Send2Press Newswire

Give Holiday Shoppers an Early Present: Fix Your Shopping Cart

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:01:00 GMT

SANDPOINT, Idaho - Nov. 14 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Even with years of usability studies and information to draw on, many shopping carts are poorly designed and a source of frustration for online customers. The holiday shopping season is approaching and Susan Daffron of Logical Expressions, Inc. has a few tips for merchants that are inspired by her book "Web Business Success: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Web Sites That Work" (ISBN: 978-0-9749245-0-2; LCCN-2006909228). Daffron says that the key to increasing online sales this holiday season is to make it easy for customers to complete their online transactions.

To improve shopping cart usability:

1. Reassure people. When people shop online they are worried about being ripped off. They want to know that the business is for real and to understand what it is going to do with their personal information, particularly their credit card number. To provide this reassurance, businesses should offer a complete privacy policy, evidence of a valid security certificate, and membership in reputable online business organizations, such as the BBB Online Reliability program.

2. Design (or redesign) the shopping cart so it is as easy to use as possible. Navigation that "is really cool" to a designer or Web programmer often is incomprehensible for online shoppers. Get your mother or grandmother to sit down and try out your site navigation. If Mom is confused, redesign the interface so it makes sense even to "newbie" computer users.

3. Tell people what is going on. For example, if the checkout uses a multi-page wizard interface, make sure it includes graphics or text that shows people where they are in the process. Also let customers know that their order was received. If there is a delay (such as for custom merchandise) be sure the customer is informed. It sounds old fashioned, but if necessary pick up the phone and call. Good customer service goes a long way online.

When it comes to ecommerce sites, Daffron says the site should not get in the way; ideally, it should be effortless for customers to buy. By updating their sites now, merchants may be rewarded with more sales this holiday season.

For more information about "Web Business Success" visit the Web site at www.WebBusinessSuccess.com.

For information on other products, visit: www.logicalexpressions.com.

Copyright © 2007 Send2Press® Newswire, a unit of Neotrope®
TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Logical Expressions, Web Business Success book

The Active Network Manages Record Online Registration Volume for Marine Corps Marathon

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 03:00:00 GMT

"The People's Marathon" Turns to Active to Manage Large Volume of Runners Registering Online during First Hour

SAN DIEGO, CA - June 14 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- For its 31st marathon on Oct. 29, 2006, Marine Corps Marathon once again turned to The Active Network to manage its high online registration volume. Nicknamed "The People's Marathon," for continually attracting civilian and military runners from all walks of life, Marine Corps Marathon has sold out very quickly in the past two years and experiences most of the registration demand within the first few days. The Active Network, known for securely processing millions of registration transactions each year for races and events across North America, processed a record 13,258 online registrations in just the first hour of the marathon's registration.

According to Angela Huff, business manager for Marine Corps Marathon, the race's high volume of registrants in such a short period of time poses many challenges. "The team at Active worked with us extensively on a technology plan for our online registration process and even provided a test environment so we could evaluate the system. This is critical since our runners are ready to register as soon as we open registration and want to know that our system is working and will keep working until the last registration is taken. We need an easy-to-use, dependable registration process for runners and we believe Active is the only technology provider that can accomplish this. The company provides the expertise, manpower and dedication to ensure our runners are 100 percent satisfied," said Huff.

Many races with immediate close dates for registration or lottery registration processes, including The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and St. George Marathon, depend on Active to support their specialized registration process. As a trusted technology provider in the industry, Active has invested in state-of-the art infrastructure and reliable technology to ensure transactions are processed efficiently and securely. The company's systems can also manage very high registration volume.

"Technology drives many critical aspects of our race. If we don't have a successful registration process and access to accurate participant data, we can't make the other things happen for our runners, like online training, e-mails with race information, and live results on race day," explained Rick Nealis, race director for the Marine Corps Marathon. "Active is also one of the few registration providers with established accounting and financial policies that ensure all registration fees are held in a separate account so we consistently receive our funds, on schedule and on time. We really view the company as a partner who works with us to ensure the best race experience possible for our runners."

In its third year managing technology and marketing services for Marine Corps Marathon, The Active Network provides services that include online registration and donation, data management, Web site design and content management tools, online training programs for runners, live race results and marketing tools. Using Active's data management tools, the Marine Corps Marathon staff can access, manage and analyze participant data to provide better information for sponsors or enhance services based on specific runner needs. With marketing services such as e-mail newsletters and online advertising, the race can reach its participants and sponsors with timely, targeted messages.

This year, Active processed 25,000 online registrations for the Marine Corps Marathon. The race closed registration with a total of 34,000 runners registered from all fifty states and more than forty countries worldwide.

About The Active Network, Inc.

The Active Network, Inc., based in San Diego, Calif., provides application services technology and marketing access to community service organizations, and is a leading online community for active lifestyles. The company's application services help organizations increase efficiency and reduce the cost and complexity of daily administration. The technology automates and streamlines information collection, activity registration, facility reservation, tee time reservations, pro-shop management, membership and fundraising management, payments and cash handling, customer service response and Web content management.

The company delivers marketing access through integrated marketing and consumer promotions that provide leading brands direct access to active consumers. Organizations can also access marketing services that promote community use of online services as well as marketing partnership programs that create additional revenues for organizations through new services for the public.

Through the company's Web properties, www.Active.com, www.eteamz.com and www.ActiveGolf.com, The Active Network provides consumer services and resources that support participation in healthy lifestyles. The Active Network serves organizations and participants in multiple markets throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

For more information, please visit www.TheActiveNetwork.com or call 1-888-543-7223.

AppointmentQuest Announces Online Payment Service for Appointment Scheduling

Mon, 14 Feb 2005 06:50:00 GMT

AppointmentQuest introduces industry's first secure credit card payment service integrated with online appointment scheduling

BROOMFIELD, CO /Send2Press Newswire/ -- AppointmentQuest (www.appointmentquest.com), the leading provider of online appointment scheduling services, last week introduced a payment services platform integrated with AppointmentQuest Online Appointment Manager hosted application suite. Service merchants now can securely process payments online through AppointmentQuest's trusted online scheduling infrastructure.

AppointmentQuest's secure payment platform provides:

* Real-time processing of appointment registration, rescheduling and cancellation fees; delayed captures, voids and credits;

* Secure, redundant, high-speed connectivity to credit card processing networks via Verisign Payflow PRO and Authorize.Net Payment Services;

* Seamless integration into AppointmentQuest Online Appointment Manager hosted application suite; and

* Persistent storage of customer payments history.

"In this era of highly competitive online commerce, few businesses can prosper without having an online payment storefront. In fact, you can hardly imagine an online store to be successful without being able to accept credit cards over the Internet. Myriads of hosted payment service providers sprung up to meet the demand of online retail, though most of service merchants were left out of the game - until now. Starting this month, AppointmentQuest is enabling the service industry to get the same benefits long enjoyed by their retail counterparts," says Alex Kolesov, CTO and co-founder of AppointmentQuest.

"AppointmentQuest is proud to be the industry's first vendor to offer secure credit card payment processing integrated with online appointment scheduling service".

By offering online scheduling, appointment registration, customer management, and payment processing services, AppointmentQuest provides service merchants with a one-stop shop for all of their online commerce needs.

About AppointmentQuest

AppointmentQuest is a leading provider of online scheduling services for small businesses and professional practices. AppointmentQuest provides a comprehensive, easy-to-use suite of hosted applications that facilitates appointment scheduling between service providers and their customers over the Internet.

For more information about AppointmentQuest products and services, please visit: www.appointmentquest.com.

AppointmentQuest and AppointmentQuest Online Scheduling Software are service marks of AppointmentQuest LLC. Online Appointment Manager is a trademark of AppointmentQuest LLC. Payflow is a trademark of VeriSign Inc.(R), VeriSign is a registered trademark of VeriSign Inc.(R), Authorize.Net is a trademark of Lightbridge, Inc. All other products, services and company names mentioned in this press release may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

The Boloto Group Introduces The First Ever Secure Way to Collaborate, Share Files and Conduct Business Within a Secure Distributed Community

Wed, 29 Dec 2004 18:36:00 GMT

Patent-Pending Technology Provides A Secure Way For Persons to Freely Distribute, Share and Collaborate

PHOENIX, AZ /Send2Press Newswire/ -- Today marks a new era for consumers, entertainment companies and advertisers. The Boloto Group (www.bolotogroup.com), an Arizona based technology firm introduced a revolutionary free software, titled the Library Card(tm) that makes possible the next generation Internet. The Library Card is an electronic pass that consumers use to access features of the web by filling out a simple registration.

With the Library Card, users will be able to unlock a private community that provides access to products, services and entertainment ranging from online dating to career connections, personal finance to multi-lingual communications, and media, all for free.

The Boloto Group was formed to resolve problems with the way the Internet was currently being utilized. While the web has revolutionized many personal and business functions, certain limitations have kept it from being even more fully utilized. It had not reached the next level, which the Boloto Group technology now makes possible with this generation of Internet.

The Boloto Group has created a unique, more secure, private collaborative community which provides secure and personalized access for virtually everything that an individual uses the Internet for. Also, companies will be able to pinpoint their advertising to exact individuals. Beginning in the first quarter of 2005, members and advertisers will begin to enjoy the benefits and services of their Library Cards and the Boloto technology.

Membership in this private community is available to anyone with a simple, generic registration. Applications include LC Search, a vast improvement on Internet search engines that provides more specific responses to queries. Another unique application is the LC Index, a personal automated contact manager that keeps individuals and events important to users informed and up to date in real-time. The Library Line, an incredible breakthrough technology and application, will be the most advanced communication tool on the Internet.

When fully implemented, users will be able to talk or type, listen or read, and translate to the language of their choice instantly. Other technologies and uses are also available, including the NAN-e network, which allows users to stay wirelessly connected to their Internet provider no matter where they are. Community members will also be able to access tools and applications needed to successfully manage their finances and business affairs.

One of the biggest breakthroughs to come out of the technologies and business applications developed by the company is a proprietary new way to send and enjoy media on the Internet. A new form of computer code makes it possible to distribute media in a smaller size, in a faster way, and with a security method that ensures fees are paid by the user or by an advertiser. This provides the solution to the piracy and illegal swapping of music, movies and software that the industry has been looking for.

Boloto has also developed a technology and business model that delivers the ability for entertainment providers to receive the user fees for previously acquired and copyrighted materials that have been pirated or illegally shared. The company's motto for this breakthrough technology, "every time a song is played, the artist gets paid," regardless of how or where the original content was acquired says it all.

Robert Donnelli, CEO of The Boloto Group, said that what they have done is simply make the Web what it should have been all along. "The Web as we know it is about to change, for the better," he said. "The Boloto Group uses the mantra 'where innovation captures opportunity.' Innovation is our patent-pending, leading-edge technologies."

"These technologies provide us with many opportunities," added Donnelli, "including the opportunity to resolve piracy once and for all. They provide the opportunity to bring people together globally and to make the web a safer, more personalized place. And they provide the opportunity to simplify the Web, to use it exactly as you desire and for businesses to sponsor free events for their exact audiences. Decades of experience and years of development in the making, welcome to the Library Card."

Registration for a Library Card is free and can be done at www.bolotogroup.com