Internet Marketing Tips from Denise Wakeman

Shopping Cart Systems - Part 3

Here's the third and final part of the article by Tom Antion with 9 more questions to ask when you're considering a shopping cart system.

Shopping Cart Systems - Part 1
Shopping Cart Systems - Part 2

22 Questions to Ask When Buying a Shopping Cart System (Part 3)
by Tom Antion

14. Does it have broadcast e-mail capability? Good shopping cart systems are able to manipulate your customer database instantly and send e-mails to any segment or sub-segment of your clients and handle unlimited e-mail magazines. Again, in the old days I would have to be genius enough to pick out segments of the database, export them to a file, import them into a mail program and then an hour later send the darn e-mail. Now this is all done in a few seconds.

15. Does it have mail merge capability? The e-mails sent are personalized to the recipients in any number of ways. Their names can be popped in to the subject line and in various portions of the body of the e-mail. You can merge "what they bought," "when they bought," "where they live" or just about anything that will make them feel the e-mail was just for them. Virtually all studies show that mail merge gets a much higher response than plain broadcast e-mail.

Ex-Oprah Producer Tells All

I've received this notice from several sources so I thought I'd pass it on.  We all know that getting on Oprah can sky rocket an author's sales!

Want to Be On National TV?  Ex-Oprah Producer Tells How to Make It Happen!

If so, register for a free telephone seminar this Thursday, Dec 1st on "The Three Big Secrets for Getting Publicity as a Guest on Top National TV Shows" hosted by Steve Harrison of Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR).

You’ll hear from a former Oprah producer plus current producers from the Montel Williams Show and Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends.  You have a choice of two time slots for the call -- 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific) or 7:30 pm Eastern (4:30 pm Pacific). To register go here now:
http://www.getmajorpress.com/getontvcall/?10065

I AM Foundation Gets a New Blog

A couple of weeks ago Patsi and I donated the set up of a blog to The I AM Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to raising a million dollars and a million books for kids worldwide, each year.  The Million Books for Kids Blog invites dialogue with children and adults who are interested in participating in their mission.  This is a terrific cause and I invite you to join us in our support of the foundation by making a small donation on their blog.  $2 buys 2 books for kids who don't have the resources many of us have who are reading this blog.

You can read the press release here.

Shopping Cart Systems - Part 2

Yesterday I posted part 1 of an article on how to select a shopping cart system, written by my mentor Tom Antion.  Following is part 2 -- 8 more important questions to ask when purchasing a shopping chart system.

22 Questions to Ask When Buying a Shopping Cart System (Part 2)
by Tom Antion

6. Does it deliver receipt and confirmation e-mails automatically? The customer wants to know immediately that the order went through. If he or she is unsure, you are going to have to field many wasted e-mails and phone calls letting the customer know everything is OK.

7. Does it allow multiple order and dropship e-mails? In many cases, several different people in your organization and/or outside your organization need notice of an order. Again, you don't want to have to do this manually.

8. Does it have a Web-based administration page so you can work on your cart from any computer that has Internet access?

9. Does it include encryption technology and a secure server? Many companies make a fortune by sucking you in with a cheap or free cart and then make money on selling you an overpriced secure server.

Shopping Cart Systems - Part 1

A couple of weeks ago our Conversations with Experts featured Martin Wales of 1ShoppingCart.com.  As I've said over and over, there is only one shopping cart system really worth consideration.  However, it's always important to do your own research first.  My marketing mentor, Tom Antion, has written an article about the questions to ask when buying a shopping cart system.  It's pretty long so I'm posting it in 3 parts.

22 Questions to Ask When Buying a Shopping Cart System
by Tom Antion

Here are the critical questions you need to ask to find the right shopping cart solution.

You can use traditional methods to sell products such as direct mail, catalogs and advertising. However, if you have a great online presence, the entire world is your marketplace at a fraction of the cost of most traditional methods. To easily sell to this worldwide marketplace, you need a great shopping cart system.

Choosing a shopping cart system is perhaps the most important single decision you'll make in your online marketing career.

This is because you will be stuck with the decision for a long time.

If you buy into a system that isn't adequate, it can cost you money--big money--because it won't maximize the amount of money spent by each visitor.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of off-the-shelf, free and alternative products out there vying for your money, time or both. And most of them are junk.