The Crash Box Review

The Fall E-commerce Checklist: Get Ready for the Holiday Rush

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:13:16 GMT

From Website Tweaks to SEO: Your Holiday Success Guide

The leaves are starting to turn, pumpkin spice lattes are back, and that can only mean one thing for e-commerce businesses: the holiday season is on its way! It's time to deck the digital halls and ensure your online store is primed for the influx of shoppers.

At McRales Marketing, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that the holiday season brings. That's why we've put together this Fall E-commerce Checklist to help you prepare and maximize your sales.

Spruce Up Your Storefront

Just like you'd decorate your physical store for the holidays, give your website a festive makeover. Update banners, add seasonal product images, and create a sense of excitement. A visually appealing and festive website will entice visitors to stay longer and explore your offerings.

Optimize for Mobile

Did you know that more than half of online shopping happens on mobile devices? Make sure your site is responsive and easy to navigate on smartphones and tablets. A seamless mobile experience is crucial for capturing those on-the-go shoppers.

Streamline the Checkout Process

A complicated checkout process can lead to abandoned carts and lost sales. Simplify your checkout, offer guest checkout options, and make sure the process is smooth and intuitive.

Ramp Up Your Email Marketing

Email marketing is a powerful tool for building anticipation, promoting special offers, and keeping customers engaged throughout the holiday season. Craft compelling email campaigns that highlight your festive promotions and drive traffic to your store.

Tip: Need help with email marketing? Check out our partner, Constant Contact , for robust email marketing solutions.

Boost Your Local SEO

If you have a physical store, make sure local customers can find you easily. Optimize your Google My Business listing, ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) information is consistent across the web, and encourage customer reviews. Our Local SEO services can help you rank higher in local search results and attract more foot traffic.

Don't Forget Website Maintenance

The last thing you want during the holiday rush is website downtime or technical glitches. Regular website maintenance ensures your site is running smoothly and securely, providing a seamless experience for your customers. Consider our Website Maintenance Packages for worry-free performance.

Need a Helping Hand?

If you're feeling overwhelmed or need help getting your e-commerce store holiday-ready, McRales Marketing is here to help! Whether it's website updates, SEO optimization, email marketing campaigns, or ongoing maintenance, we can ensure your online presence shines this holiday season.

Schedule a free consultation today and let's make this your best holiday season yet!

Upgrade Your Square Online Store with Ecwid: Top 3 Benefits

team@mcrales.com (Team McRales) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 19:15:00 GMT

Empower Your Business: Unveiling the Perks of Ecwid’s Integration with Square

In the fast-evolving world of e-commerce, businesses are constantly seeking better platforms to enhance their online presence and operational efficiency. Ecwid emerges as a standout choice, especially for those looking to upgrade from a Square Online store. At McRales, we specialize in leveraging Ecwid's robust features to transform your digital storefront. Here's why building your website on Ecwid is a game-changer:

1. Seamless Integration with Square

Ecwid offers direct integration with Square, streamlining your sales process both online and offline. This integration means you can manage your inventory, sales, and customer data across both platforms without hassle. Whether you're selling at a local market or online, your data syncs in real-time, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. By linking your Square POS system with Ecwid, you benefit from a unified system that simplifies operations and enhances customer experience. Learn more about how Ecwid and Square work together here .

2. Six Hours of Free Web Design Support

Transitioning to a new e-commerce platform can be daunting, but with Ecwid, you're not alone. Ecwid includes six hours of free web design support on their Unlimited plan. This support covers everything from setting up your online store to customizing it to match your brand. With the unlimited store features offered by Ecwid, you can expand your product offerings, manage shipping and payment options, and enhance your site's functionality without additional costs. If you still need help, our experts at McRales will guide you through every step, ensuring your transition to Ecwid is smooth and successful. Discover more about Ecwid's pricing and offerings here .

3. A Branded Mobile Experience

In today's mobile-first world, having a responsive and branded mobile website is crucial. Ecwid excels in this area by offering a platform that not only adapts beautifully to mobile devices but also allows for the creation of a native mobile app. This means your customers can enjoy a seamless shopping experience directly from their smartphones, complete with your brand's look and feel. Having a mobile app can significantly enhance your brand's visibility and accessibility, leading to increased engagement and sales. Learn how to turn your Ecwid shop into a native mobile app here .

At McRales, we understand the importance of a reliable, feature-rich e-commerce platform. That's why we recommend Ecwid to businesses looking to upgrade from Square Online. Our expertise and partnership with Ecwid ensure that you get the best out of your e-commerce journey. Ready to elevate your online store? Contact us today, and let's embark on this transformative journey together.

How to Create a FAQ for Your Business

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 23:23:22 GMT

FAQs (short for frequently asked questions) help your business stay organized and allow customers to find information easily online, rather than having to call or visit your store/office to get the information they need. Your website design company should recommend that you create an FAQ page as part of your digital marketing strategy. If you haven’t created an FAQ page on your website yet, here are some tips on how to do it right and get the most out of it.

What is a FAQ?

A frequently asked question, or FAQ, is exactly what it sounds like: an answer people might commonly ask about a specific topic. If you are running a business and selling something online, there’s no better way to quell customer concerns than with an easily accessible list of frequently asked questions. They should be short and sweet — just enough info that someone with limited knowledge of your product can grasp its uses quickly and easily.

Why do you need a FAQ?

When you’re running any type of business, you’ll invariably end up fielding a lot of questions from customers. Rather than having every customer who has an issue contact your company directly, consider creating an online resource that answers their most common questions. That way, they can easily find out what they need without bugging you or wasting time.

What's the difference between an article and a FAQ?

It's all about your intention. If you're planning on publishing something that's meant to educate and help people, then it's an article. If you have customers asking questions over and over again, consider creating a Frequently Asked Questions page that answers common questions in one place. Not only will it reduce incoming emails, but it will also help you maintain authority as an expert in your field. Just remember: people don't want fluff — they want facts! So be sure to provide helpful answers that solve their problems without any fluff included. People care more about solving their problems than they do about whether or not something is written well. Be helpful with everything you do!

What are actionable steps to take today to start creating your FAQ?

Creating an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page is not only useful but, in many cases, it’s required. If you have multiple services or products that you sell on a site that customers can purchase individually or as part of a package, having an FAQ where you explain how and when each product should be used will help to drive sales conversions. If you don’t have products yet, creating an FAQ with answers to common questions about what your product does and how it can help people will give customers confidence in what they’re purchasing.

Keep in mind that creating an FAQ shouldn’t be restricted to just standalone about products and services but also should-to topic videos, educational asked questions from clients, and other information related to your brand.

What tools can you use as data sources for your FAQ?

You can use Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, Zoho Forms, Excel spreadsheets — whatever suits you best. Check out our Form Builder Cheat Sheet to make sure you've got everything figured out! As for what type of data points you want to collect in your FAQs, it's all about whatever will be most useful for both users and admins of your site.

You'll have more luck asking multiple-choice questions when possible; that way, it's less likely that someone will only pick one answer but won't enter an answer at all because they felt rushed or under-informed about why they should fill out your form. Always ask open-ended questions if possible; those are ones where you know exactly what info you're looking for.

How can you make money from a FAQ?

Frequently asked questions, or FAQs, are a great way to make money on behalf of other people, so this should be part of your digital marketing plan. FAQs often attract search traffic from Google and can generate sales if you turn visitors into customers. When you answer questions in your own words with links back to your website, search engines will take notice and move it up on page one of their results. Use that increased visibility of your website design as an opportunity to drive traffic back to your website by offering answers in exchange for an email address or other information.

If you use WordPress, there are several plugins available that can automate much of what I’ve described here. And be sure to learn about content creation strategies if SEO is important. Many tips apply equally well when creating informational pages like an FAQ page.

What should you add to your website to make your FAQ successful?

There are several questions that people typically have when they visit your website. All of these can be answered by creating an FAQ. The first thing you want to do is figure out what questions people are asking about your product or service. Create five categories:

Who we are
What we do
Why it's different
How we do it
Pricing and availability

You should add videos and images as often as possible throughout each answer because they make everything more interesting and easier to understand. Make sure that when you're writing answers, you remain objective, focus on addressing specific concerns rather than making claims or creating content focused on why you're better than others in the industry.

Your Website and ADA Compliance

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 21:34:18 GMT

Tips for Improving the Experience for Users with Physical Disabilities

Is Your Website ADA Compliant?

You want your website to attract as many potential customers as possible. But you could be missing out on a significant portion of your audience—and not even realize it. According to the CDC, about 26% of adults in the United States have some type of disability. That’s 61 million people. And if your site isn’t accessible to them, then you could be leaving a lot of money on the table. The good news is that making your website compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can seem complex, but it isn’t that difficult—particularly when you automate it. Below, we’ll tell you about a service that can automatically up your site’s accessibility factor.

But first, let’s take a look at what makes a website accessible.

What It Means to be ADA Compliant

Established in 1990—well before the internet was as widely used as it is today—the ADA’s goal is to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities. In more recent years, the courts have determined that if the ADA applies to your brick-and-mortar business, then it also applies to your website. The internet is a necessity for many of us as we work and function in society. People with disabilities must not be left out of the online experience.

Because there is a lack of direction for websites in the ADA content, the Department of Justice frequently cites the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as a reference. These guidelines apply specifically to adjusting websites so people with disabilities are better able to interact with your site. Following WCAG is one way to align your website with ADA guidelines.

Here are just a few key recommendations made by the WCAG 2.0 (at the time of this writing).

Make your site screen-reader friendly. People who are visually impaired or blind use assistive technologies, including screen readers, to use computers. This offers them an interface through which they can “read” text.
Be sure to add alternative text, which describes the content of images, graphics, and charts on your site so the screen reader can convey the necessary information.
Create audio descriptions of video content. The sound in a video might not be sufficient for the visually impaired to glean the necessary information, so an audio description is essential.
Consider visitors who are color blind. There are different types of color blindness, and making accommodations for all of them is great for boosting your site’s accessibility.
Be considerate of those who are hearing impaired. If your site is audio heavy, take steps to include transcripts. Check out the National Center on Disability and Access to Education (NCDAE) for their guide on how to caption YouTube videos .
Keep the layout straightforward to improve understanding. There are ways you can be creative yet still be inclusive, such as offering the option to view the page in a simplified format.
Make it easy to enter information. Label places where users are to input text and make sure your instructions on what to do are clear.

Automate the Process

It can seem overwhelming to make the changes needed to ensure your business website is ADA compliant. But with artificial intelligence (AI), you can automate the process—cutting down on workload and putting those manhours to better use.

Enter accessiBe , a company whose vision is to make the entire internet accessible to everyone, regardless of physical disability, by 2025. accessiBe is an AI-powered solution that makes websites accessible to people with disabilities and compliant with accessibility legislation. It uses contextual understanding and image recognition to scan and analyze the functionality of every element on a website and adjusts it for screen reader accessibility.

Using accessiBe means your business can:

Open your site for users with physical disabilities
Stay protected against lawsuits by staying in ADA compliance
Expand market reach and attract more potential customers

AI technology also makes it easier to maintain ADA compliance. Every time a site undergoes an update, it could compromise accessibility efforts, and any site is just a couple of updates away from noncompliance. accessiBe’s AI re-scans every page of your site once every 24 hours, ensuring new updates are being remediated for compliance—on the spot.

Find Out More About Web Accessibility

Making sure your website is ADA compliant is a worthwhile effort from a business standpoint: It may potentially increase your reach, your customer base, and your conversions. But you are also helping to make the internet readily available to people with disabilities. And this matters.

Clients making news: Hilltop Pharmacy

team@mcrales.com (Team McRales) — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 19:35:55 GMT

Original post first published March 15, 2021 at: www.ura.org

The Truth About Credit Card Processing Rates

team@mcrales.com (Team McRales) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 18:44:52 GMT

What the Banks Don't Want You to Know

If you've been in business for any length of time, you have encountered the dreaded Merchant Services Salesperson, who either shows up at your door or calls you on the phone. The visceral reaction that most people have to this encounter is not an uncommon one. And, believe me, having been in the industry for many years, that reaction is well deserved.

To be honest, I think the lack of regulation in the Merchant Services industry has caused it to become like the wild, wild west. Anyone can call an "800" number, sign a few papers, and Wham! They're selling credit-card processing.

So what's the story? How does it work?

To answer that, we have to take a step back, look at the whole picture, and treat Merchant Processing just like any other business. Let's take a clothing store as an example. That clothing store has a supplier for its hats, shirts, pants, etc. If that supplier decides to raise prices and reduce the quality of the merchandise it's selling, the clothing store can simply find another distributor. Obvious, right?

So who is the supplier when we deal with Credit Card Processing? Visa and MasterCard. And if we don't like the prices or quality of the merchandise, where can we go to find another supplier? The answer is... nowhere. Because there is only one supplier.

(Note: Visa and MasterCard have the most diversity of product, and they're the ones we associate with most when we talk about credit card processing, so I'm using them as the example. AmEx and Discover operate under a similar premise, though.)

And this notion that one processor, bank, or salesperson has some exclusive, special, get-it-before-it's-gone deal or rate that nobody else can offer? Well, it's just flat out false.

Just like every other business on the planet, if you have only one source but many outlets for a product, then it stands to reason that the base cost of the product (called interchange in Merchant Services-speak) is the same for everyone. What you should really be negotiating from company to company is margin and service. Believe me, the old adage "you get what you pay for" really does apply in this industry.

We have a lot more to discuss. I'll get into interchange and pricing in more detail in my next blog post.

If you would like a good explanation of how credit card processing works, check out Authorize.net's page Understanding Credit Card Processing.

Until next time,

-JLM

Merchant Card Processing Rates Demystified

team@mcrales.com (Team McRales) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 18:44:51 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

So now that we agree no one has a special deal with the credit card companies, it's time to talk pricing structures. This is the one aspect of this industry that is purposefully made to be difficult to understand—in my humble opinion. Three points to keep in mind before we start:

To keep things as simple as possible, I'm going to assume the merchant processor is charging you only a set percentage (ignoring per-item fees and any other add-ons).
Any interchange fees I mention are taken from this document, published by Visa.
The rates I use are examples and are not representative of the exact minimum and maximum of interchange. They are used only to make an example.

There are several ways merchant services can be priced: the flat rate, one flat rate + surcharge; a three-level pricing structure; or a flat rate above cost.

The flat rate : Made popular by companies like Square. I don’t purport to know everything, but on this one I can guess. From my experience in a standard retail, approximately 80% of all transactions at cost will fall in a range between 0.05% + $0.21 to 1.65% + $0.10. So if you're being charged a flat rate at 2.5% + 10¢ for swiped and chip cards, then the margin is approximately between 2.45% + $0.21 and 0.85%. In more concrete terms for every $100 you pay between $2.66 and $0.85. Convenient yes but is it really cost effective?

One flat rate + surcharge: You, the merchant, are given 1.68% as your rate. A customer comes in with a credit card that, according to Visa, is priced at cost: 2.95%. That sale will then be charged 1.68%, plus the cost difference, plus an extra margin [1.68% + (2.95% -1.68%) + margin]. The margin is your merchant services provider's "cut" of the sale.

Three-tiered rate (sometimes called qualified, mid-qualified, or non-qualified): You, the merchant, are quoted three rates: 1.68% as your qualified rate, 2.14% as your mid-qualified rate, and 3.4% as your non-qualified rate. Think about these as low, medium, and high rates. If your customer hands you a card that Visa deems cheaper than the 1.68% rate, then you will be charged 1.68%. If another customer hands you a card that Visa deems equal to or greater than 1.68% but less than 2.14%, you will be charged 2.14%. As you might expect, if your customer hands you a card that is 2.14% or greater, you will be charged the 3.4%. Low, Medium, High.

A flat rate above cost (sometimes called interchange plus pricing): This is the simplest pricing to understand. Say the processing company quoted you 0.2% + interchange. You are charged cost for any and all cards your customers hand you, and then your processor takes an extra 0.2% above cost.

The best way to determine which pricing structure is best for your business is to find a merchant processor who's not afraid to educate you. (Keep in mind that you can never predict exactly what card your customers will present at the point of payment.)

Be as specific as possible when discussing rates and possibilities. If your merchant processor is too vague or speaks in generalities and is unwilling to show you interchange, think of him or her as the equivalent of a used car salesman trying to sell you a clunker.

Until next time,

JLM

7 Essential Tools for Any Startup

team@mcrales.com (Team McRales) — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 15:02:07 GMT

7 Essential Tools for Any Startup

MARKETING, SMALL BUSINESS

Starting your own business isn’t easy. On top of deciding what to sell, who to sell to, and how to find and keep your customers, you have to figure out what tools to use to make it all happen. Here are some of the tools that have helped me.

1. SCORE - Your local SCORE chapter is a free resource, if you need an advisor. It’s not just a group of retired executives anymore. Entrepreneurs of varying backgrounds volunteer their time and effort to help others succeed. (Full disclosure: I like SCORE so much, I became the marketing vice chair for the Palm Beach SCORE chapter.)

2. Insightly - Of all the cloud-based CRMs I’ve tried, Insightly has been the best bang for the buck. By far. You can pull your contacts’ social profiles, integrate with Google apps and MailChimp. These extra features make it a winner in my book. It goes above just taking information from prospects with these extra features and the info it gathers from your prospects. You’ll get a clearer picture of your customers and your prospects.

3. MailChimp - The headline on MailChimp’s home page: “Send Better Email.” That’s it in a nutshell. Whether it’s email marketing, newsletter distribution, or customer follow up, MailChimp is the tool for designing engaging emails. The best part? You can send 12,000 emails to 2,000 subscribers. For free. It doesn’t get much better than that.

4. Square & Paypal - Getting paid is a priority for every business. For small companies, Square & Paypal rule the market. Credit card processing gets expensive. These are the simple solutions for businesses who don’t have the customer base or money to invest in a counter terminal or point-of-sale system. With cool features like electronic invoicing, Square & Paypal take the cake for tools that make getting paid easy. (Curious about credit card processing rates? Read my past post on pricing.)

5. Onsite Catalog App - For the solopreneur, or single salesperson, there’s no better app than the Onsite Catalog App. It offers the first year free for your army of one. Your product catalog becomes mobile. It automates things like invoice generation and orders via mobile app and desktop. An excellent B2B tool for the solo salesperson.

6. Slack - Instead of cluttering your inbox with chatter, get your team onto Slack. It’s a cloud-based service that centralizes your team’s communication. It integrates with a ton of outside tools. It’s compatible with Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android. It’s such a useful way to keep all your internal communication in one organized space and out of everyone’s inboxes.

7. Social Networks - LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, and Twitter. You need to have a routine in place for processing and connecting with every new person you meet. Derek Miller, contributor for Entrepreneur magazine, has a great article titled "8 Digital-Marketing Tips for Bootstrapped Startups" that breaks down the key points to remember when using social networks to promote your business.

I'm always looking for cool new apps to try out. What are your favorites?

Business Loans 101

team@mcrales.com (Team McRales) — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 14:56:57 GMT

Business Loans 101

We've all seen the ads and heard the commercials. "Lowest interest rates! Easy financing! Yada, yada, yada..." Everyone from big banks to the small brokers make this claim, and we're fooled into thinking that rates are the most important thing to look for in a business loan. But what's the real story?

With 15 years in the banking industry, I've thought a lot about the best ways fro small businesses to approach getting a loan.

Here are five things you should consider to make your experience smoother and more successful.

Ask for a loan before you need it. It sounds counterintuitive, but lenders prefer to lend to people who already have money in the bank. They want to make sure clients can pay them back and that they know how to properly manage cash. Your business is an individual entity that, just like you, has a credit rating. And just like you, your business is judged by how it's used credit throughout its life. The more you've exercised your credit, the better the rates and offers you get. Think about the first credit card you ever received. Remember how high that APR was? If you've managed your credit well over the years, that starting rate is nowhere near the lower rate you currently enjoy.

Leave your ego at the door. Just because your business is successful does not give you any leverage with your local bank. Despite the hand shakes, smiles, free stress balls, and fee waivers now and again, all banks and alternative lenders are regulated by the government. They have a baseline set of rules that they must follow. You need to be aware of those rules to successfully do business with those institutions. This isn't to imply that all banks and lenders follow the same restrictions (only the baseline rules), so be informed and shop around.

Interview multiple lenders. This is a very important step, and it's one not enough small business owners take. Not all banks and alternative lenders are created equal. Although the rules of lending may be universally similar, each bank and lender has an appetite for certain types of businesses. Speak to the loan officers and ask questions. Not just about the rules of the bank, but how that loan officer works. You need to find yourself someone who'll be your partner in developing you business credit. In getting you the loan you need. DO NOT give them your Social Security Number or EIN to run a credit check until you have decided that they are the right fit. (NOTE: There is a great article by Brayden McCarthy of Fundera that goes into what pricing should really look like.)

Know their role. The two most important people to recognize when you are looking for business lending are the loan officer and the underwriter. The loan officer is the bank or lending sales agent. They are commission-based, so their job is to sell you on why you should do business with them. They have a financial interest in trying to get you booked. (Notice I didn't say "get you what you need.") The second person is the underwriter, who is usually salaried. Their job is to give out money to businesses that meet the lending criteria set by the bank. Every time they approve a credit application, they take responsibility for the life of the loan. If the loan goes bad, it is a negative hit on their track record. Depending on the severity of the lapse and how often it happens, the underwriter can even lose their job. The checklist they complete while processing your application is the only thing they can hold up and say "not my fault" if your loan goes south. That's why they are so tough on guidelines and policies.

"No" is not an end, but a beginning. Contrary to popular belief, if you go through the application process and get are turned down, that's a step in the right direction. Instead of seeing "No" as an end to the application process, simply view it as a note from the underwriter stating, "Please complete the following so I can approve your application." If you've chosen your loan professional the right way, they'll help you create a plan to meet the requirements. Remember, the underwriter is trying to complete a checklist, so help them do it.

Getting a business loan, or line for that matter, is something that needs to be planned out, even built into your initial business plan before you launch. Preparing and planning in advance will help you achieve your goal and protect your business cash flow during the unavoidable rough patches. As the saying goes, "Forewarned is forearmed."

Until next time,

JLM

Things to Think About When Upgrading Your Point of Sales System

team@mcrales.com (Team McRales) — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 14:54:56 GMT

So you wanna update to MPOS?

The changes that are occurring in the merchant services industry have been dramatic. Everyone's talking about how now it is the time to take advantage and upgrade your point-of-sale (POS) system. There's a especially high amount of buzz surrounding all the new tablet-based point-of-sale systems (MPOS). In this article, we'll cut through the noise and create a list of things to consider when upgrading to an MPOS.

[Full disclosure: My company sells MPOS systems such as Clover, Shopkeep, and NCR Silver. This article is not intended as a recommendation of one brand over another. It is merely to be used as a guide for my fellow entrepreneurs interested in upgrading their POS systems.]

It used to be that buying a POS system was reserved for those businesses with the cash flow to handle the investment. But getting a new POS system has gotten easier, even for startups. From the newer Square and Shopkeep to the more-established NCR and Clover, MPOS has facilitated finding an affordable system for your business.

So, how do you pick? What do you need to know?

An MPOS system supports two different parts of your business: marketing and operations/finance. Let's break down these two departments to help you figure out which MPOS to choose.

Marketing

This is the part of the business in charge of getting the word out--creating environments that attract your target market and create a customer experience that helps you maintain your client base. This is where you need to think about all your marketing efforts both online and offline (promotions, retention programs, social media, customer service, branding, etc.). Ask yourself:

Can I run the programs already in place, and can I create more?

Think about gift cards, loyalty cards, refer-a-friend promotions, punch cards, etc. Consider how you’ll transition these programs to your new MPOS and how flexible the system will be if you decide to create new ones.

Does the reporting provide the information I need in a format I can use?

Reporting is your only real way to measure the results of your business efforts. Look at the reports, then visualize yourself deciphering those reports to figure out if you’re getting a good return on your investments. Do you have what you need to get the job done?

Does the POS allow me to effectively monitor the growth of my customer base?

Again, visualize yourself monitoring the growth of your business. Does your point of sale make that easy for you? Does it tell you if you’ve had any new customers this month? How much control does it give you over your customer relationships and interactions?

From the customer's perspective, will this give the right look and feel in my store?

This last one is about your brand. If your main message is wrapped around the idea of making your customers feel at home, then don't get a system that says the opposite. As simple as it might seem, make sure your point of sale system matches your store’s vibe and the brand's image.

Operations/Finance

This is the part of your business that deals with execution and efficiency. It makes sure that all the cogs of your business are moving properly. That the processes of how things happen in your business--from purchasing supplies to collecting payments--runs smoothly and efficiently. Operations is the backbone of every company.

There is an article by People, Process and Profit that gives a great overview of what operations is. With this definition in mind, the first question you need to answer is:

Does this POS system efficiently capture and manage all the information my business deems important?

Think of this in terms of your accounting software, CRM, payroll, inventory, cost, time frame of delivery, integration with outside partners, etc. A POS system should make running a business easier, not harder.

Does this POS systems give me the ability to develop and grow my business?

Operations is not only concerned with the present, but also with achieving future goals of the company. This second question addresses that aspect. No one wants to be boxed into a POS that won't work for them in the future. But this doesn't mean that you can’t purchase a simple POS today and then find a more sophisticated one later on down the road. Some companies, like North American Bancard, give businesses a free simple POS. Which brings us to the next question.

Does this machine make financial sense now and in the future?

It all comes down to money-in, money-out. Most MPOS systems are cloud-based point-of-sale systems that charge a monthly fee for cloud storage and other perks. Does the cost you'll incur still add value to your business? And will it still make sense in the future? Some MPOS systems, like Clover, are highly customizable because they rely on an open market to add different apps. But there are subscription fees for those apps. And Clover isn't the only one. Many of the MPOS systems have partnerships with outside third parties, such as LevelUp, that integrate into their systems. But there are fees, so be aware.

One last thought:

Who will be using the POS on a daily basis?

This is a fundamental question, and it supersedes every other question in this article. Can your employees use it comfortably? Is it easy to teach and learn? If something goes wrong with the system, what support system is in place?

If you explore all these questions, you will be on the right path to finding an MPOS that fits in with your business.

Until next time,

JLM

How to Work Less and Sell More

team@mcrales.com (Team McRales) — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 14:49:39 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Sales, especially outside sales, is one of the more challenging disciplines you can call a career. This doesn’t mean it can’t be fulfilling. I’m just saying that it can be tough.

But let’s be real, sales is simply a discussion between two people that decide to either: 1. Continue the conversation and come to an agreement (a closed sale) or 2. Decide to not talk about the subject and move on to the next conversation. In its simplest form the act of selling can be distilled into 5 steps: cold call - follow up - cross sell - follow up - repeat. Like a machine, sales professionals tirelessly make connections, develop relationships, and add value to those relationships in one way or another.

So what can you do to improve efficiency? How can you reach more people and not burn out working more hours?

Build A Robot!

Well kinda'. The tech is there. You just need to leverage it.

1. Social Media Platforms

Leverage social media scheduling tools and Automatically post out content relevant to the people you are selling to. Make sure you sell your self in promotional posts, between the curated posts. Make it easy for prospective clients to find you and get in touch with you. "More than half (53%) use social media to follow group discussion threads related to their vendor research." Demand Gen Report.

2. Automate Where You Can

Automate where you can - with all the intuitive email marketing, POS, and eCommerce solutions, much of your business can be automated and customized to optimize your conversations and close the sale.

By using this tech, you can smoothe out your operations and create more opportunities for conversations. Sure, it takes some front-end work to set up, but in the long run, you'll work less and sell more.