Page 21 - Blog

The sun is shining, the weather is warm, and everyone is in vacation mode making this one of the most wonderful times of the year. This got me thinking about the other most wonderful time of the year- the holiday season! I know not many people want to think about those days when the sun goes into hiding, the weather sends a chill down your spine, and snow blowers and shovels are commonplace; but as a business owner, you need to get to work on your Christmas list (and don't forget to check it twice) to make sure you have a holiday season that has everything on your wishlist. 

Things are definitely heating up in ecommerce, and it has nothing to do with summer (well, maybe a little bit). With the holidays on the horizon and looming ever-closer, it’s a race against time to get your site and promotions ready. In the midst of all the activity, sometimes things fall through the cracks. Sometimes everything will still run smoothly, sometimes they won’t.

One thing you definitely don’t want to overlook is your product images. Bad ones can break your business, but great ones can increase conversions to take your business to the next level and beyond. Here are just a few tips to make your product images attractive and engaging for your visitors:

Updated June 2, 2017

When you give people what they want, they will continue to come back for more.

This is exactly what HBO does with Game of Thrones. With six seasons under their belt, HBO has shown that they have the ability to tell an impressive story, build an entirely new world, and create complex characters on the small screen.  It doesn’t hurt that HBO also gives viewers exactly what they want: an epic tale filled with dragons, fantasy, fear, confusion, anger, love, and hate.

Committing to adapting the international bestselling fantasy novel series, “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin, into the HBO series, Game of Thrones, was a risk. However, the risk turned into a game changer for HBO. When the first episode aired on April 17, 2011, no one would have expected this fantasy series to attract a record number of viewers. The international fan base continues to grow with each new season and there is extensive acclaim and award from critics.

So what does it take to be a

Acronyms have been widely used as an easy mnemonic device. They’re usually way easier to remember than what they represent and are extremely effective when it comes to recalling information, as long you can remember what they stand for, that is. There are a ton of marketing acronyms out there, but these are purely for social media. When it comes to the following recommendations and best practices for social media, they’re short and a lot of fun, so you’ll have no problems remembering them or what they represent.

Updated June 1, 2017

“A lord must learn that sometimes words can accomplish what swords cannot.”

- Catelyn Stark, Game of Thrones

One of the reasons for the popularity of Game of Thrones is that it has the large scale spectacle of a film brought to your living room on the small screen. The creators of the show do so by paying attention to every single detail regarding the sprawling plot, development of characters, intricate costumes, and extravagant set design.

Some people may question the investment of so much time, money, and effort in such seemingly meaningless details. The answer is simple- these details are used to create something real so that viewers believe that somehow, someway, Westeros exists. The creators have raised the bar by paying attention to details and have provided viewers with a level of authenticity unmatched by any other TV series.

However, what really makes everything work together is the storytelling. The writers are able to make viewers aware of both the core of

A few days ago, I was in a book store (shocking I know) and after perusing the science fiction and fantasy section, I could not find the book I was hoping to find there. When I asked an employee what could be done, they told me that they could order the book and I could pick it up in one to two weeks after paying for shipping. I ended up leaving empty-handed and without an order because I knew I could find the book online with free shipping that would get to me in 3 days.

“Summers span decades.

Winters can last a lifetime.

And the struggle for the Iron Throne continues."

For six seasons, viewers have been taken on a journey filled with intensity, turmoil, and torment constantly wondering just who will be the future occupant of the Iron Throne. Viewers are fascinated and filled with anticipation as each piece of the story unfolds. Monday mornings at the water cooler seem consumed with discussions about each episode for weeks. Everyone has a favorite family, a favorite character, and a favorite scene. The show is so popular that Andy Greenburg, a Forbes staff writer, reported that Game of Thrones was the most pirated show of 2012.

Part of the appeal is the characters, the warring families, and the constant plot twists and turns. However, I have found that the formation of unlikely alliances, the strategy creation, and the reaction to the unknown are equally as compelling. Not to mention, the series acts as a metaphor for real life and

Every year, the Internet Retailer Exhibition & Conference (IRCE) draws in retailers from all over the globe to learn, discover new technologies, and build relationships. With over 200 experts, pre- and post-show workshops, and two sets of 5 tracks to choose from each of the main days, IRCE was an educational opportunity not to be missed! Here are just a few of the many, many takeaways you can use to help your business succeed:

As we approach the celebration of America’s independence, we often find ourselves caught up with flags, family barbeques, and, of course,  fireworks. We tend to forget that the freedom we enjoy comes from our founding fathers working tirelessly with the tenacity to think outside the box, the courage to take risks, and the vision of something better for everyone.

There are plenty of sites and blogs that have countless pointers, tips, and advice on how you should market your company. They will tell you the best practices of the industry and give you the step by step how-to’s to make your website great and grab viewers. However, sometimes those same sites that give you those tips and advice can give out downright terrible advice. For today’s post, we’re going to look at three pieces of advice that are tossed around that you should ignore whenever you hear them: