Around the Workstand

We've got some great tips for email marketing, using our pre-designed library content, handling returns and refunds, and making changes to your SmartEtailing account options. Happy Tuesday!

If you send out regular or even sporadic email newsletters, it's a good idea to send a test email first to yourself to see exactly how that email will appear to your customers on both desktop and mobile devices.

Handling returns and refunds isn't difficult in your SmartEtailing Order management tools but there are a few moving parts. This Help Center article takes you through it step-by-step.

Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected].

Find Us on LinkedIn
Mark Still, Senior Business Development
David Martinez, Key Accounts Advisor

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].

There was an issue with WePay payment processing yesterday. It's been resolved but it brought up a thought about having a backup option available.

As suppliers have more inventory in their warehouses, drop shipping, what we call Supplier Fulfillment becomes an even more valuable feature. If you work with Trek, Specialized, HLC, or QBP in the US or LTP Sports or HLC in Canada, and aren't already using this feature, consider setting it up on your Professional level website. If you aren't using our Pro website, consider that as a way to leverage every possible sale you might capture.

We also talk about Supplier Promo pricing and shop dogs. Let us know what you'd like to know more about for an upcoming Tuesday.

Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected].

Find Us on LinkedIn
Mark Still, Senior Business Development
David Martinez, Key Accounts Advisor

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].

We have had a couple of unusual topics come up this last week

• Lightspeed POS connection - when connecting or if access is revoked and needs to be reconnected, remember the user who connects must have the admin role which is different from owner or any other role.
• WePay - we had a couple of requests to un-refund refunds that were issued - there is no way to do that. If you refund an incorrect amount or just mistakenly refunded a sale, there is no way to pull back that refund. You’d just have to work with your customer to submit a new order.

Email marketing remains a highly effective marketing tool - seeing questions about adding email popups to collect email addresses

• Should be using an email marketing service such as Mailchip, Constant Contact for that
• Those services can produce a code snippet for embedding a signup form or popup on your site
• Worth noting that there is still debate about the effectiveness of popups - do they help grow your list or do they actively drive away site visitors? 
  • Consider adding an offer in exchange for email signups 

Apple Announced Apple Business Connect to broaden the tools to ensure your business shows up in Apple Maps,  voice searches, and many apps.

• Until now, it was limited and quite cumbersome 
• The only reason to bother was that Apple has a commanding share of voice searches due to their massive phone market share - this should make it easier for that to display in Apple maps, which hasn’t mattered but there are big updates coming to Maps too.

Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected].

Find Us on LinkedIn
Mark Still, Senior Business Development
David Martinez, Key Accounts Advisor

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].

Services have been a popular topic early in 2023. If services matter to our 2023 plans, promote them on your website. Further, whatever goals come from your planning for the year, be sure to address website and social content to support them because most people will meet your website before meeting you.

Our January Marketing Blog might be helpful too. Let us know how we can help. Want to talk about marketing budgets or how to plan a marketing calendar? We can help!

Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected].

Find Us on LinkedIn
Mark Still, Senior Business Development
David Martinez, Key Accounts Advisor

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].

At the change of every season and certainly more so as a new year begins, there are some housekeeping items that can really help your website communicate more effectively with your customers. Let's talk about those tips!

Here's the January Marketing Blog Suzie mentions during the episode.

Talk to you next Tuesday!

Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected].

Find Us on LinkedIn
Mark Still, Senior Business Development
David Martinez, Key Accounts Advisor

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].

It's a little bit quiet here at SmartEtailing this post-holiday week. That could mean our merchants are so busy that they don't have time to ask us questions, but it feels more like a lull and perhaps a welcomed one.

In the last few weeks, we've talked about merchandising and telling your holiday story. Merchandising is always essential but it will shift from a pure holiday story to ensuring your inventory is displayed to move as the new year begins and spring begins to loom large along with invoices. Here is an episode where we talked about Home Page Merchandising if you missed it. 

SEO is always a popular question and today we talk specifically about meta descriptions, why they still matter, and how to write them. Each page needs its own meta description and they should be written for people to read. Keep it brief (like a slightly longer tweet) and focus on what the page is about. 

Many national retailers are already on the post-holiday clearance train. Do what you need to do and what you can do to move through your inventory and take pricing power where you can but be aware, your customers are hearing about deals.

Talk to you next Tuesday!

Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected].

Find Us on LinkedIn
Mark Still, Senior Business Development
David Martinez, Key Accounts Advisor

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].

We are really getting close to waving goodbye to 2022 so we're hearing tons of questions about how to finish strong and how to start planning for 2023.

Today we talk about the right content steps to ensure the products, categories, and topics you care about are in place to grow your organic search reach and to be ready for receiving the paid traffic you're planning for next year.

2023 will be here before you know it and if you are just now thinking about what will happen in January, you're a bit behind so reach out and let us help!

Talk to you next Tuesday!

Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected].

Find Us on LinkedIn
Mark Still, Senior Business Development
David Martinez, Key Accounts Advisor

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].

Your website is often the first part of your business that new customers meet before visiting your store. It makes sense to do your best to align your website with your physical business as best you can. 

Does the website reflect your store's personality? Will site visitors get a feel for who you are as a business if they choose to visit? Are you inviting everyone in and welcoming them?

You're probably doing beautiful things in your community. It isn't bragging to share that, it's letting the community know you value them and appreciate their support just as they appreciate your work. Be sure your website highlights that work, puts a spotlight on your staff, and clearly states the benefits of shopping with you. Those are the emotional details consumers make decisions on. Let them shine!

Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected].

Find Us on LinkedIn
Mark Still, Senior Business Development
David Martinez, Key Accounts Advisor

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].

As the holiday season continues to motor by, crunch time gets closer and the benefit of being a local retailer with great gifts in-stock and ready for pickup becomes even more valuable to you and your customers.

Be sure to provide a clear path to those products that you have in stock.

If your business hours are changing, update them on the website, socials, and Google My Business, and don't forget to reset them after the holidays if they can't be scheduled ahead of time.

Reach out if you need help and don't forget that our Help Center is full of tips and instructions.

Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected].

Find Us on LinkedIn
Mark Still, Senior Business Development
David Martinez, Key Accounts Advisor

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].

Raquel from the SmartEtailing Client Success Team joins 10-Minute Tuesday to talk about what we are hearing from our merchants this week.

Ensure the changes made on your website display as expected by remembering to reset your site cache after making those changes. Remember that we systematically reset all website caches overnight so if you don't want those changes to be public yet, be sure to deactivate the page or set a start date farther off in the future.

Catalog changes take longer so the best practice is to receive new inventory to your Point of Sale as soon as possible so that it can be incorporated into your website catalog in the very next overnight POS Sync processing. Help Center: POS Sync

Using Start and/or End dates on pages and sections of pages to plan out posting new content and making sure you don't end up with Christmas in July is a smart way to leverage the tools within your website site manager to take some of the work off of your shoulders.  Help Center: Page Editor

Talk to you next Tuesday!

Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected].

Find Us on LinkedIn
Mark Still, Senior Business Development
David Martinez, Key Accounts Advisor

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].