Is Your Ecommerce Store Set to Sell TMX Friends Ernie & Cookie Monster?

When TMX Elmo was sold by Mattel back in 1996, selling toys online wasn't still an option for many retailers. But with the release of TMX Ernie and TMX Cookie Monster this coming holiday season, online merchants are scampering to get their ecommerce stores equipped with the ticklish toys. eBay lists the TMX Friends to be one of the most popular selling collectible toys this Christmas, just next to Transformers, Barbie dolls, Webkinz, and the Nintendo Wii.

TMX Cookie Monster and TMX Ernie are so funny that it's no wonder everyone is out to get them. A quick caveat though: Make sure you handle the shipping details well. Your ecommerce store should be able to inform your shoppers the exact day when the toys will be delivered. Or better yet, give them a chance to order online and pick up the TMX Friends in-store.

Why is this extremely important? Imagine the dismay of little children who were promised to get TMX Friends as gifts from their Santa parents, but didn't get them on time for Christmas Eve unwrapping. You don't want to spoil the occasion! Be a good merchant and let your ecommerce store earn points by being prompt. You will get your reward!

Ecommerce Marketing Tip - Leave No Stones Unturned!

The most aggressive salespeople online know what to do if they want to earn more. They leave no stones unturned. They tend to seek out every corner of possibilities and reach out to every possible buyer. Their ecommerce marketing technique is to create as much exposure for their products or services as possible.

This would mean they would have to make their ecommerce stores cross-browser compatible. Their ecommerce marketing efforts would extend far beyond the standard market and into the less popular browsing and buying platform and audience such as Mac users and the visually impaired, etc.

Because even though some of these online users aren't using PCs, browsing with Mozilla Firefox, or are as technologically adept as most online shoppers, they still have money to spend, and have the urge to buy. That is why targeting them may indeed spell a big difference in sales.

Is Free Merchant Account Best for Low Volume Sellers?

What is particularly striking between a third party processor (also called a free merchant account) and a merchant account itself is that ecommerce sellers would usually look at the numbers before they decide which between the two they would pick. For some merchants, a third party processor may be a better option than a real merchant account because they only transact low volume of payments. The opposite is true for those who have acquired their own internet merchant account.

A good example would be the fact that merchant accounts normally charge a monthly fee. On the other hand, a free merchant account/third party processor may only ask for a one time setup fee, or sometimes none at all, in exchange for a slightly higher transaction fee or discount rate.

If you're a high volume merchant then there's no doubt that the best option would be to apply for an internet merchant account. But if you're a startup (which accounts for a great percentage of the ecommerce merchant population), then a third party processor or free merchant account is your best bet. You may also obtain extra offers such as free virtual terminal, free shopping cart, or free web hosting.

Do US Merchants Have More Chances of Getting a Free Online Merchant Account?

US merchants are far more blessed than any other online sellers around the world. More often than not, they get all the privileges and opportunities that free online merchant account providers offer. If you browse online, you will notice a common denominator among merchant account advertisements. "We offer free setup, free application, free etc. as long as your business is established in the US."

Is this unfair or what? Merchants in the UK and most other international territories also wish to avail of free online merchant accounts. The freebies are simply too enticing to let slip. International merchants that are excluded from the offer may miss out on:

• free merchant account setup
• free application
• free fraud detection and security tools
• free reporting, accounting, and sales tracking
• free shopping cart
• free credit card terminals (manual or virtual)
• and more

Isn't it time free online merchant account providers also offer gratis services and products to non-US merchants? This can be a great way to make money since international merchants are growing in number everyday. Instead of focusing only on merchants within the US, providers must also be able to underwrite UK, Australian, Canadian, and other international businesses as well. Doing business online is a global thing. Opportunities should not be limited simply because a business is established in a specific country. This gap in the ecommerce industry needs to be filled!

ECOMMERCE WEB SITE DESIGN TIP 4 - Is Flash Evil?

What has Flash got to do with everything concerning ecommerce web design? Is it a necessary element? Can merchants do without using it? Will merchants actually increase sales conversion by incorporating Flash design in their websites?

A quick look on the most popular and biggest selling online retailer sites will show you that Flash images are indeed part of the ecommerce web design package. Note though, how sparingly they are used. Why? Because even though Flash images are fun to watch, if they are not designed to load fast, they can be a cause of dismay. Using Flash does have disadvantages, despite being highly appealing. In fact, I can write a whole book about it but I'll hold myself (haha!).

Flash images aren't all that destructive for your website. You just want to make your store look better, but remember the simpler the more functional. Besides they can also be more costly so if you're banking on good ecommerce web design, make sure you sprinkle Flash images very sparingly.

ECOMMERCE WEB SITE DESIGN TIP 1 - Watch out for your designer's promises
ECOMMERCE WEB SITE DESIGN TIP 2 - Content is the Meat and Potatoes
ECOMMERCE WEB SITE DESIGN TIP 3 - SEO WWWHATT?