Most Clicked Shop.org SmartBrief Stories
1. E-commerce trends on the radar for 2009
Shop.org SmartBrief | Dec 31, 2008
Businesses looking to make money off social-networking sites, changes at eBay and the increasing importance of shoppers' reviews are some trends to track in the new year. ecommerce-guide.com (12/30)
2. Shop.org survey: Retailers report some increases over '07
Shop.org SmartBrief | Dec 31, 2008
Nearly two-thirds of 84 companies reported that their sales increased compared with the previous holiday season, according to the Shop.org-Forrester survey of holiday-season results. Multichannel retailers, along with medium- and larger-sized retailers, fared the best. Shop.org Blog (12/30)
3. Web tools you shouldn't be without
Shop.org SmartBrief | Jan 02, 2009
This article recommends the immediate adoption of a half-dozen new Web technologies from 2008, including identity-management tools, HTML 5, "lifestreaming" applications such as FriendFeed, Firefox 3, Google Chrome and GPS-based location-awareness services. Wired (12/30)
4. Amazon ends relationship with Bill Me Later
Shop.org SmartBrief | Jan 02, 2009
Amazon.com stopped offering Bill Me Later as a payment option Wednesday, an expected move because eBay bought Bill Me Later in October. The retailer launched its own alternative payment program, Amazon Payments, shortly after starting to accept Bill Me Later payments in July. StorefrontBacktalk (12/31)
5. 10 tech predictions for the new year
Shop.org SmartBrief | Jan 02, 2009
Blogger Louis Gray offers 10 tech-industry predictions. His top prediction: The "real-time Web" will set the standard for the dissemination of news and information. Gray also predicts eTrade, Digg, StumbleUpon, Skype and Yahoo! will be sold in 2009. louisgray.com (12/31)
6. Online shoe business took off
Shop.org SmartBrief | Dec 30, 2008
The CEO of Onlineshoes.com, Dan Gerler, started out by having the brick-and-mortar side of his business fund the Internet part, but these days the stores make up less than 5% of his business as the online portion has grown. And Gerler continues to look to the future, which he says is in sales through mobile phones. Seattle Post-Intelligencer (12/29)
7. Boxing Day is year's busiest for e-commerce in U.K.
Shop.org SmartBrief | Dec 30, 2008
Boxing Day was this year's busiest for U.K. e-retailers, but traffic was still lower by almost 5% compared with Dec. 26, 2007. EBay UK, Amazon UK and Argos were among the top sellers this year. Wall Street Journal (free content), The (12/29)
8. Column: Makeover can help online retailers, but more might be needed
Shop.org SmartBrief | Dec 30, 2008
Scott Todaro of Demandware writes that as consumer expectations of e-commerce increase, online retailers are considering revamping their sites by improving graphics, adding features and generally making the sites more attractive. "While such enhancements can make your site more appealing in the near term, they won't change the makeup of your online store," Todaro writes. E-Commerce Times (12/29)
9. Retailers harness text messages
Shop.org SmartBrief | Jan 02, 2009
More and more retailers are taking advantage of text messages, with Amazon.com and QVC even enabling customers to make purchases via text. Others such as Karmaloop.com and American Eagle are using the technology for marketing and to supply product information. Internet Retailer (01/2009)
10. JWT futurist eyes brand trends for 2009
Shop.org SmartBrief | Dec 30, 2008
While corporate budgets and consumer belts are tightening, marketing and media companies that seize on certain social and entertainment trends will successfully ride out the new year, according to Ann Mack, director of trend spotting for ad agency JWT. Among the hot-button trends for 2009 are environmental responsibility, brand authenticity and content mobility. MediaPost Communications (12/29)
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