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LexiConn ShopSite Newsletter – October 2006
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In this month’s issue:
- Wishlist module updated
- Cart Abandonment module upgraded
- Holiday shopping tips

The latest version of ShopSite is: 8.1.3.1

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Wishlist module updated

The wishlist / gift registry add-on module for ShopSite has been updated with a few small bug fixes and an enhancement. On the checkout screen, the textbox to enter a wishlist username to record a purchase now allows the customer to search and select the appropriate wishlist username without having to copy and paste. All existing wishlist modules have been automatically upgraded.

This module is a great addition for any store wanting to offer both personal wishlists for future purchases and for a public gift / registry system where customers can record items they would like for special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas. The module allows customers to send emails to their friends and family inviting them to purchase items on their list.

For a live implementation of the Wishlist Module, check out http://www.rexart.com
http://www.rexart.com/wishlist.html

Help section:
http://www.rexart.com/help_wishlists.html

The module is installed by LexiConn, and is very easy to administer. For complete details, please reference:

http://www.lexiconn.com/ecommerce/shopsite/wishlist.html

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Cart Abandonment module upgraded

The Cart Abandonment module offered by LexiConn has been upgraded with a number of enhancements and fixes. Major new features include:

* – Only record a cart if the initial contact has a product/coupon in it.
* – Breakdown of coupons abandoned and coupons completed alongside the “Top Products” tables, in both the global and period stats pages.
* – Period statistics for shipping options for in both global and period stats pages.
* – show top payment options for completed carts, again in global and period stats.
* – track registered vs. non-registered customers, by checking for the ShopSite cookie and record client name
* – Calculate and show abandonment % on global and period stats
* – Offer yearly period of review
* – exclude IP or range of IP’s, using a simple wildcard pattern (e.g. 192.168.1.*)
* – grab email if available for carts using JS from the CheckIt() function. (not enabled by default)
* – display completed and abandoned cart dollar value on period stats in the same manner as currently shown on the global page.
* – Prev and Next links when viewing individual carts

All existing modules have been upgraded to this latest version. Full details on the cart abandonment module can be found on our website at:

http://www.lexiconn.com/ecommerce/shopsite/cart_abandonment.html

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Holiday shopping tips

As the holiday shopping season begins, here are a few tips for things to check on your website and ShopSite store to ensure a successful visit to your site by your customers:

- Place a test order yourself on your site once a week to make sure everything is working as you would like. Pay special attention to the checkout and confirmation pages, and make sure no security warnings come up about insecure calls or objects. If they do, double check that all image and css calls are using a secure URL to prevent this warning. This security warning can scare away a customer who is concerned about site security

- Streamline your cart and checkout process. Only put text and information on these pages that will help the customer complete their purchase. Avoid extra links that take them away from completing a purchase. Highlight savings such as free shipping, gift certificates, etc…

- Verify that your shipping rates make sense and are clearly defined. If you offer free shipping, make it obvious and clear to the customer that this is an option, and explain if they need to meet a minimum amount to take advantage of it.

- Let your customer know that your site is secure and that their privacy is protected. You can use text that explains the security of your site, dynamic seals for your SSL certificate, and links to your privacy policy and refund/return policy. Consider using the HackerSafe program from ScanAlert as another way to display how secure your site is:
http://www.lexiconn.com/hackersafe/

- Always make it easy for customers coming to the site to find the items they want. This can be accomplished through standard navigation links and a prominent search feature. Test your search to make sure people can find items easily. Consider using LexiConn’s free Search Statistics Module to see what people are searching for, and more importantly, what they are not finding.

- If using ShopSite Pro, make good use of Gift Certificates and Coupons. Have the link to purchase a gift certificate easily viewable and clearly explained.

- Always have your contact information available on the site. Having an address, phone number, and email address that customers can quickly find can help in closing a sale or reassuring them that they can contact a live person if they have any problems or questions.