verify, and accept or decline credit card transactions on behalf of the merchant through secure Internet connections.

Shopping Cart: Ecommerce software that acts as an online store's catalog and ordering process. A shopping cart is the interface between a company's Web site and its deeper infrastructure, allowing consumers to select merchandise; review what they have selected; make necessary modifications or additions; and purchase the merchandise.

Commerce Server: Web software that runs some of the main functions of an online storefront such as product display, online ordering and inventory management. This type of software is also called storefront software .

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  Choosing a Payment Gateway Provider Ecommerce Marketing: Email Marketing Lingo

Learning email marketing lingo is important to help you understand what features and options you will have for tracking your email marketing campaigns. To get you started, here are ten email marketing terms you should know before starting a subscriber list for your ecommerce business.

A/B split: A type of marketing test where an email subscriber list is split into two groups; every other name in the list is sent one email message and vice versa to see which marketing message has the most successful response.

Conversion rate:  In online marketing, this phrase refers to the percentage of visitors who take a desired action. For example the percentage of people who click a hyperlink in your message and make a purchase from your Web store.

Direct digital marketing: An online marketing method that is addressable -- meaning you can identify the recipient of the email message you're distributing. Addressability comes in a variety of digital forms including an email address, a Web browser cookie or a mobile phone number.

Event triggered e-mail: A message sent to list subscribers based on an event. For example, a special message or discount coupon delivered to subscribers on their birthday or anniversary dates. The events are determined based on the information the subscribers provided when joining the list.

Open rate: This is a common email marketing phrase that basically means the number of list subscribers who opened the email message you sent.  Open rates are used to track how successful your email marketing campaign is.

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  How to Find an E-Mail Marketing Service Provider, Small Business Marketing Guide Ecommerce Laws, Standards and Protocols

CAN-SPAM: The CAN-SPAM Act applies to almost all businesses in the U.S. that use email, and provides recipients of spam with the right to opt-out of these spam messages, and have their opt-out (or unsubscribe) request acted upon.  Under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, permission of the email recipient is not required prior to sending out the emails, however if a recipient wants to unsubscribe or opt-out of the mailings then the business must stop sending the emails as per the opt-out request or face severe penalties.

Certification authority:  An organization or company that issues digital certificates used to create digital signatures. The role of the certification authority (CA) is to guarantee that the individual or business that has been granted the unique certificate is, in fact, who they claim to be. CAs are a critical component in electronic commerce because they guarantee that the two parties exchanging information are actually who they claim.

Electronic Data Interchange:  The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a standard for the transfer of data between different companies using computer networks. EDI is becoming increasingly important as an easy mechanism for companies to buy, sell and trade information.

PCI-DSS:  Short for Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) , it is a standard that all organizations, including online retailers, must follow when storing, processing and transmitting their customer's credit card data. To be PCI complaint companies must use a number of security features, such as a firewall between a wireless network and their cardholder data environment, and also use the latest security and authentication. The PCI DSS standard specifies 12 requirements for best security practices

SSL:  Short for Secure Sockets Layer , SSL is a protocol for transmitting private documents via the Internet. SSL uses a cryptographic system with two keys to encrypt data -- a public key known to everyone and a private or secret key known only to the recipient of the message. Many websites use the protocol to obtain confidential user information, such as credit card numbers.

Definitions to hundreds of electronic commerce and email and online marketing terms can be found on Webopedia.com.

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

More debtors pay bills on timeEcommerce Dictionary: 20 Words to Know

Ecommerce Marketing and Social Networking

Whether you sell on eBay, just opened your first ecommerce website or have built an ecommerce empire, social networking can expand your reach into new markets and new customers -- at unprecedented low cost. Author Clara Shih calls it the era of Facebook. Find out what she means, and how it can help you. Datamation has the full story.

Social networks not only give companies broader access to new customers, they do it at unprecedented lower costs, according to Clara Shih, author of "The Facebook Era."

In a speech here Wednesday at the Web 2.0 Expo, Shih explained that she refers to the Facebook Era because the company dominates the social networking market with more than 400 million users.

"People spend over 20 billion minutes a day on Facebook -- you have to be there," Shih said. But it's the broader social network movement, including Twitter, LinkedIn and a growing number of social networks in other countries that represent "a cultural movement" and a "new psychology," she added.

Read the complete social networking article

Ecommerce Marketing and Social NetworkingCompanies can pay for ads on Twitter

A Mobile Goldmine? Growth in Smartphone Ad Clicks

In the latest indication of the rise in mobile Internet use and the growing potential there for marketers, a new survey finds there's been a jump in how many users click on ads while using their mobile phone.

In its most recent consumer survey, ABI Research said 27 percent of mobile phone users accessing Web site using mobile phones have clicked on a mobile banner ad or text link. A thousand U.S. consumers participated in the survey.

While the new results represent a bump from the 21 percent of mobile users who said they clicked on an ad or text link in a survey ABI conducted 14 months earlier, it still means the bigger number is the majority of mobile users who said they aren't clicking on ads on their mobile devices. Still, Neil Strother, ABI Research's practice director for mobile marketing strategies, said the latest results are encouraging.

"More people are accessing Web sites through their mobile phones today than 14 months ago, and clicking on ads is becoming more commonplace," Strother said in a statement. "This trend is a positive one for marketers and advertisers, and should give them greater confidence in their mobile efforts, knowing that well-targeted offerings can find traction among consumers.”

To get better response, Strother said mobile marketers should purchase inventory on mobile Web sites that have the most relevant audience profile for the products or services they're advertising. Another key, he said, is to present creative elements that meet the needs of those mobile consumers.

Beyond ads, the Mobile Marketing Consumer Survey includes some other interesting metrics related to mobile use. For example, the number of mobile users accessing the Internet on a daily basis is up. ABI said 28 percent of mobile phone users said they access Internet sites at least once a day from their phones, a jump from 16 percent in the earlier survey.

Companies looking to send promotions to mobile would find some measure of good news in the latest survey. About 45 percent of the respondents said they were willing to accept promotions like coupons and discounts if they have control over the process. In the earlier survey, only 36 percent said they would accept mobile promotions. However, ABI noted that even the consumers who said they were willing to accept promotions were "not enthusiastic" about the prospect of receiving them.

There was also some bad news in the findings for e-commerce marketers looking for signs of growth in mobile purchasing. Asked about using their mobile phone to make purchases, 76 percent of survey respondents said security related to such transactions is a major concern. That number is up from the earlier survey when 71 percent said security was a major concern.

The ABI Research survey was completed in February; meanwhile, mobile ad providers continue to push the envelope with new technology designed to get users to be more engaged with ads. Just this week iVdopia, which has rolled out ad formats for the Apple iPhone and Android mobile OSes, introduced a new "Viper" ad format for the iPhone. With the new iVdopia-powered ads, a simple fingertip swipe on an ad reveals a menu of interactive options to get more information and play multimedia content.

Google also previewed a similar kind of swipe-to-see-more in-depth ad feature for Android devices at its recent Google I/O developer conference.

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

Marketers put new American shopper under microscopeA Mobile Goldmine? Growth in Smartphone Ad Clicks

How to Optimize an Ecommerce Press Release

An old adage says that the three most important things about real estate are "location, location, location. When it comes to your small business ecommerce site, it's SEO, SEO, SEO. Anything and everything related to your site should be optimized for search engines, and that includes press releases. We show you everything you need to drive traffic with a press release. Small Business Computing has the full story.

Like practically every other form of communication, the Internet has transformed the press release. And small business owners who understand how the press release has evolved -- and how to use SEO techniques within them -- can help boost their bottom lines.

Press releases used to be mailed or blasted over wire services to journalists and analysts. The media would then decide, based on the release’s contents, whether to pursue a story or not. In the best of circumstances, the shelf life of a press release was roughly equivalent to that of a spotted banana -- extremely brief.

Read Small Business SEO: How to Optimize Press Releases

Business plan matters, but other steps come firstHow to Optimize an Ecommerce Press Release

How to Optimize an Ecommerce Press Release

An old adage says that the three most important things about real estate are "location, location, location. When it comes to your small business ecommerce site, it's SEO, SEO, SEO. Anything and everything related to your site should be optimized for search engines, and that includes press releases. We show you everything you need to drive traffic with a press release. Small Business Computing has the full story.

Like practically every other form of communication, the Internet has transformed the press release. And small business owners who understand how the press release has evolved -- and how to use SEO techniques within them -- can help boost their bottom lines.

Press releases used to be mailed or blasted over wire services to journalists and analysts. The media would then decide, based on the release’s contents, whether to pursue a story or not. In the best of circumstances, the shelf life of a press release was roughly equivalent to that of a spotted banana -- extremely brief.

Read Small Business SEO: How to Optimize Press Releases

Business plan matters, but other steps come firstHow to Optimize an Ecommerce Press Release

Ecommerce Dictionary: 20 Words to Know

From launching an e-commercewebsite to understanding industry regulations, this Ecommerce Dictionary -- with 20 definitions and links to helpful tips and how-to articles on Ecommerce-Guide.com -- will make your transition from retailer to e-tailer easier a much easier task to understand.

Ecommerce Hosting Lingo

Before you can open up shop online, you first have to find a place to host the website. This Ecommerce Dictionary explains some of the more common types of ecommerce site hosting phrases you are sure to encounter when setting up your online business.

Dedicated hosting: Sometimes referred to as a dedicated server, it means your website is the only one on hosted on the server. With a dedicated server, security is often tighter; however you will largely be responsible for the server management -- not just the website.

Shared hosting: Sometimes called virtual hosting, or referred to as a shared server, it basically means your website will share resources with other websites as multiple sites are running (hosted) on the same physical server.

Virtual host: A provider of Web services that includes Web server functions and Internet connection services. A virtual host is often used by companies or individuals that do not want to purchase and maintain their own Web servers and Internet connections.

Web host: The company, or service provider, that provides server space, Web services and file maintenance for Web sites controlled by individuals or companies that do not have their own Web servers.

Web server: A computer that delivers Web pages. Every Web server has an IP address and possibly a domain name. When a user types your domain name into a Web browser, it sends a request to the server to fetch the page.

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  Buyers' Guide: How to Find a Web Hosting Provider, Hosting Plan Primer Common Ecommerce Website Processes

The following ecommerce phrases are ones you will encounter when designing, hosting and launching your own ecommerce website. There are a number of ecommerce standards and financial accounts you will need to be familiar with before you can accept online payments.

Credit Card Interchange: The phrase used to describe the process involved in completing a credit card transaction. The "Interchange" refers to all organizations involved in the transaction, including processors, acquirers and issuers.

Merchant Account: The type of account a business obtains from their banking institution that allows you to accept credit card payments. Merchant accounts are usually required for a retailer or e-tailer to accept customer credit cards and electronic payments

Payment Gateway: A service provided by a third-party organization, that automates a payment transaction between the shopper and merchant.  A payment gateway is actually a system of computer processes that process, verify, and accept or decline credit card transactions on behalf of the merchant through secure Internet connections.

Shopping Cart: Ecommerce software that acts as an online store's catalog and ordering process. A shopping cart is the interface between a company's Web site and its deeper infrastructure, allowing consumers to select merchandise; review what they have selected; make necessary modifications or additions; and purchase the merchandise.

Commerce Server: Web software that runs some of the main functions of an online storefront such as product display, online ordering and inventory management. This type of software is also called storefront software .

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  Choosing a Payment Gateway Provider Ecommerce Marketing: Email Marketing Lingo

Learning email marketing lingo is important to help you understand what features and options you will have for tracking your email marketing campaigns. To get you started, here are ten email marketing terms you should know before starting a subscriber list for your ecommerce business.

A/B split: A type of marketing test where an email subscriber list is split into two groups; every other name in the list is sent one email message and vice versa to see which marketing message has the most successful response.

Conversion rate:  In online marketing, this phrase refers to the percentage of visitors who take a desired action. For example the percentage of people who click a hyperlink in your message and make a purchase from your Web store.

Direct digital marketing: An online marketing method that is addressable -- meaning you can identify the recipient of the email message you're distributing. Addressability comes in a variety of digital forms including an email address, a Web browser cookie or a mobile phone number.

Event triggered e-mail: A message sent to list subscribers based on an event. For example, a special message or discount coupon delivered to subscribers on their birthday or anniversary dates. The events are determined based on the information the subscribers provided when joining the list.

Open rate: This is a common email marketing phrase that basically means the number of list subscribers who opened the email message you sent.  Open rates are used to track how successful your email marketing campaign is.

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  How to Find an E-Mail Marketing Service Provider, Small Business Marketing Guide Ecommerce Laws, Standards and Protocols

CAN-SPAM: The CAN-SPAM Act applies to almost all businesses in the U.S. that use email, and provides recipients of spam with the right to opt-out of these spam messages, and have their opt-out (or unsubscribe) request acted upon.  Under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, permission of the email recipient is not required prior to sending out the emails, however if a recipient wants to unsubscribe or opt-out of the mailings then the business must stop sending the emails as per the opt-out request or face severe penalties.

Certification authority:  An organization or company that issues digital certificates used to create digital signatures. The role of the certification authority (CA) is to guarantee that the individual or business that has been granted the unique certificate is, in fact, who they claim to be. CAs are a critical component in electronic commerce because they guarantee that the two parties exchanging information are actually who they claim.

Electronic Data Interchange:  The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a standard for the transfer of data between different companies using computer networks. EDI is becoming increasingly important as an easy mechanism for companies to buy, sell and trade information.

PCI-DSS:  Short for Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) , it is a standard that all organizations, including online retailers, must follow when storing, processing and transmitting their customer's credit card data. To be PCI complaint companies must use a number of security features, such as a firewall between a wireless network and their cardholder data environment, and also use the latest security and authentication. The PCI DSS standard specifies 12 requirements for best security practices

SSL:  Short for Secure Sockets Layer , SSL is a protocol for transmitting private documents via the Internet. SSL uses a cryptographic system with two keys to encrypt data -- a public key known to everyone and a private or secret key known only to the recipient of the message. Many websites use the protocol to obtain confidential user information, such as credit card numbers.

Definitions to hundreds of electronic commerce and email and online marketing terms can be found on Webopedia.com.

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

Nashville People in BusinessEcommerce Dictionary: 20 Words to Know

How to Pick the Right Web Host Provider

Trying to choose a provider to host your small business ecommerce site can be a daunting, detailed process. But it's important to understand exactly what you're buying -- and what's hidden in the fine print. After all, the fate of your entire business can depend on you making the right choice. This buyers' guide provides everything you need to know -- Small Business Computing has the complete story.

There are few service providers (except perhaps for lawyers) who are the subject of more derision than Web hosting providers. Indeed, ask any three business owners who have used the same Web hosting company (or read any online reviews) and you're likely to get very different opinions.

Some of the most common complaints among small business owners about Web hosting companies: the customer service sucked; their Web site went down or was unavailable for an unacceptable amount of time; and all the hidden fees.

Read the complete guide to Web Host providers

Tax credit for companies providing health care gets mixed reviewHow to Pick the Right Web Host Provider

Yahoo Fields Questions on adCenter Move

As Yahoo prepares to transition its advertisers to Microsoft's adCenter advertising system, some of those advertisers have burning -- and not so burning -- questions.

In response, Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO) on Thursday published a blog post meant to answer some of the questions regarding how things will be run under Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

For instance, after the cutover to adCenter, will advertisers still be able to buy liquor advertising keywords like "scotch" or "liquor basket," which Microsoft doesn't currently allow?

The answer: maybe and maybe not.

"After the transition, Yahoo will have the ability to continue to display some ads that Microsoft does not currently display on its own sites (e.g., adult ads), and vice versa. However, no specific decision has been announced regarding liquor-related keywords," Jeff Hecox, Yahoo manager of client communications, said in the post.

Some answers were more cut and dried, however.

"I currently manage many Yahoo and Bing advertising accounts for customers ... will there still be two platforms within Microsoft adCenter to manage bids and so on for Yahoo and Bing?" asked another advertiser.

"All Sponsored Search advertisers will use the adCenter platform for their paid search campaigns following their transition, and the Yahoo Sponsored Search system will be decommissioned ... distribution controls will allow them to select traffic from the combined marketplace of Bing and Yahoo, or from the full affiliate network. However, advertisers will not be permitted to select traffic only from Bing or only from Yahoo! Search," the post continued.

Another ad customer asked whether Microsoft's adCenter will add "tracking URLs" -- for following the progress of campaigns -- as Yahoo Sponsored Search system does.

"While Microsoft is committed to continuing to improve its products, we cannot guarantee that all features in Yahoo's paid search platform will be matched in Microsoft's. However, we are working with our advertisers to make sure that all key features of Yahoo Sponsored Search are included," the post said.

The two companies announced a few days ago that they are working to complete the transition for U.S. and Canadian advertisers to Microsoft's adCenter before the holiday sales season.

If they determine that's not possible, however, in order to maintain a stable environment, the transition will be delayed until early 2011, the companies said.

After a rocky courtship that began with Microsoft making a hostile takeover bid for Yahoo in 2008, the companies finally agreed to a ten-year deal last July wherein Microsoft will supply the advertising and search infrastructure underlying Yahoo Web properties in return for a cut of the advertising revenues. Regulators gave the deal a green light in February.

Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing writer at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

Yahoo Fields Questions on adCenter MoveCompanies can pay for ads on Twitter

Ecommerce Marketing and Social Networking

Whether you sell on eBay, just opened your first ecommerce website or have built an ecommerce empire, social networking can expand your reach into new markets and new customers -- at unprecedented low cost. Author Clara Shih calls it the era of Facebook. Find out what she means, and how it can help you. Datamation has the full story.

Social networks not only give companies broader access to new customers, they do it at unprecedented lower costs, according to Clara Shih, author of "The Facebook Era."

In a speech here Wednesday at the Web 2.0 Expo, Shih explained that she refers to the Facebook Era because the company dominates the social networking market with more than 400 million users.

"People spend over 20 billion minutes a day on Facebook -- you have to be there," Shih said. But it's the broader social network movement, including Twitter, LinkedIn and a growing number of social networks in other countries that represent "a cultural movement" and a "new psychology," she added.

Read the complete social networking article

Ecommerce Marketing and Social NetworkingCompanies can pay for ads on Twitter

Ecommerce Dictionary: 20 Words to Know

From launching an e-commercewebsite to understanding industry regulations, this Ecommerce Dictionary -- with 20 definitions and links to helpful tips and how-to articles on Ecommerce-Guide.com -- will make your transition from retailer to e-tailer easier a much easier task to understand.

Ecommerce Hosting Lingo

Before you can open up shop online, you first have to find a place to host the website. This Ecommerce Dictionary explains some of the more common types of ecommerce site hosting phrases you are sure to encounter when setting up your online business.

Dedicated hosting: Sometimes referred to as a dedicated server, it means your website is the only one on hosted on the server. With a dedicated server, security is often tighter; however you will largely be responsible for the server management -- not just the website.

Shared hosting: Sometimes called virtual hosting, or referred to as a shared server, it basically means your website will share resources with other websites as multiple sites are running (hosted) on the same physical server.

Virtual host: A provider of Web services that includes Web server functions and Internet connection services. A virtual host is often used by companies or individuals that do not want to purchase and maintain their own Web servers and Internet connections.

Web host: The company, or service provider, that provides server space, Web services and file maintenance for Web sites controlled by individuals or companies that do not have their own Web servers.

Web server: A computer that delivers Web pages. Every Web server has an IP address and possibly a domain name. When a user types your domain name into a Web browser, it sends a request to the server to fetch the page.

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  Buyers' Guide: How to Find a Web Hosting Provider, Hosting Plan Primer Common Ecommerce Website Processes

The following ecommerce phrases are ones you will encounter when designing, hosting and launching your own ecommerce website. There are a number of ecommerce standards and financial accounts you will need to be familiar with before you can accept online payments.

Credit Card Interchange: The phrase used to describe the process involved in completing a credit card transaction. The "Interchange" refers to all organizations involved in the transaction, including processors, acquirers and issuers.

Merchant Account: The type of account a business obtains from their banking institution that allows you to accept credit card payments. Merchant accounts are usually required for a retailer or e-tailer to accept customer credit cards and electronic payments

Payment Gateway: A service provided by a third-party organization, that automates a payment transaction between the shopper and merchant.  A payment gateway is actually a system of computer processes that process, verify, and accept or decline credit card transactions on behalf of the merchant through secure Internet connections.

Shopping Cart: Ecommerce software that acts as an online store's catalog and ordering process. A shopping cart is the interface between a company's Web site and its deeper infrastructure, allowing consumers to select merchandise; review what they have selected; make necessary modifications or additions; and purchase the merchandise.

Commerce Server: Web software that runs some of the main functions of an online storefront such as product display, online ordering and inventory management. This type of software is also called storefront software .

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  Choosing a Payment Gateway Provider Ecommerce Marketing: Email Marketing Lingo

Learning email marketing lingo is important to help you understand what features and options you will have for tracking your email marketing campaigns. To get you started, here are ten email marketing terms you should know before starting a subscriber list for your ecommerce business.

A/B split: A type of marketing test where an email subscriber list is split into two groups; every other name in the list is sent one email message and vice versa to see which marketing message has the most successful response.

Conversion rate:  In online marketing, this phrase refers to the percentage of visitors who take a desired action. For example the percentage of people who click a hyperlink in your message and make a purchase from your Web store.

Direct digital marketing: An online marketing method that is addressable -- meaning you can identify the recipient of the email message you're distributing. Addressability comes in a variety of digital forms including an email address, a Web browser cookie or a mobile phone number.

Event triggered e-mail: A message sent to list subscribers based on an event. For example, a special message or discount coupon delivered to subscribers on their birthday or anniversary dates. The events are determined based on the information the subscribers provided when joining the list.

Open rate: This is a common email marketing phrase that basically means the number of list subscribers who opened the email message you sent.  Open rates are used to track how successful your email marketing campaign is.

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  How to Find an E-Mail Marketing Service Provider, Small Business Marketing Guide Ecommerce Laws, Standards and Protocols

CAN-SPAM: The CAN-SPAM Act applies to almost all businesses in the U.S. that use email, and provides recipients of spam with the right to opt-out of these spam messages, and have their opt-out (or unsubscribe) request acted upon.  Under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, permission of the email recipient is not required prior to sending out the emails, however if a recipient wants to unsubscribe or opt-out of the mailings then the business must stop sending the emails as per the opt-out request or face severe penalties.

Certification authority:  An organization or company that issues digital certificates used to create digital signatures. The role of the certification authority (CA) is to guarantee that the individual or business that has been granted the unique certificate is, in fact, who they claim to be. CAs are a critical component in electronic commerce because they guarantee that the two parties exchanging information are actually who they claim.

Electronic Data Interchange:  The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a standard for the transfer of data between different companies using computer networks. EDI is becoming increasingly important as an easy mechanism for companies to buy, sell and trade information.

PCI-DSS:  Short for Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) , it is a standard that all organizations, including online retailers, must follow when storing, processing and transmitting their customer's credit card data. To be PCI complaint companies must use a number of security features, such as a firewall between a wireless network and their cardholder data environment, and also use the latest security and authentication. The PCI DSS standard specifies 12 requirements for best security practices

SSL:  Short for Secure Sockets Layer , SSL is a protocol for transmitting private documents via the Internet. SSL uses a cryptographic system with two keys to encrypt data -- a public key known to everyone and a private or secret key known only to the recipient of the message. Many websites use the protocol to obtain confidential user information, such as credit card numbers.

Definitions to hundreds of electronic commerce and email and online marketing terms can be found on Webopedia.com.

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

Ecommerce Dictionary: 20 Words to KnowNashville People in Business

A Mobile Goldmine? Growth in Smartphone Ad Clicks

In the latest indication of the rise in mobile Internet use and the growing potential there for marketers, a new survey finds there's been a jump in how many users click on ads while using their mobile phone.

In its most recent consumer survey, ABI Research said 27 percent of mobile phone users accessing Web site using mobile phones have clicked on a mobile banner ad or text link. A thousand U.S. consumers participated in the survey.

While the new results represent a bump from the 21 percent of mobile users who said they clicked on an ad or text link in a survey ABI conducted 14 months earlier, it still means the bigger number is the majority of mobile users who said they aren't clicking on ads on their mobile devices. Still, Neil Strother, ABI Research's practice director for mobile marketing strategies, said the latest results are encouraging.

"More people are accessing Web sites through their mobile phones today than 14 months ago, and clicking on ads is becoming more commonplace," Strother said in a statement. "This trend is a positive one for marketers and advertisers, and should give them greater confidence in their mobile efforts, knowing that well-targeted offerings can find traction among consumers.”

To get better response, Strother said mobile marketers should purchase inventory on mobile Web sites that have the most relevant audience profile for the products or services they're advertising. Another key, he said, is to present creative elements that meet the needs of those mobile consumers.

Beyond ads, the Mobile Marketing Consumer Survey includes some other interesting metrics related to mobile use. For example, the number of mobile users accessing the Internet on a daily basis is up. ABI said 28 percent of mobile phone users said they access Internet sites at least once a day from their phones, a jump from 16 percent in the earlier survey.

Companies looking to send promotions to mobile would find some measure of good news in the latest survey. About 45 percent of the respondents said they were willing to accept promotions like coupons and discounts if they have control over the process. In the earlier survey, only 36 percent said they would accept mobile promotions. However, ABI noted that even the consumers who said they were willing to accept promotions were "not enthusiastic" about the prospect of receiving them.

There was also some bad news in the findings for e-commerce marketers looking for signs of growth in mobile purchasing. Asked about using their mobile phone to make purchases, 76 percent of survey respondents said security related to such transactions is a major concern. That number is up from the earlier survey when 71 percent said security was a major concern.

The ABI Research survey was completed in February; meanwhile, mobile ad providers continue to push the envelope with new technology designed to get users to be more engaged with ads. Just this week iVdopia, which has rolled out ad formats for the Apple iPhone and Android mobile OSes, introduced a new "Viper" ad format for the iPhone. With the new iVdopia-powered ads, a simple fingertip swipe on an ad reveals a menu of interactive options to get more information and play multimedia content.

Google also previewed a similar kind of swipe-to-see-more in-depth ad feature for Android devices at its recent Google I/O developer conference.

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

FTC Greenlights Google’s AdMob DealMarketers put new American shopper under microscope

How to Pick the Right Web Host Provider

Trying to choose a provider to host your small business ecommerce site can be a daunting, detailed process. But it's important to understand exactly what you're buying -- and what's hidden in the fine print. After all, the fate of your entire business can depend on you making the right choice. This buyers' guide provides everything you need to know -- Small Business Computing has the complete story.

There are few service providers (except perhaps for lawyers) who are the subject of more derision than Web hosting providers. Indeed, ask any three business owners who have used the same Web hosting company (or read any online reviews) and you're likely to get very different opinions.

Some of the most common complaints among small business owners about Web hosting companies: the customer service sucked; their Web site went down or was unavailable for an unacceptable amount of time; and all the hidden fees.

Read the complete guide to Web Host providers

How to Pick the Right Web Host ProviderTax credit for companies providing health care gets mixed review

How to Optimize an Ecommerce Press Release

An old adage says that the three most important things about real estate are "location, location, location. When it comes to your small business ecommerce site, it's SEO, SEO, SEO. Anything and everything related to your site should be optimized for search engines, and that includes press releases. We show you everything you need to drive traffic with a press release. Small Business Computing has the full story.

Like practically every other form of communication, the Internet has transformed the press release. And small business owners who understand how the press release has evolved -- and how to use SEO techniques within them -- can help boost their bottom lines.

Press releases used to be mailed or blasted over wire services to journalists and analysts. The media would then decide, based on the release’s contents, whether to pursue a story or not. In the best of circumstances, the shelf life of a press release was roughly equivalent to that of a spotted banana -- extremely brief.

Read Small Business SEO: How to Optimize Press Releases

How to Optimize an Ecommerce Press ReleaseBusiness plan matters, but other steps come first

Yahoo Fields Questions on adCenter Move

As Yahoo prepares to transition its advertisers to Microsoft's adCenter advertising system, some of those advertisers have burning -- and not so burning -- questions.

In response, Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO) on Thursday published a blog post meant to answer some of the questions regarding how things will be run under Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

For instance, after the cutover to adCenter, will advertisers still be able to buy liquor advertising keywords like "scotch" or "liquor basket," which Microsoft doesn't currently allow?

The answer: maybe and maybe not.

"After the transition, Yahoo will have the ability to continue to display some ads that Microsoft does not currently display on its own sites (e.g., adult ads), and vice versa. However, no specific decision has been announced regarding liquor-related keywords," Jeff Hecox, Yahoo manager of client communications, said in the post.

Some answers were more cut and dried, however.

"I currently manage many Yahoo and Bing advertising accounts for customers ... will there still be two platforms within Microsoft adCenter to manage bids and so on for Yahoo and Bing?" asked another advertiser.

"All Sponsored Search advertisers will use the adCenter platform for their paid search campaigns following their transition, and the Yahoo Sponsored Search system will be decommissioned ... distribution controls will allow them to select traffic from the combined marketplace of Bing and Yahoo, or from the full affiliate network. However, advertisers will not be permitted to select traffic only from Bing or only from Yahoo! Search," the post continued.

Another ad customer asked whether Microsoft's adCenter will add "tracking URLs" -- for following the progress of campaigns -- as Yahoo Sponsored Search system does.

"While Microsoft is committed to continuing to improve its products, we cannot guarantee that all features in Yahoo's paid search platform will be matched in Microsoft's. However, we are working with our advertisers to make sure that all key features of Yahoo Sponsored Search are included," the post said.

The two companies announced a few days ago that they are working to complete the transition for U.S. and Canadian advertisers to Microsoft's adCenter before the holiday sales season.

If they determine that's not possible, however, in order to maintain a stable environment, the transition will be delayed until early 2011, the companies said.

After a rocky courtship that began with Microsoft making a hostile takeover bid for Yahoo in 2008, the companies finally agreed to a ten-year deal last July wherein Microsoft will supply the advertising and search infrastructure underlying Yahoo Web properties in return for a cut of the advertising revenues. Regulators gave the deal a green light in February.

Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing writer at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

Companies can pay for ads on TwitterYahoo Fields Questions on adCenter Move

Ecommerce Marketing and Social Networking

Whether you sell on eBay, just opened your first ecommerce website or have built an ecommerce empire, social networking can expand your reach into new markets and new customers -- at unprecedented low cost. Author Clara Shih calls it the era of Facebook. Find out what she means, and how it can help you. Datamation has the full story.

Social networks not only give companies broader access to new customers, they do it at unprecedented lower costs, according to Clara Shih, author of "The Facebook Era."

In a speech here Wednesday at the Web 2.0 Expo, Shih explained that she refers to the Facebook Era because the company dominates the social networking market with more than 400 million users.

"People spend over 20 billion minutes a day on Facebook -- you have to be there," Shih said. But it's the broader social network movement, including Twitter, LinkedIn and a growing number of social networks in other countries that represent "a cultural movement" and a "new psychology," she added.

Read the complete social networking article

Companies can pay for ads on TwitterEcommerce Marketing and Social Networking

Ecommerce Dictionary: 20 Words to Know

From launching an e-commercewebsite to understanding industry regulations, this Ecommerce Dictionary -- with 20 definitions and links to helpful tips and how-to articles on Ecommerce-Guide.com -- will make your transition from retailer to e-tailer easier a much easier task to understand.

Ecommerce Hosting Lingo

Before you can open up shop online, you first have to find a place to host the website. This Ecommerce Dictionary explains some of the more common types of ecommerce site hosting phrases you are sure to encounter when setting up your online business.

Dedicated hosting: Sometimes referred to as a dedicated server, it means your website is the only one on hosted on the server. With a dedicated server, security is often tighter; however you will largely be responsible for the server management -- not just the website.

Shared hosting: Sometimes called virtual hosting, or referred to as a shared server, it basically means your website will share resources with other websites as multiple sites are running (hosted) on the same physical server.

Virtual host: A provider of Web services that includes Web server functions and Internet connection services. A virtual host is often used by companies or individuals that do not want to purchase and maintain their own Web servers and Internet connections.

Web host: The company, or service provider, that provides server space, Web services and file maintenance for Web sites controlled by individuals or companies that do not have their own Web servers.

Web server: A computer that delivers Web pages. Every Web server has an IP address and possibly a domain name. When a user types your domain name into a Web browser, it sends a request to the server to fetch the page.

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  Buyers' Guide: How to Find a Web Hosting Provider, Hosting Plan Primer Common Ecommerce Website Processes

The following ecommerce phrases are ones you will encounter when designing, hosting and launching your own ecommerce website. There are a number of ecommerce standards and financial accounts you will need to be familiar with before you can accept online payments.

Credit Card Interchange: The phrase used to describe the process involved in completing a credit card transaction. The "Interchange" refers to all organizations involved in the transaction, including processors, acquirers and issuers.

Merchant Account: The type of account a business obtains from their banking institution that allows you to accept credit card payments. Merchant accounts are usually required for a retailer or e-tailer to accept customer credit cards and electronic payments

Payment Gateway: A service provided by a third-party organization, that automates a payment transaction between the shopper and merchant.  A payment gateway is actually a system of computer processes that process, verify, and accept or decline credit card transactions on behalf of the merchant through secure Internet connections.

Shopping Cart: Ecommerce software that acts as an online store's catalog and ordering process. A shopping cart is the interface between a company's Web site and its deeper infrastructure, allowing consumers to select merchandise; review what they have selected; make necessary modifications or additions; and purchase the merchandise.

Commerce Server: Web software that runs some of the main functions of an online storefront such as product display, online ordering and inventory management. This type of software is also called storefront software .

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  Choosing a Payment Gateway Provider Ecommerce Marketing: Email Marketing Lingo

Learning email marketing lingo is important to help you understand what features and options you will have for tracking your email marketing campaigns. To get you started, here are ten email marketing terms you should know before starting a subscriber list for your ecommerce business.

A/B split: A type of marketing test where an email subscriber list is split into two groups; every other name in the list is sent one email message and vice versa to see which marketing message has the most successful response.

Conversion rate:  In online marketing, this phrase refers to the percentage of visitors who take a desired action. For example the percentage of people who click a hyperlink in your message and make a purchase from your Web store.

Direct digital marketing: An online marketing method that is addressable -- meaning you can identify the recipient of the email message you're distributing. Addressability comes in a variety of digital forms including an email address, a Web browser cookie or a mobile phone number.

Event triggered e-mail: A message sent to list subscribers based on an event. For example, a special message or discount coupon delivered to subscribers on their birthday or anniversary dates. The events are determined based on the information the subscribers provided when joining the list.

Open rate: This is a common email marketing phrase that basically means the number of list subscribers who opened the email message you sent.  Open rates are used to track how successful your email marketing campaign is.

Related Ecommerce-Guide Articles:  How to Find an E-Mail Marketing Service Provider, Small Business Marketing Guide Ecommerce Laws, Standards and Protocols

CAN-SPAM: The CAN-SPAM Act applies to almost all businesses in the U.S. that use email, and provides recipients of spam with the right to opt-out of these spam messages, and have their opt-out (or unsubscribe) request acted upon.  Under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, permission of the email recipient is not required prior to sending out the emails, however if a recipient wants to unsubscribe or opt-out of the mailings then the business must stop sending the emails as per the opt-out request or face severe penalties.

Certification authority:  An organization or company that issues digital certificates used to create digital signatures. The role of the certification authority (CA) is to guarantee that the individual or business that has been granted the unique certificate is, in fact, who they claim to be. CAs are a critical component in electronic commerce because they guarantee that the two parties exchanging information are actually who they claim.

Electronic Data Interchange:  The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a standard for the transfer of data between different companies using computer networks. EDI is becoming increasingly important as an easy mechanism for companies to buy, sell and trade information.

PCI-DSS:  Short for Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) , it is a standard that all organizations, including online retailers, must follow when storing, processing and transmitting their customer's credit card data. To be PCI complaint companies must use a number of security features, such as a firewall between a wireless network and their cardholder data environment, and also use the latest security and authentication. The PCI DSS standard specifies 12 requirements for best security practices

SSL:  Short for Secure Sockets Layer , SSL is a protocol for transmitting private documents via the Internet. SSL uses a cryptographic system with two keys to encrypt data -- a public key known to everyone and a private or secret key known only to the recipient of the message. Many websites use the protocol to obtain confidential user information, such as credit card numbers.

Definitions to hundreds of electronic commerce and email and online marketing terms can be found on Webopedia.com.

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

Nashville People in BusinessContests as Ecommerce Marketing Tools

How to Pick the Right Web Host Provider

Trying to choose a provider to host your small business ecommerce site can be a daunting, detailed process. But it's important to understand exactly what you're buying -- and what's hidden in the fine print. After all, the fate of your entire business can depend on you making the right choice. This buyers' guide provides everything you need to know -- Small Business Computing has the complete story.

There are few service providers (except perhaps for lawyers) who are the subject of more derision than Web hosting providers. Indeed, ask any three business owners who have used the same Web hosting company (or read any online reviews) and you're likely to get very different opinions.

Some of the most common complaints among small business owners about Web hosting companies: the customer service sucked; their Web site went down or was unavailable for an unacceptable amount of time; and all the hidden fees.

Read the complete guide to Web Host providers

Tax credit for companies providing health care gets mixed reviewHow to Pick the Right Web Host Provider

How to Optimize an Ecommerce Press Release

An old adage says that the three most important things about real estate are "location, location, location. When it comes to your small business ecommerce site, it's SEO, SEO, SEO. Anything and everything related to your site should be optimized for search engines, and that includes press releases. We show you everything you need to drive traffic with a press release. Small Business Computing has the full story.

Like practically every other form of communication, the Internet has transformed the press release. And small business owners who understand how the press release has evolved -- and how to use SEO techniques within them -- can help boost their bottom lines.

Press releases used to be mailed or blasted over wire services to journalists and analysts. The media would then decide, based on the release’s contents, whether to pursue a story or not. In the best of circumstances, the shelf life of a press release was roughly equivalent to that of a spotted banana -- extremely brief.

Read Small Business SEO: How to Optimize Press Releases

Business plan matters, but other steps come firstHow to Optimize an Ecommerce Press Release

Ecommerce Marketing and Social Networking

Whether you sell on eBay, just opened your first ecommerce website or have built an ecommerce empire, social networking can expand your reach into new markets and new customers -- at unprecedented low cost. Author Clara Shih calls it the era of Facebook. Find out what she means, and how it can help you. Datamation has the full story.

Social networks not only give companies broader access to new customers, they do it at unprecedented lower costs, according to Clara Shih, author of "The Facebook Era."

In a speech here Wednesday at the Web 2.0 Expo, Shih explained that she refers to the Facebook Era because the company dominates the social networking market with more than 400 million users.

"People spend over 20 billion minutes a day on Facebook -- you have to be there," Shih said. But it's the broader social network movement, including Twitter, LinkedIn and a growing number of social networks in other countries that represent "a cultural movement" and a "new psychology," she added.

Read the complete social networking article

Ecommerce Marketing and Social NetworkingCompanies can pay for ads on Twitter

How to Pick the Right Web Host Provider

Trying to choose a provider to host your small business ecommerce site can be a daunting, detailed process. But it's important to understand exactly what you're buying -- and what's hidden in the fine print. After all, the fate of your entire business can depend on you making the right choice. This buyers' guide provides everything you need to know -- Small Business Computing has the complete story.

There are few service providers (except perhaps for lawyers) who are the subject of more derision than Web hosting providers. Indeed, ask any three business owners who have used the same Web hosting company (or read any online reviews) and you're likely to get very different opinions.

Some of the most common complaints among small business owners about Web hosting companies: the customer service sucked; their Web site went down or was unavailable for an unacceptable amount of time; and all the hidden fees.

Read the complete guide to Web Host providers

How to Pick the Right Web Host ProviderTax credit for companies providing health care gets mixed review

Small Business Marketing Tips: Writing a Press Release

When it comes to small business marketing, one way to self-promote your business is through increased media exposure. To do this you need what’s called a press release or a news release.

A press release is basically a statement that is written for news media; newspapers, magazines, television networks, radio stations, or online news outlets and trade publications.  As the phrase suggests, the written statement is a news article. 

For example, an announcement of a new product, results of a survey you ran on your website, a new service you offer, or big client acquisition is all examples of a newsworthy statement -- an overview of your company or the latest tips you offered in your e-mail newsletter is not.

 Getting Started:  A Check-list for Writing a Press Release

Journalists and media outlets are not looking to buy from you, so things like how great your customer service is, or lower prices in your Web shop is not going to be of interest.  In writing your press release, you have to get past being the sales person and offer real news content.

One of the best ways to get started with writing a press release is to study professionally created press releases. You can do this by reading press releases on sites like Business Wire and PR Newswire.

What you will notice as you read through press releases on these two sites are;

A press release is written in the third-personMost are a page in length, or shorterMost use an eye-catching one-sentence headline A sub-heading is used to offer an "angle" for a storyThe first paragraph always provides the location and date of the releaseThe 5Ws of writing (who, what, when, where and why) are covered in the first paragraph. Most also contain the element of "how" where applicableSecond, third and subsequent paragraphs contain details, key summaries, and quotes from company execs, customers or an expert.  These paragraphs are used to validate the claims made in the first paragraph.The final paragraph contains background information about the company and any disclaimers.Contact details are provided at the end of the release. This is important to include if you want a media outlet to be able to contact you for further information.The release ends with the following characters: ###

It is also important to note that each release contains only news and facts, and you will also need to make sure that you use proper grammar and punctuation.  When writing a press release, you basically should pretend to be writing a news summary yourself, and provide the details of the news and factual statements that will encourage a reporter or news outlet to include your news in their publication.

If you generate interest from the media, some may use the release ‘as-is’ or with slight modifications. The press release may also be used in developing a larger story.

Getting Your Press Release to Media Outlets

The headline of your press release is crucial to the success of your press release campaign. It should be strong and compelling -- not sensational.  Media outlets and writers may never look past a headline in deciding if the release is of interest.

When you have the press release ready, one of the best ways to start distribution is to compile a contact list of journalists and news departments  from your local news media and online media that write news and features for your target consumer-base.  Submitting the release to blog authors and trade publications will also be of benefit.

There are also a number of free press release sites where, after registering on the site, you can add your press release to the site for free. Other options include hiring a public relations (PR) firm to handle the final editing of the press release and distribution for you.

Be Ready for Inquiries, Or Lack Thereof

Be sure you are available at any time to respond immediately to any e-mail or phone briefing requests. Many journalists are on tight deadlines and if you are unavailable, they may very well move on to another press release to meet a deadline.

It is important to remember that you may receive little or no inquiries to your release -- media outlets are busy places and journalists often sort through hundreds of press releases each day to find their next story. You may also find that some blogs or online publications may mention the release, using the information you provided without contacting you.

To see what success your press release had, if any, Google some of the key phrases and your company name in the days following the release to see if any online publications made a mention of your news.

You should also archive your news releases on your own website for added exposure in Internet search results. This section of your website should be online before your press release is distributed, and you can also offer media assets (a press kit) such as a product image and company logo for interested media outlets to download and use with your release. You can also include company or product and service backgrounders in this section of your site to offer additional information.

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.

Bridgestone has profit of $191MSmall Business Marketing Tips: Writing a Press Release

Yahoo Fields Questions on adCenter Move

As Yahoo prepares to transition its advertisers to Microsoft's adCenter advertising system, some of those advertisers have burning -- and not so burning -- questions.

In response, Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO) on Thursday published a blog post meant to answer some of the questions regarding how things will be run under Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

For instance, after the cutover to adCenter, will advertisers still be able to buy liquor advertising keywords like "scotch" or "liquor basket," which Microsoft doesn't currently allow?

The answer: maybe and maybe not.

"After the transition, Yahoo will have the ability to continue to display some ads that Microsoft does not currently display on its own sites (e.g., adult ads), and vice versa. However, no specific decision has been announced regarding liquor-related keywords," Jeff Hecox, Yahoo manager of client communications, said in the post.

Some answers were more cut and dried, however.

"I currently manage many Yahoo and Bing advertising accounts for customers ... will there still be two platforms within Microsoft adCenter to manage bids and so on for Yahoo and Bing?" asked another advertiser.

"All Sponsored Search advertisers will use the adCenter platform for their paid search campaigns following their transition, and the Yahoo Sponsored Search system will be decommissioned ... distribution controls will allow them to select traffic from the combined marketplace of Bing and Yahoo, or from the full affiliate network. However, advertisers will not be permitted to select traffic only from Bing or only from Yahoo! Search," the post continued.

Another ad customer asked whether Microsoft's adCenter will add "tracking URLs" -- for following the progress of campaigns -- as Yahoo Sponsored Search system does.

"While Microsoft is committed to continuing to improve its products, we cannot guarantee that all features in Yahoo's paid search platform will be matched in Microsoft's. However, we are working with our advertisers to make sure that all key features of Yahoo Sponsored Search are included," the post said.

The two companies announced a few days ago that they are working to complete the transition for U.S. and Canadian advertisers to Microsoft's adCenter before the holiday sales season.

If they determine that's not possible, however, in order to maintain a stable environment, the transition will be delayed until early 2011, the companies said.

After a rocky courtship that began with Microsoft making a hostile takeover bid for Yahoo in 2008, the companies finally agreed to a ten-year deal last July wherein Microsoft will supply the advertising and search infrastructure underlying Yahoo Web properties in return for a cut of the advertising revenues. Regulators gave the deal a green light in February.

Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing writer at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.

Companies can pay for ads on TwitterYahoo Fields Questions on adCenter Move

Ecommerce Marketing and Social Networking

Whether you sell on eBay, just opened your first ecommerce website or have built an ecommerce empire, social networking can expand your reach into new markets and new customers -- at unprecedented low cost. Author Clara Shih calls it the era of Facebook. Find out what she means, and how it can help you. Datamation has the full story.

Social networks not only give companies broader access to new customers, they do it at unprecedented lower costs, according to Clara Shih, author of "The Facebook Era."

In a speech here Wednesday at the Web 2.0 Expo, Shih explained that she refers to the Facebook Era because the company dominates the social networking market with more than 400 million users.

"People spend over 20 billion minutes a day on Facebook -- you have to be there," Shih said. But it's the broader social network movement, including Twitter, LinkedIn and a growing number of social networks in other countries that represent "a cultural movement" and a "new psychology," she added.

Read the complete social networking article

Companies can pay for ads on TwitterEcommerce Marketing and Social Networking

Building an Online Store with CoreCommerce

CoreCommerce 7.9 is an all-in-one online hosted ecommerce platform by provider Sum Effect Software.  This platform offers everything a merchant needs to launch an online store,  including design tools to build the webshop, secure ecommerce web hosting, the shopping cart and invoice system, plus a nice selection of online marketing tools.

One thing we like about CoreCommerce is its pricing structure. Many hosted online store providers charge a monthly subscription plan in addition to a per-transaction fee when you sell from your webshop.  CoreCommerce offers six different monthly fee-based plans with no extra transaction fees charged.

CoreCommerce has a large selection of professional store templates that you can modify to create a unique online store.
(Click for larger image).

Another reason we liked CoreCommerce is because the platform is an all-in-one solution.  All ecommerce features that Sum Effect offers in its platform are included at every subscription level. For the webshop owner, this means you will not have to upgrade to access any of the ecommerce features.

Creating Your First CoreCommerce Webshop

Once you have registered for a CoreCommerce account and select a subscription plan that best suits your needs ( see full plan details here ), you need to provide basic contact details to get started. From that point onward, everything you need to create, build and launch your online store is accessible from the CoreCommerce admin dashboard.

You can make use of the platform’s built-in wizard to get you started, or you can go through the process of designing a store, adding products and managing inventory, section-by-section.  CoreCommerce is extremely easy to use, and you don't need to know HTML or CSS to create a visually appealing and functional webshop.

The platform offers a large selection of professional templates that you can customize to suit your needs.  For an existing webshop, you can use the CoreCommerce platform to integrate the shopping cart in to your existing site. EBay sellers can also import their listings to CoreCommerce.

As you create your online store, it is easy to edit the actual store template as you add content and set-up ecommerce options.  Assets you will want to have handy include a business and store logo, including different sizes for invoicing and the mobile version of your shop.  You can change your webshop template header, footer, cart buttons, the menu navigation bar and many other design elements of your store. 

CoreCommerce provides you with easy access to edit and customize every single page within your store, and you can change the content on every page to personalize sections for shipping details, Terms of Use, About Me and other standard ecommerce site pages. 

One platform feature that's extremely important is an entire dashboard section devoted just to making changes to the store homepage.  You can edit the homepage layout and page content to offer up fresh homepage content, like specials, featured products and so on to repeat visitors. You can use this feature to make the webshop look different from the other online stores created using this ecommerce platform.   

 Online Payments, Shipping, Tax and Standard Ecommerce Features

Once you customize your online store, it's time to add your products, set-up your online payment options, and configure tax and shipping options.

Again, the system is user-friendly and you can use a wizard interface or choose to set your preferences.  In most cases you simply load a one-page form and choose all the options you want to use for that feature.  For example, when you configure payment settings, you simply load the options page in the dashboard. You’ll see that each type of supported payment has checkbox beside it, and you turn on the payment services you want to offer customers.

Here you would click the box beside any of the following; check, money order, COD, pick-up, purchase order, gift certificate, PayPal Website payments, PayPal Express, Google Checkout, International Checkout, Checkout by Amazon, E-Check, 3D Secure, or credit cards.

Each payment option has a help button so you can determine if it is a payment type you will want to offer, and each option also has a little configure button beside it where you would enter your merchant account information.

The process to customize shipping, taxes and the other standard ecommerce options all work in the same way; CoreCommerce provides an easy-to-navigate form-style page form where you turn features on and off and customize the specific details to your own business.

From the main dashboard, you will have access to the following controls; Orders, Customers, Inventory, Site Content, Marketing and Reports.  Each admin control area also offers a dozen or more specific controls so that every aspect of your shop can be customized to your liking.

The Admin Dashboard provides all the tools you need to design, build, customize and launch a webshop.
(Click for larger image).The Not-So-Common Ecommerce Features

We did not find the platform lacking any of the standard ecommerce features (see the full list of platform features here). What we did find is that Sum Effect Software stays on top of ecommerce trends and updates CoreCommerce on a regular basis to offer new ecommerce features.  Here are two “extra” features we were most pleased with discovering in the platform.

Mobile CoreCommerce:  With the CoreCommerce 7.7 release, the company introduced mobile-optimized storefronts that automatically detect if a mobile device is being used to access the webshop. If the software detects a mobile device, it will instantly adjust and optimize the storefront display for these smaller screens. The mobile commerce feature is automatically enabled and CoreCommerce merchants don’t need to do anything different to offer shoppers mobile versions of the Web shop, except to optimize their store logo for the smaller display screens.  

Facebook Integration: Another great feature of CoreCommerce is the Facebook integration. This feature allows you to post your Web shop products directly to your Facebook profile, using the Social Commerce application. Not only can you display your webshop products on Facebook, but people who view this on Facebook can access cart check-out buttons which will point the customer back to your product detail page.

In addition to these features, you will also have access to online marketing tools, product reviews, store widgets, and a CRM feature that allows you to track and manage all customer communications in one place from within your CoreCommerce dashboard.

Pricing, Support and Availability

All CoreCommerce platform features and the option to use your own domain name for your online store is offered in every subscription plan -- from the free trial account to the $29.99 Starter Plan, right up through to the $179.99 Platinum plan (the full subscription details can be read here, on the CoreCommerce Web site). The difference between the types of subscription you choose will depend only on how many products you will list in your store, and how much bandwidth, hard drive space and email accounts you will need.

In addition to a wide range of webshop plans, Sum Effect Software offers technical support for its CoreCommerce platform through an online knowledge base, online manual, live chat services, phone support and a 24/7 ticketing support built directly into your store admin dashboard.

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.

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