When it comes to eCommerce, there are a lot of moving parts. You need a great website design, an effective marketing strategy, and a reliable payment gateway. It can be difficult to manage all of this on your own, which is why many business owners choose to work with an eCommerce agency — like EYStudios. An eCommerce agency can take care of everything for you, from web design to SEO to finding the right solution for payment processing. Here are some of the benefits of working with an eCommerce agency:

You Can Focus On Running Your Business

Let’s face it, running a business is hard enough without having to worry about the technical details of eCommerce. When you work with an agency, you can focus on what you do best and leave the rest to them. You’ll need to provide some direction and input, but for the most part, you can sit back and let them handle as many aspects of your digital business as you see fit.

They Have The Expertise You Need

An eCommerce agency will have a team of experts who can handle every aspect of your online store, from design to marketing to SEO. This way, you can be sure that everything is being taken care of by professionals. They can help you avoid common mistakes and make sure your website is optimized for success. With EYStudios, we have a system in place to make sure that all aspects of your business are handled in a holistic way with your goals at the forefront.

In addition, agencies work with a whole host of clients from different industries and get to see what works and what doesn’t in a variety of settings. This valuable experience can be put to work for you and your business.

They Can Save You Time And Money

A good eCommerce agency will save you both time and money in the long run. While you may have to pay more upfront to work with an agency, in the long run, it will save you money. This is because they can help you avoid costly mistakes and get your website up and running quickly and efficiently.

Agencies will also likely have relationships with other service providers (like shipping companies) that you can take advantage of. This can save you a lot of time and money down the road.

You Can Get A Customized Solution

When you work with an eCommerce agency, you can get a customized solution that is tailored to your specific needs. This means that you won’t have to pay for features that you don’t need or want.

A good agency will take the time to get to know your business and understand your goals. They will then create a custom solution that is designed to help you achieve those goals.

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As you can see, there are many benefits to working with an eCommerce agency. If you’re thinking about starting an online store, or if you’re looking to take your existing business to the next level, we recommend working with an eCommerce agency, like EYStudios. EYStudios is a top-notch eCommerce agency with a team of experts who are passionate about helping businesses succeed online. Reach out today to see how we can help you take your business to the next level.

It’s not always easy to figure out who your target customer is. In fact, a lot of business owners have a tough time with this. They might think they know who their ideal customer is, but when they start digging a little deeper, they realize that this might not be the case. In this blog post, we will discuss how to find your target customer and some tips on how to make sure you are targeting the right people.

Finding Your Target Customer

1. Who Is Your Product For?

One of the first places to start when you are trying to figure out who your target customer is, is your product. Who is your product for? This might seem like a no-brainer, but a lot of businesses make the mistake of assuming that everyone is their target customer. When you are looking at your product, think about who it is designed for. Who will get the most use out of it? Who will find the most value in it? Once you have a good idea of who your product is for, you can start to narrow down your ideal customer.

2. Who Is Your Competition Targeting?

Another place to look when you are trying to figure out who your target customer is, is your competition. Take a look at who they are targeting and see if there is a way you can set yourself apart. Maybe there is a niche market that you can tap into that they are not reaching. Or maybe you can target a different demographic than they are. Either way, looking at your competition can give you some good insight into who your target customer might be.

3. Who Are Your Current Customers?

One of the best places to look when you are trying to figure out who your target customer is, is your current customer base. These are people who have already bought from you or shown an interest in what you have to offer. Look at who they are and see if there are any commonalities between them. This can give you a good idea of who your ideal customer is and help you to reach more people like them.

Tools For Customer Research

There are a few different tools you can use to help with your customer research. One of the most popular is Google AdWords. This tool allows you to see who is searching for keywords related to your product or service. You can also use social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to see who is talking about your brand or industry using hashtags or other search methods.

Another great way to do customer research is to survey your current customers. You can reach out to them via email or social media and ask them about their needs and wants. This can give you a lot of insight into who your customer is and what they are looking for.

There are also a number of customer research firms that can help you to get more detailed information about your target customer.

How To Reach Your Target Customer

Once you have a good idea of who your target customer is, you need to start thinking about how to reach them. This is where things like market research and target marketing come into play. You need to figure out where your target customer hangs out and what kind of messaging they will respond to. This can be a lot of work, but it is worth it to make sure you are reaching the right people with your marketing.

Some ways to reach your target customer are: 

• Social media
• Content marketing
• Email marketing
• Paid advertising

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Finding your target customer is not always easy, but it is worth the effort. By taking the time to figure out who they are and how to reach them, you can make sure that your marketing efforts are focused and effective. Use the tips and tricks above to help you get started, and if you need more help, EYStudios is always here to assist you. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

When it comes to eCommerce advertising there are a lot of very popular tried and true methods that marketers tend to rely on: Facebook, Instagram, Google Ads, and maybe a third-party marketplace like Etsy (depending on your product). But have you thought about Hulu? Reddit? Or that thing all the kids are on these days — TikTok? There are so many advertising avenues out there that you might have overlooked or thought “this isn’t for my business,” so today we’re going to review a few of them and see if any could be a good fit for you.

Hulu

Hulu is a video streaming service with over 30 million subscribers in the United States alone. And while it’s mostly known as a place to watch TV shows, movies, and Hulu Originals, it also has a very robust advertising platform that allows businesses of all sizes to target their ads in a variety of ways. You can target by show, genre, or even specific demographic information like age, gender, location, and interests.

Hulu specifically allows small businesses to run in tangent to large brands, so you don’t have to worry about being lost in the shuffle or only having big budgets to compete. And since it’s a video streaming service, you can get very creative with your ad format and create something that really stands out and catches people’s attention.

Ideal industries or verticals for Hulu are:

• any business with a video component (explainer videos, product videos, etc.)
• B2C companies
• companies targeting younger demographics
• companies targeting local demographics

Reddit

Yes, Reddit. The site that’s known for being a little… out there. But hear us out — Reddit actually has a lot of potential for businesses, especially small businesses, as an advertising platform. For one, it has a very engaged user base with over 430 million monthly active users. And because Reddit is mostly text-based, it’s very affordable to run ads on the platform — especially compared to something like Facebook where you’re competing with big budgets and businesses.

What’s more, Reddit is very much geared towards communities and conversation, which means that if you can find the right subreddit for your business, you can get involved in some very targeted conversations and build up a loyal following. Just be careful not to be too sales-y — Redditors can smell that from a mile away and they will not hesitate to tear you apart.

Ideal industries or verticals for Reddit are:

• B2C companies
• companies with a very targeted focus
• companies targeting younger demographics
• companies with a scientific or technical focus

TikTok

If you haven’t been on TikTok yet, first of all — where have you been? And second of all, now is the time to jump on board. The app has been exploding in popularity over the past year with no signs of slowing down. In fact, according to Reuters, TikTok was the most downloaded app in 2021 and is on track to bring in $11 billion in ad revenue in 2022, exceeding the combined sales of Twitter and Snapchat. And while it’s mostly known as a place for Gen Zers to kill time, it’s actually a very powerful marketing tool for businesses.

TikTok allows businesses to run in-feed ads that are native to the app and can be up to 60 seconds long. And because TikTok is all about creativity, you can really let your imagination run wild with your ad campaigns and come up with something truly unique. Just make sure that your ads are in line with the tone of the app — which is lighthearted, fun, and often irreverent. This might require you to think outside the box. For instance, one of our clients is a medical-focused brand but the TikTok strategy we went for revolves around showing off their products via ASMR videos.

Ideal industries or verticals for TikTok are:

• B2C companies
• companies targeting younger demographics
• companies in the fashion, beauty, or lifestyle space
• companies with a very creative focus

Other Platforms To Consider

There are, of course, other platforms to consider beyond the ones we’ve listed above. Finding the right platform in 2022 will largely depend on your budget, your target audience, and the nature of your business. But some other platforms that we think are worth considering are:

• Twitch — If you have a gaming or tech-focused brand, Twitch is a great platform to advertise on. You can run in-stream ads or even sponsor specific content creators.
• Spotify — Spotify is a great platform for music-focused brands or businesses targeting younger demographics. You can run audio ads or sponsor specific playlists.
• Pinterest — Pinterest is a great platform for visual-heavy brands, especially in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle space. You can run Promoted Pins to get your content in front of more people.

These are just a few of the many eCommerce advertising avenues out there. So if you’re feeling stuck or like you’ve been spinning your wheels with your ad campaigns, take a step back and explore some of these less typical options. You might just find your new favorite platform.

And if you need help, we’re always here. Just reach out to EYStudios and we’ll be happy to chat about your options.

Google is always changing its algorithms, and it can be hard to keep up with what they are looking for when it comes to ranking sites. In fact, as of October 2021, there are 200 factors that Google uses for ranking sites on their search engine. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the things that Google looks at when ranking eCommerce sites. We will also talk about how you can improve your site’s ranking using these factors.

Keep in mind that Google is always changing its algorithms and this just scratches the surface of search engine optimization. If you want to learn more about SEO, here are a few recent blogs we’ve written:

• SEO 101: Everything You Should Know About Search Optimization
• What is Ranking on Page 1 on Google? And How To Get There
• Understanding The Limitations of Searching Your Business On Google

Quality Site and Content

One of the most important factors that Google looks at when ranking eCommerce sites is the quality of the content. This means that your site needs to have well-written, informative, and keyword-rich product descriptions. Google also looks at the overall design and user experience of your site. If your site is difficult to navigate or doesn’t look good, Google will likely rank it lower in the search results.

To improve the quality of your content, make sure that you are using keyword-rich titles and descriptions. You should also focus on making your site easy to use and visually appealing.

Product Prices

Another important factor that Google looks at when ranking eCommerce sites is the price of the products. If you are selling products that are significantly cheaper than your competitors, Google is more likely to rank your site higher in the search results. However, if you are selling products that are significantly more expensive than your competitors, Google is less likely to rank your site as high.

To improve your product prices, make sure that you are offering competitive prices for your products. You can also offer discounts and sale items to attract more customers to your site. Researching your competitors ‘ prices can also help you determine the right price for your products.

Product Availability

Google also looks at the availability of your products when ranking eCommerce sites. If you are selling products that are out of stock or difficult to find, Google is less likely to rank your site as high in the search results.

To improve your product availability, make sure that you are stocking popular items and that your inventory is up to date. You can also provide customer service contact information on your site so that customers can reach out to you if they have any questions or concerns.

Shipping Costs

Shipping costs are also taken into account when Google ranks eCommerce sites. If you are charging higher shipping costs than your competitors, your site is less likely to rank highly.

To improve your shipping costs, make sure that you are offering free shipping or flat-rate shipping for all orders. You can also offer expedited shipping options for an additional fee.

Page Speed

Google also looks at the page speed of your site when ranking eCommerce sites. If your site is slow to load, Google is less likely to rank it as high in the search results.

To improve your page speed, make sure that you are using a fast and reliable web host. You can also optimize your images and code to make your site load faster. Our blog post, Why Site Speed Is Important, goes deeper into how to improve your site speed.

Mobile-First Indexing

Google is now using mobile-first indexing for all websites. This means that Google will look at the mobile version of your site first when determining your ranking.

To improve your mobile-first indexing, make sure that your site is responsive and that your mobile content is up to date. You can also use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to see how well your site performs on mobile devices.

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These are just a few of the things that Google looks at when ranking eCommerce sites. Remember to always keep your content fresh and up-to-date, and to offer competitive prices for your products. If you do these things, you will be well on your way to success in the eCommerce world. If you want help with ranking higher on Google contact us today for an SEO site audit.

As an eCommerce owner, you may be feeling a bit uncertain about the growing trend of third-party marketplaces. According to the annual 2022 Future of Marketplaces Report from Edge by Ascential, by 2027, third-party marketplace sales are set to account for 59% of all global eCommerce. Marketplaces aren’t going away, and small businesses need to adapt or get left behind. So why are third-party marketplaces so popular? And more importantly, why should you as an eCommerce owner embrace them?

Why Are Third-Party Marketplaces Growing?

There are a few key reasons for the popularity of third-party marketplaces:

• Convenience — shoppers can find everything they need in one place
• Selection — marketplaces offer a wide variety of products from many different sellers
• Price — with so many sellers competing for business, prices are often lower on marketplaces than on standalone eCommerce sites
• Trust — shoppers trust big brands like Amazon and eBay, so they’re more likely to buy from them than from an unknown seller

As an eCommerce owner, it’s important to keep these reasons in mind. Shoppers are increasingly turning to marketplaces for their online shopping needs, and if you’re not meeting them there, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity.

Benefits Of Selling On Third-Party Marketplaces

One of the biggest benefits of selling on third-party marketplaces is the exposure that your products will receive. When you sell on platforms like Amazon and eBay, your products are placed in front of millions of potential customers who may not have otherwise found your website. This can lead to a significant increase in sales and help grow your business.

Another benefit of selling on third-party marketplaces is that it can help you reach new markets. For example, if you sell products that are popular in the US, selling on Amazon Japan can help you tap into a whole new market of potential customers. This can lead to even more growth for your business.

Finally, selling on third-party marketplaces can help you save on costs. When you sell on your own website, you have to pay for things like hosting, domain names, and marketing. However, when you sell on third-party marketplaces, these costs are often covered by the marketplace itself. This can lead to significant savings for your business.

Myths About eCommerce Marketplaces

Now that we’ve discussed some of the benefits of selling on third-party marketplaces, let’s dispel some of the myths that are preventing many business owners from taking advantage of them.

One common myth is that selling on third-party marketplaces will cannibalize sales on your own website. However, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, many businesses have found that selling on third-party marketplaces actually helps grow their business by exposing their products to new markets. If a customer likes your product from a marketplace, they are likely to visit your website to learn more about your company and make additional purchases.

ECommerce business owners may also believe that it’s difficult to sell on third-party marketplaces. Again, this is not true! In fact, many marketplaces make it easy for businesses to list their products and start selling. All you need is a good product and some basic marketing knowledge.

Another myth that business owners may believe is that they need to be large businesses in order to sell on third-party marketplaces; another untrue idea. There are many small businesses that sell successfully on these platforms.

Popular Third-Party Marketplaces

It seems like a new marketplace pops up every day but it’s important to know at least some of the bigger players in the space. Here are some of the most popular third-party marketplaces:

• Amazon — the big daddy of them all with over 310 million active users worldwide, Amazon’s marketplace is a great place to start selling if you’re looking to reach a large audience.
• eBay — with over 162 million active users, eBay is another great option for reaching a global audience of potential customers.
• Etsy — if you sell handmade or vintage items, then Etsy is the perfect marketplace for you. With over 35 million active users, Etsy provides a great way to reach buyers who are interested in these types of products.
• Walmart — with over 260 million active users, Walmart is a great option for sellers who are looking to reach a US-based audience.
• Alibaba — if you’re looking to sell to businesses rather than consumers, then Alibaba is the marketplace for you. With over 50 million active users, Alibaba is the world’s largest business-to-business marketplace.
• Rakuten —  with over 90 million active users, Rakuten is a great option for reaching buyers in Japan.

As you can see, there are a number of different third-party marketplaces that you can sell on. Each one has its own unique audience and benefits. So, don’t be afraid to embrace the trend of selling on these platforms! It could be just what your business needs to take it to the next level.

Need help getting your products on a third-party marketplace or evaluating other marketing avenues for your eCommerce business? Reach out to EYStudios today to learn about our services!

There are a lot of things that businesses need to do in order to be successful online. One of those things is blogging. After all, according to Hubspot, companies that blog have 55% more website visitors than companies that don’t.

However, it’s not just important to blog in general  — it’s important to blog well. Unfortunately, many businesses make a number of common mistakes when it comes to their blogging strategy. Here are some of the most common mistakes businesses make when blogging, and how you can avoid them.

Not Being Consistent

One of the most common mistakes businesses make when it comes to blogging is not being consistent. When you first start a blog, it’s easy to be excited and post new content every day. But as time goes on, it can be hard to keep up that pace. That’s why it’s important to be consistent with your posting schedule. Whether you post once a day, once a week, or once a month, make sure you’re consistent. Your readers will appreciate it, and your blog’s performance will improve as a result.

In order to post consistently, you may need to create an editorial calendar. This will help you plan out your content in advance and make sure you’re always writing and publishing new blog posts. Choosing your posting cadence  is a personal preference, but according to Hubspot’s Blogging Frequency Benchmarks:

• B2B companies that blogged 11 times or more per month got 3X more traffic than those blogging only once or less per month. 
• Companies that publish 16+ blog posts per month get nearly 3.5X more traffic than those that publish 0-4 monthly.
• B2C companies that blogged 11 times or more got more than 4X as many leads than those that publish only 4-5 posts per month. 
• Companies that publish 16+ blog posts per month generated 4.5X more leads than companies publishing 0-4 monthly.  

Posting Low-Quality Content

Another common mistake businesses make is not posting quality content. 30% of consumers rate quality content as the top factor that adds credibility to a blog. In the age of the internet, there is so much content out there. If you want your blog to stand out, you need to make sure you’re posting high-quality, well-written content. Take the time to edit your posts and make sure they’re error-free. And if you’re not a great writer, hire someone who is!

Quality content also means writing content that relates to readers and has business goals in mind.  Write content that will educate, entertain, or inspire your readers.  Not all of your posts need to be sales-y, but they should all have a purpose.

Ignoring Search Engine Optimization

If you’re not familiar with search engine optimization (SEO), it’s time to learn. SEO is the process of optimizing your blog posts for search engines. This means using relevant keywords, linking to other websites, and creating quality content. If you ignore SEO, your blog will be harder to find online, and you’ll miss out on potential readers.

Not Providing The Next Action

When someone finishes reading your blog post, what do you want them to do? Many businesses make the mistake of not providing the next action for their readers. Whether you want them to sign up for your newsletter, download a white paper, or contact you for more information, make sure you include a call-to-action (CTA) at the end of your post. Without a CTA, your readers may not know what to do next, and they may move on to something else.

Failing To Promote Your Posts

Once you’ve written a great post, it’s important to promote it! Too often, businesses will write a post and then just let it sit on their blog. Just because you’ve hit “publish” doesn’t mean people will automatically see your post. In order to get eyes on your content, you need to promote it. Share it on social media, email it to your list, and do whatever else you can to get the word out.

You may even need to put some money behind some blogs via paid advertising to get some eyes on them before you build up an audience.  By doing this you can ensure that your blog is being seen by people who may be interested in what you have to say!

Not Measuring Your Results

Another common mistake businesses make is not measuring their results. It’s important to track your blog’s performance so you can see what’s working and what’s not. There are a number of metrics you can track, such as page views, time on site, bounce rate, and conversion rate. By tracking these metrics, you can see what’s working and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Not only do you need to track blog performance, but you also need to set goals. What do you want your blog to achieve? Do you want to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or drive sales? Once you know what your goals are, you can create content that is designed to achieve those goals. And finally,

Ignoring Your Readers

One of the best things about blogging is that it allows you to interact with your readers. But if you’re not interacting with them, you’re missing out on a great opportunity. Make sure you’re responding to comments and questions. And don’t forget to promote the conversation by asking questions of your own. By engaging with your readers, you can create a community around your blog and build relationships with potential customers.

These are just a few of the most common blogging mistakes businesses make. By avoiding these mistakes, you can set yourself up for success. So get out there and start writing quality content that will help you achieve your business goals!

Don’t have the time to blog yourself? EYStudios offers content writing services as well as social media, SEO, and other digital marketing services. Reach out to learn more about how we can help your business thrive.

Despite a commonly held belief, your brand is not just the graphic elements on your site. Branding applies to every aspect of what differentiates your company from competitors in the minds and hearts of customers. This includes all aspects of the user experience, including content like merchandising.

Let’s also take a second to define what “old” even means in terms of branding. We come across sites that have limped along with their busted brand since the mid-2000s, whereas some designs that are less than a year old have already overstayed their welcome. Put simply, an old brand is one that is just not connecting with customers anymore.

Let’s be honest and admit that old branding is hard to get rid of. You can develop emotional attachments to things that are clearly bad for you. Somebody out there told you they liked that design, so maybe it’s not that bad. But it is—it really is that bad. It’s a wretched under-performing mess of a brand that represents your company about as well as a drunk hobo dressed as Santa Claus represents Christmas. Still, you kinda feel sorry for that hobo, and you still paid good money to get him in that red suit. Even if he does scare children.

At some point, you have to accept the reality that this dirty old brand has to go. Here are some tips on how to face the music:

1.)   Your brand is not about you, and it never was.

If you think your brand is inexorably linked to you as a person or your company culture — well, you’re right! It is. But that doesn’t mean that your design did a good job of capturing that important differentiator. We commonly ask merchants to describe what is so unique about their brand. Nine times out of ten, we end up telling them that their brand is not doing a good job of illustrating what they just told us.

Here’s the thing: It HAS to. If your brand can’t convey the special sauce of what makes you such a great company, then it has effectively failed. Not just because you deserve to be shown in the best possible light — because you do — but because your customer base needs to understand how these differentiators affect them. How are you able to positively impact their lives?

Far too often, we’ve come across merchants who can’t look past their own needs. You’re in business to affect your customers. Your brand is either communicating that it’s able to do that, or it isn’t. You can never afford for your company branding to become a vanity project because then you’ll lose sight of what your customers really need.

2.)   Brands built on the back of what’s “easy” become hard to sustain.

The lure of a perceived quick-and-easy branding solution is hard to ignore. When you encounter thousands of options claiming to establish your brand with quick and “proven” methods, be wary of them all. Branding is not easy, and it’s seldom quick. It takes a lot of work, research, and creativity to create something that appears effortless.

That template that supposedly worked for that one company may not work for yours, because you’re a different company with different needs. If we can agree that branding is all about differentiation, why would you want to adopt something that is easily replicable?

The reality is that the brands that put in the work are the ones that are often imitated but never duplicated. It’s amusing but also sad when we see some online store try and replicate the magic of a store we’ve designed. It’s obvious what happened: The merchant told XYZ developer to “make it look like this site because they’re doing well,” but it ends up looking like a weird Frankenstein monster of a brand. You can’t skip the line with branding. The imitated company is “doing well” because they’ve invested in their own authentic branding. It’s the only way.

3.)   The “set it and forget it” brands are the ones that customers forget.

Peter Allen had a song called “Everything Old is New Again” which included these lyrics:

Don’t throw the past away

You might need it some rainy day

Dreams can come true again

When everything old is new again

 Catchy tune, but it’s horrible branding advice.

Smart companies not only invest in the foundational quality of their brand, but they also properly maintain it. Just because something works for a while doesn’t mean it will last forever. “What’s old is new again” may apply to some types of clothing, but perpetually wearing the same brand in eCommerce is only going to alienate customers.

The needs of people change. Technology is evolving at an ever-increasing rate. Usability best practices are constantly being refined as a result. If your brand is also not being refined concurrent to modern-day advancements, it will be treated like the relic it truly is.

Investing in keeping your brand fresh demonstrates to customers that you’re investing in them. If that experience feels relevant to their current needs, they’ll reward you with more sales. 

Classifying your brand as old and out of touch can be hard, but it’s much harder to live with the consequences of its inauthentic and limited reach. If you’re looking for a fresh take on where your brand can go, join the merchants that reach out to EYStudios every week for a site review. Your brand deserves it because so do your customers!

As an online business owner, you know that site speed is important. How important though? The faster your website loads, the more likely visitors are to stick around and buy something. In fact, a one-second delay in page load time can result in a 7% loss in conversions. This means if your eCommerce site is making $100,000 per day, a 1-second page delay could potentially cost you $2.5 million in lost sales every year. That’s why it’s important to partner with a development agency that knows how to optimize your website for speed.

How Important Is Site Speed?

When it comes to site speed, every second counts. In today’s fast-paced world, visitors expect websites to load quickly and efficiently. If your website takes too long to load, they’re likely to click away and find a competitor’s site that loads faster. In a survey by Unbounce, nearly 70% of consumers admitted that page speed impacts their willingness to buy from an online retailer.

Not only will a slow website drive away potential customers, but it will also hurt your search engine rankings. Google takes speed into account when determining where to rank websites in search results. So, if your website is slow, you’re likely to be buried in the search results, making it even harder for potential customers to find you.

What Affects Site Speed?

There are a number of factors that can affect your website’s speed, including:

• The size and quality of your images
• Your site’s code
• External scripts like social media widgets
• The hosting provider you’re using

A good development agency will be able to help you identify which of these factors are impacting your site’s speed and how to fix them.

Common Misconceptions About Site Speed

Despite its importance, there are a number of misconceptions about site speed. For example, many people believe that they need to sacrifice quality for speed. This simply isn’t true. With the right tools and techniques, you can have a fast website that looks great and provides a good user experience — it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Another common misconception is that site speed is only important for large websites. This also isn’t true. Site speed is important for all websites, regardless of size. Even a small website can benefit from a faster loading time.

Some people believe that they don’t need to worry about site speed because their target audience is not concerned with it. However, this isn’t the case. In reality, everyone is concerned with speed, regardless of their age or demographics. In addition, your site rankings will suffer if your site is slow, regardless of your target audience.

Finally, there is also the belief that if you don’t have a perfect site speed score, you’re doomed. This also isn’t true; you don’t need to worry about perfection here. Site speed is just one of the many factors that can affect your website rankings and conversions. As long as you’re making an effort to improve your site speed, you’ll be in good shape.

How Can a Development Agency Help?

A development agency like EYStudios can help you speed up your website in a number of ways, including:

• Optimizing images
• Improving code
• Caching static content
• Minifying resources
• Using a content delivery network (CDN)

By partnering with a development agency, you can be sure that your website is running as efficiently as possible. We have the experience and expertise to help you improve your site speed and keep your visitors happy.

If you’re ready to take your website’s speed to the next level, contact EYStudios today. We’ll be happy to discuss your options and help you find the best solution for your needs.

As of today, August 17th, we are officially just 100 days away from Black Friday.

And if you’re an eCommerce business owner that might make you sweat a bit. After all, it’s still summer and we’re talking about Christmas shopping but it’s never too early to start preparing for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These two days are some of the busiest shopping days of the year, and if your site isn’t ready, you’ll miss out on a lot of sales. In 2021, according to Shopify, online shoppers spent $6.3 billion during Black Friday, making it the second-largest online spending day in U.S. history. It sharply jumped 23% compared with the same period in 2020. So let’s talk about how to get your site in tip-top shape before the influx of holiday shoppers.

Can Your Site Handle The Traffic?

The first thing you need to do is make sure your site can handle the traffic.

On Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you can expect a lot of visitors so it’s essential that your site can handle the traffic. If your site isn’t prepared, it will crash and you’ll lose out on sales. To avoid this, you need to make sure your hosting plan can handle the traffic and that your site is optimized for speed. Some ways to do this include:

• You can test your site’s speed with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix. Both of these tools will give you a report of what needs to be fixed on your site to make it faster.
• Make sure your images are optimized for the web. Large images can slow down your site so you need to make sure they’re the right size. You can do this using an image optimization tool like Kraken.io or TinyPNG.
• Use a caching plugin to speed up your site. Caching is a way of storing static files on your server so they can be loaded faster. There are many caching plugins available for WordPress and other content management systems.
• Enable Gzip compression to reduce the size of your site’s files. This will help your pages load faster for visitors.
• Consider upgrading your hosting plan to a VPS or Dedicated server if you’re on a shared hosting plan.

Make sure you fix all the issues on the report so your site is as fast as possible. This will ensure that your site can handle the traffic and won’t crash during the holidays.

Is Your Checkout Process Quick and Easy?

The next thing you need to do is make sure your checkout process is quick and easy. During the holidays, people are busy and they don’t have time to waste so you need to make sure your checkout process is as smooth as possible. According to Fundera, improving your checkout process can increase your conversion rate by 35.26%.

There are a few things you can do to improve your checkout process:

• Make sure the checkout process is on one page. This will make it quicker and easier for customers to purchase from your site.
• Add an autofill feature for your checkout form. This will save time for customers who are making a purchase on your site.
• Include a progress bar so customers can see how far along they are in the checkout process.
• Make sure your checkout form is optimized for mobile. More and more people are using their phones to shop so you need to make sure your form is mobile-friendly. You can test your form on different devices to make sure it’s working properly.

These are just a few things you can do to make sure your checkout process is quick and easy. By making a few changes, you can streamline your process and make it easier for customers to purchase from your site.

Is Your Site User Friendly?

One thing you really need to consider about your site is the customer journey and experience. Is your site easy to navigate? Can customers easily find what they’re looking for? Is the purchase process quick and easy? These are all important things to consider when preparing your site for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Here are a few ways you can improve your site’s user experience:

• Add a search bar so customers can easily find what they’re looking for.
• Make sure your navigation is clear and easy to use.
• Add filters and sorting options to your product pages. This will help customers find the right product quickly and easily.
• Make sure your product pages are well designed and include all the information customers need.
• Include customer reviews on your product pages. This will help build trust with potential customers.
• Create curated collections for specific sales or events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday i.e. gifts for mom, kid’s favorites, stocking stuffers, etc.
• Consider adding a live chat feature to your site so customers can get help if they need it

By considering these items you can improve the customer journey and make it easier for people to find what they’re looking for. This will lead to more sales and happier customers.

Do You Have Enough Products In Stock?

Another thing to consider is whether or not you have enough products in stock (or will by Black Friday.) This is especially important if you sell products that are in high demand.

If you don’t have enough products, customers will get frustrated and they’ll go to another site to make their purchase. To avoid this, you need to make sure you have a sufficient amount of inventory and are prepared for any increase in shopping around the holidays. You can do this by:

• Checking your sales data from previous years to see how much inventory you need.
• Making sure you have a backup supplier in case your primary supplier can’t meet your needs.
• Increasing your production if you make your own products.
• Doing a test run of the holiday shopping season by promoting a sale or offering discounts to customers. This will help you gauge how much traffic your site will get and how many orders you’ll need to fulfill.

By being prepared, you can avoid any issues with inventory and make sure your customers are able to find the products they want on your site.

Are You Offering Any Deals or Discounts?

Black Friday is all about the deals, right? So if you’re not offering any discounts or special deals, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. According to Statista, 93% of all consumers will utilize an online discount this year and are more likely to choose a store that offers a promo code over a competitor that doesn’t.

Think about what kind of deals you can offer your customers. Do you want to offer free shipping? A percentage off their purchase? A buy one get one deal? Whatever it is, make sure it’s something that will entice customers to shop on your site.

In addition to discounts, you can also offer special deals like free gifts with purchase or doorbuster sales. These are all great ways to increase traffic to your site and boost sales.

By offering deals and discounts, you can encourage customers to shop on your site instead of going to a competitor’s site. This is a great way to increase sales and grow your business.

Do You Know How To Market Yourself?

Finally, like always, you need to make sure you know how to market yourself. And if you haven’t started on your marketing plan — you’re behind. Just because you have a great product doesn’t mean people will automatically find your site especially when everyone is competing for the same Black Friday sales. You need to do some marketing to bring people to your site and increase your sales. 

There are a few things you can do to market your site:

• SEO — Make sure your site is optimized for search engines so people can find you when they’re searching for products.
• Paid Advertising — Run ads on Google, Facebook, or other platforms to bring people to your site.
• Social Media — Use social media to promote your products and drive traffic to your site.
• Email Marketing — Send out emails to your customers and subscribers to let them know about your Black Friday sale.

By marketing your site, you can bring people to your eCommerce store and increase your sales. If you need help marketing your site reach out to an agency like EYStudios. 

Are You Ready for the Holiday Shopping Season?

The holiday shopping season is a busy time for e-businesses. If you’re not prepared, it can be overwhelming and stressful. But if take the time to prepare your site and plan ahead, you can make it through them with ease.

By making sure you’ve answered the questions above you can ensure you’re as prepared as possible for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the rest of the holiday season. Need help preparing your site? Reach out to EYStudios.

The state of the economy is always on our minds, but it’s especially prevalent during periods of extreme uncertainty. At the time of this writing, small business sentiment is at a 48-year low. The NFIB’s chief economist, William Dunkelberg, said, “The uncertainty in the small business sector is climbing again as owners continue to manage historic inflation, labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions.”

Emotions can undoubtedly influence actions, but that is also when cooler heads must prevail. There are four types of actions, ranked here from worst to best:

1)    Inactive –

When fear and anxiety grip a person’s heart, they are more likely to simply do nothing. This is a “We’re just gonna make do with what we already have” mentality, which eliminates any new initiatives that could make a business more money. When a leader decides to freeze up, a lot of other things also begin to freeze. 

2)    Reactive –

Those that simply react are often at the mercy of whatever external stimulus exists. We can’t choose what happens in life, but we can choose how we react to what happens. How have your reactions been lately? Positive reactions can help you be timely and relevant to those you regularly interact with, including your customers. 

3)    Pro-Active –

When you demonstrate initiative, you’re showing you have creativity and guts. It shows you’re a dreamer that’s willing to work, aligning around a purpose instead of circumstances. Pro-activity is generated around a vision, which in turn generates enthusiasm. 

4)    Interactive –

Visions are important, but they can easily exclude the very people you’re looking to benefit. What’s the point of being proactive if you’re tone-deaf to the needs of others around you? Leaders that make it a point to engage with their team and customers on a regular basis create visions that are authentic.

I recently talked to a client who is thrilled about what’s going on in the economy. He said, “Listen, when everyone else gets scared, I get greedy. When my competitors do nothing, that’s my cue to do everything. I’m going to take the ground they’ve given up.” 

Interesting point, right? What’s scarier — what may or may not happen with the economy, or losing your momentum to a competitor that simply wants it more than you do? 

 The client went on to say that his sales are down for the moment, but that is inspiring him to try new initiatives. He continued, “When sales are low, that means the communication I have with my customers needs to be higher. I may give it a bit of a rest when sales get back to normal, but right now I’m talking to them all day, every day, and they know it.” 

Beyond this one particular client, I see this same dynamic demonstrated in multiple industries. The merchants that are making a point to be interactive with their team and customers are the ones making headway during challenging times.  

Put another way, when merchants meet the needs of others, they find their own needs are met. As Zig Ziglar said, “You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help other people get what they want.” 

P.S. There are plenty of ways we’re seeing our clients get interactive with their customers, including regular marketing and content updates. Let us know if you’d like some ideas on how you can take your customer communication to a new level.