Online Selling Tips for Promoting Your Products on Google Shopping

Learn About the Amazon Effect

With platforms dedicated to product feed and promotions, Google Shopping aims to simplify business for online merchants. The program is also tightly integrated with Shopify, a hugely popular e-commerce platform.

But don’t expect to set up Google Shopping and sit back while orders flow into your fulfillment warehouse. You’re at the mercy of Google Shopping’s control unless you take some proactive steps to optimize results.

Here are six expert tips for ways to get the most bang out of your Google Shopping buck and truly keep your fulfillment warehouse busy filling orders.

Optimize Your Website

• Are your product titles consistent with manufacturer listings?

• Does your own brand use titles with high search volume keywords?

• Is your page content unique, or do you simply copy-and-paste from other websites?

Add Negative Keywords

The word “negative” automatically sounds counterproductive, but this is an essential factor in your promotional strategy. When you enter negative keywords into Google Ads Shopping Campaigns, they keep your ad from showing for untargeted traffic you do not want.

Clicks without conversions do nothing but cost you money. Proper use of negative keywords helps assure that your ads will get in front of people who have a genuine interest in your product or service.

Segment Your Google Shopping Campaigns

Your products don’t all sell at the same rate, so why should they all get equal amounts of your promotional budget? If everything goes in the same bucket, it’s difficult to tell which items are the most profitable.

When you segment campaigns, you get more specific data that lets you compare the individual performance of different items. Suggested categories include:

• Price

• Brand

• Best sellers

• Seasonality

Bid Strategically for Activity

Cost per click, or CPC, is another factor that should not be cookie-cutter. A good rule of thumb is to divide the price of a product by its profit margin, then multiply that number by the standard conversion rate. (According to SmartInsights, average conversion rates are 3.73 percent for traditional devices and 1.14 percent for mobile devices.)

Make Sure to Adjust Bids for Mobile Devices

As noted in the previous tip, there’s a significant spread between conversion rates for desktop and mobile. Google Shopping does allow you to set separate bids for mobile so that your budget is concentrated in the area that’s most productive.

Understand as you set your bid, that sometimes the first clicks you get during a path to a sale may be on a mobile device and the conversion may be on a desktop. Bid down mobile too far and you may cut your conversion activity.

Set Up Remarketing Campaigns

Based on the average conversion rate, it’s clear that even the best campaigns capture only a minority of shoppers. What’s more, only two percent of those conversions are captured on the first visit! When visitors drop off, re targeting these visitors with a remarketing campaign keeps your message in front of those prospects for up to 30 days.

Medallion: Your Full-Service Fulfillment Warehouse

Just as online marketing campaigns are not one-size-fits-all, a great fulfillment warehouse should be able to accommodate your individual specifications.

At Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, we consider ourselves a partner in your success. Our services are flexible enough to scale up or down to fit your requirements.

Contact us today to learn why Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics is the right solution for your fulfillment warehouse needs.

Should You Drop the Prices of Items Potential Customers Left Sitting in Your Shopping Cart?

Fulfillment Warehouse

Online marketing is aimed at leading a customer to complete the sales cycle by making a purchase that goes to your fulfillment warehouse for processing. Fourth quarter 2017 reports show that more than three-quarters of shopping carts are abandoned before check-out,leaving a number of opportunities for conversion.

Many of these shopping carts are abandoned because the user is simply at the browsing stage. What can you do to improve the closing rates of customers who ultimately change their mind about a purchase? One strategy that’s caused some debate in the online marketplace is the idea of dropping the prices of items left sitting in a shopping cart.

Solving the Riddle of Abandoned Shopping Carts

The number one reason given by customers for abandoning shopping carts is that the additional costs, such as shipping and sales tax, were too high. It stands to reason that lowering the actual price of the item would offset the other charges and make the purchase more attractive.

Some larger companies have used a method in which abandoned items are added to a customer’s wish list. On future visits, the consumer is notified if the price of that item has gone down.

eBay: One Company’s Experience

Last month, eBay sent a letter to their sellers encouraging them to reduce the price of items left behind in online carts in an effort to close the sale. Not surprisingly, the missive generated some strong reactions on both sides of the issue.

Interestingly, one eBay seller took the opposite strategy and raised the price on abandoned items on the basis that the shopper evidently had interest. The seller reports that out of four such items, two actually sold at the higher price.

Will Customers Game the System?

The biggest objection to lowering the price on abandoned items is that customers will catch on quickly and start deliberately leaving carts behind to trigger a price reduction. Online forums show that shoppers are discussing the issue and comparing experiences to get a sense of retailer strategies.

Tips for Closing the Sale

Instead of viewing abandoned shopping carts as a problem, consider them valuable feedback to help refine your sales funnel.

• State shipping policies up front. As previously noted, the cost of shipping and additional fees is the primary reason behind shopping cart abandonment. You may want to consider flat-rate or free shipping and absorb the difference into your selling prices.

• Make sure your checkout process is as uncomplicated as possible. Studies show that seven fields is the optimum number.

• If your site isn’t already optimized for mobile, do it now.

• Use a persistent shopping cart for a seamless experience.

• Offer multiple payment options. Financial transactions have moved beyond credit cards. Include PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Wallet and other digital payment forms.

First-Rate Fulfillment Warehouse Service from Shopping Cart to Final Delivery

A great online shopping experience shouldn’t end once the customer hits “Place Order.” Contact us to learn why Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics should be your number one choice for quality e-commerce fulfillment warehouse services in the Los Angeles, California area and in the greater United States.

Machine Learning – What You Need to Know and Leverage for Your E-commerce Store

Machine Learning – What You Need to Know and Leverage for Your E-commerce Store

Your e-commerce store has access to more data than retail businesses have had at any time in the past. But the truth is that the most detailed set of data means nothing on its own. It’s the interpretation and use of that data that makes the difference.

Although machine learning is an emerging technology, many providers are already starting to prepare service offerings to allow you to use machine learning to your benefit. Google AdWords is leading the way with Smart Bidding and enhanced bidding algorithms to boost conversions. Expect to see more providers embrace machine learning to help you manage your business more effectively this year.

Machine learning is a powerful tool that processes data far more efficiently than you or your employees could on your own, but you need to prioritize applications for maximum effectiveness.

Which of these technologies would have the greatest impact on your e-commerce store and fulfillment warehouse?

Personalizing the Customer Experience

oday’s technology is amazing, but it hasn’t reached the point of allowing you to provide virtual 3D salespeople for your customers. Without that personal contact, you lose valuable input from body language and other visual cues.

Machine learning can help you recapture that advantage by using data to create customer segments. This lets you target your approach based on specific factors that drive the buying decision for each segment.

Search Engine Ranking

It’s a basic concept: before your prospects can buy from you, they have to find you. How do you get your name out in front of customers before those of your competitors? Machine learning drills down beyond keywords into the nuts and bolts of searches that end with purchases. Google AdWords clients can use Google’s machine learning to provide ad exposure based on demographics and potential actions to improve visits and conversions.

Pricing

The downside of e-commerce is that customers can comparison shop from the comfort of their own home. With machine learning, you can set pricing that’s sensitive to a number of vital factors including competitors’ prices, type of customer and even time of day. Check with your shopping cart software to see how they will be implementing machine learning to assist you in being price sensitive.

Fraud Detection and Prevention

E-commerce companies are more vulnerable to fraud than brick-and-mortar stores are, and the negative effects can remain long after the transactions. Manual safeguards are inadequate, but machine learning can rapidly “spot” potential problems.

Customer Support

How do you maintain effective customer support at scale? The answer lies in machine learning technology such as chatbots, which give your customers the freedom of self-service combined with a high level of support.

Accurate Supply and Demand Prediction

Supply and demand forecasting has long been a staple of retail operations, but machine learning can perform this process with a greater degree of precision thanks to its ability to make discoveries and connections that are beyond the scope of humans.

Product Recommendations

Product recommendations are the best way to generate add-on and repeat sales. But where employees are limited to their own knowledge, machine learning technology can infinitely process and cross-reference buying behavior to discover previously unseen trends.

Elite Fulfillment Warehouse Services for Your E-commerce Business

Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics provides scalable services that grow with your business over time. With advanced technology tools that interface with most major shopping carts, Medallion makes it easy to manage your store at scale.

Is your e-commerce company prepared to handle order-filling and logistics for your growing sales? Contact Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics to learn how our fulfillment warehouse services provide scalable services that accommodate the specific needs of your business.

How Your e-Commerce Store Can Effectively Compete with Amazon

How Your e-Commerce Store Can Effectively Compete with Amazon

When it comes to e-Commerce and fulfillment warehouse operations, does it seem like all digital roads lead to Amazon? On its face, Amazon’s infrastructure can be intimidating, and few companies have the financial resources to afford losing money, as Amazon does with its free delivery.

This doesn’t mean your e-Commerce store has to raise the white flag. You might not be able to beat Amazon at its own game, but there’s still room for you to stake your place in the e-Commerce market.

Here are some expert tips for claiming your own share of the digital marketplace.

1. Find Your Sweet Spot

Amazon may try to be all things to all people, but that doesn’t mean they’re successful at all of them. Find the area where you’re better than they are and concentrate your efforts on dominating that segment.

2. Be Proactive with Shipping

If you offer free shipping or other perks simply as a response to Amazon and other companies, it comes off as an attempt to follow the crowd rather than truly satisfy customers. Find out what your target market expects from shipping and deliver an experience beyond that.

3. Offer a Subscription Service

Making a sale is just part of the job. Repeat customers are your bread and butter. Create a subscription service, whether it’s for recurring product shipments or an annual program like Amazon Prime. Subscription services keep your customers engaged and help to establish ongoing relationships.

4. Make Technology Your Friend

Convenience is the major benefit of online shopping. Consumers don’t have to leave their home (or even their pajamas) to purchase anything – from groceries to furniture. Make sure you’re taking advantage of the full power of technology to offer a level of convenience that keeps customers coming back time and time again.

5. Build Your Brand

Customers love Amazon for many reasons, but a personal connection is not one of them. Amazon’s brand may stand for features such as price, selection and shipping, but those qualities don’t resonate emotionally with consumers. Identify what makes your company unique and use it in all your marketing.

6. It’s All About Customer Service

Studies show that two-thirds of customers who leave a company do so because they don’t believe the company cares about them. Customer service is one area where Amazon’s size puts them at a disadvantage. Put yourself above them and the rest of your competition by proving superior customer service with a personal touch.

Medallion: Your Amazon Fulfillment Alternative That Gives You Back Control

If you are already selling on Amazon or are considering selling on Amazon, make sure to ask us how Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics can be your own personal “Amazon-Like Warehouse”.

We can ship your products to replenish Amazon stock levels and allow you to continue to sell on your own website. It is important to know that when you use Amazon as your fulfillment resource, Amazon does not share customer email addresses with you. The customers remain customers of Amazon. This action prevents you, and other small niche businesses, from getting repeat sales and from marketing to your own customers; impacting repeat business. This is particularly important for sellers of consumables who would love to establish a long and fruitful relationship with clients.

Having an account with Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics and Amazon can be a win/win proposition. Medallion’s warehouse storage fees are considerably less than those that Amazon will charge and you get access to your own customer information.

Growing your sales requires full concentration. Let our Los Angeles-based California fulfillment warehouse handle your order processing and shipping needs, including cross-docking, credit card processing and telephone customer support.

Contact Medallion to learn more about our fulfillment warehouse services and how they can be customized to fit your needs.

USPS Disruptions and Delays

USPS Announces Delays

We were just on a call with the United States Postal Service. They are clearing a lot of the backlog of mail, but delays still persist. Some of the ongoing issues are due to the lack of air transportation and delays with Customs.

Please note the additional countries suspended from service. For a full list please refer to the Post Office’s link below.

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/

We are sorry for the delays as this has been both unprecedented and unforeseen. Every day it seems that we are facing new challenges. Rest assured that shipping quickly to your customers continues to be our top priority.