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e-commerce

HTTP vs. HTTPS: Which is Better?

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Unless you are tech savvy and are constantly keeping up to date with the latest digital trends, the average user would probably not understand what HTTP or HTTPS even means. In simple terms, HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol and is the most common way to connect and access websites. On the other hand, HTTPS is another iteration of HTTP but adds a layer of security to handle confidential material. Another protocol that can be used with HTTPS is the secure socket layer (SSL) which checks to make sure that the information from one party sent to another is consistent without any tampering.

HTTPS is used for e-commerce businesses or banks who require online payments via credit card since the added layer of security and encryption make it a safer choice than HTTP. Now that you know which one is better to use, how does HTTPS contribute towards Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? When it comes to Google search, Google tends to put preference towards safer websites which HTTPS fulfills. Ultimately, this leads to slightly increased rankings for websites that use HTTPS but what mostly changes the ranking is still website content.

Taking Your Store Online: Why an Online Store Can Boost Your Sales

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Having an online store can be an extreme advantage to ones business. Whether it be a stand lone or a supplement to a current business, getting your store online can bring your more sales than ever. Lets delve into this:

First of all, your online store doesn’t have store hours, which means unlike a conventional store, a customer can always access your inventory and make a purchase. Your online store is open 24/7 and sales can be made at any time. In addition to providing more opportunity for customers to make purchases, you are also expanding your potential customer base. You are not just a single physical location anymore. Your online store can be accessed from people across the nation and across the world. Not to mention that an online store is extremely flexible. You can immediately update inventory information, sale prices, or even create daily deals. This type of flexibility allows you to provide a change of information that customers can’t see in a conventional store. So, more opportunity, more customers, and more flexibility equals more sales.

Now, keep in mind that you are also dramatically increasing your visibility by putting your store online. With search engine optimization, online promotion and advertisements, customers will search for your online business and making sure they find you is part of the equation involved in making online sales. Additionally, you are also able to conduct direct marketing for your online store as well. And as opposed to conventional methods, you can closely monitor and manage the results you get for a very detailed marketing plan.

We have yet to mention perhaps the most important reason for having an online store. It is the technology age! People use their mobile phones and tablets everyday to browse inventory and purchase products. There is an entire generation of people that practically live online, and if your store doesn’t exist on the web, then to them it doesn’t exist. If you don’t provide your customers an online shopping experience, you are missing out on a huge market of potential sales. Don’t make this mistake!

For help creating an online shop for your store, contact RG Pacific today. You can fill out a quote submission here

Set Up Your E-Commerce Shop for Valentine’s Day

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With Valentine’s day approaching, many business owners can expect a temporary boost in sales. However, with the internet market blooming, getting your shop online in time for Valentine’s Day can drastically increase your sales. In 2012, on average, every person spent $130.97 for Valentine’s Day so you can’t go wrong with setting up your E-Commerce shop today.

Creating an online shop, also known as an E-Commerce site, can prove to be very advantageous for your business. Plain and simple, creating an E-Commerce shop provides an additional platform for your customers to shop. With more ways for customers to shop, you will then make more sales because you can reach out to a larger audience. Another factor is that online shopping is much quicker for both the seller and buyer, and in today’s fast paced work environment a quick transaction can be a deal breaker for many potential customers. Not to mention that almost every potential customer will go online to shop. In fact, E-Commerce sales in 2013 accounted for $1.5 trillion.

Now that you know the advantages of an E-Commerce site, there is no better time to set up your online shop. With Valentine’s Day approaching in just over a month, you can take advantage of that fact that more than 25% of people will go online to shop. Meanwhile, according to About.com, 46.9% of tablet users and 40.7% of smartphone users will “research products, prices, and retailer information, redeem coupons and purchase products with their device.” So, if you set up your E-Commerce shop, you can reach out to a much larger customer base and effectively improve your sales.

Contact us if you want help building your shop!

Online Black Friday Sales Top $1 Billion. Time to Sell Online Better Than Ever

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CNN recently reported that Online Black Friday sales topped $1 Billion last week, the most ever. That is a 26% increase from 2011. All signs point to 1 thing- the time to sell online is now.

Bricks and Mortar stores only account for 45% of online sales, companies like Walmart, BestBuy, and Apple seeing a 32% combined increase from a year before. That data tells a very revealing story… 55% of online shopping came from 2nd tier websites, or small business or niche eCommerce companies. The data is telling- the time to sell online is now.

With the ability to create a powerful e-commerce website using 3rd party platforms like OpenCart, Magento, and WordPress, it is only logical that every small business in the retail industry needs to be online. 55% of local business search is mobile now. Online Advertising is more affordable than ever using tools like Google Adwords and Yelp Ads, and deal makers like Groupon and Living Social.

The good part about this new trend is that there is so much room to grow. Other than electronics, consumer polls show that there is no #1 site in many other retail categories like Womens Clothing, Sporting Goods, and others. A new e-commerce company can lay claim to a niche locally and even nationally.  With the increase of social media marketing and peer ratings, high budget advertising is really a thing of the past. Peer-to-peer marketing is now more vital than ever. Having high reviews, social media exposure, and competitive pricing go a long way today. Get in on it now!

Bricks and Mortar and an Online Store – Expand your Business on the Go

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I have had several clients in the past that were very hesitant to start an online store, with all virtually telling me the same excuse- business is fine, why complicate things? Surly a business owner, with little time to dedicate to learning about the internet and managing a website, can make more money concentrating on his business with walk in customers right? Wrong! Yes, in today’s ever changing social media landscape, that has become business suicide!

The internet today is everywhere. In every sector of the business community. Retail, Wholesale, Distribution, Manufacturing… You name the industry, I can find you the top dogs in the niche thriving online.  The internet is needed now because it is everywhere. People are online at home, at work, on the go (with mobile phones), and in the air (iPad’s and tablets). Therefore the old cliche of a 24 hour online business model is more true than ever now.  Social media has become a mainstay for many people of affluent culture, and the middle class is the biggest online contributor online.

If you are trying to package and sell your products to your customers locally, you all are aware that location is key. With the internet, you can pinpoint your customers by time, age, income, demograhic, and geographic location. Anytime, for a modest budget. Business owners are using an online storefront to present new products, sell last years overstock, reach new markets and cities, and build a CRM system that can help business in the coming years.

The biggest difference I tell clients about online marketing for their products online is this: Print, TV and Radio allows your to market to a general audience. You “hope” your kind of customer reads your message, which is why there are “slogans” and gotcha statements in ads. WIth online marketing, the opposite holds true. People visit certain websites and therefore you can find your target market in a few minutes, so your message is more personal and direct, you can talk to your customers personally. No newspaper or magazine can give you that kind of access.

An online store can be affordable and robust. Start an online brand and show off your products and attempt to sell your hottest items. Get to know your market and customers, and invite walk in clients to give you feedback about your website. You will find that everyone is on the web, people everywhere look for goods and services on search engines like Google. Not being seen online is like having a store in the middle of nowhere.

Remember guys… Location, location, location!

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