Have you ever encountered this problem? Do you know how I can solve it?

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know why there is not a chance to connect facebook lead ads to manychat even if manychat is supported .

Basically it seems that i can integrate manychat to some other app, but I cannot integrate soem other app (like FB) to manychat

Hello - Looking to upgrade to the Business Plan. Before doing so, how many "Way Integrations" can someone house under a single account? I'm looking to create a Way integration for every client we bring on-board to our software platform. This could easily grow into 100+ way integrations as I need to connect each unique cognito form to its own respectful google sheet for reporting purposes.

Thanks!

Analyze The Customer Demands This Christmas Season

The first and foremost Christmas selling tip for sellers is to understand the current & upcoming demands.

Unlike any other time of the season, Christmas follows a very different trend and shopping pattern raising unique customer demands.

So,

This Christmas Season, as a seller you need to be very sure which type of customer demands you need to meet. Understand what your customers buy.

I hope the infographic below may serve helpful for you to decide:christmas sales stats

There are three broad categories in which customer demands can be divided. It’s advisable to target any one of these categories.

These customer demands can be categorized as:

• Fad Demands
• Trending Demands
• Evergreen Demands

I will be explaining the demands in detail.

Fad Demands

These product demands are very short time demands that come with a blast and last very soon. These could not be easily forecasted as they start trending randomly.

For Example: A Fidget Spinner came into trend in the year 2017 around the Christmas holidays and lost its popularity in a few months.

These demands start trending in a flash. You just need to act quickly or in no time they go out of craze and you will be left with nothing but regret. Fad demands last up to a year maximum.

From a sellers’ perspective, Fads are an easy way to earn a lot of money in a short period of time.

Trending Demands

These product demands are similar to infatuation. They arise because of some need and become a short-lived desire that sticks around for a little while.

For Example: The Pokemon Go Game was released in July 2016. There was a huge buzz worldwide, and it engulfed almost every mobile phone user. We are at the end of 2022 now and how many people still remember Pokemon Go?

These Trending Demands stick around for a little while, but ultimately they last in 3 to 4 years, tops. As a seller, you have to be aware when the trend is fading and very subtly need to get rid of all the products soon.

Evergreen Demands

These demands are a result of a basic need or a tradition that is being carried out for years. These are long-lasting demands and they grow into a stable market that lasts forever.

For Example: Christmas Decorations are an annual demand that arises every year during the month of December. The stats from Google Trends explains the evergreen demand for Christmas decoration around this time of year.christmas decoration demand

Do you know what the best part of these demands is?

These never actually go out of style because consumer demand continues to build over time. A seller can always count on this as this will never disappoint you.

Now coming to the second tip for selling in Christmas.

Decorate Your Online Store with Christmas Theme

Christmas is all about celebrations and festive spirit. Your website is the first thing that a customer notices while shopping.

You need to be very sure that your eCommerce website is attractive and attention fetching. And the best way to do so is to use a Christmas theme for your site.

You can get many Christmas or Holiday based themes online for your store.

Be very careful while choosing since your website must reflect a sense of festivity that your customers can not say no to.

Remember: Unless you are not a developer yourself, we suggest you consult a Magento developer to implement the theme for your store. The reason being you have to keep backups at multiple stages in order to revert the changes once the season gets over.

Multichannel Listing of products:

Since this Christmas season you are planning to go big then you must consider showcasing your product to the maximum audience. And in the case of eCommerce, you can get maximum customers at the marketplaces.

So our third Christmas selling tip for sellers is to list products on more than one channel.

Remember this simple rule:

More Channels = More Customers = More Sales

To bridge the gap between your products and customers you simply need to list your products on multiple platforms.

Doing so manually may take time and this Christmas Season you don’t have much to spare, so try MultiChannel Selling

 with eCommerce Integration.

A real-time solution to connect your store/s to numerous global marketplaces seamlessly, saving you from handling multiple platforms.

For Magento Sellers — The Biggest Discount on Marketplace Integration is Live

Work On Promotions

Consider that You are selling a product at the most affordable price but how will your customers know about it?

Promotions!!

Selling the product isn’t quite enough. You need to plan a promotional campaign for Christmas sales and the best tool to do so is social media.

According to a report by Crowdtap, 67 % of consumers have purchased a gift they saw on social media.

Start your social media campaign a few weeks before Christmas on Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

You can also give out discount vouchers to customers visiting your social media posts. This is one of the effective strategies as by doing so you ensured that the customer will at least once visit your website.

Special Discounts to Customers

Getting new customers is comparatively harder than getting sales from existing customers.

An average shopper spends more than $100 on themselves during Christmas Shopping. And Special discounts are the best way of getting your previous customer’s attention on your products.

You can use email, phone, and social campaigns to get in touch with your existing customers.

Get Creative with your product descriptions:

This is a pro tip and can serve as the greatest booster for the conversion rates during Christmas sales.

Give additional juice to your products with flashy product descriptions.

Done?

You have the theme and you have the festive product description.

Now you just need to lure the customers to your website and they’ll automatically drool onto the product page. Rest is all taken care of.

Now let’s discuss a few Technical tips that sellers need this Christmas season:

Accept Various Paying Methods

Ensure that all the required payment gateways are embedded in your website.

Customers especially during the Christmas sale time can turn out to be very choosy when it comes to payment methods. Quite often a customer chooses to leave the shopping cart empty if their preferred payment method is not available.

Remember the payment methods should be considered based on the region where your target audience exits:

For example, if you are targeting the US region to sell then make sure to include these payment gateways in your store:

• PayPal
• Stripe
• Square
• SecurePay
• Worldpay
• Authorize.net
• 2Checkout.com
• Braintree

One more thing to remember — You must be comfortable with cash on delivery also because a mass number of customers wish to see the goods before payment.

Moving on to our next Christmas selling tip for sellers

Perform Website Speed Test to check the performance

Now, this tip is quite basic but needs to be listed.

A fast-loading website aka responsiveness of your site is a must if you are planning not to lose a single customer this Christmas season.

So perform a full website performance check and analyse metrics such as page loading speed, DNS lookup speed, server load, plugins compatibility, etc

Now comes the second last Christmas selling tip for sellers

Plan for the coming year

Since Christmas is the last holiday of the season, now you have to focus on the things to come ahead. You need to plan the whole next year and how are you going to enhance your sales in 2022.

You need to make sure that your store is ready in all aspects before heading to the new year.

Our last tip is generally part of the customer demand section. But since it’s so important I mentioned it as a separate tip.

Christmas Gifts & Decorations (Bundled Products):

Christmas won’t feel merry unless there are decorations. Every household big or small, rich or poor, rural or urban uses Christmas decorations to light up the festive mood.

62% of US shoppers buy gifts in the week before Christmas. (Fortunly, 2021)

According to a survey by wearetop10, Consumers spend an average of $200 each on decorations each Christmas season.

So, my advice is to add a gift section to your website. This section must include decorations products such as stockings, Santa figures, decorative lightings, caps, ornaments, etc.

The festive spirit will automatically drive customers towards these products giving an additional boost to your sales.

Although I’d suggest not to stock up on these items, only limited products will do the trick. Trust me you are not gonna regret it.

This blog is coating up with the ten most common eCommerce challenges faced by Magento sellers while selling online. So, let’s focus on the below-mentioned eCommerce challenges that are reflected globally.

The hassles of setting up Seller Accounts on Different Marketplaces

Before selling on any marketplace, you need to set up a seller’s account in multiple regions to proceed further. Though, account set-up procedures are not similar for each one. Also, you might be required to fulfill the technical and other requirements to complete the setup procedure on the respective marketplaces.

To set up a seller account on the marketplace, you should have:

• A strong hosting,
• A purchased domain,
• Nicely designed website/online store,
• Optimized and uploaded products on store/website,
• You need to fully comply with all the policies provided by the marketplace,
• All the marketplace API must be working properly prior to set up as it helps to avoid marketplace issues,
• Sandbox and production API must be working properly,
• In website configuration, the setup must be broken free,
• Top multichannel Integration extensions to integrate your online store with marketplaces.

The Process of Uploading Products in Bulk

Next, bulk product uploading is a must-have functionality for every multichannel selling store. Without this, Magento sellers can face some issues. Therefore, here are the common Magento issues faced by online sellers while uploading products in bulk –

• Attribute mapping issue
• Wrong barcode/ASIN
• Throttle issue – restrictions on uploading a maximum number of products

Uploading the products with the correct attributes, ID, and data is as important as setting your eCommerce store’s overall goal.

What To Do?

Get started with the prerequisites before proceeding with the new products upload in bulk and updating the existing ones.

• Stock: quantity of your stock
• Price: amount/rate that your customer will pay
• Category: Category of products
• SKU: product SKU uniquely identifies your product
• Active product status: If ‘Yes’, this product will appear on your website. If ‘No’, this will be hidden.
• Product Identifier: product item; e.g. iPhone/Samsung. This field is mandatory, you can not leave it blank while uploading products must have a unique identifier with them like ASIN, UPC, EAN, etc.

These are a few things that should be taken care of while operating on global online selling giants.

Mapping Multiple attributes for products

Attribute mapping is the process of making your store product features compatible with the attributes of the respective marketplace. In addition to this, below are the mentioned required missing attributes that interrupt your online procedures.

• Firstly, invalid values for the specific attributes,
• Secondly, if the mapping of the required fields is not correct,
• Thirdly, not separating the categories and subcategories with a forward slash,
• Finally, the issue in catalogue visibility

On the way to map it correctly, few prerequisites should be taken to get it sorted and efficient as per the different marketplace limitations.

• SKU: It causes import to fail if it’s longer than 64 characters for some marketplaces, however, it differs from one marketplace to another.
• Visibility of the product: The product should be visible in the catalog and available for search.
• Product Type: Product type should be indicated as virtual, configurable, grouped, and simple.
• Name of Product: The name of the product that the customer uses to identify.
• Product Description: It provides detailed information about the product.
• Meta Title: It appears in the title bar, browser tab, and search result lists.
• Meta Description: Ideally, it should be between 150-160 characters. It provides a brief overview of the product.
• Keywords: It is visible only to search engines. Use high-value keywords to rank it faster.

Cron Issues on Various Servers

Cron is responsible for syncing the inventory, pricing, orders, etc., properly. So, without making the syncing smooth and compatible, it’s not possible to operate online successfully.

To fix these cron issues, you should have a highly compatible server, timely execution, strong error-free codes, etc. With the help of this scheduler, you can set up and run cron jobs easily on any scheduled period of time. Moreover, it automatically triggers the actions which save a lot of time for store admin when it confronts the multiple cron tasks.

Product listing and ranking issues

Proper product listing and its ranking is responsible for all the sales numbers at marketplaces. For smooth running and to avoid lags, you have to go through the below-mentioned details to get this done smoothly. 

• Product title
• Description of Product
• Product weight
• Size of Product
• Product key features
• Proper attribute mapping
• Product categories

Last but not the least, all the given optional fields in the listing section should be filled correctly to make the overall ranking better and optimized. Hence, listing and ranking issues are one of the major eCommerce challenges and Magento issues faced by online sellers.

Correct Product Attribute and Category Issue

The product attributes define the relevant and crucial facts about the product. Moreover, it includes things such as size, color, type, style, etc. Sometimes it creates issues while the execution. And the issue with non-compatible or unmatched attribute and category issues is one of them. Product categories and their attributes should be similar at both the Magento store and respective marketplace. Furthermore, it must include the essential details of the product.

Most common issues that every seller face, such as;

• Improper formatting
• Missing data
• Attribute incompatibility (if a product does not match the category then the marketplace will disapprove of the product).
• Invalid data, etc.

Product Data Syncing Issues like inventory, price, and product description

Sometimes the data and inventory prices don’t sync properly. Due to this, the merchant can get themselves in a condition of overselling or underselling. As a seller, you have to prevent this from happening again and again. Hence, the product syncing should be accurate, without any lag and mismatch. Issues faced in the segment of major eCommerce challenges, are invalid data, order mismatching or not updating correctly, incorrect product description, etc. To get a solution to eCommerce challenges, just opt for the Magento Multichannel Integration Extensions which provides all the required marketplace selling features. So, in the same vein as expanding your online business operation, a flawless syncing of stock would make your product visibility higher on all sales platforms.

Issues of Centralized and Organized Order Management

Online selling on multiple marketplaces through your Magento store should be centralized and well-managed. Most of the time, it is not easy to sell and manage multiple channels via a single online store.

To figure it out smoothly, you can opt for the Magento multichannel selling Integration extension. Furthermore, it makes your online selling optimized. If a merchant is selling in more than one marketplace then it is very hectic to manage from each marketplace panel. So, we are providing a common interface to manage all orders and listings.

Authorization process of different marketplaces

One thing that sellers must know is if you do not follow the right process, your Integration will never work. While the authorization is simply to authenticate the online sellings and updates. The mismatch of authorization keys and the issue in generating the access token are the ones that every seller needs to get rid of.

Multichannel Selling on 3P Marketplace Issues

Selling parallel on multiple marketplaces is not easy all the time and is one of the eCommerce challenges faced by Magento sellers. Usually, the common challenges that sellers face in the marketplace are related to inventory, pricing, order updation, attribute mapping, etc. However, many multichannel marketplaces selling Integration tools are available in the market. And these solutions will solve your Magento seller issues and challenges to make selling smooth and hassle-free. So, just turn to it and get off from the risk of losing customers, orders, and markets. Although, selling on 3P marketplaces requires some basic things to consider before proceeding with it. Above all, it prevents you from selling online without any marketplace issues.

Things to consider before selling on 3P marketplaces

• A well-described keyword-based product features and description
• Competitive product pricing along with flexible offerings
• Proper following of marketplace product uploading guidelines to avoid errors while uploading
• A diversified shipping strategy according to the selling regions
• 24×7 availability of inventory and updations
• An automated centralized selling console to manage it efficiently
• Get Sorted with the Multichannel Integration Solutions

Whether you are selling or planning to sell on multi-channel platforms, the Integration can help you jack up all your trades and issues efficiently. CedCommerce has developed multichannel Integrations to get rid of the technical issues that every seller faces at a regular interval. Furthermore, by integrating your store with one of the market best Integrations, you will get many benefits of Magneto Multichannel Marketplace Integration –

• Order-auto acknowledgement features
• New order notifications
• Low stock notifications
• Auto-shipment of orders
• Magento order creation
• Bulk product uploads
• Real-time order fetching
• Real-time synchronization and multi-account support will be an added benefit to your store.

The above-mentioned features will help you to make your online selling easy without facing marketplace and Magento issues.

Closing Remarks

Most sellers go through these common eCommerce challenges faced by Magento sellers that can affect their overall business. To avoid this, CedCommerce has developed top-notch market-leading Magento multichannel Integration extensions. Moreover, CED is one of the most innovative eCommerce giants that work in favour of sellers. In addition to this, the company has developed many other extensions to help sellers reach new heights. So, just don’t wait for the steps to turn up. And get one of the best multichannel selling Integration to make online selling smooth process.

I hope these Magento marketplace selling challenges will help you understand the issues of selling online. And, these are quite common among the other sellers.

Through this you can extend your business horizon in absolutely no time. Let’s explore how Facebook is a good platform for your business:

The best platform to skyrocket your sales:

If you have a well-established business and planning to boost your engagement across the platform, then Facebook is the best platform for you. Facebook has an active audience and will drive more sales if you are willing to invest.

Single storefront to sell across Facebook Commerce:

Facebook launched Facebook Shops on 19th May 2020 to help sellers survive during covid. You can now surface your products across Facebook and Instagram through one single storefront.

Harness the power of Facebook Page:

As an eCommerce business, listing your products via a Facebook business page can be a perfect choice. All you need to do is create a Facebook Shop or a Page Shop; through the Business Manager. Add phone number, and contact information, and link your products to your business account. Redirect customers directly to your website for checkout, increasing your store’s traffic.

Leverage Facebook Ads:

You can promote your products through Facebook Ads. Additionally, Facebook & Instagram Shopping app allows you to run Prospective and Retargeting Ad Campaigns. Furthermore, Facebook dynamic ads offer you to create personalized campaigns to showcase products based on each shopper’s interest.

Monitor your ads:

Facebook Ads Analytics provides you the insights into your campaigns. With these insights, you will be able to analyze the performance of your Facebook ads.

Use Creative features:

You can now also leverage Instagram Shopping, Drops, and Shopping in Reels. Simply connect your Facebook business page with your Instagram account and get your products across Instagram surfaces.

In-app Checkout :

To make the selling process more seamless for the seller, Facebook has launched the checkout feature for all US sellers. The feature will soon be available to more regions. Besides, all the Non-US sellers can leverage multichannel selling through solutions from partners.

Facebook for Business makes it very easy for you to reach out to your targeted demographics. Once your Facebook page is set up, you can reach your customers through Facebook ads, posts, and various marketing strategies. Thus helping you to boost your product visibility across the platform and get more engagement for your brand. 

Conclusion

Did you know that expanding your business to reach a wider audience has become much easier with Business partners?

So, it all boils down to the fact that there are numerous benefits of the Facebook business page; especially when your business is eCommerce. Thus, Facebook can prove to be a perfect platform for your business. But we could not decline that for new or small businesses; there are a few challenges and risks of using a Facebook business page too.

Before we come on to page speed let us first understand the factors which are responsible for the slow speed of Magento 2.

Why is Magento 2 slow?

The reasons that make Magento 2 slow are:

• Third-Party Extensions
• Obsolete Technical Stack
• Inferior Server performance
• Unavailability of the Latest Stack that comprises Varnish, Redis, Elastic Search Technologies

Third-Party Extensions: The third-party extensions (like Multichannel Integrations) installed in your Magento 2 store significantly slows down the overall performance of the Magento 2 store.

Obsolete Technical Stack: The huge technical stack in Magento 2 store comprises various technologies that are not updated to the latest version.

Server- The performance of the server is another major reason behind the slow speed of Magento2. The server chosen should be efficient for the eCommerce store. A high Time to First Byte(TTFB) makes the performance slow.

Unavailability of Latest Stack- Magento 2 recommends having the latest stack of Varnish, Redis & Elastic Search. These are the extra packages needed to deliver a super speedy web experience.

Now let’s learn about Page Speed.

What is Page Speed?

Page Speed is referred to as the page loading speed of contents on the website. The page speed is dependent on several factors like the site’s server, page file size, and image compression. Well, the faster the web page, the more efficient it becomes for the users. As many of them say that page speed is the same as site speed, but it is NOT. Site speed is the average of several pages on a website.

Yes, it’s correct that the users abandon pages that take too long to load. So is there a way to escape out of this long time?

Definitely Yes! The escape is Page Speed Optimisation.

The ideal load time for a page is 2 seconds.

What is Page Speed Optimisation?

Page speed optimization is the process of optimizing the page to reduce its loading time. Page Speed Optimisation is necessary not only for your users but also for Google, as there is a connection between page speed and SEO, so it is important that the page loads quickly for a better user experience. The faster the content on the page loads the higher is the chance of it to rank on the search engine. The quick loading pages are more appealing to the site visitors and consequently decrease the bounce rate.

Why is Page Speed Optimisation a major factor when it comes to SEO?

As discussed above, pages with higher load time have a higher bounce rate percentage and tend the users to get frustrated with slow loading. Google measures time to the first byte when considering the page speed. The consistent increase in the bounce rates decreases the overall ranking on google. Thus, Page speed acts as a crucial ranking factor for search engines.

Effect of Slow Page Speed on Your Magento Business-

Apart from SEO, slow page speed also impacts engagement, conversion, and brand advocacy. If your Magento eCommerce store is making $100,000 per day and if there is a 1-second page delay then that will lead to a $2.5 million loss in sales every year.

Impact on Sales and Revenue:

The slow page speed and unalluring online Magento business directly affect your sales. When it comes to the store speed the customers become more impatient and do not wish to buy from that website. 1 out of 5 online shoppers abandon their cart due to the slow transaction process, hence affecting sales and revenue.

Impact on Conversion:

In an online business, it is very convenient for the customers to leave the site in just a few back clicks and switch to another store for their shopping if the information or the product is not what they wished for. User Experience becomes the ultimate factor impacting conversion rates on your online business.

Facts and Figures on Page Speed:

• 47% of users expect a web page to load in 2 seconds.
• The Website taking more than 3 seconds to load is abandoned by 40% of people.
• A 1-second delay in page speed leads to a 7% reduction in conversion.
• 73% of mobile users say that they have experienced a website with slow page speed.
• 51% of users say that they came across a website that crashed, froze, or had an error.
• 38% of internet users encountered a website that wasn’t available.
• 79% of dissatisfied shoppers from website speed are less likely to buy from that site.

Tools Used for Page Speed Optimisation:

GTmetrix:

GTmetrix is a free tool that provides you with a detailed report of the website’s performance. The page speed performance in this tool is analyzed using Google Page Speed and Yslow. It shows the recommendations to fix the various issues that are affecting the site’s performance.

Google PageSpeed Insights:

PageSpeed Insights is also a free tool to diagnose the problems of the website that slow down the performance. Separate scores, reports, and insights for desktop and mobile are also shown in this tool. It also provides the lab and field data of the website.

Why consider Magento 2 to build your Website?

The following points should be considered while building your store on Magento 2 version-

• The latest version of Magento
• Highly Secure
• Simple & Robust
• More Stable
• Faster than Magento 1
• Improved SEO
• Compatible with 3p Marketplace Integrations

Every Millisecond Counts:

Speed up your Magento store today as with every second you delay, you are losing potential customers.

This Walmart API update announcement came in 2021 for sellers using an API-based third-party Integration for selling on Walmart. But still, many sellers haven’t moved their product catalog to the new Walmart Item Spec v4.X!

As per Walmart’s announcement, this new API will bring many benefits to your store, like improved inventory & order management, better product visibility & discoverability in search results, increased traffic, and much more. So, if you haven’t upgraded your product catalog yet, you are missing all these benefits plus any chance to earn a higher profit margin during the upcoming festive season sale. So, now is the best time to upgrade to the new Walmart Item Spec v4.X to keep your inventories updated and earn maximum profits out of your Walmart account.

Want to learn more about Walmart Item Spec v4.0? How will it impact your online selling experience? What to do next? Keep reading to find all details.

Upgrade Your Extension to Walmart Item Spec v.4X Now!! - Book a Call

What is Walmart Item Spec v4.X API?

Walmart Item Spec v4.X is a new and upgraded API version that is available in JSON format for better ease of use. The new API further comes with 250+ improved attributes and better organization to make it easy for buyers to discover your products in searches and easy navigation on online shelves.

The improvements made in the new Item Spec v4.0 includes:

• Better data definitions, modern attribute names, and precise attribute organization
• Increased variant grouping features organize products in site navigation
• New & improved product and compliance attributes
• One setup process with a single spec for combined Marketplace and WFS items
• Automated product tax code assignment
• Ease to set Sales restrictions for WFS-eligible items by state or zip code due to reasons: Commercial, or Illegal for sale

Benefits of Migrating to Walmart Item Spec v4.X

Switching to the new Item Spec v4.X API will make item setup and maintenance processes faster and more efficient. It further simplifies the Walmart Marketplace listing processes, improves customer traffic to your listings, and more. Other benefits of migration include:

• Increased product discoverability for your buyers
• Enhanced seller’s efficiency to build and organize feeds
• Easy to organize and manage orders & inventories

Also Read: How to Sell More on Walmart This Black Friday

What Do Walmart Guidelines Say About Not Updating to new API?

From 1st October 2022, Walmart stopped supporting any item setup and maintenance requests from Item Spec v3.2. So, sellers who didn’t switch to Walmart Spec v4 version will further face challenges like:

• Issues in product upload processes
• Degraded listing quality of product catalog
• Low visibility of products on the platform
• Mismanagement of orders and inventories

If you don’t want to face the above issues, transit your product catalogs to Item Spec 4.0 and continue maintaining your products on Walmart.

What will happen to Sellers Using Walmart Magento Integration by CedCommerce?

To make it easy for sellers to transit their products to the new Item Spec v4.X, CedCommerce has upgraded their Walmart Magento Integration extension. This upgraded Walmart extension is developed under the new guidelines so it is fully compatible with the new Item Spec v4.X.

Sellers who are using our Walmart Integration can easily upgrade it by booking a slot for the Migration session. Once the customization is confirmed from your end, our developer team will update your whole package with minimal charges.

Find more Magento Marketplace Integration in our store.

What to do Next?

The Festive season is on its way! So, it’s best to migrate to the new Item Spec v4.X as soon as possible. To gain maximum profit, it is important to maintain up-to-date & accurate product catalogs. So here is what you can do now.

Migrate your products to a new Item Spec yourself – follow the guide!

OR,

Let us do it for you – connect now!

Final Words

Walmart Item Spec v3.2 ended on 1st October 2022. So, if you want to continue selling smoothly on Walmart and don’t want to affect sales during the festive season, it’s the right time to move your product catalog to the new Walmart Item Spec v4.X.

Product feed management is a skill that can be achieved with just 2 simple things:

Proper Knowledge – Attaining Proper knowledge of the product management

eCommerce Tools – Setting up the system with automated Management tools

So let’s move on to the first item on the list and understand the basics of product feed management.

What is Product Feed Management?

Product Feed Management is defined as the process of optimizing the product feeds and centralizing all the information to minimizing the risk of errors. Proper and Organised Product Management gives a boost to the sales efforts while selling online.

You must be wondering what does optimizing the feed exactly mean? Well, it typically means optimizing the following:

• Feed quality and
• Source Quality

In terms of a Magento seller, product feed management can be defined as creating the most efficient feeds and updating them regularly. Proper feed management in Magento is a key for sellers to perform perfect multi-channel listing & selling since it ensures that all the requirements of each sales channel are met.

You must be wondering –

Can I perform feed management in Magento manually?

The answer is – It could be done manually BUT that can only be applicable for a small-scale seller with a limited number of products in the catalog.

This is where an Automated Feed Manager comes into play.

What is An eCommerce Product Feed Manager or a Data Feed Manager?

A Product Feed Management tool (aka eCommerce Product Feed Manager) is a centralized tool that provides a powerful platform to monitor, enrich and update the product feeds on the store as well as the linked platforms.

In other words, a product feed manager gives sellers the freedom to manage feed and its multichannel distribution without a developer.

Now let’s understand the significance of selling online using an automated Product Feed Manager.

Why is it so important for sellers to manage feeds?

Feed Management gives sellers an upper hand by streamlining their selling with these advantages:

• Easy product categorization – This allows an easy and organized way of managing products using extensive filters which also enables easy bulk actions.
• Creation of customized product feeds – Based on the requirements & criteria of various platforms, sellers can create any number of customized product feeds.
• Exporting a high-quality product feed – Allows easy listing of product feeds on the platform as per the standards for maximum impact.
• Easy distribution of Feeds on multiple platforms – Simplifies the feed distribution process where sellers can list products on more than one platform.
• Everything is in one place – Gives sellers the freedom to manage everything from creation to upload to supervision – all at one location.
• Minimize the risk of error – Since most of the process is automated, it eliminates the maximum chances of errors.
• Automatic Synchronisation – Real-time synchronization of products where newly created product feed will automatically be updated and sent
• Category Mapping- Changing store product categories for every platform can be avoided since it allows mapping the product category between the store and platform.
• Easy evaluation- One place to monitor and evaluate the performance of your products irrespective of the platform they are listed on.
• Error Check and Removing – In case any request is failing or any error occurring throughout the process, you can check & rectify it.
• A key to multi-channel selling: This tool makes it convenient for sellers to manage multiple seller panels simultaneously hence driving sales from multiple channels.

We’ll be discussing this in detail in the latter half of this blog.

Since you have to manage feeds, you need to understand the major types of Feeds in Magento.

What are the Major Feed Types in Magento?

The major feed types in Magento includes:

• AddItems => For New Product Uploads
• ReviseItem => When using Revise Items ( basically when updating all product info like name, description, images, etc. )
• ReviseInventoryStatus => When using Sync Inventory Price mass action ( basically when only inventory price sync for the product )
• RelistItem => When use Relist Items mass action
• EndItems => When use Relist Items mass action
• Search engine submission feeds => To submit the sitemap of products on Search Engines
• Ad Engine feed submission => To run Ads of products
• Promotional sales-related special feeds => For running special offers and discounts

How can you manage your product data feeds in Magento effectively? (Step by Step explanation)

Here is a step by step guide on how you can set up and manage product feed using a Product Feed Manager:

1st Step: Installation of the Product feed manager in Magento Panel

2nd Step: Linking the product inventory

3rd Step: Linking the platforms on which the product is to be uploaded

4th Step: Category and attribute mapping

5th Step: Establishing a real-time integration

Now let’s understand each step in detail:

Step 1: Installation of the Product Feed Manager in Magento Panel

This is the basic installation step in which the data feed manager extension is installed in your Magento panel. It’s a simple process and can be easily done with a few basic commands.

• Download the extension (either from the Magento marketplace or some other source)
• Log in the ftp, and then go to Magento root folder
• Upload or Drag and Drop the extension in the directory
• Now the extension needs to be installed through CLI commands
• Run the following upgrade command in cmd:
• 

Step 2: Linking and Categorising the product inventory

Next comes the step to link the product inventory. This simply means uploading products and categorising products. The feed manager ensures that figures from the inventory and on the Magento panel are synchronised.

Also, you can arrange the products in profiles (a collection of similar kinds of products) which makes it more convenient for bulk management of products.

• Go to the Product setting option in the product feed manager menu
• Click on create a profile
• Include all the products you want to add here.
• And Save the profile.

This process is so convenient because, in just a few clicks, all the product feeds from your Magento store are sorted.

Also Read: What are Cron Job in Magento?

Step 3: Linking the platforms on which the product is to be uploaded

Now comes an integral step, ie, establishing a connection with all the connected platforms (or marketplaces).

You can upload the selected products (in the form of profiles) to all these marketplaces.

• Do the price markup
• Set the threshold inventory value for each connected platform.

Step 4: Category and Attribute Mapping

Next comes the step to map the categories and attributes of your store and marketplaces.

The feed manager gives a platform where the attributes and categories of marketplaces and stores get list side by side. You can map with 2 basis – one to one and one to many.

Step 5: Establishing a real-time integration:

The last step is creating a real-time integration by setting crons of different functions such as product, order, and pricing updates.

This ensures that data and figures updates on all ends.

Once all five steps are done, it’s for sure to get the best quality feed that is compatible with all platforms.

Here is an example of Feed Manager Dashboard in Magento-

Now a question stands, which is the best product feed manager for Magento –

Which is the best tool for product feed management in Magento?

The best tool to manage product feed on Magento is CedCommerce’s Multichannel eCommerce Integration. A one-stop extension that allows you to perform all the actions involved in managing products on Magento as well as connected platforms.

Majority of sellers are using Magento to develop their eCommerce websites as this open-source platform offers many opportunities for online stores to grow. Also, it helps sellers provide a seamless customer shopping experience. So, you must be aware of the top Magento development trends.

It will further help you stay updated with users preferences and choices to enhance their experience. Many sellers also use Magento-based API connectors (like marketplace Integration) to make online selling even better.

Top Magento Development Trends

• Voice Searches

Voice searches have become an important part of the eCommerce industry since its inception. Moreover, it helps customers enhance their online shopping experience. So, including this part in your Magento store will help you stay in trend and beat competitors.

• Live Streaming

Magento is one of the platforms that offer a live streaming feature to its users. It helps users give demo videos of products or services to their buyers via live streaming. It is one of the best ways to gain potential customers and drive more attention.

• AR and VR

AR and VR are other innovative ways buyers are preferring to buy products from an online store. They can easily test products virtually by visualizing them from all ends. It further helps them make an informed buying decision which is an important factor in building trust for a company.

• Visual Search

In this digital age, people are using visual search to easily look for anything online. People usually use it to search for locations or landmarks. But it is now becoming popular in online selling and buying as well. Using this technology, buyers can easily find similar looking products and items to purchase. 

• Smart Search Functionality

According to a study, 30 percent of visitors who visit an eCommerce store use the site search bar. So, it is extremely important to offer smart search functionality to attract such buyers. 

• Magento PWA

Magento PWA is one of the trending and important Magento development trends. It simply allows Magento 2 store owners to convert into Progressive Web Store. It is the best way to target mobile users instead of launching separate Android or iOS apps for the users.

• Responsive Web Design

First impression of everything should be good and the same is true with your eCommerce store. So, it is very important that you have a responsive website, especially when you have a Magento-based store. DesignAdviser reported that over 70% of people will return to your website if it is optimized for mobile.

Summary

Being an online store owner with an established business, you must be aware of all updates in Magento development trends. Implementing them in your store can help you stay ahead in the competition. And also earn higher revenue and boost sales.

The majority of sellers are using Magento to develop their eCommerce websites as this open-source platform offers many opportunities for online stores to grow. Also, it helps sellers provide a seamless customer shopping experience. So, you must be aware of the top Magento development trends.

It will further help you stay updated with user's preferences and choices to enhance their experience. Many sellers also use Magento-based API connectors (like marketplace Integration) to make online selling even better.

Top Magento Development Trends

Voice Searches

Voice searches have become an important part of the eCommerce industry since its inception. Moreover, it helps customers enhance their online shopping experience. So, including this part in your Magento store will help you stay on trend and beat competitors.

Live Streaming

Magento is one of the platforms that offer a live-streaming feature to its users. It helps users give demo videos of products or services to their buyers via live streaming. It is one of the best ways to gain potential customers and drive more attention.

AR and VR

AR and VR are other innovative ways buyers are preferring to buy products from an online store. They can easily test products virtually by visualizing them from all ends. It further helps them make an informed buying decision which is an important factor in building trust for a company.

Visual Search

In this digital age, people are using visual search to easily look for anything online. People usually use it to search for locations or landmarks. But it is now becoming popular in online selling and buying as well. Using this technology, buyers can easily find similar-looking products and items to purchase. 

Smart Search Functionality

According to a study, 30 percent of visitors who visit an eCommerce store use the site search bar. So, it is extremely important to offer smart search functionality to attract such buyers. 

Magento PWA

Magento PWA is one of the trending and important Magento development trends. It simply allows Magento 2 store owners to convert into Progressive Web Store. It is the best way to target mobile users instead of launching separate Android or iOS apps for the users.

Responsive Web Design

First impression of everything should be good and the same is true with your eCommerce store. So, it is very important that you have a responsive website, especially when you have a Magento-based store. DesignAdviser reported that over 70% of people will return to your website if it is optimized for mobile.

Summary

Being an online store owner with an established business, you must be aware of all updates in Magento development trends. Implementing them in your store can help you stay ahead of the competition. And also earn higher revenue and boost sales.

Cost-Effective Marketing Strategies For Every Tech Company

Marketing is imperative for every business, irrespective of scale and industry. Imagine having a business that offers the finest products and services in the market. But who will buy those products and services if no one knows about your business? Thus, marketing is not an alternative but the only way to generate awareness about your business. 

The competition in the tech industry has been increasing at an unprecedented pace. As a result, it is now more important than ever to leverage effective marketing strategies that can help your business stand out in the crowd and drive results. 

One of the main reasons businesses refrain from marketing is the cost of marketing. But many are unaware that there are still many ways where you can save your money and market your offerings simultaneously. So, continue reading to learn more about affordable marketing strategies to help your business drive tangible results. 
But First, Determine Your Goal

Before you start curating your marketing strategies, you must first determine the goal you want to realize with those strategies. Be specific about your goals and try to put them in measurable numbers for better convenience. You can even leverage your sales funnel to determine these numbers with ease. Ultimately, having the right goal will help you curate the right action plan, making it much easier to realize the goal.

Marketing does not always have to be a cost-intensive undertaking. There are many ways businesses can realize their marketing goals, even on a budget. So, let's check out some of these strategies to help your tech company drive sales and boost growth.    

 1) News Features And Press Releases

Everyone reads the news to keep themselves updated no matter where one lives or what one does. Tech businesses often have newsworthy information to share with others, and the press will be more than willing to report that news. Sometimes it is better to stick to conventional strategies knowing they can help you drive significant results. 

Press releases are highly effective in generating a buzz around your brand. Find well-known journalists or news publication houses to reach a broader base. You can even use press releases as a free marketing tool if you are willing to do most of your work yourself. 

 2) Video Content 

Easy access to high-speed internet has increased the consumption of video content significantly. Almost everyone is now on different social platforms watching and sharing videos with others. So, this is an excellent opportunity for tech businesses to promote their offerings with engaging video content. 

You can create interactive and engaging topics that resonate with your target audience. As long as your target audiences enjoy watching the videos you share, they will certainly share the content with others. As a result, your business will reach a much larger audience base with minimal hassle and effort.            

3) Blog Posting 

Another effective and affordable way to market your business and its offerings is blog postings. People enjoy reading blogs that give them the necessary knowledge on a subject. There are many topics you can use to attract more people and increase traffic to your website. 

Regular blog posting can also help enhance search engine rankings of your website, allowing you to generate more organic traffic with better visibility. Blog posts can also help you enhance your overall conversion rates to help you drive more sales. All in all, blog posting is a very functional and cost-effective way to market your business.          

4) Client Testimonials

One of the most powerful and effective marketing tactics that tech companies use is featuring client testimonials. 

Client testimonials help create a trust factor with a reliable and trustworthy endorsement of your business offerings. It is always helpful when people get genuine feedback from users who are using the solution. 

Client testimonials give customers the idea that if the solution has worked for others, it will also work for them. If your tech solution caters to the needs of different verticals, you can collect testimonials from different individuals to drive better results. But make sure you do not tamper with the authenticity of the testimonials, as it can further hamper your image. 

 5) Email Marketing           

It would not be fair to discuss affordable marketing without mentioning email marketing, a tried and tested marketing tactic. The best thing about email marketing is you get the opportunity to reach a vast target audience with minimal effort. Since the efforts are minimal, you need not worry about spending a huge sum of money on email marketing. 

You can send many types of messages via email marketing to your target audience. For instance, you can ask people to subscribe to your newsletter and thank them if they subscribe. These strategies can help you create a personalized bond with the customer, increasing their chances of choosing you over your competitors.  

6) Social Media Marketing 

Almost everyone uses different social media platforms for entertainment, business, or passing the time. Regardless, social media marketing is a highly effective way to market your offerings. Social media allows you to understand the needs and preferences of customers and curate your campaigns.    

Targeted marketing campaigns have been a hit for most successful tech companies. Social media marketing will keep your target audience engaged with the business, which further helps enhance the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. There are various business coach available in the market that can guide you to get a better outcome from social media and bring you down a sum of money on social media marketing as these things are known for being relatively affordable. 

 7) Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Marketing

Another affordable and innovative way to market your products and services is PPC marketing. 

PPC marketing helps you leverage targeted marketing to ensure you get maximum results. These ideal marketing tactics go easy on your pockets while ensuring you maximize results with minimal effort.

For instance, suppose your target audience has previously shown interest in any specific product or service. PPC marketing allows you to use this valuable information and deliver ads that match the interests of your customers. All of these are done with the help of the Google Display Network, which reaches about 90% of people on the internet. So, affordable and effective marketing certainly becomes easier with PPC marketing. 

 8) Referrals

If you are looking for ways to avoid the expense and hassle of marketing altogether, referrals are the best choice. Referral marketing allows you to leave the marketing to customers and reward them. People are four times more likely to buy a product or service when their friends and families recommend it. 

Publication reviews are also great, but they are certainly not as effective as personal referrals. As long as you structure your referral program appropriately, you need not worry about spending much on the program. You can even hire dedicated development team to curate the right referral program to promote your tech company among the masses.        

Bottom Line

Gone are the days when you had to put out huge and expensive banners to create a buzz about your business. Marketing does not always have to be expensive and challenging. The marketing strategies we mentioned above are a testament that you can market your tech company even on a budget. So, use this information and take your business to the new heights with minimal effort and resources.

Common Errors in Magento 2

Magento keeps on releasing new versions to improve the interface and make their platform more user and seller-friendly. However, facing new challenges is still a common problem. So, it is essential to fix errors before they become big blunders.

Store Visibility & Performance Issues in Magento 2

SEO is an important factor for any eCommerce store to increase their visibility on the search engine result pages. The process may take time, but there are some mistakes that the sellers make that may slow down the process.

Using the Default Meta Tags

The meta tags, meta titles, and meta descriptions play an important role in determining the SEO of an online store. So, you must include keywords in them if you want your products to rank on Google search results.

Not Using Alt Tags

You must have uploaded a high quality, beautiful and clear image of your product to engage customers. But this is all in vain, if the images aren’t SEO optimized. So, it is essential to use SEO-friendly alt tags.

Not Using Descriptive URLs

URLs also have an important role in optimizing your online store for SEO. For better performance, the URLs must be engaging, readable, and carrying proper keywords. For example, if you are selling shoes:

store.com/product/men-formal-shoes

Forgetting To Change The robot.txt File

Sometimes the sellers forget to change the robot.txt file after making changes on the staging site. This results in restricting search engines to crawl and index eCommerce stores. To avoid making this mistake, set them to INDEX, FOLLOW. You can find the setting as follows:

Accessing your System → Configuration → General → Design → HTML Head → Default robots

Don’t Ignore rel=canonical

Using duplicate content for the product pages can also lower down your chances to be visible on the Search engine result. You can resolve this issue by simply using the canonical tag, rel=canonical, in your eCommerce store URL. This way, search engines will only index the fresh pages.

Installation Issues in Magento 2

Sometimes, the sellers may find errors while installing the extension on the Magento 2 store. Here is the list of things you must consider to avoid getting errors in your store:

Installation

Follow the installation guide correctly while manually installing the extension to your store. So, you will find fewer errors and have a hassle-free experience.

System Requirements

It is always wise to check the system requirements first and then download the extension for Magento 2. This way, not only will you save a lot of time but chances of errors will be reduced.

Copy Extensions to the Correct Folder

This is another important thing that you must keep in mind to reduce errors. All files related to the extension should be placed in the right folder or else it will not work in the right manner even after you have installed it on your Magento store.

Extension Performance Issue

Sometimes, you may find it challenging to operate some third-party extensions on your Magento 2 store. Here are the list of things you can do to keep the functioning of extension smooth on your Magento store and avoid errors:

Check Functionality

If you use an extension without checking its functionality, there is a chance you may find it incompatible as per your requirements. In this scenario, you will find more errors and fewer advantages.

Extension Compatibility

Like functionality, your extension must be compatible with the Magento version you are using. Or else, you will waste your time and money. For example, not all Magento 1 extensions are compatible with Magento 2 platforms and vice versa.

Latest Version Download

Just like Magento versions, the extensions also have different versions. And, you may find bugs while using the older ones. So, always make sure to download the latest version of the Magento extension.

Cache Clearance

Cache can sometimes interfere with the extension. So, clearing the Cache can sometimes solve many issues. You can do it by visiting:

Admin Panel > Cache Management Setting > Clear Cache

Wrapping Up

These are some common mistakes and errors that the sellers make while operating their Magento 2 store. These will help sellers take a better approach and optimize their store. Doing this may not be enough, so we will suggest you consult eCommerce experts who can help you in managing your store properly.

Over the years, brands have come to understand the value of having direct relationships with their customers and are doing away with third party information collection. This is also applicable to SAAS companies, technical firms, or any other company that offers users a website to receive services or information from. The basis of collecting first party data is solely dependent on the customers’ willingness to share information in exchange for a great customer experience with the brand, website, or company whose website they are visiting.

Strategies around product launches, marketing campaigns, advertising, etc can get a definite direction by developing on insights provided by their immediate users. This data can then be used for customer segmentation and building strategies targeting particular groups through methods that work best for them as a group, or pertain to a specific set of groups.

Being able to provide greater value to users by utilizing the information provided by them, gives them the boost to continue to build their relationship with the company to receive personalized experiences. Moreover, third party cookies are something that bug users and can be eliminated by indulging in first party data collection. This article will answer the question of how to collect first party data and describe ways to collect data from customers in ways that are creative.

Best Strategies for First-Party Data Collection

1. Feedback surveys or quizzes

On many occasions, customers are willing to provide the necessary data, all they need is for someone to ask them the right questions. This is the scenario when Surveys come in handy. By curating the appropriate questions, directly or indirectly, customers can provide valuable feedback or their preferences which can be instrumental in the brand’s decisions going forward. Feedback surveys immediately after users have experienced service or spent a significant amount of time on your website, are a good way of capturing first-hand information from them.

To add an element of fun, these surveys can be masked and presented in the form of fun quizzes with interactive user interfaces, encouraging them to participate. The decision on whether to offer a simple survey or a quiz can be made based on the user persona and personality assessment. These are great ways of executing ideas of a lead generation form, to get users to fill out the information and make them potential customers. Having users fill in a quiz to be redirected to the appropriate service or information, is a methodology that can be easily used by websites.

2. Engagement initiatives

Engagement initiatives that pertain to a brand exclusively generate excitement amongst customers and can be used to create unforgettable experiences as well as encourage customers to share information to help improve satisfaction. Such events can begin with a physical form filling and continue over to participating in new product launches, participating in games and trivia to win exciting prizes, and encouraging the use of social media hashtags to publicize the event. Such events are a direct pathway to customers who care enough about the brand to be physically present and help build a personalized customer to company relationship.

3. Adding games

Having a creative tool that obtains user data pertaining to a particular product, can be a great option for first party data collection.

For example, a product that promotes physical fitness like a hula hoop can have an associated game that counts the number of times the customer avatar can swirl the hoop before falling to the ground. The interesting bit can be, asking for the user’s height, weight, etc while forming this avatar, and going on to suggest the best hoop for them from the inventory. Not only do such tools improve user experience tremendously, but also cleverly implement different data Ideas to obtain information from customers without necessarily bugging them.

4. Programs for loyal customers

Customers love if their loyalty is rewarded, and this can be achieved by organizing loyalty programs. This not only makes users feel special, through cash backs, discounts or gifts, and rewards but also encourages them to form a trust bond with the company. Along with a higher value to customers, these programs can be integrated into information retrieval programs and help improve the overall experience of these users.

5. Be Creative with what you have

Adopting the process of progressive profiling can go a long way in utilizing data that has been collected over time without direct communication from the users. Parameters like the behavior of users, the time they spend on various pages of the websites, links they visit speak volumes about the kind of experiences they are inclined towards. For example, for a website that offers information about different technology in the market, it is easy to identify by the section a particular user visits often, what they are more inclined towards, phones, laptops, televisions, or audio systems.

Conclusion

Switching to first party data is a wise and proactive decision to help your company understand their customers on a direct level, without any middlemen, and shows users that you are willing to personalize their experience to the best of your capabilities. While some methods of this data collection can be more straightforward like surveys or quizzes and are appreciated by users, there are other ways to add an element of fun and get the required information indirectly through games, activities, engagement events and activities, competitions, and much more. As far as creativity is concerned, the sky’s the limit but if the company’s effort and growth towards consumer satisfaction is visible, users do not hesitate and are more than happy to build a bond of trust and loyalty with brands, and help take the company to new heights.

In modern times, Artificial Intelligence is evolving exponentially to become a dependable and lucrative business solution that every modern business is now embracing wholeheartedly. In particular, companies in the travel and tourism industry are leveraging the benefits of AI in tourism to perform a variety of managerial and client service tasks.

The capacity for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accomplish tasks that earlier demanded human cognitive abilities made it especially valuable for people working in the travel industry. Also, Artificial Intelligence can help businesses save money and time while eliminating manual errors and completing complex tasks in no time. Given these advantages, many travel brands and hotels depend massively on Artificial Intelligence to present exceptional customer assistance and gain a competitive edge.

Opportunities for Travel Brands Using AI

The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the travel and tourism industry arose massively over the past years. Also, this increased adoption of Artificial Intelligence opened the door for various possibilities for companies in this business sector. Below are some opportunities that travel brands can leverage by adopting AI.

1. AI-based Assistants for Travel Booking

With the widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence, there is no need for travellers to physically visit travel agencies to book tickets or look for accommodation options.

Artificially intelligent assistants and chatbots have now replaced human travel agents to make it more convenient for customers to book flights and hotels. Also, by using chatbots, travel brands can offer a more personalised booking experience to their users.

2. Robots for Face-to-Face Client Assistance

With the advent of technological advancements and Artificial Intelligence, robots are becoming a crucial part of the travel industry. By using robots for face-to-face client assistance, travel brands can efficiently serve their clients and provide a more secure and hassle-free travel experience.

3. Personalised Travel Planning

With the ever-evolving client requirements, travel planning will transform unquestionably in the coming years. Also, many experts believe that the use of mobile applications will increase to get a more personalised generation of insights on end-to-end travel planning.

These mobile applications might comprise new options like tracking traveller health by combining with wearable technologies and suggesting secure travel places.

4. Data Analytics to Gain Valuable Insights

In this modern digital world, a large quantity of data gets generated per second throughout the travel industry. These data are the most precious assets for travel companies that help them gain insight into what works well for their clients. With the help of Artificial Intelligence, the travel industry can leverage data analytics to gain valuable insight to sort through these extensive data sets fast and accurately.

5. AI-based Applications for Flight Forecasting

Try to envision an innovative technology that assists you in finding the most suitable flight rates at the right time and equips you with detailed information on the most economical future flight prices. Some businesses have made that valuable feature a truth by introducing AI-based intelligent cost forecast applications into the industry.

6. Virtual Reality for Enhanced Customer Experience

Virtual Reality (VR) is an advanced technology that typically employs the VR headset to build a mock setting that can help clients gain a virtual experience of their hotel’s room quality, ambience, services etc., before checking in.

Challenges that Travel Brands face while AI Adoption

Below are some challenges that travel brands face while adopting Artificial Intelligence

1. No Clear Insights on Return on Investment

As the progress of Artificial Intelligence usually remains hidden, it can become challenging for travel companies to calculate the benefits it provides. This can further make it tough to predict Return on Investment and understand the concept of Artificial Intelligence.

2. Lack of Privacy and Defined Responsibility

Technology has become quite crucial for companies working in the online travel industry. Hence when there are any instances of software or hardware malfunction, it can become quite challenging to determine whose actions led to this software or hardware breakdown.

Also, before Artificial Intelligence, it was relatively effortless to figure out whether it occurred due to any client, manufacturer or developer. Moreover, as Artificial Intelligence is all about data, these software and hardware malfunctions can sometimes lead to data theft.

3. AI Still Holds Some Unsolved Bugs

As Artificial Intelligence is a relatively new technology, many people are still unaware of its full potential. It is no different when speaking of the travel industry as business leaders are yet to uncover this technology comprehensively, as there will be noteworthy transformations when the technology evolves. Therefore, this can become quite challenging for travel and tourism business owners to implement these Artificial Intelligence approaches as it demands a lot of research.

4. Various AI Development Approaches

The conventional travel business usually uses general phases such as analysing, testing, planning, designing and managing; the concept of Artificial Intelligence is different. Artificial Intelligence development is usually about identifying data sources and organising content to filter out the required data. This type of approach requires diverse aptitudes and perspectives, along with exclusive procedures.

The Bottom Line

In modern times, the existence and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the travel industry is rising. Due to the comprehensive application of the latest technology, it is highly anticipated that AI in tourism will attain incredible heights in the future.

Furthermore, it indicates that tourism companies now leverage modern technology’s advantages to remain more efficient and productive. The clients will benefit immensely from this AI adoption, and at the same time, the tourism companies will have better control over all their business processes to make them more streamlined. However, you must never overlook the challenges prevalent in Artificial Intelligence adoption and look for ways to overcome these challenges to gain better business outcomes.

Any seller who is looking forward to expanding their business in the fashion niche can sell on Zalando marketplace. But if you are still looking for reasons, here we have listed down some key statistics for your reference.

Key Statistics for Zalando Marketplace

Over 40 million Active Customers

According to a report by Statista, Zalando received over 34.1 million active customers in the second quarter of 2020. On the other hand, Zalando claims to have 42 million registered customers who are active on the platform.

Average Basket Size

According to another report by Statista, the average basket size of the Zalando marketplace is 56.90 Euros. It shows the potential for higher growth in this marketplace.

Many companies are offering automated solutions for sellers looking to ease multichannel selling experience.

Revenue-generating Categories

The sellers can choose to sell multiple product categories on this platform. And the most revenue-generating categories on Zalando are Apparel (58%) and Footwear (34%).

Orders With Higher Worth

According to a report in 2020, 185.5 million orders were made on Zalando website. Also, the orders made were worth 8 billion Euros that shows the opportunities for sales on the marketplace is higher.

Increased Monthly Visits

Zalando receives about 560 million visitors per month. Also, it has experienced an 80 percent increase in monthly visits. It further ensures sellers get better visibility and increased sales.

eCommerce Solutions like API connectors are one of the best ways to organize and track every activity on any marketplace.

Higher Product Range

The platform offers over 1,000,000 assortments for sellers to choose from a wide product range. Moreover, it is available across 20 countries and has over 4000 brands of products.

Zalando marketplace is helping sellers around the world to expand their business in the fashion niche. To make the process even easier, some sellers use API connectors as a centralized solution. So, they can easily track and manage every activity on the connected channels.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in today’s society is becoming increasingly common. Products and services use AI (typically in the background) to engage with customers daily. When appropriately applied to specific problems, these AI-related technologies can create different solutions that develop over time, substantially influencing both the organisation and the user.

Netflix’s use of artificial intelligence showcases how computers have become so familiar that they can adeptly recommend movies and television shows that you are likely to enjoy. They achieve this by gathering the data generated while using the platform in question and then analysing identical profiles. It examines the content’s complex strands rather than depending on broad categories to make predictions. A good example of this is Netflix suggesting Black Mirror if you enjoyed Stranger Things because of your viewing history, reviews, and other interactions.

Check out Netflix’s method of capturing your interest over time and how the company uses Artificial Intelligence for more than just recommending shows to you!

Using AI to Increase Netflix Subscriptions 

Data on how you interact with the site is collected by Netflix so that recommendations can be made to you based on your preferences and usage. There are numerous uses for data, such as determining what information is consumed or how much time is spent on the platform. When you search across all of Netflix’s content, Netflix AI keeps track of the terms used to find what you’re looking for.

Over the past two decades, customer expectations have transformed, and it’s never been clearer what customers really want: they desire a media landscape that revolves entirely around them. In response to what it learned from its consumers, Netflix began to scale up its methods of delivering content. It provided complete autonomy to the user. You can access the content whenever you want. 

Binge-watchers have the option of picking and choosing from a variety of delivery methods on Netflix. It’s simple to consume content, and you’ll be able to watch your show on a TV, laptop, iPad or smartphone. For this reason, Netflix has a wide range of content to choose from. There is something for everyone, and this attracts customers from all over the world.

Furthermore, Netflix keeps track of the device from which the content is accessed, and it will offer different Netflix recommendations for each device based on this information. A behaviour base is created for every user profile so that the algorithm may detect similarities between them and provide suggestions based on that data.

Using Netflix’s Artificial Intelligence to Keep Its Customers at the Centre of Their Business Decisions 

Following a prolonged period of inactivity, Netflix AI will ask members if they want to continue paying for the service in an attempt to make it more convenient for them to cancel their subscription. This information will be made available to members via emails and/or in-app notifications. The Netflix subscription will be terminated if the user does not affirm that they wish to continue using the service. 

The process of restarting Netflix is really simple if somebody changes their mind afterwards. There are only a few hundred thousand of these dormant accounts, representing less than half of one per cent of their total user base. If users cancel their membership and decide to re-join within ten months, all of their favourites, profiles, viewing preferences and account information will be preserved.

Using AI, Big Data and Machine Learning in Netflix’s Content Production

Netflix machine learning collects an incredible amount of user data, including explicit information like ratings and comments on movies and implicit information like where and how long you spend watching a particular piece of content, what device you’re using and whether or not you binge-watch it.

All of this data may be put to good use through machine learning, which increases Netflix’s bottom line by attracting new members. Take a look at the various ways Netflix makes use of machine learning to create content.

• A computer algorithm generates thumbnails on its own

Thumbnails have a significant impact on whether or not you decide to watch a movie. When you see the movie’s thumbnail, you’ll most likely click on it to see more details. Netflix AI uses user-specific auto-generated thumbnails to create customised results for each user. A machine-learning algorithm tracks your viewing habits and determines what kind of thumbnails you are also most likely to click on. Hence for a single show, there will be numerous thumbnails generated. For Netflix, the graphics on the thumbnail can significantly impact traffic to a specific movie or series.

• Quality of the Streaming Service 

Netflix uses machine learning algorithms to forecast viewer behaviour and determine when there will be broad rises and drops in the number of people who watch a particular movie or show at a given time. During periods of high popularity, to prevent any backlog in streaming or loading times, they can store regional servers that are considerably closer to the viewers.

• How Good the Content Is

Netflix data analytics case study evaluates the quality of content such as audio, video and subtitle text based on the data it has been trained on and either passes or fails the content. If any content fails the quality control process, it is subjected to additional scrutiny by a human quality control team to guarantee that only the highest-quality content is delivered to users.

Netflix has a wide range of options to choose from, so there’s something for everyone. According to the plan you choose, the visual content and the number of screens you can use will be determined. You may also be charged taxation in addition to your subscription amount.

Netflix Has Limited Capabilities in the Area of Artificial Intelligence

The study of consumer data is not a science that can be performed with precision. Netflix’s enormous database and sophisticated computer tools are limited in their capabilities as they may be unable to forecast certain people’s preferences since they exist only in their minds.

Further, Netflix’s recommendation algorithm also works on the principle of assumption. Users who usually watch the same shows, Netflix believes, will have similar tastes. Thus the recommendations are more often given on the basis of an analysis of a group of people rather than individualized preferences. 

Conclusion

When it comes to using AI, data science and machine learning the “correct way,” Netflix has done an outstanding job. The company has taken a product-based strategy that prioritises business needs first, followed by AI solutions rather than the other way around. AI has the potential to perform incredible things when used effectively. Netflix AI, in terms of subscriptions, as well as users, concerning overall satisfaction, stand to benefit from Artificial Intelligence solutions that personalize the experience for customers.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most powerful methods to bring potential clients to your site. But here’s the thing – you have to use it properly. Does it feel like the rate at which SEO techniques are changing (and how effective are they) is steadily increasing? If so, you are not alone. Google is getting smarter and more powerful – not only at analyzing and understanding websites but also at becoming effective at keeping people in check.

Why? The more reliable Google reacts to questions in the SERPs or directs users to advertisements rather than organic ads, the more money it gets. Unfortunately, this makes things very difficult for those who rely on Google’s organic search traffic as a savior. Below are the effective SEO techniques you need to follow to increase organic traffic on your website. These are not the only SEO techniques you need to practice, but they should be an integral part of your approach. When you can reach each one of them, you can work on growing your visibility and traffic.

Top 10 Effective SEO Techniques To Drive Organic Traffic In 2021

Update Existing Content

It’s easy to instantly create new content as part of your content strategy, but the truth is that most websites have the ability to upgrade and update existing content first. New content takes time to rank and increase related traffic. Rarely posts any content and instantly ranks at the top of the SERPs. Only if it were that easy. However, by improving your existing content, you can make quick profits (both in terms of rankings and traffic). But where do you start updating existing content and why should you pay attention to it?

When you look back on what you’ve posted in the past, look for ways to improve your existing content based on two things:

• Current trends and facts
• Performance data available in Google Search Console
• Find the best-performing pages from your competitors

The more you know about your competitors’ SEO services and strategies, the better your own website will perform. Taking the time to find out what works for the site where you are competing in the SERPs can take your analysis to the next level and understand why this approach works before using the information yourself. A useful origin purpose is to find your competitors’ top ranking pages so you can get an idea of ​​where their traffic is coming from and where it’s being driven from.

Use Digital PR To Get Credibility Feedback

An SEO Agency tells that one of the biggest obstacles SEO optimists face is getting comprehensive feedback. Feedback remains one of the three most important factors in Google rankings. While many different linking strategies can help you successfully acquire relevant links, the fact remains that many techniques are difficult to measure effectively. The best way to get different websites to create high-quality and relevant links to your website is to provide unique and relevant content that can easily gain popularity in online communities. And one tactic that can help you gain editorial links by creating great content is digital PR.

Improve User Experience Across Your Website

Let’s start with a brief explanation of Google’s purpose as a search engine. Like other search engines, their goal is to find the best results for each user’s search query. If they fail in this plan, users are less likely to use search engines anymore. However, Google does this very well, making it the largest search engine in the world!

Internal Main Connection

Internal linking is one of the most underrated SEO tactics out there. As an SEO Company, we often rush to act on new feedback before making sure that the feedback we already have is working as effectively as possible. One great activity you can do is increase internal links based on the pages on your website with the most links. Do you want to know how to do it? Check SEMrush’s Backlink Analysis Tool and go to the “Indexed Pages” and sort by “Domains”.

Optimize Your Landing Page

When you work with influential people or post ads, think about where you want those links to go. Users who go to your homepage are less likely to make a purchase than people who go to product pages with a unique CTA.

AI

Like most utmost businesses, AI is improving SEO and marketing entrepreneurs. The reason AI has this impact on marketing is the customization that AI offers. And here’s the fact: Google uses AI to help search engines get the results they want.

Video Marketing

YouTube is the next most successful search engine after Google with 1 billion+ users. Even if you don’t care about videos, it’s time to get started.

But how do we optimize your video content for search engines? First, change the name and description of your video channel. While the information shouldn’t be overburdened with keywords, it should give a user-friendly classification of your channel. But keywords are also important. For example, if you are optimizing videos for YouTube, you can use YouTube’s autocomplete feature. Start by typing the subject of your video and then you will see some suggestions in the search box. Suggestions are related keywords that you can use to tweak your videos to reach the right audience.

Target Snippets

Google displays content snippets that clearly answer common questions. To appear at the top of the search results page, write clear and concise responses to long lines and include them in the introduction to your SEO blog posts.

Create Thematic Clusters

Instead of keyword-only blogging, find out the topics that interest your users the most (using statistics as downtime). Then create content clusters that provide opportunities to build trust in your brand while building internal links.

Reference - https://techbehindit.com/seo/top-10-effective-seo-techniques-to-drive-organic-traffic-in-2021/

Dynamic content backed by AI and ML technologies can help you optimize your website conversion rate by offering a more relevant and immersive customer experience. Your site’s conversions and AOV could grow substantially as dynamic content implementation as it provides more relevant offers, interactions, and product recommendations.

What Is Dynamic Content? How Is It Significant?

Dynamic content, also known as smart content, refers to web content that remodels regularly based on a visitor’s browsing behavior, such as individual preferences, purchasing history, customer lifecycle, demographics, engagement metrics, and other associated data. Dynamic content is instrumental in providing a personalized experience to the end-user.

Here are key benefits associated with dynamic content implementation on your website- 

• Improved Relevancy: Displaying more relevant offers significantly reduces bounce rate and increases conversions.
• Personalized Touch: Such content helps in providing a personalized experience, thus gaining customer loyalty and boosting revenue.
• Quick Content Delivery: Dynamic content gets loaded seamlessly and quickly, thus reducing the dependence on static content.

Top 7 Ways to Create a Dynamic Website

Here are some proven ways supported by dynamic website examples that you could implement to increase conversions. Consider them to create a seamless, higher user-friendly, and tailored user experience.

1. Dynamic Web Content to Create Personalized Recommendations

Instead of just offering static, pre-defined best suggestions, the entire concept behind personalized recommendations is to regard customers as individuals and display product recommendations they aspire. Product recommendation engines can get deployed across a wide range of businesses. Brands can personalize the webpage of their users when they log in to the platform online using their credentials.

To determine which products to offer, Barilliance combines machine learning and content-based filtering techniques and feeds their product recommendation engines with customer data. As more data and insights about that individual user are gathered, recommendations become increasingly tailored depending on their visit and search history.

2. Utilizing Geographic Customer Segmentation to Create Dynamic Content

Geographical content personalization can result in efficient, valuable, and relevant offerings. Brands can design better offers for visitors if they know the user’s location. A great example is the ‘service or shop near me’ search feature by Google. 

Google is aware that some of the top converting customer segments are people looking for places in the same local area from which they are searching online. This way, the company could generate great revenue out of its paid display advertisement campaign segments.

3. Dynamic, Context-Based Pop-Ups

Advanced pop-ups display dynamic content based on the user’s checkout intent or time spent on a particular webpage. The primary purpose of pop-ups is to inform the customers about discounts and update or urge them to log in and give feedback. Keep in mind to personalize the message by utilizing data like geolocation or browser history to present appropriate pop-ups for each potential consumer.

Marimekko, a fashion brand, uses a dynamic pop-up to urge visitors to sign up and check their email for a discount code before making a purchase.

4. Build Customer Retention Campaigns for Existing Customers

One of the most profitable customer segments is repeat customers. The RealReal, an online marketplace for authenticated luxury consignment, launches an engagement-based retention campaign every time it finds a returning customer. The campaign operates on a referral program where both the referrer (a repeat client) and the referee (a new customer) get monetary and other benefits.

5. Personalized Emails Strategy

To develop an effective marketing technique that will increase conversions, you should integrate dynamic content with email marketing. Product promotions, transactional emails, and shopping cart abandonment emails can all benefit from dynamic content. 

For instance, the Amazon website’s recommendation engine automates the process of sending personalized emails to visitors who abandon their carts. These emails are tailored to the customer’s previous shopping habits and most recently seen items. 

6. Dynamic Searches

With the use of dynamic content, the search function is evolving into a navigational and conversion engine that assists users in completing and narrowing the range of their searches, directing them straight to the products. Autocomplete and autocorrect features are the most adopted modes of dynamic search content.

For instance, on Turcom’s online store, a consumer electronics brand, the users are shown predicted products right after they type a character. It goes on till they arrive at the product they are looking for. Customers can also mouse over some recommended phrases to uncover the most commonly used keywords.

7. Live Social Media Feeds Integrated With Email Marketing

With live social media feeds incorporated in emails, brands can create complete fresh experiences for the users while also increasing social media engagement, return on investment, and revenue prospects. 

For example, The Body Shop, a cosmetics and skincare company, leveraged this technique in their Mother’s day campaign to motivate customers to join their community and offer additional discounts on their selected products.

Netflix: Personalization Through Dynamic Website Content

Netflix is a great example of how brands across industries could leverage dynamic content to offer the best customer experience and win over competitors.  

The recommendation and customer engagement model of the OTT platform is persona-based. Each Netflix persona gets targeted with distinct personalized titles and shows thumbnails based on their demographics, browsing history, preferences, and tastes. Moreover, its advanced product recommendation engine segregates the content into precise categories making surfing through thousands of shows easier.

The Bottom Line

The emergence of dynamic content technologies has created an effective method for increasing conversion and driving online sales and revenue. With its consumer-friendly approach to the online marketplace, dynamic content enables you to provide a greater customer experience.

It is highly anticipated that personalization technology is going to become more prevalent and powerful soon. As a result, it is worthwhile to begin investing in such technologies and developing a comprehensive strategy to leverage the benefits they can offer to your business.

Every seller starts their online selling journey small and grows it with time by following multiple strategies. Multichannel selling is one such way that helps sellers boost their sales and easily expand their business. However, many sellers hesitate to choose this method because of the complexities in managing activities on marketplaces and Magento stores.

To help sellers overcome these challenges, automation is introduced in the eCommerce market. So, the sellers can simply use eCommerce Integration to automate their store and efficiently manage everything on all connected platforms.

Read More: What is eCommerce Marketplace Integration?

Now, if you are wondering which are the best Magento extensions for your business, here is the complete list. So, read on!

Top Magento multichannel extensions

Amazon Magento Integration

The first Magento marketplace extension on our list is Amazon Integration. This extension is quite famous among sellers. And, according to a report, around 60 percent of the Magento merchants already sell on Amazon, with 92 percent of them expecting revenue to grow in coming years. 

eBay Magento Integration

eBay is quite a famous marketplace for sellers and buyers alike. And, sellers are always looking for eBay Magento marketplace extension to make the selling experience better on this platform. Moreover, it offers many features that make it easy to handle the Magento store and eBay account efficiently at the same time.

Facebook Magento Integration

Facebook is the largest social media platform in the world. And its shift towards the eCommerce world has turned many heads. Not only buyers but many sellers, especially the small-scale businesses, showed their interest and trust towards the platform. So, you can also use Facebook Integration to efficiently manage and sell on this marketplace.

Google Shopping Magento Integration

Google Shopping Integration is among the best Magento extension to make your online selling experience flexible. Many sellers prefer this platform as it offers commission-free and frictionless selling opportunities. Moreover, there are over 6000 brands currently selling and enjoying unpaid selling experience.

Walmart Magento Integration

Last but not least, we have Walmart Magento Integration. Walmart has established quite a name throughout the US. So, people prefer their online platform to buy and sell products. Moreover, using this Magento marketplace extension, a seller gets an opportunity to drive traffic to their store.

Summing Up

Here are the five best Magento extensions to enhance your online selling experience. You can expand your business, boost online sales, increase your customer base, and more by selling on multiple marketplaces. 

So, which Magento marketplace extension are you downloading for your store?