SLI Systems Inks a Deal With Magento
April 29, 2012
Everyone knows that ease of access is indeed the key to a successful business, in particular one that specializes in e-commerce, like Ebay. In the article, SLI Systems Partners with Magento, Extends Learning Search Connect – MarketWatch we learn that finding your preferred purchase is about to get a lot easier when shopping online.
Being user friendly is a key, and:
“Search is a key feature of any e-commerce website, and greatly influences the overall visitor experience,” said Ed Hoffman, vice president of global business and corporate development for SLI Systems. Through search technology that learns from customer behavior, retailers can maximize site usability and conversions. Our new extension for Magento clients will allow them to capture significant ROI benefits while bolstering brand loyalty and adding more to the bottom line.”
SLI Systems is a company that provides users with customized site-search navigation, for user-generated SEO. Their techniques allow businesses the power to enhance their customer service without the use of representatives, thus providing customer satisfaction and increased sales.
Magento has become one of the fastest growing eCommerce platforms. They utilize open source eCommerce solutions that provide flexibility along with functionality and control over content and presentation. SLI Systems made the right choice when they inked a deal with Magento (a unit of eBay).
Jennifer Shockley, April 29, 2012
Sponsored by Ikanow
SLI Systems Pitches Vertical Publication Internet Retailing
March 26, 2012
Internet Retailing recently shared an article by SLI Systems CEO and Co-Founder Shaun Ryan. Entitled, “Guest Comment: a More Effective Approach to Optimizing Conversions – Testing Site Search and Navigation Pages.” The lengthy story discusses ways to identify the aspects of site search and navigation you should test and determine how best to approach the testing process.
According to the article, many companies fail to test their site search and navigation properly. Which can lead to a whole lot of costs down the road. Ryan provides several tips for companies to try to avoid this problem. They include offering: optimal results per page, non-product content, merchandising banners, buy buttons, refinement options, displaying prices in search results, and several more.
When discussing the significance of “merchandising banners” Ryan states:
Are you making the best use of banners? For instance, you can benefit from strategically placing banners on ‘no results’ pages to drive people towards related items. Banners on site search and other pages are also effective for highlighting special offers, such as discounts on shipping, brands on sale, or other items you want to promote. Where you should show your banners, how big they should be, and what content you should include on them are all variables you can test.
While these are all helpful tips, what companies must keep in mind first and foremost is what you want to offer your site visitors and, even more importantly, what they want you to provide.
Jasmine Ashton, March 26, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Sinequa Rings Up eCommerce
March 22, 2012
Enterprise search software company Sinequa has posted a recent news release, announcing that Sinequa Business Search has been selected to facilitate customer product searches, entitled “INFOMIL, a Subsidiary of E.LECLERC, Selects SINEQUA to Facilitate Consumer Choice in Group Stores.”
According to the article, Sinequa Business Search linguistic and semantic capabilities can propose relevant product references based on questions that are vague or specific. It does this by creating: a specific search structure, better access to cultural and food products, and structured auto-completion to support customers.
When discussing the specific search structure, Denis Dargelos, Design and Development Manager at Infomil states:
With Sinequa Business Search, we offer consumers and aisle managers quick, flexible access to the products of their choice. We could even say that we guide them from a vague idea to a specific product. Merely adding an interface layer on top of SQL queries to search in our product database would not have provided the same level of flexibility and user service.
Sinequa Business Search is an excellent new offering to help both customers and businesses alike with their enterprise search needs. Sinequa has become quiet in the last few months. Our question is, “Is the company in transition or for sale?” We are monitoring the news or lack of it.
Jasmine Ashton, March 22, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Centralized or Decentralized E-Commerce: Which Approach?
February 26, 2012
Chris Dixon examines the differences between e-commerce approaches in his blog post, “eBay vs. Amazon: Decentralized vs. Centralized E-Commerce.” The piece gives a little interesting history behind the two companies, and on e-commerce in general. It also notes that most eBay’s sales are no longer auction-based; that means structural differences are now the main distinction between the two.
The write up insists:
I’m not arguing that one approach is superior to the other. My point is simply that when you understand that the battle is between centralized and decentralized commerce, the strategic moves of the two companies make a lot more sense.
I suppose. What does not make sense is that the search function on both services is pretty lousy in our opinion. The focus is not on making the customer’s purchasing experience better; it is on moving stuff. Both companies could benefit from focusing a little more on customer needs.
Cynthia Murrell, February 26, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Enter Searchandising: No Longer Ecommerce Search?
February 21, 2012
Yep, another new word for ecommerce search.
Searchandising, an odd blend of search and ecommerce, is making the blogosphere. Retail Gazette asks, “Searchandising—Ending Search Engine Dominance?” The article explains,
Crucially, e-commerce can be used to drive any search provider by supplying well organized information about products, customers and business rules to build powerful search indexes. Perhaps now is the time for e-commerce platforms to fully integrate searchandising and to deliver the full benefits of searchandising without the overheads.
Wait, doesn’t Amazon already do that?
Perhaps writer Roger Mitchell is simply applying the newish term to a direction already being pursued by merchandisers. Since the search field is often the first place potential customers go on any retail site, honing the behavior of that little rectangle is essential to maximizing profits. Webmasters must balance analytics and filtering with the imperative to avoid site slow-down. No one has time for anything but instant results anymore.
What software should retailers turn to? Enterprise search products certainly have the capability; in fact, they have too many options that merchants don’t need but will pay handsomely for. Commerce solutions have historically had performance issues, though a commenter to this article says that is no longer the case with the examples cited. Be that as it may, Mitchell recommends an open source product like Solr.
Cynthia Murrell, February 21, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Amazon: Prime Number Tweaking
February 15, 2012
Short honk: Not much interest in Amazon, but that’s because its A9 search system is consistently disappointing. Sleek MBAs find the company fascinating because it is moving from cost control to debt flood. After years of managing numbers and tweaking the ways in which the company reports activity, the chickens are returning to the roost. I never could figure out how “objects” were better than money when Amazon proselytized about its Amazon Web Services.
The most recent financial report suggests that cost control is a tough problem for Amazon, and its announcement that it is opening stores is another interesting cost signal. Apple sells high margin stuff and uses stores to deliver customer service. Amazon sells bulk personal paper products and pricey items such as faux diamond earrings.
Navigate to “Amazon Is Said to Have Fewer Prime Members Than Estimated.” What I learned is that the analysts (sleek MBAs) were off the mark. The guesstimates were wrong by millions. Yep, many zeros. Here’s the passage which caught my attention:
The slower adoption of Prime adds to concerns about Amazon’s revenue growth. The Internet retailer posted sales of $17.4 billion last quarter, trailing the $18.3 billion predicted by analysts. While the Prime service increases Amazon’s shipping costs, it’s seen as a way to lock in customers and prod them to shop more, according to ChannelAdvisor Corp. Fewer Prime users would mean there are fewer of Amazon’s most dedicated customers.
Fewer dedicated customers. Interesting. WalMart customers may share some of the attributes of the buyers Amazon is chasing. In a matter of months, Amazon has picked a fight with Apple. Amazon is getting into the sales tax business with the alleged retail stores. And Amazon is publishing its own books and sponsoring or whatever the Hollywood mogul word is for goosing independent films into its streaming video service.
Several observations:
- The cost issue is a big deal
- The fight with Apple is a big deal. Think money.
- The retail stores (if a “real” business action) is a big deal. Think Walgreen type costs for store fronts.
In short, perhaps Amazon should focus more on search, which is one way to get those visiting the site to buy more. Do you know how to find lists of books in a particular niche? Do you know how to winnow the cubic Zirconias from the diamonds? Do you know how to search the daily deals?
One number which is tough to tweak are those cost figures, which are, I suppose, “objects.”
I don’t.
Stephen E Arnold, February 15, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Personalization Equals Search
January 27, 2012
I am shopping. Who needs privacy? That seems to be the way most internet shoppers feel according to eWeek’s “IBM: Shopping Experience Outweights Privacy Concerns.” The article reports on a recent IBM survey of 28,000 consumers, most of whom were willing to surrender information on their media usage, demographics, identification information, lifestyle; and even location if it would streamline their shopping experience. Furthermore, explains writer Darryl K. Taft:
Consumers are telling IBM they want to receive more communication—not less—but they want it to be delivered through preferred media channels and in a relevant way. IBM’s ongoing research shows that retailers must provide clear compelling reasons to shop, deliver personalized offerings, and reach shoppers when and where they prefer in order to win over their wallets. And, based on the research, consumers appear to be more than willing to give retailers the data to make this experience possible.
The article goes on to note that the internet has empowered customers, who widely share reviews and influence brands. Retailers must target social media with precision, asserts the write up, the precision that only sophisticated social media data analytics tools can bring. And those tools feed on personal data.
I suppose it is just a matter of priorities.
Cynthia Murrell, January 27, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
SLI Systems Relieves Search Pain at Make Me Heal
December 29, 2011
Since implementing a Facebook search application, retailer Make Me Heal saw its traffic leap ahead. Market Watch reveals the company has found a solution in “Make Me Heal Looks to SLI Systems to Create a Seamless Search Experience Across Multiple Channels.” We learned from the write up:
By working closely with SLI, whose knowledgeable staff handle most aspects of search implementation and ongoing management, Make Me Heal offers a consistent search experience across its website, mobile site, and Facebook application, with matching look and feel of its search box, refinement options, and other features like auto-complete. The search box is placed prominently at the top of all search screens, making it easier for visitors to quickly begin searching from any entry point into the Make Me Heal online catalogue.
Visitors turn to Make Me Heal to find information and products relating to cosmetic surgery, anti-aging, and a range of medical conditions. SLI’s Learning Search makes that research easier.
SLI Systems provides full-service, customized, cloud-based solutions for site-search, navigation, merchandising, and search engine optimization. Its technology studies user behavior over time to deliver more relevant results.
Cynthia Murrell, December 29, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Marketing Love in a Time of Mobile Apps
December 22, 2011
As holiday shopping hits a crescendo this week retailers are examining how to increase sales, analyze shopper data more efficiently and strengthen mobile advertising all in one fell swoop. The article, Malls, Retailers Focus on Mobile Phones to Reach Shoppers, Boost Sales and Study Consumers, on http://www.cleveland.com/, explores some controversial mobile app and Smartphone technologies retailers are employing this holiday season.
Although the Federal Trade Commission and several consumer watchdog groups have put a nix to several Big-Brother-esque programs put in place by malls and large retailers to monitor shopper activity and behavior due to privacy violations, some programs are alive and thriving. Many complain that the programs are all one sided, in favor of the retailer, but that is not necessarily the case. In most instances consumers receive a nice reward for their privacy being violated.
As the article explains of the relationship between retailer and consumer,
With traditional retailers fighting online competition from companies from Amazon to Zappos.com, the retail industry must give consumers a reason to choose brick-and-mortar. Online retailers collect data about shoppers and use that information to tailor advertising and suggest purchases. Now stores and shopping-center landlords see cell phones as a path to influencing what people buy, how long they shop and how much they spend.
Before condemning retailers for utilizing scores of data mines waltzing in and out of their stores every day, consumers should examine their habits and devotion to mobile apps. Without consumer usage these app-utilizing marketing campaigns would be a waste of time. If one doesn’t want to be exploited by a retailer, turn off the phone. Easier said than done, just like search.
Catherine Lamsfuss, December 22, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Amazon, Google, and Android: The Stakes Rise
December 12, 2011
Amazon has added incentive to compete more aggressively with Google. The kids in Mountain View have decided to emulate Amazon’s Prime free shipping model. Google is also collecting different features to build what looks to me like a similar, Amazon type service. Hey, that’s innovation today. Live with it.
Is Google being exploited? It’s hard to imagine, but Datamation makes the case in “How Amazon Is Making a Sucker Out of Google.” Writer Mike Elgan insists that Google’s anything-goes Android policy, in which any company can use Android for any purpose, gives Amazon the leverage it needs to seriously wound the search giant.
Amazon’s Kindle Fire, which runs a version of Android, is positioned to undercut its competitors. Amazon is literally selling the Fire at a loss, intending to make up the money in easy tablet-based ordering form Amazon.com. This clever bit of manipulation will deal a blow to Android tablet makers and, by extension, to Google. It will also place Kindle Fires in many, many hands, which is where the real trouble starts, according to Elgan. The article asserts:
Amazon sells Kindles in order to sell products and services on the Amazon.com web site. And nearly all these products and services directly compete with Google’s. . . . “The Kindle Fire is the cloudiest of cloud tablets. To use the device is to become a user of Amazon’s cloud services. Cloud storage is free and unlimited for Kindle Fire users, which means there’s no reason to bother with Google’s cloud services.”
Perhaps Elgan is right: Google should play some defense and change its licensing rules before it’s too late? Our view is that Chinese four SIM phone manufacturers will be doing their own thing with Android too. Cat is out of the bag and eating tuna in Seattle.
Cynthia Murrell, December 12, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
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