Ironvine Search Marketing

CHANNELADVISOR ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF RICHFX

Acquisition Helps Internet Retailers Offer Increased Usability, Improve Conversion Rates with Fewer Clicks via Rich Media Applications

Research Triangle Park, NC– July 16, 2008 – ChannelAdvisor, the leading provider of e-commerce channel management solutions, today announced the acquisition of RichFX, further increasing its multi-channel offerings to online retailers. A leader in the rich media image space, RichFX’s rich media solutions have been helping retailers design, implement and manage effective rich media across online channels since its inception in 1997.

The combined companies will offer three new rich media products for Internet retailers with proven abilities to increase website usability and improve conversion rates with fewer clicks. ChannelAdvisor’s myRichFX™ is a hosted rich media platform that enables retailers to quickly implement and manage enterprise-scale rich media image, catalog and circular solutions including:

• RichImage™ – The Rich Imaging solution allows retailers to manage their digital assets and add dynamic merchandising to their e-commerce products. In addition to standard zoom and pan functionality, comprehensive merchandising solutions are possible such as builders, configurators and more.
• RichCatalog™ – For retailers that have a printed catalog, the catalog can now be brought online with a much richer and integrated experience. Consumers can click through the RichCatalog experience directly into the e-commerce site.
• RichCircular™ – For retailers with regional circulars, RichCircular brings the regional circulars online. Buyers can now search, click and view multiple regional circulars and then buy the products online or order them for in-store pick-up.

RichFX has over 200 retailers as customers, including over 45 that are included in the coveted Internet Retailer 500 list. RichFX’s customer list includes Wal-Mart.com, Disney, Saks, Lillian Vernon, Men’s Warehouse and Brooks Brothers. RichFX customers report a 10%+ increase in online conversion when their online merchandising is enhanced via one of the RichFX offerings.

“MyRichFX provided a cost effective way to help me dramatically increase clicks and conversion rates,” said Anthony Johns, Web Merchandising Manager of Lillian Vernon. “I was amazed at the platform’s usability and flexibility right from the start. The rich media experts proved that they cared about my results with insights and tips after the sale, and provided personal attention throughout the implementation and incorporation processes. A great overall business decision.”

“As we’ve worked with thousands of retailers to manage their e-commerce channels, we have become convinced of the advantages of conversion enhancement technologies,” said Scot Wingo, CEO of ChannelAdvisor. “We are constantly looking for ways to open up more multi-channel functionality to our customers to help them succeed. With rich media’s ability to enhance website interactivity and attract more conversions, RichFX appeared to be a natural extension of ChannelAdvisor Complete core capabilities.”

ChannelAdvisor plans to aggressively offer rich media solutions to its existing customer base. In addition, ChannelAdvisor will extend its ChannelAdvisor Complete e-commerce solutions for search, comparison shopping engines and marketplaces to the existing RichFX customer base. Several integration points are being developed as well. ChannelAdvisor is also working on solutions tailored to SMB and mid-tier internet retailers. Before the ChannelAdvisor/RichFX combination, world-class rich media Internet solutions were out of reach for mid-tier and SMB retailers.

Eoin Townsend, RichFX CEO, will join ChannelAdvisor as General Manager and Vice President of the RichFX business unit.

“At RichFX, we’ve been dedicated to finding innovative ways to help our customers increase conversion rates. That’s why partnering with a company like ChannelAdvisor who is equally committed to customer care seemed to be a perfect fit” said Eoin Townsend, General Manager and Vice President of ChannelAdvisor. “We see this combination as an ideal opportunity to apply our understanding of the elements of enhanced conversions with a like-minded focus on expert services to increase the multi-channel sales opportunities for our customers.”

To learn more about the new rich media Internet solutions, ChannelAdvisor will host a webinar for existing ChannelAdvisor customers and prospects on Wednesday, July 23 at 3:00 pm EDT. To sign up, visit http://www.channeladvisor.com/richmediawebinar.

About ChannelAdvisor Corporation
ChannelAdvisor Corporation provides technology and services that enable leading online retailers to maximize their products across multiple e-commerce marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon.com and Overstock.com, comparison shopping engines such as Shopping.com, Shopzilla, Nextag and Google Product Search and search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and MSN. In 2007, ChannelAdvisor managed over $2.1 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) on behalf of its customers. ChannelAdvisor solutions combine best practices, on-demand software and integration technology to help retailers sell more products, faster, by automating labor-intensive, manual functions so they spend less time optimizing campaigns and more time solving marketing and business issues. ChannelAdvisor’s customers include GSI Commerce, Brookstone, Abebooks and Motorola. ChannelAdvisor Corporation is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC with offices in Atlanta, New York, Seattle, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and Germany. For more information, visit http://www.channeladvisor.com/.

As I posted last week over at SearchMarketing.com, Yahoo has done a good bit to give more insight into what it is doing to combat click fraud.

While there is not a lot of everyday usefulness in the update, they are making a good faith effort to combat the very controversial topic.

Technorati Tags: Yahoo, Search Marketing, Click Fraud, Ironvine

Here’s an eBay PayPal coupon promo code for someone to use:

eBay/PayPal Coupon: 10% off purchase up to $100

Here’s how to redeem this offer:
1. Start shopping on eBay. Be sure the seller accepts PayPal.
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Technorati Tags: eBay, PayPal, Coupon, Ironvine

Here is a first look at a new visual search engine at searchme.com.Searchme does look good, resembling a mashup of Google with Apple’s popular Cover Flow three-dimensional graphical user interface used on its iTunes service, with a little of Ask.com’s categories thrown in.For now, Searchme is only going into private beta, adding users by invitation only.To create the page-riffling effect, Searchme has been working with Adobe. The top screen, after a search term has been entered, then creates a stack of pages to represent the page links on a list below.Technorati Tags: Searchme, Searchme.com, Search, Engine, Google, Apple, Ask, Ironvine

Steven Terjeson of ChannelAdvisor is accredited as an official Microsoft adExcellence Member. A Microsoft adExcellence Member has completed comprehensive online training on managing Microsoft adCenter search engine marketing campaigns and has demonstrated expert knowledge by passing the Microsoft adExcellence accreditation exam.

This completes my suite of certifications, Google, Yahoo and now MSN.

Technorati Tags: adExcellence, Certification, SEM, adCenter, ChannelAdvisor, Ironvine

SES was a pretty good conference. The event hall was pretty well staffed with vendors including Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Ask, iProspect, and many more. There were lots of Search companies, link building companies, and various other web companies.

My conference was highlighted by the Google invite only Agency Lunch and the Google Dance at the Google Campus in Mountain View.

The Google Lunch was a small group of invite only agency people. I sat at a table with the CEO and a few other people from advertising.com. The presentation was basically all about the new Google offerings in addition to search, Print, TV, Radio, etc. Print as well possibly. I’m sure some of our clients already do radio ads and could be pretty easy to migrate over. The nice thing is that Google offers ways to track the performance, like dedicated phone numbers which they offer for free or by using dedicated trackable entry points.

Google Dance 2007 was a huge bash at the Google campus in Mountain Home.
You can see more pics from Google on picasa: http://picasaweb.google.com/gdance2007/GoogleDance2007WeRockedIt
There were lots of product demos on all the Google applications, Meet the Developers, food, drinks, a huge dance party in the rec hall, green screen karaoke, and my favorite the Candy Bar.

All in all it was a great trip. Met lots of people in the event hall and the sessions had some decent information. Next time I hope to get into some of the other sessions to see what they are about.

Technorati Tags: SES, San Jose, Search Engine Stratagies, Search, Paid Search, Marketing, Advertising, Ironvine, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo

I am proud to announce that ChannelAdvisor debuted today as #835 on the INC. 5000.

You can view the award and information on the www.inc.com site. Way to go!

Technorati Tags: ChannelAdvisor, Channel Advisor, INC, Business, Marketing, Ironvine

Here are some GoDaddy Promotion Codes for April 2007.

Because we all work on the internet having your domain name secured, or purchasing new domains and services is an important part of everyday business. I hope these promo codes help. Check out the latest special - Register, renew or transfer TWO .NET domains for just $10!

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Find more active GoDaddy promo codes at the dedicated GoDaddy promo page including non-expiring codes!

Technorati Tags: GoDaddy, Promo Codes, Codes, Promo, Promotion, Coupons, Domain, Hosting, Ironvine

Get Microsoft Office Live Basics for FREE
Microsoft Office Live Basics is the easy way to get started on the Web. With Office Live Basics you’ll get:

• Free domain name and Web hosting (You have the option of getting started with a new domain name or transferring your existing domain name.)
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• Search engine advertising tool

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Office, Live, Free, Web Hosting, Ironvine

I was reading a bit today about communication between marketers and clients, as well as between marketers, directors, and management. There are so many times where mis-communication happens that can seriously affect the production as a whole, while the skills and techniques may be implemented perfectly.

It is extremely important that the language used between parties be the same. I don’t mean a language like English but the understanding of what is being said. What you want ultimately is a document or some sort of common reference where people can look and have a clear understanding of what is happening.

Unfortunately even with such a set plan it may not work yet. There may need to be some “education” necessary to explain details or processes even in a general way.

With all this it is extremely important for things to run right with correct communication and expressions of what needs to get accomplished at the end of the day.

Technorati Tags: SEO, SEM, Search MArketing, Marketing, PPC, Paid Search, Ironvine, Business

As we announced back in January and February, the ChannelAdvisor Catalyst conference happened last week. I have heard exciting things from the people here that went. While I was unable to attend this year’s ChannelAdvisor Catalyst due to my being away here is a wrap up from Scot Wingo posted on his eBay Strategies blog site. I look forward to being their next year!

Catalyst wrap-up.

We had a great time this week hosting over 400 customers, partners and merchants at our Catalyst conference.  On the eBay side, we had lots of content:

1. Bill Cobb (eBay) came and gave everyone an update on eBay.   This was covered in AuctionBytes here.

2. We announced a partnership with Overstock to enable sellers to sell there for the first time. (note this is not overstock auctions).  Announcement is here and auctionbytes coverage is here.

3. In my talk I covered some of the opportunities in challenges in the rapidly expanding world of online ecommerce channels.  Auctionbytes coverage is here and you can download the slides here (Download Catalyst_SW_ecomm_trends.pdf)

Additional ebay content was covered in the Fraud panel (Rob Chestnut came but was very sick - Rob we hope you are feeling better!), the Wall Street Panel and if you count shopping.com, the Comparison Shopping Engine Panel.

It was great seeing all of our customers, partners and friends at the conference and everyone at ChannelAdvisor came back fired up about our new offerings.

Technorati Tags: ChannelAdvisor, Catalyst, eBay, Online Marketing, Seller, Auction, Ironvine

Hello Everyone!

I am now back from my extended vacation. Thank you for your patience during my time off. You should start getting daily updates once again during the week starting today.

As a special treat for my return here is a special deal you can get to save 20% on a .COM domain name at GoDaddy!

gdm0312: Get a 6.95$ .COM registration at GoDaddy — Expires 4/9/07

You can find more working 2007 GoDaddy Promo Codes at our special page.

Technorati Tags: GoDaddy, Promo Codes, Coupon, Coupons, Domain Name, Sale, Ironvine