As 2018 draws to a close, the digital marketing world is seeing a shift in the techniques that are used to promote and secure sales on an online store. New trends and strategies are being released and all are evolving towards an entirely internet-connected era.

Companies are needing to incorporate these digital marketing trends to keep up with competition and to ensure that customers are clicking the purchase button on their online store. In 2019, the digital marketing world will largely be focused on strategies that incorporate personalisation and prioritise user experience.

The top three digital marketing trends that companies can expect to see dominate in 2019 are listed below:

1. Chatbots

Already a popular type of digital marketing which focuses on user experience in 2018, chatbots will see a rise in popularity. Chatbots are used to answer any consumer question on the spot, helping boost consumer confidence and lessening the need for the company to provide human resources.

This artificial intelligence technology is set to become a common addition to any website, particularly e-commerce platforms and online stores to heighten the chance of consumers purchasing the product, instead of leaving a cart due to unanswered questions or confusion.

2. Personalisation

In order to stand out among a sea of competitors, companies need to personalise their digital marketing techniques to gain the rapport and respect of their audience. Shopping is a uniquely personal experience and consumers in 2019 will expect to feel the same when checking out of an online store, as they would if they were in a physical store.

Personalization techniques will be utilised on online stores via personalised emails, social media engagement and online stores such as Joomla or WordPress ‘remembering’ a customers latest or favourite purchase and displaying it when they are on the platform.

3. Video marketing

Video viewing is becoming increasingly popular for the 2019 digital-savvy era. Consumers are watching and sharing more videos than ever before, and 52% are more confident in purchasing products online if there is an accompanying product video.

Videos on online stores in 2019 will become more popular and range from educational product ‘how-to’ content to sharp, snappy advertisements.

There are several experts in digital marketing Canberra residents know that they can rely on to boost online sales. One of the most renowned companies is Canberra Web, who utilise platforms such as Joomla and WordPress to design online stores that can be digitally marketed in the best way possible.

Choosing the right e-commerce platform when setting up your online store can often be overwhelming, as there are so many different alternatives available. If you are uncertain which platform to choose, Magento is generally a smart, all-round choice. Currently ranked as the number one e-commerce platform globally (https://magento.com/), Magento offers has a large number of key benefits which are the basis of its international success. We've highlighted five key benefits of using Magento for your e-commerce store below:

Magento was built for online retailing

Because Magento has been purpose-built for online retailing, it is specifically designed for listing and selling products. This means the CMS offers a range of tools to manage product listings such as stock, availability, specials, product categories and shipping costs.

User-friendly dashboard

Magento's dashboard has been designed to be user-friendly and to ensure it's a simple and easy process for sellers to be able to track their sales. With advanced data visualisation tools, sellers on Magento are able to identify how they can increase the performance of their online store, as well as the products which could be marketed to the digital audience more effectively.

Single dashboard for multiple online stores

As Magento has the functionality for sellers to be able to manage several stores from the same dashboard, it is more efficient than many other types of CMS. It also means that administrative and hosting expenses are reduced, so it's very cost-effective.

External system connectivity

With the convenience of having external system connectivity with many payment gateways, such as PayPal and AfterPay, Magento offers the functionality for many payment options to be added to online stores built on their platform.

Shipping

Magento allows sellers to be able to manage shipping online and offers a range of options, including flat rate, table based and even free shipping.

If you'd like to find out more about Magento or you're interested in having an online store built using this platform, contact Canberra Web today. Experts in Canberra web design, we specialise in Magento e-commerce sites for all types of online retail applications.

Consider these two scenarios: imagine visiting a street market during your vacation, spending some relaxation time just wandering from stall to stall. You might make a few random purchases and enjoy the overall experience. Now, imagine that you are in a hurry, arrive at a large shopping mall you've never visited before, and are frustrated with the difficulty of locating the store - and the specific purchase - that you urgently need.

How is this relevant to your web design?

Businesses are eager to attract both types of visitors to their Open Cart, Mojo Shop, Magento, or Woo Commerce online site. However, we appreciate that often, there will be many searches which are simply aimed at locating a specific purchase, or products within a single range from which to choose. The 'just browsing' experience, with little time pressure, can cope with a homepage as a starting point. However, this can simply be a frustrating, even off-putting, location for those other, more-focused, visitors to reach.

Using landing pages - a more precise starting point

These are also known as 'lead capture pages' which suggests a more focused targeting process. People searching for that specific product immediately appreciate that this page is providing them with exactly what they need in the way of information. It can then move them quickly on towards that vital buying decision. Crafting a series of specific, clearly focused landing pages, is the equivalent of a well-signed bricks and mortar department store that quickly provides directions to help a variety of customers get to exactly where they wish to be.

Key elements of effective landing pages

We believe our talented team delivers the levels of responsive web design Canberra businesses should always expect. They are highly experienced at creating landing pages which make powerful use of significant product or service specific keywords and utterly relevant graphic design. This results in pages that both attract instant attention as they need to, and build relevant interest as quickly as you would want them to. Paired with a strong, clear call to action, they can then direct people through the buying process, or to other relevant locations within your eCommerce website.

How can we help you 'land' more customers?

If you feel that specifically-created lead generation landing pages would help your business to attract more potential customers, please discuss this with our experienced Canberra Web team, obligation-free of course, by calling us on 02 6223 2222now...

Imagine you enter a bricks and mortar store. You find it difficult to navigate your way around it, and you can't find the product you are looking for. The staff aren't helpful, and the whole place looks a little shabby and out-of-date. So, not a great experience, not one you want to repeat, one you might talk disparagingly about to others.

How does this relate to your online presence?

The same frustrations described above can occur for visitors to an online eCommerce store. Yet, each can quickly be dealt with. Effective signposting and navigation is a basic requirement, but a danger is it can only be constructed by insiders who already know their way around, resulting in a less than intuitive design.

This is like asking for directions in a strange town from a local who starts describing a shortcut they take. You end up forgetting the number of lefts and misidentifying a building only to end up in the middle of nowhere!

Specific landing pages and clearly labelled menus act as clear direction-providers for arriving customers.

Allowing visitors to find their product with helpful staff

Back in that physical store, you might try and seek out a staff member and hope they can help. It should be easier online. A simple chat box can help a prospective customer gain instant communication for an answer to a query or get help in locating an item. Alternatively, an invitation to tweet or email should always offer as swift a response as possible.

When a product is out-of-stock

This is frustrating, especially when that is the extent of the message. How many customers are going to bother to come back and check on a regular basis? Offer either a process for them to be contacted when the replacement stock does arrive, or perhaps a message indicating: 'Sorry this is out-of-stock at the moment; a delivery is due within 48 hours'. This would at least encourage a return visit.

Is your eCommerce store a 'Ready for 2019' version?

In other words, does it look as if it is of the year ahead, rather than appearing to still be in the past? Are all out-of-date messages removed, is it fully responsive for all devices that customers are now using to access it?

No more than a snapshot

The above is simply a quick look at some of the common reasons why an ecommerce store might not be as productive as it should be. For effective web design, Canberra Web works with our customers to optimise SEO as we craft Wordpress and Joomla websites, and create Magento, Mojo Shop, Open Cart and Woo Commerce shops. We work to avoid the pitfalls mentioned previously, and deliver truly responsive online shopping experiences. How valuable would that be for your business?

5 things an online store needs

For many online retailers, ecommerce and online stores are the core of revenue and profit. People can spend countless hours and funds creating an amazing and visually appealing website but often neglect to focus on the most essential part of their online presence - their online store.

To ensure effectiveness, online stores should be built by a professional and external website developer. Investing in a professional service will ensure nothing gets missed. The best platforms to build online stores are Magento, Open Cart, Mojo Shop and Woo Commerce and these are the benefits they offer:

1. Mobile functionality
   
   The world is turning digital. The age of laptops being a necessity to conduct business is dying; many people purchase goods and services while in transit – from their phone. If an online store is not mobile compatible, a large percentage of potential customers will be lost.
   
   
2. Visual clarity
   
   People are busy, they don’t want to spend countless time scrolling through pages to find the goods or service that they require. A clearly defined list with images or a grid is the best way to have a consumer clicking through faster and securing a sale.
   
   
3. Branding
   
   A company logo and colour scheme should be the most prominent thing on an online store. The store should seem like an extension of the consumer-facing website. Having clear branding ensures consumer trust and confidence when processing payments.
   
   
4. Deal plugins
   
   What drives customers to purchase? Bargains! An online store should always have the option to run promotions, offer free shipping or even freebies. The latest deals should be advertised in a prominent position on the homepage of the online store in order to grab consumer attention and create a sense of urgency to purchase.
   
   
5. A cart, login and search bar
   
   These three things may seem like simple additions to an online store; however, they are often missed. A login portal will allow a consumer to save payment details, their address and to track orders faster. A search bar eases the shopping process for the consumer and a cart allows people to clearly identify what they are purchasing – and spending – which may encourage them to purchase more.

Online stores are vital to business success and should always be built by professionals. If you're looking for web design Canberra, get in touch with us at Canberra Web. We will ensure the design and functionality of your online shop perfectly match your brand and target your customer.

If you are planning to sell products online – whether it’s your homemade wares, products you’ve imported from overseas, or items from a local supplier, it pays to do your research and choose an online shop service that suits your needs.

Why you should avoid the freebies

If your online shop design is free, there’s a chance it isn’t that great. As usual, you get what you pay for, and there is normally a reason it’s free – it’s because the quality isn’t as good as the paid versions.

Free online shops might seem convenient but you have little control in the running of your website.

Things like the security of your storefront and the construction of your website are all under the control of the website builder, which can cause you hassles further down the line.

Freebies come with a catch

The problem with using free websites is that they have downsides for the free price tag. These downsides include displaying their ads on your website. Even some of the low-cost paid versions of some shopping sites still feature ads.

Not great for SEO

Free online shop fronts, such as WIX, also aren't a great website option if you want users to find your store – they aren’t optimised for search well and so your business could get lost in the online noise.

Design options are limited

Because you don’t have control over the HTML on your WIX website, your design options are limited too. You also can’t link apps and plugins to the site, like you can with other better website building options.

Why other options are better

If you decide to go with websites such as WordPress, which you can host yourself, you will have much more control over your storefront. This control includes being able to dictate the HTML code that is used to create your shop front. The free sites like WIX don’t give you these options.

So if you want to remain in control of your online shop, it’s best to go with options such as WordPress and Joomla to build your site. We find these website building options are great for keeping a corporate blog too, as all the blog functions are already built into the structure of the websites.

Shop fronts that work well

We build lots of online shops using Magento, Open Cart, Mojo Shop and Woo Commerce because we find these companies give us the most options we need for shop front creation.

Are you looking to build an online shop? Then get in contact with our friendly staff today and we will show you how we can assist with your WordPress design in Canberra.

You certainly won't mean to! However, a comparison of recent consumer surveys from both the UK and US showed that, by and large, the same key frustrations were felt by those shopping online. Here are five of the most common; a useful check list to measure against your online presence...

Sought-after items are out-of-stock/ exact item is not available

Sometimes, this simply happens. However, the frustration can be heightened when a potential customer receives a promotional email, responds to it quite quickly, and yet still can't source their chosen item. Their annoyance is often heightened if the nearest available comparable item happens to be considerably more expensive.

Additional charges are added to a purchase

A clear example is when a customer places an item in their shopping basket, arrives at the checkout, a finds a selection of shipping options, each adding to their budget. Is it better to incorporate such costs into the price; or to at least note them where the product appears? Or to have a fixed and well-promoted delivery charge? Another extra for purchases can be insurance, or extended warranty offers.

Taking too long to find what customer is searching for

Often when searching for an item, the potential customer might click through to a website - and then be expected to take time to search and navigate the site to the right place. Using individual product or category specific landing pages can be a simple way to speed up their search. Our web design service team, based here at Canberra Web, are happy to discuss this, and any other aspect of your online store.

Time: consuming checkout processes

Standing in a queue at checkout in a physical store can be annoying; the same principle holds true online. If the process seems overly complicated, potential customers can simply give up and return to their initial search results and then try elsewhere. How swift and simple are your processes?

Purchase is not delivered when expected

Wondering when an item would arrive; waiting all day for a delivery, were certainly frustrations in the past. It seems, for some customers, times have not changed. Yet tracking systems can now be precise about when products will arrive; and can even allow customers to check progress.

Five basic frustrations; it's worth considering the extent to which any might apply to your online store, and to then deal with any potential problems. Contact us today for web design Canberra businesses can count on to rejuvinate your site.

Why Should You Use E-Shop For Your Store's CMS

With many years experience behind us we are specialists in designing and developing Joomla eShop websites for all types of eCommerce applications. If you have an existing Joomla eShop website we can also maintain or upgrade your website with additional features and extensions. User friendly and easy to customise, Joomla eShop is very versatile. Here are some of the many benefits of opting for a Joomla eShop website.

Straightforward administration panel

eShop's administration panel has a wide range of features to enhance the user experience, such as the dashboard view and statistics display. It also offers several configuration options enabling you to be able to make your store more flexible. If you want to access different sections of the dashboard, there's also a menu and sub-menu that is simple and uncomplicated to navigate.

Supports multiple themes

As eShop was created to support multiple themes, you can have your website designed in a layout that will best suit your online business needs. This can include categories and subcategories, checkout page, wishlist page or shopping cart page, your options are endless!

Translated into multiple languages

With a language translation section in-built into eShop design, you can have your eCommerce website set to support a single through to multiple languages, depending on where your consumer market is located.

Over 45 payment gateways

eShop has plugins for more than 45 payment gateways, so it is incredibly versatile when selling products or services both locally and internationally, as consumers have more choice for payment alternatives.

SEO friendly

Developed to be SEO friendly , eShop has features ranging from meta keyword and meta description sections for products, custom page headings and page titles and category and product navigation. It also supports Capthcha and SSL for website and customer security.

Numerous sales reports

With a broad scope of sales reports that can be readily accessed via the administration panel, eShop allows you to be able to analyse and manage your business much more efficiently. You will be able to see what products or services are selling well and those that are struggling and need attention.

Over 10 shipping methods

eShop offers more than 10 shipping methods, so that shipping locally or internationally is a simple and seamless process.

Contact our friendly team today to discuss having a Joomla eShop website designed and built or to arrange for us to provide maintenance services or upgrades to your existing site.

Virtually every business hoping to make a profit in 2019 needs some form of online presence. For many retailers, this means hosting a user-friendly e-commerce site, providing customers with a quick and easy way of accessing their products.

With so many e-commerce sites out there, then, what are the absolute essentials of an online retail site, and how can they be achieved?

1. A clear and intuitive search function

Providing a search function that works and is easy to find is guaranteed to boost sales. To make sure your search box brings up results on every search, it may be a good idea to adopt autocomplete tools to improve the relevance of searches and suggest product results as customers type.

2. Clearly stated shipping costs

Customers faced with unexpected shipping costs and taxes at the final stage of their shopping journey are unlikely to be impressed. Indeed, added charges are the top reason for cart abandonment, so you should seek to avoid surprising your customers in this way. Make sure your shipping costs are clearly stated early on in the process.

3. Make sure your site is visually appealing

This goes without saying, really, but it an important factor in attracting and retaining customers is to maintain a visually appealing site. Avoid overcrowding your pages or using too many garish colours, and make sure the images of your products or services look professional and chic.

4. Display your products and services on the homepage

While pouring most of your energy into the aesthetic success of your site is obviously important, doing so means it can be easy to forget some obvious rules. For example, displaying your products clearly on your homepage is vital to let customers know exactly what it is you offer, so make sure to foreground attractive pictures of your wares.

5. Include customer reviews

Reviews and testimonials are a great way of demonstrating that your brand is reliable and trustworthy, and may also push your business up the search engine rankings.

At Canberra Web, we help nurture the digital marketing Canberra business owners need to help their organisations thrive. Visit our homepage for more information and to get in touch.

This may sound like an unusual starting point to talk about doing business online. Surely e-commerce is going to increasingly take the place of having to make a physical journey to shop around or buy a specific item. We'd agree with that premise, but there are still similarities between a web presence and an actual store in a shopping centre. Or, to put it another way, it's always good to learn from the past...

What attracts you into a store?

There are two possibilities: either you are visiting that store for a specific reason or you are, to use the old term, window shopping. For the latter, many retailers would employ window dressers to make the outward appearance as eye-catching and attractive as possible, grabbing the attention of passers-by and enticing them inside.

Online, the latter still holds true, providing such a welcome for those people who are browsing rather than searching. For searchers, who have input key criteria to find your business coming up in the search results, providing landing pages designed to catch those visitors by talking specifically to their needs is vital.

How do you find your way around a store?

In a physical store, you'd look for effective signage, or staff to help direct you to where you need to be. Online, skilful web design for your Canberra business, including easy access points to click through to different pages, gain extra information through drop-downs and so on, carry out the first of these roles. A chatbox, or similar facility, can offer the instant, human help to deliver answers to any query or provide directions.

How easy is it to pay?

Physical stores can lose business by having a lack of payment locations, or by being unable to cope with large numbers at any one time. Online, the payment process should be as swift and simple as it can be, and as easy to access.

Have a nice day!

You would hope that a person in a store, while not necessarily using this infamous phrase, would indicate their thanks for your being a customer. There are still online businesses who don't bother - an impersonal 'payment complete' doesn't exactly encourage any future contact.

So, through an attractive welcome, a helpful attitude, swift payment and a personal touch, your online store can take the positives of a brick and mortar shop into a web-based future. To discuss how to achieve this, and more, for your e-business, please talk to our experienced web design team here at Canberra Web.

4 tips for improving your Magento online store

Selling online offers low overheads, the convenience of working from wherever you are and the opportunity to work in an exciting, dynamic environment. However, not all online stores are created equal. Here are four tips for making your Magento shop shop work better, whether you're in Canberra or on the other side of the world.

1. Optimise files to increase speed
   
   The quickest way to turn off online shoppers is a lack of speed. Your entire site should take no longer than a few seconds to appear. To make your Magento store work faster, optimise all files. Images, for example, take up a lot of space, so it's important to compress them - before uploading them or by using an extension, such as TinyPNG. In addition, you can cut back on HTTP requests by merging your CSS and JavaScript files via Magento's inbuilt tool.
   
   
2. Always run the latest version
   
   It's easy to get lazy about updates. But it's a big mistake. Keep an eye on your inbox, where notifications for updates appear regularly. Then, when a new version of Magento becomes available, don't delay in downloading it. That way, you'll get to take advantage of the latest advancements in performance. Remember that if you're using any custom extensions or particular themes that you want to keep, you'll need to shift them over from the old version.
   
   
3. Make sure check out is easy and offers many payment options
   
   You don't want to lose a customer, simply because he/she can't find the way to check out or has an incompatible credit card. Make sure your check out is easy to find and easy to use. Offer a variety of payment avenues, including Paypal, a range of credit cards and international options.
   
   
4. Get the help of an expert
   
   Building your own Magento store might seem appealing and affordable, but, to maximise long-term success, it's important to enlist the help of an expert. Even if you think you've read everything there is to know, you won't be able to compete with someone who spends all day, every day on web design in Canberra. Plus, you'll have someone to call on in the case of an emergency.

Contact Canberra Web today if you want to find out more about improving your Magento store.

5 essentials for an online shop that sells

Just a few short years ago, if someone told you that they did all of their Christmas shopping online, you might not have believed them. But today, as Internet and mobile technology dominate the world, it's no longer a strange thing to hear.

Maybe you're thinking about adding an online shop to your website. Or perhaps you already have one but it's not selling as much as your direct competitors are.

It could be that your online shop is missing some of the fundamentals. Let's run through 5 of them:

1. Make buying easy
Too many e-commerce sites and online shops are simply too difficult to use. Your SEO could be on point, your product could be excellent, but if trying to find a product on your site is difficult or involves numerous clicks, you lack informative product descriptions or they can't easily select the quantity, size or type they need, you could turn a customer off before they've clicked 'Buy'.

2. Remove the barriers
Following on from making buying simple, quite often online shops simply ask too much of the customer. Do you force your customers to sign up for a membership before they get to the checkout? Are your forms simply too long? Unfortunately these days, it doesn't take much to send a customer looking elsewhere.

3. Boost the security
While security is not so much an issue in a physical shop, it's a big mistake to overlook it for your online store. People are nervous about entering their credit card details in a world of identity theft and stolen personal information, so ensure your security measures are adequate and well advertised.

4. Make it look trustworthy
As a follow-on to great security, an ultra-professional look will not only make your brand look better, it will reassure your customers that you're a serious outfit that can be trusted with their purchase. Use great-quality photographs, make sure your branding is recognisable and professional, include a timeline of your business and ensure your 'About', 'Contact' and 'FAQ' pages contain plenty of information - buyers will be scanning these for signs of your trustworthiness.

5. Ramp up your options
OK, so it complicates your life, but only offering one or two methods for payment sends off several bad vibes to your potential customers, including that you're not serious enough and you don't care about the various ways in which they like to shop. Not only that, it's silly to attract a customer to your shop only to send them away disappointed because the way they pay is not accommodated.

Turn to CanberraWeb

Put simply, CanberraWeb can come up with the web design Canberra clients need for online shops that really sell, so contact us today to supercharge your e-commerce.

If you enjoy visiting galleries or museums, or browsing street markets, then you'll have your favourite places to visit. You'll also find you know how to make your way around quite easily. Now imagine how different it would be for a first-time visitor!

Your regular visitors will already be comfortable

When crafting an effective website design, Canberra businesses need to specifically consider the needs of the newcomer. This is because regulars will already know where to go, and often have a better idea of exactly what they are looking for and how to find it. This holds true even if they are seeking a product or service they have never purchased from this company before. Simply put: they know how to get it done.

Making new visitors feel welcome

Have you ever noticed, when visiting a strange town or city, how road-signs are obviously placed by people who already know where they are going? This means that a location that appears on one sign might have mysteriously disappeared when you pass the next one!

Equally, websites are designed by people who know all about the business or organisation and how it operates. This often means that key signposting, or specific information, can be inadvertently omitted. Looking at your web presence through a stranger's eyes is vital to help new users make the most of their visit - and allow you the best chance of gaining their business!

It's equally true that the language used might be that of those who have a sound knowledge of the products or services being offered. If a surgeon was describing a medical procedure you were about to undergo, you wouldn't want it to sound like a lecture from a textbook. You'd prefer to be told in simple, clear terms what was going to happen. Inadvertently, talking above the understanding level of the audience usually leads to them going elsewhere - and that's all too easy online.

Developing user-friendly websites and online stores

Our talented and experienced team can deliver the web design Canberra businesses and organisations need to appear welcoming to those vital first-timers. To talk about this key aspect, or any other areas of graphic design, please call us at Canberra Web on 02 6223 2222.

What you need to know about your online store

Too many businesses today think that going online will net them instant profits. Platforms like Opencart,  Woo Commerce, Magento, and others make it easy for any business to sell online.

There are many factors businesses need to consider before they jump on the online store bandwagon.

1. Planning
   
   More often than not, businesses make the mistake that as long as they are Wi-Fi enabled, they can immediately open their online store. Most do not sit down to plan or to understand how the digital environment operates. Ensure you do this by consulting with an online shop builder beforehand.
   
   
2. SEO
   
   SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) or how much Google prioritises your website in its search results is important if you want your online store to succeed. If people can't see your store when they are searching they are not likely to buy from you.
   
   SEO is achieved through content, page titles, keywords, tags and links.
   
   
3. Platform
   
   Picking the right platform for your online store is another consideration. With so many free platforms in the Cloud today, how do you know which will give you the maximum result for minimum effort and cost?
   
   
4. Cost
   
   Do you know your cost? Hosting platforms may appear free but they usually come with a price tag if you want more features. Don’t end up in a situation where you’re slapped with a bill that you did not budget for.
   
   
5. Backend operations
   
   Backend operations are just as important as front-end sales. Your online store must be able to carry out all the activities involved in completing a purchase from order confirmation to payment, to delivery.
   
   
6. Social media
   
   Social media platforms are good supplementary selling tools. Have you decided how and what content you want to incorporate into your company’s social networking sites?
   
   
7. In-house or outsourced?
   
   Do you want a store customed designed for your business or are you happy with a shopping cart style site? Both have cost implications.

An online store can increase reach and improve sales but building one may involve quite a lot of work. Simply putting a store online will not guarantee you that people will flock to your site to buy from you. An effective online store requires careful planning and strategic choices.

For more information on how Canberra Web can help your business design a winning online store strategy, contact us today.

The Diffrence Between MijoShop and MiwoShop

Our team are experts in designing and developing Joomla Mijo and WordPress Miwo websites. We can also maintain your existing Mijo or Miwo websites, as well as customise or add new extensions for different functionalities and features. Here are some of the many reasons why Mijo and Miwo websites are a popular choice for our clients.

Miwo Shop

A powerful and efficient shopping cart plugin, Miwo Shop offers a range of different and very functional features and extensions, along with being user-friendly for beginners through to the more advanced. With over 35 plus language alternatives available and more than 30 payment gateways, it is suitable for all types of online businesses.

What makes it such a viable alternative as a shopping cart for WordPress websites is that it's a turn-key e-commerce platform that's ready to go as soon as it's installed. Miwo Shop also has a very intuitive administration interface, enabling you to have ultimate control when managing your online store. The interface even gives you access to a range of different sales reports, that will help you understand your online business in-depth so you can increase your sales margins.

Mijo Shop

Recognised as the leading e-commerce application for shopping carts on Joomla websites, Mijo Shop is versatile and has a variety of features offering different functionalities. With so many extensions available, you can have your Mijo Shop website updated to provide your customers with a better user experience as your business develops. This includes adding other payment gateways or up to 35 language options if you are expanding globally. Whether you have an existing Joomla website and want Mijo Shop integrated or you would like a new Joomla site with the shopping cart application installed, this can be done quickly and seamlessly. This e-commerce platform is all-inclusive and can be used as soon as it's been installed on your site. The interface is very easy-to-use, making it suitable for beginners through to the more tech savvy users. It also has numerous sales reports that you can access which are invaluable for growing and understanding your online business.

With an experienced Canberra Mijo Developer and Canberra Miwo Developer in our team, we can build a WordPress or Joomla website that will get results! Contact our friendly and professional team today to discover more about our websites, as well as the many additional features and extensions offering different functionality available.

Using Open Cart E-commerce Platform

We specialise in designing and building Open Cart websites for all types of e-commerce requirements in Canberra and Sydney. Whether you prefer to utilise Open Cart as a stand alone e-commerce platform or have it integrated into your Joomla website using applications such as E-Shop or Mijo, our Open Cart developer has the expertise to seamlessly deliver this service. We can also integrate Open Cart into your existing WordPress website.

Some of the many reasons why you should have our developer design and build you an Open Cart system are outlined below.

Simplicity of use

Open Cart is a simple and easily accessible e-commerce platform with a user-friendly administrative dashboard. The menus are straightforward so that beginners through to more technically savvy operators can use them with ease. With Open Cart 2 you are also able to use your administration panel on mobile devices such as a tablet or smartphone via the mobile-first interface.

Easy for development

With Open Cart, additional functionality can be incorporated by developing extensions or through customising, either during the initial build or later. This is an easy development process with background knowledge of PHP or MySQL.

Heaps of extensions and modules available

As Open Cart has thousands of different extensions and modules available, such as marketing tools and modifications, it's a versatile e-commerce platform. The benefit of using Open Carts extensions and modules is it enables the platform to evolve with your online business.

Multi-language functionality

One of the many benefits of Open Cart is you can set it to whatever language you prefer as the platform has a language-neutral CMS. This means that selling your products or services internationally is easy using an Open Cart platform.

Open Cart is SEO friendly

Open Cart can be optimised for SEO too, helping you place higher in the search results. It has Google Analytics as a dashboard extension in the administration panel, along with several other features that will increase your website's visibility to online consumers.

Multi-store Mode

With Open Cart, you can manage several different online stores from a single administration panel, saving you from having to access multiple sites singularly. The time and money you'll save from having this functionality make it a smart choice for e-commerce platforms.

To find out more about our wide range of Open Cart services, contact our team today. We offer all-inclusive packages for Open Cart integration, from existing websites through to fully customised Open Cart website design and development.

We have just launched another Magento online shop for a local party supplies business called Fun Pack Party Supplies with 700+ products to buy. Check it out today. Magento is the most sophisticated online shopping solution available - enquire today.

What To Think About When Setting Up An E-Commerce Business

With the rapid growth of e-commerce and with online shopping at an all-time high, now’s a great time to begin an online business. Here are some tips to get you on the right lines to successfully trading online.

First steps

The first thing you’ll need to do is to draft a business plan. This will help to ensure that you don’t omit anything important in your preparations. An important part of your project plan will include practical items such as the offices you're going to operate from, what you're going to sell and who you're going to target.

Setting up an online presence

Once you’ve sorted out the basics, you can turn your attention to your online presence. Select and register a domain name for your business and create a website. Although you can do this yourself using one of the many packages out there on the web, it’s often better to use a web developer, such as us here at Canberra Web, who will design you a bespoke site that’s specific to your business.

Before you launch your business, you must ensure that you’re PCI compliant. If you are going to be handling or storing client’s debit or credit card details, this is the security standard set by Visa and MasterCard. If your business is non-compliant, you could be fined or even have your processing facilities suspended.

Fraud is a major issue for online traders. Be aware of the security risks to which you could be vulnerable and choose a risk management platform that reduces these risks. It’s vitally important for customer confidence that you are able to process payments quickly and securely.

Marketing

You need to get your name out there somehow. Ensure your website is optimised with relevant keywords, so you show up in Google. Register business social media accounts on the platforms your customers are most likely to frequent and ensure you make it a priority to engage with them from day one.

In conclusion

It’s true that there are potential pitfalls you’ll need to overcome en-route to achieving your online business dream, but making sure that your web presence is in place early on is vital if you are to succeed.

For more information on setting up a website for your new e-commerce business, contact Canberra Web.

Like in the old adventure movies you may well have enjoyed as a kid, imagine you had just bought or found a map showing you an island where hidden treasure had been buried. You are excited and enthusiastic, yet on opening the map, you are disappointed or frustrated to find only an illustration of a large island itself, perhaps with a few dominant features and points of interest.

Sadly, the one thing that is missing, crucial to any search you wanted to mount, is the fabled 'X' to mark the spot where the actual treasure is buried! You'd probably throw the document away in disgust; you'd be unlikely to take the time or make the effort to head to that location simply on the off-chance that you might get really lucky!

What has this to do with your ecommerce website?

A Wordpress or Joomla designed website for your Canberra business, whether you have a Magento, Woo or another ecommerce platform, is, in a way, like that treasure map for those who arrive through an online search. All too often potential customers who visit such a site and are looking for a specific product or service will be greeted by nothing more than a fairly bland map of some random key elements of that business on a generic homepage. Some simply then leave in frustration - depriving that business of a customer they didn't even know they had managed to lose!

Clearly marking the location of your treasures

The answer, like the 'X' on the map, is to provide a clear location for the searcher's visit. Using individual landing pages, each designed to respond to specific search terms, be they product, service, or even location-based, gives the visitor the best chance to easily unearth the treasure that they personally are looking for. Again, like a map, you can provide simple instructions - or steps to follow - so that they can quickly complete the acquisition that their search quest has been designed to gain.

If you'd like to discuss how best to improve your navigation, content and design to make sure that your ecommerce website always hits the spot, please contact our team of graphic design and digital marketing specialists Canberra Web.

As 2020 arrives, many people make such resolutions. In terms of your ecommerce website, be it a Wordpress, Joomla or other design, our Canberra Web team have come up with a few possible resolutions to help make the most of your online shop. Which of these might be useful for yours...

I'd like my site to be easier to navigate

It's important that potential customers have a smooth transition from arrival to spend! As an insider, you understand the processes they'll be following; it can be easy to forget that their understanding of finding their way to a purchase can be less expert than your own.

I want my online shop to be more effective across all devices

There are still many sites around which look great on a desktop, laptop or even tablet, but haven't been effectively configured to be as welcoming, navigable and impressive on increasingly relied upon mobile devices. Whether your shop is built using Magento, Woo Commerce, Open Cart, Mojo Shop, or other options, its appearance and functionality need to be right for all different access possibilities.

I need my online welcome to be more targeted

Searches are undertaken using the criteria that are important to the searcher. Appreciating these, and assessing how they'll be expressed in the terms and phrases used, it's possible to create specifically designed landing pages to gain an instant connection with their needs or wants. In such cases, this is likely to be more productive than simply directing arrivals to a homepage or general category introduction.

I want more people to be aware of my online presence

Having an effective digital marketing strategy, from carefully targeted email campaigns to a vibrant, constantly refreshed, and engaging presence on Twitter or Facebook, allows a business to make more of all the efforts to craft a responsive web design. Such avenues allow an exponential sharing of information, rapidly increasing and diversifying the reach of your communications.

How can we help?

For the above, and other possible online business-building resolutions, we are ready to help. From app development to digital marketing and web design Canberra wide, our team are ready to discuss your needs. Please call us, obligation-free on 02 6223 2222. Finally, can we wish you a Happy and Productive New Year!