As a business owner you have probably entertained the thought of using a dropshipper. But which dropshipper would you choose? How do you know what to look for and what questions should you ask? Here are 12 questions that will help you select a dropshipper to fit your business’ needs:

1. How long has the drop shipper been in business?
   You do not want to choose a dropshipper that is new to the business because there is a good chance that they could grow too quickly and end up sinking themselves. Having to then find a new dropshipper will leave you with a gap in order fulfillment and could potentially damage your business.
2. Who is the dropshipper using for shipping?
   Make sure that the dropshipper you choose is using one of the “big guys”- not a small no-name shipping company. (more…)
   
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Setting up an affiliate network for your existing Volusion store is quick and easy, but what do you need to do to manage it? Below are some affiliate network best practices to help you run a successful affiliate network.

1. Communicate Affiliate Terms Clearly
   Make sure that anyone who clicks on the “Become an Affiliate” link on your site knows what they are signing up for exactly. Have a separate page on your website or write a welcome email that explains the purpose of your affiliate network as well as commission structure and terms and conditions. This will help you later if any issues arise.
2. Pay Affiliates in a Timely Manner
   With the Volusion affiliate system you will set an affiliate payment threshold (say $100) that will need to be crossed before an affiliate is paid. (more…)
   
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What is M-Commerce?
Mobile commerce (aka “m-commerce”) refers to consumers shopping via wireless handheld accessories such as cell phones and PDAs. An m-commerce site is a version of a company’s webpage that is designed to fit within the constraints of a cell phone or PDA. (For more information on what makes a site m-commerce friendly please see “Make Your Site iPhone Friendly.”) While some m-commerce sites are set up to drive sales, the majority of retailers utilize m-commerce primarily as an additional branding channel.

Where is M-Commerce Now?
An article* written in 2007 for Internet Retailer Magazine stated, “The presence of e-retailers with mobile sites is growing; but just like Internet adoption in the mid-‘90s, e-retailers today are taking baby steps toward initiating a mobile presence. At the moment the majority of m-commerce transactions are limited to mobile device add-ons like ringtones, games, wallpapers, and screensavers.” Recent studies conducted earlier this year prove that m-commerce is (more…)

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In terms of ROI, marketers tend to view banner ads (aka “display ads”) as low on the list of online marketing tactics, but as a recent study shows, their ROI may be higher than supposed.

Of those surveyed by iProspect 37% said they ignored display ads, 9% said they did not recall seeing any display ads in the last six months, and 2% said the only banner ads they saw were for the site they were already visiting. The interesting part, however, is how the remaining 52% responded to display ads they saw.

Of the 52% that responded 31% clicked on the ad, 27% went to a search engine and searched for the product or company they saw displayed, 21% typed the company’s URL into their browser, and 9% investigated the product or company through social media platforms. This shows (more…)

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In the 1980’s Wayne Parker’s wildly popular Canadian band “Glass Tiger” won five Juno Awards. (Even if you do not know the band by name you definitely know their biggest hit “Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone.”) Today the band still plays together sometimes (in fact, Wayne recently picked up his electric bass for a concert Glass Tiger put on in Afghanistan for the troops) but these days Wayne’s biggest passion is managing his online astronomy store. As the owner of SkyShed Observatories, Wayne runs the popular sites www.skyshed.com and www.skyshedpod.com - providing resources and news for astronomers of all levels. His products are even being used in the NASA sponsored Automated Meteor Observatory project! His online store with Volusion (www.skyshedpodcheckout.com) has been incredibly successful over the last year and a half. We interviewed Wayne about the success he has had running an online store. Here are his responses: (more…)

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