eCommerce Blog

It takes a village to run any successful large venture or implement ambitious ideas. That’s why business owners need a group of people to bounce ideas off of, critique, and provide invaluable feedback to each other. They may be a group of C-level executives, or simply some trusted individuals and peers from various companies who are qualified to run a business. This is called a “mastermind group,” a term coined by author Napoleon Hill in the classic self-improvement book “Think and Grow Rich.” 

The customer is king, and for SaaS companies, this rings particularly true. SaaS companies, or Software as a Service, provide on-demand software services that are usually licensed on a subscription basis (monthly, yearly, etc.).

The perfect example of a SaaS company is Netflix. Netflix users pay the company a certain amount each month for web-based services (streaming of movies, shows, etc.), following a fixed subscription model.

The industry has grown in leaps and bounds with easy access to[...]

Automation makes our lives easier and more convenient while allowing us to accomplish our goals in an increasingly efficient way. This is especially true for online business owners, who are constantly seeking ways to improve their operations and do more with less. That means automating where you can and constantly learning about the best tools to do so. It also means knowing how to implement those tools correctly so that customers are easily able to understand and use them. 

Branding isn't your brand name or your domain name. It isn't even some blog post or press release that you publish. It's more than a strategy that you lay out on a company wiki.

The truth is, branding cannot be seen; it can only be felt.

Think about some of your favorite brands, ones that you actively recommend to your peers and prefer over other options. That feeling? That's good branding.

Already gaining traction with budding eCommerce entrepreneurs, the dropshipping business model promises low start-up and operating costs. This model's low-stakes approach makes it an excellent way to test your entrepreneurial skills.

If done right, you’ll be able to sell tons of valuable merchandise, set your own prices, and build your brand without ever managing inventory and the substantial costs associated with it.

But, for your dropshipping business to take off, you first need a virtual[...]

Showcasing interesting eCommerce product images can give your Instagram account visibility. However, if you're new to Instagram and trying to build an eCommerce brand, there's a lot more you can do.

You can begin by avoiding the mistakes of other eCommerce stores, making it easy to skip directly to the good part of positioning your product, defining your audience, creating interesting videos and stories, and working on persuasive product-focused copy.

If you want your business to be found online, then it needs to be seen online. That means, of course, that you need to understand how search engines (and their rankings) work. But, if you’re looking for one of the fastest and easiest ways to improve your ranking on Google and other search engines, then you can bypass all of the other Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tactics and jump straight into:

Link building.

Good web design is essential for eCommerce businesses looking to improve their online presence. In this article, we'll take a look at 23 ways that you can enhance your website's design to boost engagement and conversions.

The landscape of eCommerce is always changing, and a smart business makes sure to stay on top of each new development. Since most of your ability to adapt is dependent on the capabilities of your eCommerce software, it's vital to use a platform that keeps up with the times. That's why, at Shift4Shop, we work constantly to bring you all the newest tools, integrations, and features as soon as possible. When you thrive, so do we!

“The customer is always right” is one of the most overused quotes for customer service. It’s hard to say where this quote originated from, but some sources indicate that it could be traced back to 1909.

Allegedly, a London department store founder used this quote to assure his customers that they would get good services in his store, which would make the saying more than 110 years old today. This says something about how vital customer service is for businesses to survive and grow.

Remote work is here to stay, whether businesses like it or not. The more people work remote, however, the higher the chances of cybercrime, fraud and data mishandling. In order to avoid all of these things, managers and employees need to be aware of where the pitfalls lie. Regardless, good remote work policies must include features and safeguards to ensure customer, company and employee data integrity. Below are 19 ways you can make remote work even more secure.

Let's be honest, building a custom sticker business is difficult and there is a lot of competition. However, it’s not impossible to succeed. Customers are more supportive of small businesses than ever before, and eCommerce platforms make it easier than ever to reach a worldwide audience. Forget about expensive brick-and-mortar locations — the best place to have a sticker business is online! A couple of sticker ideas won't make you wealthy, but if you have a vision, a business strategy, and a[...]

Our world is becoming more visual by the day. That means an explosion of easily shared audiovisual content being spread throughout the world. While, naturally, there are a variety of platforms useful for posting video content, YouTube is still the undisputed ruler of sharing videos of all subject matter and length. You can make your content educational, entertaining, and have a certain level of creative freedom to truly express your brand’s voice. All the while, your videos can be shared in a[...]

Most people don't step into a new venture with a wealth of experience in financial management. Knowing how many new start-ups have failed to succeed financially — and why — is essential for any business owner.

A smart business owner comprehends the central role of accounting and bookkeeping to make effective business decisions.

The last few years have seen an absolute explosion in eCommerce growth, and there has never been a better time to get in on the action yourself with an online boutique.

During the 2020 pandemic, eCommerce sales soared upwards by an incredible 33.6%, destroying previous estimates in its wake.  That growth has only continued since, and it’s just common sense to want to get in on the action with your own venture.

Let’s be honest: it’s an exciting time to be an entrepreneur. In days past, starting[...]

Ecommerce owners typically focus on the design and interface of their websites to encourage customers to move down the purchase funnel. However, the eCommerce checkout process is ultimately where visitors will convert.

The eCommerce checkout process refers to the steps a customer will take to fill a shopping cart and complete its purchase. A good checkout process will have a clear flow and enable seamless buying with minimal friction.

Buyers with intent may enter the checkout flow but may not[...]

Identifying and analyzing trends is an excellent way to get a jump on future business, but it's important to remember that the best trend analysis will depend on taking everything into consideration. With that in mind, below are some tips on identifying market trends for long-term success.

When customers choose a business to shop with, they don’t just compare prices or browse product selections. They also want to see responsible social practices.

Ecommerce websites have always been one of the most common targets of digital attacks. For digital thieves, it is a treasure trove full of personal and financial information about active customers.

Once a business’s security has been breached, it leads to data loss and depletes the trust that could have been gained over the years.

Google Analytics has been a staple of eCommerce for years. It's a versatile tool built to provide you with data you can use to better understand your customers. And as every successful business owner knows, understanding your customers is the key to growing your business.

With Shift4Shop Version 12, we upgraded our Google Analytics integration to support the newest version, Google Analytics V4. This brings powerful new features to Shift4Shop stores.