What makes Web shoppers click “Buy” or “Bye”?

There’s big money being spent in the Internet marketplace. Last year, more than $175 billion passed through the Internet in the form of airline tickets, insurance premiums, online bill payments and paperback books, among thousands of other items. But for many consumers, at some point in the process, the online transaction came to a screeching halt. Perhaps, the customer became frustrated with the typing in their shipping information. Maybe the person got cold feet just as it came time to type in a credit card number. Maybe the customer was never able to find the right product in a vast catalog of products.

TeaLeaf, a San Francisco startup that analyzes online consumer behavior, has released a study that looks closely at e-commerce stop points - the place in the online process where a potential customer “walks away” from the sale. Clearly, TeaLeaf has reason to commission such a study - but it was interesting that the company looked beyond the stop-points of a sale - which is its sweet spot of data. Instead, it broadened its research to dive deeper into behavioral patterns - not just why they stopped but what they did after the lost sale. The survey found that 58 percent of consumers who experienced a problem with an online transaction said they would be less likely to buy from the company offline.


That’s a big number but an even bigger - and scarier - number is the 84 percent who have problems with a transaction are likely to share that experience with someone - think Yelp, Yahoo message boards, Facebook and Epinions.

This is valuable information, right? After all, if you’re running an e-commerce business, you probably want to know that, after Web site security, ease of completing the transaction is what’s most important to customers, followed by ease of navigation. According to TeaLeaf, the biggest problem experienced by customers


is difficulty with navigation.

The company ought to know - it tracks consumer behavior for some of the biggest names in online sales: walmart.com, hotels.com, esurance, priceline.com and others.

But more important than knowing what’s important to customers, isn’t is just as important to know what’s wrong with your e-commerce site? It might be time for a re-design.




The actual article appeared here

What makes Web shoppers click “Buy” or “Bye”?

There’s big money being spent in the Internet marketplace. Last year, more than $175 billion passed through the Internet in the form of airline tickets, insurance premiums, online bill payments and paperback books, among thousands of other items. But for many consumers, at some point in the process, the online transaction came to a screeching halt. Perhaps, the customer became frustrated with the typing in their shipping information. Maybe the person got cold feet just as it came time to type in a credit card number. Maybe the customer was never able to find the right product in a vast catalog of products.

TeaLeaf, a San Francisco startup that analyzes online consumer behavior, has released a study that looks closely at e-commerce stop points - the place in the online process where a potential customer “walks away” from the sale. Clearly, TeaLeaf has reason to commission such a study - but it was interesting that the company looked beyond the stop-points of a sale - which is its sweet spot of data. Instead, it broadened its research to dive deeper into behavioral patterns - not just why they stopped but what they did after the lost sale. The survey found that 58 percent of consumers who experienced a problem with an online transaction said they would be less likely to buy from the company offline.


That’s a big number but an even bigger - and scarier - number is the 84 percent who have problems with a transaction are likely to share that experience with someone - think Yelp, Yahoo message boards, Facebook and Epinions.

This is valuable information, right? After all, if you’re running an e-commerce business, you probably want to know that, after Web site security, ease of completing the transaction is what’s most important to customers, followed by ease of navigation. According to TeaLeaf, the biggest problem experienced by customers


is difficulty with navigation.

The company ought to know - it tracks consumer behavior for some of the biggest names in online sales: walmart.com, hotels.com, esurance, priceline.com and others.

But more important than knowing what’s important to customers, isn’t is just as important to know what’s wrong with your e-commerce site? It might be time for a re-design.




The actual article appeared here

What makes Web shoppers click “Buy” or “Bye”?

There’s big money being spent in the Internet marketplace. Last year, more than $175 billion passed through the Internet in the form of airline tickets, insurance premiums, online bill payments and paperback books, among thousands of other items. But for many consumers, at some point in the process, the online transaction came to a screeching halt. Perhaps, the customer became frustrated with the typing in their shipping information. Maybe the person got cold feet just as it came time to type in a credit card number. Maybe the customer was never able to find the right product in a vast catalog of products.

TeaLeaf, a San Francisco startup that analyzes online consumer behavior, has released a study that looks closely at e-commerce stop points - the place in the online process where a potential customer “walks away” from the sale. Clearly, TeaLeaf has reason to commission such a study - but it was interesting that the company looked beyond the stop-points of a sale - which is its sweet spot of data. Instead, it broadened its research to dive deeper into behavioral patterns - not just why they stopped but what they did after the lost sale. The survey found that 58 percent of consumers who experienced a problem with an online transaction said they would be less likely to buy from the company offline.


That’s a big number but an even bigger - and scarier - number is the 84 percent who have problems with a transaction are likely to share that experience with someone - think Yelp, Yahoo message boards, Facebook and Epinions.

This is valuable information, right? After all, if you’re running an e-commerce business, you probably want to know that, after Web site security, ease of completing the transaction is what’s most important to customers, followed by ease of navigation. According to TeaLeaf, the biggest problem experienced by customers


is difficulty with navigation.

The company ought to know - it tracks consumer behavior for some of the biggest names in online sales: walmart.com, hotels.com, esurance, priceline.com and others.

But more important than knowing what’s important to customers, isn’t is just as important to know what’s wrong with your e-commerce site? It might be time for a re-design.




The actual article appeared here

Busy as a Bee (but Really?)

Do you ever have those times where you feel like you are SO busy, but nothing seems to get done? Well, I've been having some of those days recently - like every day since I got back from our short vacation last week.

I think it is because I've got a lot of new stuff in the works and because the rest of my time is spent with Chloe. She is just so much fun. I just can't help it... she is developing such a personality. Dave and I were talking about how much we just want her with us all the time. And that when she isn't here (like when she is napping quietly upstairs) that something is missing. I guess you can say she's got us wrapped around her finger.

I've been spending most of my working time getting pieces glazed for orders and a trunk show next week at Reed's Beads in Ambler, PA.

My new work will be mostly limited edition. I find that if I limit myself, I get more done. With an obsessive personality, things get exponentially out of control with me. New glaze colors, new objects, new shapes - all in the works!

Ohhh, and my friend Kim (Aspenwear) and I are working on some Marsha Neal Studio apparel (scarves for us grown ups and then some cute infant wear). I am hoping to have some of the scarves with me at the trunk show next week. They should also be at my bead show tables soon after.

I'll be posting pictures and notices as things finally come together. Got to get all these little steps done to get to the top of the mountain.

Busy as a Bee (but Really?)

Do you ever have those times where you feel like you are SO busy, but nothing seems to get done? Well, I've been having some of those days recently - like every day since I got back from our short vacation last week.

I think it is because I've got a lot of new stuff in the works and because the rest of my time is spent with Chloe. She is just so much fun. I just can't help it... she is developing such a personality. Dave and I were talking about how much we just want her with us all the time. And that when she isn't here (like when she is napping quietly upstairs) that something is missing. I guess you can say she's got us wrapped around her finger.

I've been spending most of my working time getting pieces glazed for orders and a trunk show next week at Reed's Beads in Ambler, PA.

My new work will be mostly limited edition. I find that if I limit myself, I get more done. With an obsessive personality, things get exponentially out of control with me. New glaze colors, new objects, new shapes - all in the works!

Ohhh, and my friend Kim (Aspenwear) and I are working on some Marsha Neal Studio apparel (scarves for us grown ups and then some cute infant wear). I am hoping to have some of the scarves with me at the trunk show next week. They should also be at my bead show tables soon after.

I'll be posting pictures and notices as things finally come together. Got to get all these little steps done to get to the top of the mountain.

Home Again

Ah, to be home again...

We have just arrived home from our offical first Disney trip with Chloe. We had such a wonderful time with her and our family that were also along.

I know that a lot of people out there aren't thrilled with Disney as a whole, but I have nothing but great memories from vacations going there throughout my childhood. Maybe it's me, and Dave would probably say it is me.... but I get all teary and sentimentally weepy whenever I hear music that reminds me of Disney and walking down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.

We got some great memories and pictures of the trip, but until we find the camera, Chloe's website will have to wait to be updated. I'm trying to convince Dave that a picture of her and bathtub poo (little brown turds in tub - guess she had to go, and I of course got the camera while Dave tried to keep her from playing with it...) would be really funny to have on her site.

Chloe got her first Disney stuffed animal from Aunt April - a purple heffalump. She loves it and sleeps with it every night and throws it around every day as she plays and talks to it. She also got some cute onesies, sweaters, and a sun hat from the trip and some other goodies...

And after being around so many other children and crowds of people, she has taken to speaking in louder tones. She is quite the outgoing baby. Dave and I are exhausted to say the least. We had such a great time getting away from the regular rigamarole around here and concentrating only on Chloe and being with family - it was the most memorable vacation yet! Now if I could only catch up on sleep to get enough brain function to remember it all. Thank goodness for pictures!

Hope all is well with everyone! Marsha Neal Studio updates will hopefully be arriving in the next week or so! Thanks for reading!!!

Home Again

Ah, to be home again...

We have just arrived home from our offical first Disney trip with Chloe. We had such a wonderful time with her and our family that were also along.

I know that a lot of people out there aren't thrilled with Disney as a whole, but I have nothing but great memories from vacations going there throughout my childhood. Maybe it's me, and Dave would probably say it is me.... but I get all teary and sentimentally weepy whenever I hear music that reminds me of Disney and walking down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.

We got some great memories and pictures of the trip, but until we find the camera, Chloe's website will have to wait to be updated. I'm trying to convince Dave that a picture of her and bathtub poo (little brown turds in tub - guess she had to go, and I of course got the camera while Dave tried to keep her from playing with it...) would be really funny to have on her site.

Chloe got her first Disney stuffed animal from Aunt April - a purple heffalump. She loves it and sleeps with it every night and throws it around every day as she plays and talks to it. She also got some cute onesies, sweaters, and a sun hat from the trip and some other goodies...

And after being around so many other children and crowds of people, she has taken to speaking in louder tones. She is quite the outgoing baby. Dave and I are exhausted to say the least. We had such a great time getting away from the regular rigamarole around here and concentrating only on Chloe and being with family - it was the most memorable vacation yet! Now if I could only catch up on sleep to get enough brain function to remember it all. Thank goodness for pictures!

Hope all is well with everyone! Marsha Neal Studio updates will hopefully be arriving in the next week or so! Thanks for reading!!!

UNESCO ANNOUNCES INDIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM 'JANA GANA MANA' AS THE BEST NATIONAL ANTHEM

I have got this forward. It made me proud that our national anthem is getting recognition it deserves.



However giving little thought made me wonder why would UNESCO get into a country's pride... Every country's National Anthem is the best national anthem for its citizen... so the whole thing about being awarded the best national anthem sounded far fetched..

Searching the UNESCO site did not give me any information in this regard... Also the google search (keywords: UNESCO, JANA GANA)gave about 5000 results and mostly it was directed to blogs and groups.. nothing to a credible source of article...

I guess, this is a hoax mail that is going on...

The award is a FAKE... but its viral effect is for REAL

Cheers

Santosh

UNESCO ANNOUNCES INDIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM 'JANA GANA MANA' AS THE BEST NATIONAL ANTHEM

I have got this forward. It made me proud that our national anthem is getting recognition it deserves.



However giving little thought made me wonder why would UNESCO get into a country's pride... Every country's National Anthem is the best national anthem for its citizen... so the whole thing about being awarded the best national anthem sounded far fetched..

Searching the UNESCO site did not give me any information in this regard... Also the google search (keywords: UNESCO, JANA GANA)gave about 5000 results and mostly it was directed to blogs and groups.. nothing to a credible source of article...

I guess, this is a hoax mail that is going on...

The award is a FAKE... but its viral effect is for REAL

Cheers

Santosh

UNESCO ANNOUNCES INDIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM 'JANA GANA MANA' AS THE BEST NATIONAL ANTHEM

I have got this forward. It made me proud that our national anthem is getting recognition it deserves.



However giving little thought made me wonder why would UNESCO get into a country's pride... Every country's National Anthem is the best national anthem for its citizen... so the whole thing about being awarded the best national anthem sounded far fetched..

Searching the UNESCO site did not give me any information in this regard... Also the google search (keywords: UNESCO, JANA GANA)gave about 5000 results and mostly it was directed to blogs and groups.. nothing to a credible source of article...

I guess, this is a hoax mail that is going on...

The award is a FAKE... but its viral effect is for REAL

Cheers

Santosh

Advertising through LinkedIN

Ok. You know it. But, I still will say – LinkedIn is great. In fact, it is one of the best things that has happened in the Networking sites

So, I have a profile.. I have a large number of members in my network. But, what is it in for a marketer. As a marketing professional, how can I use LinkedIn to reach out to those grapes (read profiles) I see, but can’t reach.
Most marketers use LinkedIn effectively for HR (It is a different story that my profile has not evinced any interest so far)

What any advertiser is looking for medium and ways to reach to the target audience without much ‘disruption’. LinkedIn provides focused marketing based on member profile.

Normal Advertising Options:

LinkedIn advertising option offers the standard IAB Banner sizes (728x90, 160x600, 300x250) and text ads. These ads are displayed on the user profile pages – based on their designation, company size, location, roles, and industry. Also you can do the standard Frequency capping, IP target, time etc. If you are an advertiser from India, it is always better to keep in your messaging that the advertisement is from India/ for India – else most people might skip interacting with the banner ad.

Creating Networking Groups

LinkedIn Networking Groups are a great thing - but you need to understand that a LinkedIn Networking Group can be a business networking group, it can be a business executive networking group, it can be a marketing networking group, or any other kind of networking marketing group.

If you have a profile on LinkedIn, it is easy to create a Group. Remember that people come together even in the online space if they have something in common. Some common ideas that brings people together are –
Interest/Hobbies
Location/Place of work/Alumni
Something YOU are passionate about (you will be surprised how many are like you)
Professional Group (Marketing/Sales/Finance)
Self Improvement (everybody likes it)
If you are Indian – Try Religion/Cricket/Bollywood 
Ok. Now you have an objective for creating the group. You will need to send an INmail to all the members of your network about the new group. Say if you have around 100 people in your network.. and if 50% of them joins your group. You have 50 members in level 1. The persons who are in the network of the people who joined your network will get an update about their current status.. if we assume that there are 100 people each of their network, and a conversion of 25% would mean (25% of 50x100 = 1250 members)… Not bad for a few minutes of work.

If you are a premium member you could also send direct INMail to members who are not part of your network.

Remember, the idea is not of creating a group, but maintaining and sustaining the group. Which would mean you will need to have regular activities like – Discussion, Q&A, updates, links to related articles, etc

Remember the wise man saying – Fish where the fishes are…

Cheers
Santosh

Advertising through LinkedIN

Ok. You know it. But, I still will say – LinkedIn is great. In fact, it is one of the best things that has happened in the Networking sites

So, I have a profile.. I have a large number of members in my network. But, what is it in for a marketer. As a marketing professional, how can I use LinkedIn to reach out to those grapes (read profiles) I see, but can’t reach.
Most marketers use LinkedIn effectively for HR (It is a different story that my profile has not evinced any interest so far)

What any advertiser is looking for medium and ways to reach to the target audience without much ‘disruption’. LinkedIn provides focused marketing based on member profile.

Normal Advertising Options:

LinkedIn advertising option offers the standard IAB Banner sizes (728x90, 160x600, 300x250) and text ads. These ads are displayed on the user profile pages – based on their designation, company size, location, roles, and industry. Also you can do the standard Frequency capping, IP target, time etc. If you are an advertiser from India, it is always better to keep in your messaging that the advertisement is from India/ for India – else most people might skip interacting with the banner ad.

Creating Networking Groups

LinkedIn Networking Groups are a great thing - but you need to understand that a LinkedIn Networking Group can be a business networking group, it can be a business executive networking group, it can be a marketing networking group, or any other kind of networking marketing group.

If you have a profile on LinkedIn, it is easy to create a Group. Remember that people come together even in the online space if they have something in common. Some common ideas that brings people together are –
Interest/Hobbies
Location/Place of work/Alumni
Something YOU are passionate about (you will be surprised how many are like you)
Professional Group (Marketing/Sales/Finance)
Self Improvement (everybody likes it)
If you are Indian – Try Religion/Cricket/Bollywood 
Ok. Now you have an objective for creating the group. You will need to send an INmail to all the members of your network about the new group. Say if you have around 100 people in your network.. and if 50% of them joins your group. You have 50 members in level 1. The persons who are in the network of the people who joined your network will get an update about their current status.. if we assume that there are 100 people each of their network, and a conversion of 25% would mean (25% of 50x100 = 1250 members)… Not bad for a few minutes of work.

If you are a premium member you could also send direct INMail to members who are not part of your network.

Remember, the idea is not of creating a group, but maintaining and sustaining the group. Which would mean you will need to have regular activities like – Discussion, Q&A, updates, links to related articles, etc

Remember the wise man saying – Fish where the fishes are…

Cheers
Santosh

Advertising through LinkedIN

Ok. You know it. But, I still will say – LinkedIn is great. In fact, it is one of the best things that has happened in the Networking sites

So, I have a profile.. I have a large number of members in my network. But, what is it in for a marketer. As a marketing professional, how can I use LinkedIn to reach out to those grapes (read profiles) I see, but can’t reach.
Most marketers use LinkedIn effectively for HR (It is a different story that my profile has not evinced any interest so far)

What any advertiser is looking for medium and ways to reach to the target audience without much ‘disruption’. LinkedIn provides focused marketing based on member profile.

Normal Advertising Options:

LinkedIn advertising option offers the standard IAB Banner sizes (728x90, 160x600, 300x250) and text ads. These ads are displayed on the user profile pages – based on their designation, company size, location, roles, and industry. Also you can do the standard Frequency capping, IP target, time etc. If you are an advertiser from India, it is always better to keep in your messaging that the advertisement is from India/ for India – else most people might skip interacting with the banner ad.

Creating Networking Groups

LinkedIn Networking Groups are a great thing - but you need to understand that a LinkedIn Networking Group can be a business networking group, it can be a business executive networking group, it can be a marketing networking group, or any other kind of networking marketing group.

If you have a profile on LinkedIn, it is easy to create a Group. Remember that people come together even in the online space if they have something in common. Some common ideas that brings people together are –
Interest/Hobbies
Location/Place of work/Alumni
Something YOU are passionate about (you will be surprised how many are like you)
Professional Group (Marketing/Sales/Finance)
Self Improvement (everybody likes it)
If you are Indian – Try Religion/Cricket/Bollywood 
Ok. Now you have an objective for creating the group. You will need to send an INmail to all the members of your network about the new group. Say if you have around 100 people in your network.. and if 50% of them joins your group. You have 50 members in level 1. The persons who are in the network of the people who joined your network will get an update about their current status.. if we assume that there are 100 people each of their network, and a conversion of 25% would mean (25% of 50x100 = 1250 members)… Not bad for a few minutes of work.

If you are a premium member you could also send direct INMail to members who are not part of your network.

Remember, the idea is not of creating a group, but maintaining and sustaining the group. Which would mean you will need to have regular activities like – Discussion, Q&A, updates, links to related articles, etc

Remember the wise man saying – Fish where the fishes are…

Cheers
Santosh

Little Brother

I'm so excited for my brother (Nick Yarrusso). He has just had an article about him published in a local paper on his being a stunt bike rider: http://www.sparkweekly.com (also the title of this blog is a link to the actual page.

It's something that I'm always amazed with - especially since he was always getting bumps and bruises and scraped knees & elbows - that he is balanced enough to really be good at what he does.

He even has a website: http://www.gsenick.com

I remember when he was little (we're 7 years apart) we always used to tell him "watch out Nick" " don't hit that wall Nick". And he was always on the go. When he was a toddler, he had this horse attached by springs to a metal frame - called "clip-clop" and he used to bounce on that poor thing so much that he could get it to move all the way across the room just by bouncing momentum. I think there is a picture somewhere of him in mid-bounce with his little bowl cut hair sticking straight up and out in every direction.

Anyway.... just bragging about my little brother...

Little Brother

I'm so excited for my brother (Nick Yarrusso). He has just had an article about him published in a local paper on his being a stunt bike rider: http://www.sparkweekly.com (also the title of this blog is a link to the actual page.

It's something that I'm always amazed with - especially since he was always getting bumps and bruises and scraped knees & elbows - that he is balanced enough to really be good at what he does.

He even has a website: http://www.gsenick.com

I remember when he was little (we're 7 years apart) we always used to tell him "watch out Nick" " don't hit that wall Nick". And he was always on the go. When he was a toddler, he had this horse attached by springs to a metal frame - called "clip-clop" and he used to bounce on that poor thing so much that he could get it to move all the way across the room just by bouncing momentum. I think there is a picture somewhere of him in mid-bounce with his little bowl cut hair sticking straight up and out in every direction.

Anyway.... just bragging about my little brother...