News

Sell Your Products on Tablet & Smartphone

Are you ready to tap into the Millions of ££’s already being spent by shoppers using their mobile devices?

• Using mobile technology your customers can and it’s easier than you think!
• Having a dedicated mobile application for your online store means that customers can search for and buy products via their smart phone
• Our system is currently available on the iPhone and iPad, with Android coming soon. The mobile app can be fully customised and branded with the ability to add products and pages
• It's your own store with your own brand and products
• Low project start-up cost and low on-going costs
• Currently integrates with PayPal Mobile payment system.

We can fully integrate this with our nopCommerce ecommerce system.
Call 0845 009 5560 for more information.

Published on: 01-11-2011

Do you know your shopping cart abandonment rate?

The abandonment of online shopping carts is a concern for all businesses. With UK abandonment rates in the region of 50%, the average online business can be missing out on potential sales equivalent to 100% of its current turnover!

What are the reasons for shopping cart abandonment and how can the ecommerce business do to reduce this? Here are just a few of the key reasons and some suggestions:-

• Delivery costs - high delivery charges was given by 46% of shoppers as a reason for abandonment. This is something that retailers can solve by offering free shipping where possible (at least over a certain threshold), or by making charges as low as possible, especially in comparison to rivals in their sector.  Also, if customers are reaching the shopping cart and then bailing out due to delivery costs, then this suggests that this has not been effectively communicated until this point, and shoppers may even have gone to the checkout to find out these charges without any strong intention to purchase. Delivery charges should be made clear on product pages at the very least, and even better if they can be prominently displayed on the homepage and around the site, as B&Q does here with its free delivery offer.
• Comparison shopping - 37% gave this as a reason for abandonment. These customers possibly had no intention of buying, but wanted to compare total costs with another website. There is less retailers can do about this, but providing a good user experience and making it easy for them to find the information they want, as well as offering a competitive price, may make it more likely that they will return after their research is complete. It could also be argued that these shoppers shouldn't have to reach the shopping basket to find out all the price and delivery information they are looking for, as this could be provided on product pages.
• Couldn’t find preferred payment option
  For 24%, the lack of a suitable payment method meant that they abandoned the checkout. To combat this, retailers should look at their customer base and decide whether offering alternatives to debit and credit cards would help them to attract extra business.
• Item unavailable at checkout
  23% abandoned carts because the item turned out to be unavailable when they arrived there. This is just bad usability, and an excellent way to annoy your customers. Customers should not be finding this out on the shopping cart page.
• Couldn’t find customer support
  22% were unable to find a contact options. They may have had a query about the product or website that needed to be answered before they went ahead with the purchase, or simply needed some reassurance, so not providing clear contact details can mean lost sales.
• Security concerns
  If 21% are abandoning for this reason, it suggests that some sites are not doing enough to make customers trust them. Displaying clear security information and logos, as well as contact details can all help to address these concerns.
  (Statistics and Information provided by www.econsultancy.com)
  

Published on: 04-09-2011

nopCommerce V2.0 released

We are extremely happy to announce the availability of nopCommerce v2.00 for download and upgrade. nopCommerce 2.00 was rewritten from scratch. Our development efforts were focused on moving nopCommerce to ASP.NET MVC 3.0, architecture improvements, further enhancements and fixing bugs. nopCommerce is the leading .net open source ecommerce system.

Highlight features

· Architecture improvements

· Moved to ASP.NET MVC 3.0 (Razor syntax)

· Really pluggable architecture (just drop a plugin to the /plugins folder in your nopCommerce directory)

· SQL Server Compact support

· Code-First Development with Entity Framework 4 (data access)

· More flexible ACL implementation

· More user-friendly admin area

· Added unit tests

This new release features many new improvements and additional functions. (extract from press release by nopCommerce august 2011)

Net Syndicate’s Managing Director, David Swain commented “nopCommerce is true to its word and has produced, in our view, the best .net open source ecommerce system available”

More information on 0845 009 5560, email ecommerce@netsyndicate.co.uk or visit www.netsyndicate.co.uk

Published on: 01-08-2011

ecommerce basics

ecommerce sales have increased in comparison to traditional stores with many businesses and individuals turning to online shops to sell products online. The following are some guidelines to start or improve your online product business.

Finding Products
Visitors can't buy products that they cannot find. It's critical that your
ecommerce site helps them to easily locate what they want, and a good site search function and clear navigation are critical factors. Visitors should be able to search for products by entering descriptive words or item numbers and get an accurate and helpful list of products. Navigation should be clear and show types of products (categories) available. This, together with promotional items, discounts and other special offers, provides the visitor with a good experience of your ecommerce website..

Simple Checkout
Make the checkout simple. Long and complicated processes will turn users away from buying your products. The shorter and easier your checkout process is, the less abandoned and aborted shopping carts you will have. Work to streamline the checkout process so it involves as few steps as possible.

Accessible
Make sure your website works in ALL the major browsers. Test all functions, product displays and features to ensure users can view the website correctly.

Website Traffic
To get sales you need traffic/visitors. You may have a great design and the coolest products out there, but if no one is seeing them it really doesn't matter. Make sure that you have a marketing plan or someone who is dedicated to promoting the site because simply putting it up will not draw enough visitors.

Trustworthy
There are a lot of scammers out there and unfortunately that means that those who are trustworthy need to be able to prove it. Visitors will be hesitant to make a purchase online until they feel that they can trust the merchant. A common practice is to include badges for any associations, as well as for payment methods like VeriSign, Sage Pay or PayPal.

Optimized for Search Engines
Online searches provide some of the highest quality of traffic that you can get to your site. People who find your site through a search are looking for what you have to offer, so they are pretty likely to buy if your site does a good job. Many ecommerce sites suffer from poor search engine optimization. This is a huge topic that cannot be covered here, but if you are not familiar with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) make sure that you consult with a professional.

Maximising Selling Opportunities

• Register for newsletter, catalogue or more info

• Cross sell products "People who bought this also purchased...."

• Add related products. Relate each product to another and show them
  on the product page

• Offer bundles. If you sell shoes, think about selling the cleaner
  and shoe bag as well.

• Email promotional item to registered customers on a regular basis
  with links back to the specific product page.

• Offer basket discounts

• Sell your customers gift cards for Birthdays, Christmas etc...

We could build up a big list here......

Add in tracking Code
Track users on your website and gain vital statistics and usage information. A must is to set up Google Analytics for your ecommerce website.

Turning visitors into buyers, however, is not simple. There are several factors that you need to consider and improve on to entice visitors to spend their hard-earned cash on your website. Here are some of the important factors:

• Simplicity or ease of use
• Attitude and accessibility
• Responsiveness or the quality, speed and
       helpfulness of your email replies
• Transparency of your policies including
       privacy and return policies
• Selection and presentation of products.

Net Syndicate is the main partner for nopCommerce's ecommerce solution in the UK.

Contact 0845 009 5560 or email david@netsyndicate.co.uk

Published on: 01-07-2011

Net Syndicate Solutions Partner for nopCommerce

Net Syndicate is pleased to announce its second full year as a Solutions Partner for nopCommerce.

nopCommerce is a proven open source ecommerce solution based on the Microsoft .NET platform.

This decision was made to specialise in nopCommerce because of the systems long list of functionality, ease of customisation and speed of development.

As Net Syndicate is a Microsoft Solutions Partner, nopCommerce fits perfectly into its service offerings where it can integrate nopCommerce into CRM systems, Accounts (Sage & Opera II) and 3^rd party databases.

Example nopCommerce websites:-

www.izziwotnotoutlet.com

www.bksills.org

http://td.dev.netsyndicate.co.uk

Also this year, Net Syndicate celebrates its 10 year birthday and wishes to thank all its clients for their support over the past years.

Contact 0845 009 5560 or email David Swain at david@netsyndicate.co.uk

Net Syndicate operates throughout the UK from its offices in Birmingham, Coleshill and Derby, providing web applications, ecommerce solutions, application integration services, digital marketing and web support services

Published on: 21-04-2011

New website launched for Business Skills Stourbridge

Net Syndicate is pleased to announce the successful launch of the new Business Skills Stourbridge  (BSS) website. This will allow BSS to sell its extensive range of training courses online to a wide audience.

Business Skills is the employer training arm of Stourbridge College offering a wide range of training courses and advice for people who are keen to improve their career prospects, build on their professional development or get back into work through training. As well as being a market leader in training for Health & Safety, including IOSH and NEBOSH, Business Skills offers a range of apprenticeships, NVQs and gas and electric courses.

Business Skills is a Patron of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and was one of the first colleges in the region to be accredited with the Training Quality Standard.

see http://www.bskills.org/ for more details..

Published on: 20-12-2010

Net Syndicate launches nopcommerce version 1.8

Net Syndicate operates from its offices in Coleshill, Birmingam and Derby.

Contact 0845 009 5560

Published on: 11-11-2010

All Metal Services select Net Syndicate to Launch their Customer Portal

All Metal Services Ltd. (AMS) of Coleshill, Birmingham, supplyer of specialist metals to the aero industry, have selected Net Syndicate to design, build and launch their new Customer Portal and Website. Net Syndicate designed, developed and delivered the website and customer portal to a tight deadline enabling AMS's customesr to view and track orders and invoices relating to their own projects and those of their subcontractors. see more at www.allmetal.co.uk

Published on: 09-07-2010

Net Syndicate Opens New Derby Offices

Net Syndicate has recently opened its new office in Derby, at Friar Gate Studios, Ford Street, Derby, DE1 1EE. Contact telephone number: 0845 009 5560.

David Swain, Managing Director, stated:- "This expansion will allow us to build our existing team, offering greater quality and a more comprehensive range of services to our clients in both East and West Midlands"

 More details at:-

Published on: 21-06-2010

Net Syndicate appointed NopCommerce Gold Solution Partner

Net Syndicate is please to have been appointed a Gold Solution Partner for nopCommerce.
nopCommerce is a .net open source e-commerce solution that contains both a catalog frontend and an administration system which is comprehensive and easy to use. nopCommerce is a fully customizable ecommerce solution for all sizes of organisation.

"Having designed and developed several ecommerce systems with nopcommerce over the past 12 months, we are very pleased with the feedback received from clients. This is a very comprehensive and friendy system to use" David Swain, Director, Net Syndicate Ltd.

Published on: 02-06-2010

Net Syndicate Launches New Izziwotnot Website

Net Syndicate is please to launch Izziwotnot's latest website.This was a three month development to implement a new design which is based on Net Syndicate's latest ecommerce service.

Published on: 23-04-2010

New Birmingham City Council Home Choice website Live

Birmingham City Council Go Live with Home Choice website. This website was commissioned late last year to provide additional service to people seeking homes in the Birmingham  and other Areas. Net Syndicate is very pleased to have worked closely with the team at Birmingham City Council to launch this extensive website.

Published on: 01-03-2010

Select Commercial Services picks Net Syndicate to build and manage its Digital Marketing for 2010

Select Commercial Services picks Net Syndicate to build and manage its Digital Marketing for 2010.

Management training company Select CS chose Net Syndicate because of its experience in the Digital Marketing field. Net Syndicate will build Selects's new website, optimise the website for the major search engines, add an ecommerce interface to allow Select clients to buy courses online.

Published on: 12-11-2009

New ecommerce website launched

Net Syndicate is please to have designed and built Green World Stuff's new ecommerce website.

Green World Stuff commissioned Net Syndicate in July 2009 to develop a completely new ecommerce website using Net Syndicate's latest ecommerce engine. The website went live in October with 150 of the latest Solar panel and Solar re-chargeable products.

Net Syndicate implemented several payment systems including: - Paypal, SagePay and Google Checkout.

"We now have one of the most sophisticated ecommerce systems available, the facilities ensure the operation of the business is simple and as automatic as possible". MD http://www.greenworldstuff.com/

Published on: 10-10-2009

Net Syndicate Launches Facom Tools New Website

Facom Tools, part of the Stanley Tools Group, appointed Net Syndicate to build and host their new website in late 2008. Net Syndicate developed a completely new design which has over 200 pages of product and promotional information about the range of services and professional tools offered by Facom. View the new website at www.facom-tools.co.uk

Published on: 29-09-2009

Small Planet Building Website Launched

Today sees the launch of the new www.smallplanetbuilding.com website. Net Syndicate designed, built and hosts this exciting website that markets a full range of products manufactured from re-cycled waste. The website has full content, shopping basket and product catalogue management based on Net Syndicate's Net-CMS e-commerce product.

Published on: 21-09-2009

Knowaste Roadshow on Recycling Big Success

Net Syndicate assisted its customer Knowaste Ltd to stage a nationwide roadshow to promote its state of the art recycling of nappy waste. To target this specific market sector, Net Syndicate designed and produced an email campaign promoting the event linked back to the Knowaste website for full details and booking form. Net Syndicate's email campaign manager can quickly and simply allow mass email broadcasts to be forwarded to 1000's of email addresses. Full campaign reports alert to the responses and unique opens of the email campaign for immediate followow up by sales.

Published on: 16-09-2009

Net Syndicate Awarded Quality Assurance Standard

Net Syndicate is pleased to announce that it has achieved the full East Midlands Brokerage Quality Assured Standard. More information can be found at www.embrokerage.co.uk This will allow Net Syndicate to provide full web consultancy, web design and web development services via the Business Link organisation and its local grant aid schemes.

Published on: 01-05-2009

John Whitaker International website is now live

Net Syndicate is please to announce that the new John Whitaker International website is now live. The website was designed, built and is hosted by Net Syndicate and features the following key functions: - fully integtated with Opera Accounting - content managment for all areas of the website - design to latest web standards - full product and catalogue management - on-line payment via PayPoint - on-line update of orders and registrations. Net Syndicate would like to thank the team at JWI for all their help and assistance in making this project a great success. Net Syndicate continues to support the website with its 4 hour response time on-line support system, COMPASS.

Published on: 01-02-2009

Net Syndicate Builds latest JLT Professional Risk Website

JLT Professional Risks website is now live! This was designed by Rave Communications and developed by Net Syndicate in .Net with a SQL 2005 supporting database. The main requirement of this site was that it should fit into the JLT corporate environment, and also be technically compatible with their hosting infrastructure. The site is fully compliant to the latest web standards and features a simple content management system with rich text editing.

Published on: 01-02-2009