Web Commerce Today
Issue 28, December 15, 1999
Theme: E-Commerce Trends and Strategies
Dear friends,
The Christmas selling season will soon be over. It's time to step back and take a look at where we've been, what's happening around us, and then decide where to go next. In this issue I'll be looking at trends and strategies to take you into the year 2000.
Trends in E-Commerce: Freeze-Frame December 1999
In this article, Dr. Wilson examines the 15 important e-commerce trends that dramatically affect e-commerce planning for the first few months of 2000. Catch his anlysis and lessons that on-their-toes merchants must learn from them. READ THE ARTICLE
Small Businesses E-Commerce Strategies for the Year 2000
Here are Dr. Wilson's recommendations for 14 important e-commerce strategies, especially designed for small business or small business units of larger companies. Seeking to prioritize your to-do list for 2000? Here are the key directions you need to move. READ THE ARTICLE
Book Brief: Selling Online
Jim Carroll and Rick Broadhead have produced an important e-commerce introduction, published by Macmillan. Though it's targeted to Canadians, it's probably an extremely helpful book for US merchants, too. READ THE REVIEW
Browsing Four Products at a Time
One of the inherent difficulties of online catalog-type stores is your inability to quickly get the big picture, or to browse quickly. With a print catalog you can scan in moments by turning pages. But how about the online store. I saw a new approach recently at Brookstone.com (http://www.brookstone.com). While several display elements are less than ideal, I especially like the ability to browse products with a category in groups of four. The best-selling product in a group is displayed with a larger picture, while less-in-demand products display with three thumbnails. That's a lot better than browsing one product at a time. Take a look.
