If you have been having issues with your shipping costs not showing properly in Google Product Search but are unable to figure out why, we may have an answer for you. Google Merchant Center says that you must specify shipping cost in either the data feed or in the Merchant Center, but not both. We have found this to not be the case. You must enter a shipping cost into the Merchant Center, which will apply the same cost across [...]]]>

If you have been having issues with your shipping costs not showing properly in Google Product Search but are unable to figure out why, we may have an answer for you. Google Merchant Center says that you must specify shipping cost in either the data feed or in the Merchant Center, but not both. We have found this to not be the case. You must enter a shipping cost into the Merchant Center, which will apply the same cost across the board. If you want to specify differing costs for individual states, then you must enter shipping costs into the data feed as well. The information in the data feed serves as an override, so if you don’t have shipping costs added into Merchant Center then it has nothing to override and won’t work.

Have you experienced a similar problem? Have any comments or suggestions? Please feel free to share in the comment box below.

The new version of Google Analytics isn’t exactly new; it’s been available for months. However, many have avoided it for the sake of efficiency, especially those in eCommerce. While the old version runs fine and has become comfortable for many people, the new features and available data make switching over a logical decision. The decision to make the move might soon be made for you, [...]]]>

See how Google Analytics has changed and how it can affect eCommerce

The new version of Google Analytics isn’t exactly new; it’s been available for months. However, many have avoided it for the sake of efficiency, especially those in eCommerce. While the old version runs fine and has become comfortable for many people, the new features and available data make switching over a logical decision. The decision to make the move might soon be made for you, as Google has begun making it the default version and gives me the impression that the old version may not be around for much longer.

The most noticeable change is the new interface. A first glance, especially for those of you who have been using GA for a long time, will likely strike you with terror. You’ve probably thought, “I can’t find anything here,” as you move your cursor to click ‘Use Older Version.’ However, if you take some time to look around, you’ll find some things that might excite you. Everything has been streamlined and the interface is more intuitive. Google has crammed a ton of information into drop tabs that nicely organize into a few main categories. Here are some of the more noticeable changes:

• Site overlay is now known as In-Page Analytics. It’s also now listed under the content tab. It’s been around for about a year now in Beta testing on the old version and is fully operational in the new one.
• Mobile traffic tracking has been expanded to show manufacturer, model, interface type, OS and more while featuring all the same attributes as your standard traffic tracking. You can even see how many transactions came from these phones, which has great eCommerce potential.
• A Visitor Flow graph has been added to show how people are navigating a site and can be sorted by a variety of filters.
• Multi-channel funnels have been added, as well as assisted conversions, allowing you to see exactly how different channels are working together. Seeing how many conversions are coming from what campaigns is a powerful tool.
• A Social Media component has been integrated, allowing you to use Analytics to track the effectiveness of your Twitter, Facebook and other Social Media campaigns in conjunction with the rest of your marketing strategy.

It’s important to note that these new features require no additional JavaScript or variables to be added to your site. They all come featured.

My favorite portion, aside from the new interface, is the change in the conversion attribution algorithm, which in turn also changes how GA defines a page visit. Before, a “visit” was defined as the user landing on the Web site. Regardless of how many times the user came back, one session was counted as one visit no matter how many referring sites there were and conversions were awarded to the last referring site before the purchase. The problem with this was that it was impossible to accurately track visits from mailing campaigns, organic traffic, etc. This has all changed.

Now, a user’s session ends once they leave the website. So, if I use Google search to land on VerticalRail.com, click around a bit and leave the site to go to Facebook then that session ends. It is counted as a visit from Google and a new session begins once Facebook lands me on the page. Even if I use Facebook to turn around and come right back to the same site, it still registers as a visit from Google and now a visit from Facebook. Also, if I don’t leave the landing page and then go to Facebook, this counts as a bounce for Google, even if I use Facebook to take me right back to the site. This also ignores time spent on page. So, if I used Google to land on this blog page, read it, left it open for 15 minutes and then left for Bing, it would still be counted as a bounce. Basically, no matter what engine or link brings a user to a site, that referring site gets credited a visit and the session immediately ends once they leave. There is no longer a 29 minute inactivity period before a session is terminated.

Additionally, a user is only counted as a “new visitor” on their first session on the page. Once they leave the site and arrive again, a new session begins and they are considered a “returning visitor” from now on. Is this indefinite? Will someone be listed as a new visitor again if they clear their cookies? Is it based on a session ID? These are all questions that come to mind but remain unanswered. There is currently a feature that allows Analytics to track Time to Purchase, so I would assume there exists a way to indefinitely track a user’s history with a site, but I can’t be certain. We’ll be keeping an eye on it to see how it unfolds.

All of these things lead me to believe that Google is trying to address many of the accuracy issues that led people to using GA in conjunction with programs like Omniture and the like. It’s important to remember that with these changes, it’s essential to pick one analytics program and stick with it. Google Analytics is going to show different metrics than other programs and it leaves room for error if used in conjunction with other statistics programs. A more streamlined interface combined with increasingly robust data makes it an incredibly valuable and powerful resource, especially for those in eCommerce. Overall, I believe that the direction Google is taking GA is a great step in the direction of being able to use a singular analytics program instead of having to juggle multiple ones. I’m truly excited to see what 2012 will bring to bear.

According to this recent update from Google, new data feeds submitted after November 22, 2011 will be restricted to 500 products until further notice. It’s important to note, existing feeds will remain unaffected. This is most likely due to expected traffic increases during the holiday season and will likely [...]]]>

Ecommerce businesses that participate in Google’s comparison shopping engine, Google Shopping, should take notice of a few changes for the holiday season.

According to this recent update from Google, new data feeds submitted after November 22, 2011 will be restricted to 500 products until further notice. It’s important to note, existing feeds will remain unaffected. This is most likely due to expected traffic increases during the holiday season and will likely only last a few weeks.

Secondly, Google has placed a new restriction on the number of data feeds a store can register from one country.  Account holders may only have 3 feeds for each country.

Is this an attempt to reduce the processing time of feeds on their servers? Could this be indicative of bigger changes within Google Shopping?  What do you think?

eCommerce companies who participate in Google’s comparison shopping engine, Google Product Search, could see a decline in referrals come September 22, 2011. Google has released a new version of required attributes, intended to make the comparison shopping experience better the for end user. Online retailers may find themselves in dire straights, mobilizing to address those new requirements. Google has slated attribute requirements will have a deadline of September 22, 2011. At that time, feeds with products that do not [...]]]>

eCommerce companies who participate in Google’s comparison shopping engine, Google Product Search, could see a decline in referrals come September 22, 2011. Google has released a new version of required attributes, intended to make the comparison shopping experience better the for end user. Online retailers may find themselves in dire straights, mobilizing to address those new requirements. Google has slated attribute requirements will have a deadline of September 22, 2011. At that time, feeds with products that do not conform to the new attribute guidelines will “be suspended from Google Product Search until the issues have been addressed. In case of repeated violations of our quality standards, your products will be suspended for at least one week after the second violation, and for at least one month after the third violation.” – From Google Merchant Center Data Feed Policies.

So what is new and how does it effect you?

Previously, Google feeds required a few attributes and they were applicable to all products. Then they had recommended attributes that were specific to different industries or product types. Here is the new list of attributes your should have in your feed.

• id
• title
• description
• link
• image_Link
• condition
• availability
• price
• google_product_category
• product_type
• brand
• mpn
• gtin
• tax
• shipping
• shipping_weight
• online_only
• additional_image_link

Then it gets complicated. Depending on the types of products you have, additional attributes become required. Google will define your product types by the entry provided in the google_product_category. This is information defined by the Google Product Search Taxonomy.

“Currently, the ‘Google product category’ attribute only needs to be provided for products that belong to the following seven product categories in feeds that target the US, UK, Germany, and France:

• Apparel & Accessories > Clothing
• Apparel & Accessories > Shoes
• Apparel & Accessories (Note that submitting this value for clothing and shoes is not acceptable.)
• Media > Books
• Media > DVDs & Movies
• Media > Music
• Software > Video Game Software

For products that belong to other product categories, providing this attribute is recommended. For countries other than the US, Japan, UK, Germany and France, this attribute is recommended for all product categories.”

For businesses selling products that would fall into the Apparel & Accessories category, additional attributes are required.  They are:

• gender
• age_group
• color
• size

For businesses selling products that have Variants, addition attributes are required. Variants are versions of the same product which only vary based on colors, materials, patterns, or sizes.  They are:

• item_group_id
• color
• material
• pattern
• size

If you are using variants on apparel, color and size attributes do not need to be repeated.

Primary Changes to Google Merchant Center Policies

Google changed — or rather clarified — two rules.

• The data from the feed has to accurately match the actual product on the site.
• The price has to match the price most prominently displayed on the site.

For the first rule, it should be understood that the product represented in the feed should be the product on the ecommerce website.  What is new is Google will periodically check to ensure the information syncs up.  This includes price as well.  If it does not, your product and potentially your whole feed, will be removed from Google Product Search.

For the second rule, this directly addresses ecommerce sites that have product detail pages where there are options and those options may be priced differently.  In essence, if you have t shirts in small, medium and large that are $9.99 and extra large and xx large are $11.99, the price you should include in your feed is the price a customer would first see when they land on your product detail page. If the default size option is medium, then the price in the feed should reflect that option 0 or $9.99 in this case.

There are lots more idiosyncrasies involved with these changes. For a complete explanation from Google, click here.

If you’d like more information about how to update your Google Product Search feeds, contact Linda Bateman at 831.531.2479 or at http://www.verticalrail.com/contact.php

What you will need:

1. A QR Code (Such as the one you see above) that has been created with the correct URL to direct to. Here is a link where you can create your QR Code: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
2. A smartphone
3. Barcode scanning application

Directions:

With your Smartphone, use the barcode scan app and follow these steps:

1. Open App on your smartphone.
2. Scan QR Code above.
3. If your phone presents a link, click link. If it goes there [...]]]>

What you will need:

1. A QR Code (Such as the one you see above) that has been created with the correct URL to direct to. Here is a link where you can create your QR Code: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
2. A smartphone
3. Barcode scanning application

Directions:

With your Smartphone, use the barcode scan app and follow these steps:

1. Open App on your smartphone.
2. Scan QR Code above.
3. If your phone presents a link, click link. If it goes there automatically, POOF! You are done.

Since you are there, click the “Like” button at the top.

That’s it! Happy QR Code scanning…

Contributed by Vanessa Reed

The significant changes recently made at Smarter.com are taking the comparison shopping engine in a positive direction, positioning them for a further growth in 2011.  These changes are not only aimed at improving the consumer’s shopping experience, but also enhancing the Smarter.com merchant’s selling experience.

Joanna Estacio, Director of Product at Value Click Brands explained how merchants will benefit from the recent innovations. “With the recent changes at Smarter, we’re committed to providing a brand-safe [...]]]>

Contributed by Vanessa Reed

The significant changes recently made at Smarter.com are taking the comparison shopping engine in a positive direction, positioning them for a further growth in 2011.  These changes are not only aimed at improving the consumer’s shopping experience, but also enhancing the Smarter.com merchant’s selling experience.

Joanna Estacio, Director of Product at Value Click Brands explained how merchants will benefit from the recent innovations. “With the recent changes at Smarter, we’re committed to providing a brand-safe environment, both in terms of look and feel, for all of our advertisers by accepting only merchants who have a strong online and offline reputation.”

A category page from the new Smarter.com

Smarter.com announced in January of 2011 that they would be making changes to their business model.  In a statement released to their merchants, Smarter.com said “In Response to an evolution in consumer demand, Smarter.com has decided to change the service we provide to consumers.  The initial phase of this change is visibly evident in the new look and feel of the site.  Additional efforts will include moving to a smaller, invitation only program. This change will be made effective 12AM PST 2/1/2011.” Estacio added that the idea behind the new Smarter.com is that everyone on the site is a trusted and certified store.

Merchants and consumers should both appreciate the new Smarter.com Blogs which cover topics of fashion, mother and baby, and DIY projects.  Shoppers can read about the topics that interest them, while merchants can benefit by gaining more exposure.   Smarter’s use of social media to attract consumers extends to other realms as well, demonstrating their flexibility in the ever-evolving market.

“With such a large portion of our users also participating in social media, it’s important for us to keep up with the times. Right now, we’re seeing tons of feedback on contests that we’re running that requires you to ‘like’ us on Facebook. It’s great to see the engagement on the Smarter.com blogs with Facebook,” said Estacio.

Smarter also engages its consumers by offering integrated services wherever they go. Shoppers can use their mobile phones to SMS Smarter if they want to compare product prices, as well as view the lowest price available on Smarter.com.  While Smarter.com does not yet have a mobile website, Estacio admitted that they “really want to see our merchandising pages we’ve been working on in mobile form. It’s a work in a progress and definitely on our radar for future expansion.”

Smarter.com’s web traffic is the sum of dedicated search engine marketing coupled with e-mail marketing, search engine optimization and display ads. Smarter.com does have a partnership with Shopping.com that it uses for backfill of long-tail keywords.

Smarter currently represents just over 400 merchants in their system, displaying some 11,500,000 products. The engine currently receives 9 million unique visitors per month, with over 21 million website visits per month.

There are no setup fees to start an account in Smarter.com, just a minimum deposit of $100. Cost per click fees start as low as $0.15 per click. Merchants can expect an easy on-boarding of their products and can choose to use the Smarter.com merchant backend, or the engine can work directly with a 3rd party shopping feed management provider.

While there are few true opportunities to optimize the merchant data feed for better positioning in the search listings, Estacio recommends that merchants provide robust product names when importing data feeds to the Smarter.com system. She explained that rather than use a basic product title like “Men’s Polo shirts by Ralph Lauren” a more robust example would be “Ralph Lauren Slim-Fit Mesh Men’s Classic Polo Shirt.”

Smarter.com has made some innovative changes to its model, and so far the changes are taking them in an exciting new direction.  The future may see Smarter.com at the forefront of the revolution in traditional online comparison shopping engines and consumer and merchant satisfaction.

With the economy still struggling, many people are looking for the best price and the best value. The pressure of saving money and finding a good deal has led to an obsession with product research and price comparison.  Comparison shopping engines, such as NexTag and PriceGrabber, allow consumers to quickly find the best products at the lowest price.  Some comparison shopping engines have taken this one step [...]]]>

10 Ways that M-Commerce Can Enhance Your Customers’ Shopping Experience

With the economy still struggling, many people are looking for the best price and the best value. The pressure of saving money and finding a good deal has led to an obsession with product research and price comparison.  Comparison shopping engines, such as NexTag and PriceGrabber, allow consumers to quickly find the best products at the lowest price.  Some comparison shopping engines have taken this one step further, allowing consumers to research, compare, and purchase on the go with mobile comparison shopping applications for the iPhone and the Android.

Mobile Commerce, also known as M-Commerce, is a rapidly evolving field that is changing the way that people shop and merchants sell.  It is influencing how consumers search, locate, and purchase products both online and in stores. Free mobile applications from comparison shopping engines put the power in the hands of the consumer (literally), allowing them to compare prices, find coupons, and read reviews from their phone.

People are not just using phones in stores to talk.

As of right now, Google Product Search, TheFind, Shopping.com, PriceGrabber, Become.com, and NexTag all offer free mobile comparison shopping applications. Here are 10 ways that comparison shopping engine mobile applications can enhance the customer shopping experience:

1.  Barcode Scanning- Scan the barcode on the box or enter in the UPC number to instantly look up product reviews and prices for the exact same product.

2.  Compare local and online prices- Quickly compare bottom line prices (including tax and shipping) from online sellers and local stores to find the very best price.

3.  Check inventories- If a product is out of stock, save time by finding exactly which store has the product you are looking for

4.  Find nearby stores- Get the address, phone number, and directions to the nearest store with product in stock and calculate the cost of gas to get there.

5.  Read product reviews- Read thousands of product and merchant reviews from customers and experts so that you can be confident in the products you chose.

6.  Find coupons and sales- Search for relevant coupons or nearby stores that have your item on sale to ensure you are getting the best possible price.

7.  Create a wishlist- Add items to your favorites list or wish list if you want to come back for them later or remember the specific product information.

8.  Gift shaker- Use the gift shaker to generate random gift ideas in a variety of shopping categories to help find the perfect present.

9.  Share items with your network- Let your friends know what you bought or what you want by sharing your purchases or wishlist through Twitter, Facebook, and Email

10.  Purchase from your mobile device- If you find the product you want online, purchase it directly from your Smartphone and have it shipped to your house.

M-Commerce is about the explosion of possibilities for both consumers and merchants. Smartphones have opened the door to new shopping trends and applications that are changing the way people shop in new and exciting ways.  Still in its infancy, M-Commerce is on the cusp of exploding into the next multi-billion dollar industry, and now is the time to get involved.

Most paid comparison shopping engines raise prices during the holiday season because of increased traffic and generally higher conversion rates.  The first company to announce their holiday rate increase was NexTag, who sent an email to merchants yesterday, October 18th.

In this email, NexTag announced a temporary 25% price increase for all categories that will be effective November 1, 2010 through January 4, 2011. NexTag’s price increase means that [...]]]>

3 Tips to Help Merchants Succeed in the Shopping Engines This Holiday Season

Most paid comparison shopping engines raise prices during the holiday season because of increased traffic and generally higher conversion rates.  The first company to announce their holiday rate increase was NexTag, who sent an email to merchants yesterday, October 18^th.

In this email, NexTag announced a temporary 25% price increase for all categories that will be effective November 1, 2010 through January 4, 2011. NexTag’s price increase means that a merchant with a bid of $1.00 will be charged $1.25 for all clicks that take place during this period.

In previous years, NexTag has deducted the 25% from the bid amounts after the holiday season is over.  This year, on January 5, 2011 they will automatically reset all rates to October 15, 2010 bid amount. This means that merchants need to pay very close attention when January rolls around to ensure that they are not spending too much on pre-Halloween bids and that they maintain the product placement they achieved during the holidays. The following three tips will help you prepare for the 2010 holiday season.

1. Be aware of the rate change policy for each engine. Rate increases during the holiday season are typical for fee-based comparison shopping engines.  NexTag, PriceGrabber, and Shopzilla are just a few of the CSEs that instigate rate increases between November and January.  Make sure that you know the percentage increase, applicable categories, and start and end date for each comparison shopping engine you use.

2. Keep a close eye on your bids and products. With the increase in rates and volume of clicks, it is likely that you will spend your budget faster than usual.  Plan your budgeting to sustain your products throughout the entire holiday season. Revisit your bids regularly to make sure that your products don’t experience any downtime and that they are in the position you want.

3. Know what to expect. If you know what to expect, you can plan accordingly and maximize your sales this holiday season. Many merchants experience an increase in traffic and rates during November, which translates to higher spend in the shopping engines.  Conversion rates typically increase after Thanksgiving through the New Year to counter the CPC cost.

Now is the time to start planning your comparison shopping engine strategy for the end of the year.  Keep in mind that conversion rates are usually higher between November and January, so CSE rate increases shouldn’t stop your business from having a lucrative holiday season. Information on rate changes for Shopzilla, PriceGrabber, Smarter.com, and Shopping.com will be available soon.

It is no secret that Facebook dominates the social networking field.  Facebook controls almost half of the US traffic to social media sites with more than 500 active users who together spend over 700 billion minutes per month on the site1.  Facebook is now taking on e-commerce, and forever changing the way that people shop online and interact on social media sites.

With a Facebook store application, businesses can now [...]]]>

How Online Merchants Can Increase Sales and Influence Consumers with Social Commerce

It is no secret that Facebook dominates the social networking field.  Facebook controls almost half of the US traffic to social media sites with more than 500 active users who together spend over 700 billion minutes per month on the site¹.  Facebook is now taking on e-commerce, and forever changing the way that people shop online and interact on social media sites.

With a Facebook store application, businesses can now sell products directly from their fan page and shoppers can purchase items from their favorite stores without leaving the Facebook site. This new trend is on the cusp of exploding into a multi-billion dollar opportunity for e-commerce businesses, and now is the time to get involved.  The following five applications will get your products listed on Facebook and help turn your “friends” into customers.

• Payvment is leading the way in Facebook e-commerce.  Currently in its beta stage, Payvment is free for merchants who want to sell products directly from Facebook. Merchants using Payvment will benefit from the easy installation process, integrated marketing features, and built-in sales tracking.  Payvment allows merchants to sell an unlimited number of products and offers domestic and international shipping options.  Their promotional features include Facebook fan discounts, the ability to “share” store and item information with Facebook friends, and built in review and commenting capabilities.  Overall, Payvment has great benefits for merchants and customers, combining shopping and social media in a seamless and easy to use application.

• Shop Tab is a data feed driven program that connects Facebook users with merchant websites. For $20 a month, businesses can list up to 3,000 products on their Facebook fan page under the “shop” tab.  Unlike Payvment, Shop Tab shoppers are taken to the actual merchant website to complete the transaction instead of paying directly through Facebook, which removes any worry of payment delay or security breach.  With a low monthly cost and easy self-management tools, Shop Tab is a great way to get involved in Facebook Commerce with almost no risk.

• Milyoni (million-eye) helps integrate e-commerce business with social media in a “conversational commerce” site that allows Facebook users to transition from fans to customers.   They operate on a performance driven pricing model, with services starting at $2,000. This is a managed solution instead of a software download, and Milyoni provides all of the technology, hosting, and customer service to ensure a successful Facebook store integration.   The goal of Milyoni is not only to increase online sales through a Facebook store, but also to connect fans in a social context to promote customer engagement and loyalty.

• ShopFans is a social commerce application created by Adgregate Markets. Their pricing is based on revenue share, and is unique to each client. The ShopFans application allows merchants to sell products directly on their Facebook Fan Page, and consumers can complete the entire secure transaction without leaving the Facebook site.   This program allows businesses to market to their social networks, giving consumers the ability to share their “Wish List”, “Like” products, sign up for registries, and participate in exclusive sales.  Their goal is to turn “conversations into conversions” by fully integrating social commerce with e-commerce to create a unique shopping experience.

• Social Shop operates on the belief that combining social media and e-commerce leads to more customers and more sales.  Social Shop was created by BigCommerce, and is a Facebook application that allows retailers to sell directly through Facebook. They offer five programs that range from $24.95/month to $299.95/ month with an additional $49.95 startup fee for each merchant. Social shop is easy to use and connects merchants and customers in a social context by allowing Facebook users to browse products through a “shop” tap on the business fan page, view product photos, and quickly share products with friends.

There is no question that these Facebook applications are revolutionizing the way we shop, making it a truly social experience.  Facebook commerce offers untapped possibilities for both merchants and consumers. No one can say for sure where this new e-commerce avenue will lead, but chances are, it is going to be big.

¹ http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics

Word of mouth is one of the oldest and most effective forms of marketing, and its influence is on the rise as traditional marketing becomes more expensive and less effective.  In the past, word of mouth was limited to person-to-person communication.  Today, the viral nature of the internet allows conversations to quickly spread around the world and influence millions of people.  This fact, coupled with a growing distrust for traditional [...]]]>

How Online Ratings and Reviews Can Improve Credibility, SEO, and Sales

Word of mouth is one of the oldest and most effective forms of marketing, and its influence is on the rise as traditional marketing becomes more expensive and less effective.  In the past, word of mouth was limited to person-to-person communication.  Today, the viral nature of the internet allows conversations to quickly spread around the world and influence millions of people.  This fact, coupled with a growing distrust for traditional advertising, has made online ratings and reviews one of the most powerful factors influencing consumer purchasing decisions.  Here are a few ways the ratings and reviews can benefit your business and your customers:

Benefits for Consumers

• Established more trust in the product and company
• Gives consumers a voice
• More interaction on the website

Online reviews give ordinary consumers a voice and are particularly important since an online customer can’t go into a physical store to ask questions or test out the product.  The shift in shopping from in-store to online has made consumers wary from the very beginning.  Reviews help to reduce this apprehension and re-establish the trust between consumers and merchants that is lacking in the e-Commerce marketplace.

Benefits for Business

• Valuable market research
• Enhances customer service
• Increase sales

Ratings and reviews provide tremendous value to merchants as well.  They provide businesses with valuable market research and help them better understand the opinions and needs of their customers.  Ratings and reviews are also critical to customer service.  They provide the merchant with an opportunity to monitor customer satisfaction and address any problems that are brought up in a review. Lastly, ratings and reviews provide your customers with the information they need to feel confident in making an online purchase, and in doing so, can dramatically increase your sales.

Benefits for SEO

• Improve rankings
• New and unique content about your company
• Keyword rich

Ratings and reviews also enhance your search engine optimization efforts.  In fact, ratings and reviews on third party sites, such as PriceGrabber, Epinions, and Reseller Ratings are as important to e-commerce as links are to search engine optimization.  Some valuable features of online reviews are that they provide your website with a large volume of unique and constantly updated content that is full of relevant keywords. These factors work to increase the seller’s relevancy, figure prominently into ranking algorithms, and translate to better website performance.

Conclusion

The internet revolution has taken word of mouth marketing to the next level. Consumers now have the ability to share their experiences and opinions with their online peers, in a way that is extremely influential and powerful.  Online ratings and reviews give customers a voice, increase consumer confidence, enhance product visibility, and can dramatically increase sales.   When it comes down to it, online ratings and reviews provide incredible value and benefits that businesses cannot afford to ignore.