Latest
Cover Stories
Copy Tips for Better AdWords Results—and Better Marketing Overall
Expert Tips for Hiring Experts
Are You Making These 8 Common Email Mistakes?
Make It an Experience
A Physical Advantage
A Few Sweet Takeaways
The Trends and Tech Powering the Year Ahead
Editor's choice
Retail commerce | Marketing
Make It an Experience
Forget trying to compete with Amazon and big-box retailers on price. Instead offer what they can’t: experiential retail and expertise
Ecommerce | Design
The Need for Speed (and a Good Mobile Site)
Online success depends on quick download times—but not at the expense of a robust experience
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
The Trends and Tech Powering the Year Ahead
From in-store differentiation to AI: four advances you can't afford to ignore
Retail commerce | Pop-ups
The Keys to Pop-Up Success
If you sell products to consumers, you can succeed with a pop-up shop or kiosk—so long as you keep these tips in mind.
Commerce blog | Direct Marketing
Cover Stories
An effective catalogue cover isn't just (or even always) pretty. These 7 covers show how to make a mail piece command attention—and win sales
Ecommerce | Marketing
Copy Tips for Better AdWords Results—and Better Marketing Overall
Analysis of the most effective Google text ads shows that certain copy rules are not meant to be broken
Omnichannel commerce | Hiring
Expert Tips for Hiring Experts
Here's how to be sure you're hiring the best SEO pro, software engineer, digital designer, or other specialist for your business
Omnichannel commerce | Email
Are You Making These 8 Common Email Mistakes?
From overly clever subject lines to failing to segment by engagement, these practices may be hurting your business
Retail commerce | Marketing
Make It an Experience
Forget trying to compete with Amazon and big-box retailers on price. Instead offer what they can’t: experiential retail and expertise
Commerce blog | Retail
A Physical Advantage
These stores show how to make the most of bricks-and-mortar's unique advantage over the internet
Commerce blog | Ecommerce
A Few Sweet Takeaways
Online inspiration from Godiva, Hotel du Chocolate, and other candy sellers
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
The Trends and Tech Powering the Year Ahead
From in-store differentiation to AI: four advances you can't afford to ignore
Commerce blog | Ecommerce
Checking Out the Virtual Christmas Shop Windows
Website home pages are the online equivalent of storefront windows. Let's see which have captured the yuletide spirit best
Retail commerce | Pop-ups
The Keys to Pop-Up Success
If you sell products to consumers, you can succeed with a pop-up shop or kiosk—so long as you keep these tips in mind.
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
9 More Holiday Tactics to Implement Right Now
During the holiday season, bells aren't the only things that should be ringing. Your tills, both in-store and online, should be too. These tips will help
Retail commerce | Operations
Good Supply-Chain Relationships Make Good Retail
Retailers not looking at their vendor compliance programs as a cause of their woes. Perhaps they should be
Omnichannel commerce | Mobile
Why-and How-to Begin SMS Marketing
Text messaging to subscribers is a simple, affordable way to take advantage of the rapid growth of m-commerce
Retail commerce | Marketing
From Retail Apocalypse to Retail Reinvention
When the rise of ecommerce threatened the travel industry, it transformed itself in order to survive. Bricks-and-mortar retailers can do the same
Commerce blog | Omnichannel
7 Tips from Gardening Companies to Help Your Online Presence Blossom
Even small and local businesses that don't sell directly online are competing with national businesses that do. Here's how they can level the field.
Direct commerce | Creative
How to Make Your Catalogue a Keeper
Advice and aspirational content can extend your print catalogue's shelf life—and boost your sales
Commerce blog | Ecommerce
Under the Social Influence
Sometimes called herd behaviour, social proof can boost your sales—and making it work in your favour isn't all that difficult
Retail commerce | Merchandising
Merchandise Planning Made (Somewhat) Easy
A 3-step plan to help you avoid buying too much of the wrong product and to ensure you have enough of the hottest-selling, most profitable items
Ecommerce | Design
The Need for Speed (and a Good Mobile Site)
Online success depends on quick download times—but not at the expense of a robust experience
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
6 Holiday Learnings That Will Help You All Year Long
Wish it could be Christmas every day? These findings from holiday shopping trends can help your business enjoy festive sales year-round
Commerce blog | Omnichannel
Mum's the Word
Mothers buy a lot. Communicating with them with these 5 key values in mind will encourage them to buy from you
Commerce blog | Omnichannel
What's in a Sign?
The road to the "endless aisle" can start with a simple sign
Retail commerce | Management
7 Metrics for Gauging the Health of Your Store
Deciding which of the many performance indicators are most key to measure can be a challenge. But experts agree that these are especially important
Commerce blog | Direct marketing
5 Things I Learned from Herschell Gordon Lewis
I was lucky enough to have worked, in a small degree, with the late direct marketer nonpareil, and I'm a better copywriter for it
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
6 Holiday Tactics You Can Implement Right Now
Minor effort and cost, major boost to Christmas sales: There's plenty to love about these tips
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
Co-Creation, User Reviews, and the Customer Experience
As consumers grow ever more sceptical of marketing, engaging them in co-creation is key
Ecommerce | Marketing
Why Social Shopping Hasn't Taken Off... Yet
Offline, people love to shop socially. But the lukewarm response to buy buttons on social media shows that no one has managed to make it work online
Omnichannel commerce | Email
11 Best Practices for Transactional Emails
Order confirmations and other transactional emails have more than twice the open rate of marketing emails. Here's how to make them effective branding tools as well
Ecommerce | Social media
Social Media Lessons from the Campaign Trail
U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders may not have the deep pockets and party support of the leading candidates, but his campaign can teach them—and us—a few things about social media
Omnichannel commerce | Data management
What You Need to Know About IoT and CDM
No matter what your business, the Internet of things will change it. Here's what you need to know, and why channel data management will matter
Omnichannel commerce | Customer Experience
Getting Emotional Pays Off
"Emotionally connected" customers are even more valuable than satisfied ones. Here's how to create and amplify a connection
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
Influence the Influencers
Influencer marketing can be an efficient, effective way of gaining credibility and customers alike—if you follow these 6 tips
Commerce blog | Retail
Three Cheers for Family-Friendly Shops
Accommodating kids can be easy—and can pay off with increased sales and return customers
Retail commerce | Marketing
Pop-Up Primer
Mall kiosks, festival stalls, mobile vans, and pop-up shops can give brands a physical presence for selling goods, testing products, or increasing awareness
Direct commerce | Marketing
Considering a Mail Campaign? Read This First!
The success of a direct mail campaign, whether it’s a catalogue or a postcard, requires these 9 elements
Commerce blog | Merchandising
Even Generalists Can Specialise
Finding a niche market within your overall audience can set your brand apart without distracting from your core strategy
Commerce blog | Email Marketing
We <3 Valentine’s Day Emails
Takeaways from 7 marketers and their messages
Commerce blog | Marketing
Novel Business-Building Advice
Who knew mediocre historical fiction would offer solid commerce suggestions?
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
Soundbites of Wisdom
There’s plenty of food for thought—and inspiration—from these speakers at the NRF Big Show 2016
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
The 4 Hooks for Creating Repeat Customers
All it takes are the optimal triggers, actions, rewards, and investments
Omnichannel commerce | Mobile
Creating Digital Moments... in Your Store
Two experts share how to leverage digital so that it enriches customers' experiences in your store—and keeps them from showrooming
Commerce blog | Retail
Low-Hanging Fruit for the Grabbing
The first day of the NRF Big Show 2016 yielded some retail advice you can act on right now
Ecommerce | Social media
Four Ways to Improve Performance Via Social Media Monitoring
Here's what you should be keeping an eye out for on social media... and how can you use what you see
Commerce blog | Email
Dear Rosetta Stone, More Isn't More
The language-instruction company emailed me an average of three times a day in December—but not because it had much to say. Here are five ways it could have said more with fewer messages
Direct commerce | Marketing
8 Best Practices of Direct Mail
To ensure the greatest response to your mail piece, whether it's a letter or a catalogue, keep in mind these suggestions regarding response mechanisms, calls to action, and more
Retail commerce | Marketing
Attract a Crowd!
A retail grand opening or other in-store event can raise your brand’s profile and bring in new customers—so long as you keep these 12 tips in mind
Retail commerce | Marketing
Incorporating Digital into Your Shop Is Easier Than You Think
Savvy signage, empowered employees, expanded delivery options: These are just a few ways you can compete with online retailers offline
Retail commerce | Merchandising
8 Tips to Improve Your Store Displays
From where to place your most-popular products to which racking to use for sale merchandise, these tips will make your store and window displays even more effective
Commerce blog | Creative
Compare and Contrast: Fruitcake Frenzy
Are all fruitcakes alike? More to the point, do all marketers sell their fruitcakes the same way? We compare and contrast five purveyors, from Harrods to Williams-Sonoma,
Direct commerce | Creative
Have Your Brought Your Direct Mail into the 21st Century?
Adding elements such as QR codes and pURLs to your catalogues and other direct mail pieces will boost your response and conversion rates both offline and online
Retail commerce | Retail
Whither Retail?
Empowered consumers, retailtainment, mass personalisation, and of course, increasing smartphone usage are among the changes affecting the future of bricks-and-mortar retail
Direct commerce | Catalogue print
Print Catalogue Design Glossary
From alignment to widows, here are the terms you need to make sense of print catalogue design and production, from conception to binding, and to communicate clearly with vendors, consultants, and creatives
Commerce blog | Email Marketing
What I Learned from 300 Black Friday Emails
Lots of percentage-off discounts and references to Black Friday itself. Not much in the way of creativity. What else did I notice from the 300 marketing emails I received on the day after Thanksgiving?
Commerce blog | Email Marketing
Why We Love Uncommon Goods’ Onboarding Email Campaign
Sure, a simple welcome email is better than nothing. But a beautifully designed, well-written, and information onboarding campaign is even better
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
The ABCs of A/B Testing
This simple testing method can yield needle-moving insights regarding your website, email marketing, and direct mail pieces
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
Why You Need to Surprise and Delight Even Infrequent Customers...
...and how to do so
Ecommerce | Social media
Quick Tips to Generate (and Measure!) ROI from Social Media
Most marketers don't know how to measure the effectiveness of their social media marketing. Here's how to avoid being one of them
Omnichannel commerce | Email Marketing
Win Back Those Lapsed Customers and Email Subscribers: Here's How
Failure to at least try to reactivate inactive subscribers can hurt your deliverability as well as your bottom line
Ecommerce | Social media
Eight Tips to Avoid Social Media Fails
Think you're too smart to make a social media gaffe? So did McDonald's, Tesco, Urban Outfitters...
Omnichannel commerce | Email Marketing
After the Purchase: Follow-up Emails to Boost Loyalty and Sales
Six types of emails to keep customers engaged and coming back for more
Ecommerce | Social Media
11 Tips for Using Pinterest as a Marketing Tool
73 million people log onto the social network every day; here's how you can turn those consumers into your customers
Ecommerce | Marketing
Stop Buying Customers; Get Personal Instead
Most online shoppers grow frustrated with websites that serve up irrelevant pages. Personalised online merchandising eliminates that frustration
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
Why Foresight Trumps Hindsight When Growing Your Business
Management consultant Lana Klein explains how even small companies can—and should—research where they're going as well as where they've been
Ecommerce | Search Engine Marketing
Beyond the Keyword: Quick Tips from Search Expert Justin Freid
The digital marketing guru talks low-hanging fruit, must-track metrics, and the importance of content
Omnichannel commerce | Mobile
Going Mobile? Keep These Five Misconceptions in Mind
After all, if consumers don't find your app useful, they're simply not going to use it
Omnichannel commerce | Marketing
Get Ready for Holiday
13 steps to implement now... if you haven't already
Retail commerce | Marketing
Four Types of In-Store Shoppers (and How to Cater to Each)
An Advice and Guidance Seeker has different preferences to a Resolution Requester. The most successful retailers know how to cater to each type of consumer—and so can you
Omnichannel commerce | Email
Email Marketing Glossary
Don't know your preview pane from your preheader? This glossary of email marketing terminology will change that
Ecommerce | Marketing
11 Tips for Boosting Your eBay Sales
If you haven't yet found eBay to be a profitable online marketplace, these suggestions could reverse your fortunes
Omnichannel commerce | Creative
The Dynamic Duo of Product Descriptions
Features and benefits are the copywriter's most persuasive tools
Ecommerce | Design
Nine Essentials for a Trustworthy Website
Consumers are more suspicious of ecommerce sites than bricks-and-mortar businesses. These tips will help you win their trust—and their sales
Omnichannel commerce | Content Marketing
10 Steps for Efficient and Effective Content Marketing
Newsletters, podcasts, blogs, and white papers can be vital promotional and sales tools; here’s how to make the most of them
Direct commerce | Creative
Before Approving Your Print Catalogue, Read This
A nine-step checklist to ensuring your marketing tool is an effective one
Ecommerce | Creative
Eight Easy Tweaks to Your Call-to-Action Buttons That Can Boost Response
You’ll gain new respect for the power of the easy-to-overlook CTA button
Ecommerce | SEO
Best Practices of Basic SEO... Really Basic, Honest!
Don’t be intimidated by search engine optimisation. Much of it simply comes down to website hygiene
Omnichannel commerce | Database Marketing
RFM Modeling: Simple, Cheap, and Effective
Everyone in business hears a lot about data these days, for those with big budgets. What about the rest of us?