Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

A survey review at internetretaler.com (http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=24581) today on shopping cart abandonment also found that 87% of shoppers found retail sites through a major search engine, such as Google, Yahoo, MSN or AOL.  And they also found that 86% of the visitors went to the unknown retail web sites because the site ranks highly on the major web search engines.  Sounds like another good reason to work on search engine optimization.   Or if you don’t know how, it is worth paying for to get it done right.

 

Just though I would share this...

-------------------------

Bert at Harvey Software, Inc.
Multi-Carrier Shipping Software and Supply Chain Solutions for Internet Retailers

Also a provider of free shipping information and resources at Harvey Software`s Parcel Shipping Blog along with free tracking solutions at TrackingPage.com...

What caught my attention in the article, refers to a HyoooOOOGE bugaboo of mine! I`m talking about paid placement in Google, for companies like Target and every other similar situation.

I type into Google something along the lines of "Borgundian native flint blades used in wheat harvesting," right? I mean, that`s like, a normal thing to look for. And in the results, I get told, "Find Bordundian native flint blades at Target!"

Okay...so I figure Target has a pretty wide selection of goods, so I click the link. I *expect* to be taken directly to that product listing. We`re dealing with computers, after all, so how hard would THAT be!?

Then I`m totally disappointed. Not only do I arrive simply at the Target home page, but when I search for my flint blades, I dicover they don`t have them.

On the other hand!....I also search for "frying pan." Once again I click the link to Target because their high presence on the front results page so attracts me. Not only do I not see that product, but when I do a search for frying pans, I end up in the bedding and toilet paper aisle.

I believe "they`ve" outsourced most corporate management to another planet, these days. Obviously the people who try to run commercial ecommerce sites have no idea whatsoever what people on Earth actually shop for, how they shop, what they`re looking for, and how they do that looking.

It`s culling the herd...a good thing! :-) Eventually, we`ll end up with actual online stores that provide what customers want, not what ultra-high-paid management types want to give those customers.

I have a hard time disagreeing with your logic and statements.  Makes you wonder if Target will blame the economy or the web designer when next months figures for online sales come out...

-------------------------

Bert at Harvey Software, Inc.
Multi-Carrier Shipping Software and Supply Chain Solutions for Internet Retailers

Also a provider of free shipping information and resources at Harvey Software`s Parcel Shipping Blog along with free tracking solutions at TrackingPage.com...

I`m not sure you needed a study to tell you this ... they click on the top listings because those are 1) first, 2) most relevant. I don`t think it has anything to do with trust.

Nikole, I hear what you are saying but I feel there may be more trust in the companies in those positions because end users may falsely think they are what the search engine thinks is our best choice.  Remember most people using search engines still think they are all knowing sources of information.  Unlike those like you and other tech savvy people that understand they are just a tool.

-------------------------

Bert at Harvey Software, Inc.
Multi-Carrier Shipping Software and Supply Chain Solutions for Internet Retailers

Also a provider of free shipping information and resources at Harvey Software`s Parcel Shipping Blog along with free tracking solutions at TrackingPage.com...

But in a way, they do know. They are delivering what is most relevant. When things go wrong in that equation ... I am not blaming the search engines or the people who use them, but the internet marketers pushing false results.

The top choices are the best choices based on algorithmic relevance. I don`t think it`s trust ... it`s truth.

I agree with your frustration. 

 

Maybe what this study is really indicating is that people buy from the first few search engine listed companies that have what they are looking for, just because we are in a big hurry.  This would be more in line with the results they found in the same study concerning purchases at web sites.

-------------------------

Bert at Harvey Software, Inc.
Multi-Carrier Shipping Software and Supply Chain Solutions for Internet Retailers

Also a provider of free shipping information and resources at Harvey Software`s Parcel Shipping Blog along with free tracking solutions at TrackingPage.com...

I would agree with that. All I have to do is watch my husband Google something for 10 minutes to see that happen. He`s what I would consider a "typical enduser" ... he put in a search term, looks at the first 10 results. If he doesn`t like those, he puts in another term. He might try this 2-3 times, and then either give up or go ask his wife.

Where as I would be a more "expert user", and I typically will click through a few pages, and change my results to use operators, quotes, and whatever else will get my result.

Most people will look at the top results and either try one more time, or give up. And yes, the same with shopping carts ... try it, if there`s frustration, either give up shopping for that item (more likely) or try another online store (less likely).

I guess this is a good thing to think about as we create web sites.  Not really much different than creating good application software when you think about it.

-------------------------

Bert at Harvey Software, Inc.
Multi-Carrier Shipping Software and Supply Chain Solutions for Internet Retailers

Also a provider of free shipping information and resources at Harvey Software`s Parcel Shipping Blog along with free tracking solutions at TrackingPage.com...

This article puts a whole new negative twist on the trust concept:

http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=24584

 

 

-------------------------

Bert at Harvey Software, Inc.
Multi-Carrier Shipping Software and Supply Chain Solutions for Internet Retailers

Also a provider of free shipping information and resources at Harvey Software`s Parcel Shipping Blog along with free tracking solutions at TrackingPage.com...