Homepage merchandising is a popular topic here at SmartEtailing and we spend a lot of time talking about it. Homepages, far and away, receive more visits than any other page on your site so it is important to display the content there that tells the story that consumers need to hear about your business. We (Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner - Suzie Livingston, Marketing + Communications - Mark Still, Business Development) talk through general and seasonal merchandising tips and best practices and how to make the most of the time you have to devote to this important activity.

REI.com remains a prime example of successful homepage merchandising and it's worth noting that you can do pretty much all of the same things REI does to ensure your site is an attractive result for search and a valuable resource for your customers. It's also interesting that in the very short time from when this episode was recorded to this is being typed, REI has already remerchandised their homepage.

That's what's Up Next!

If you're a current SmartEtailing website client with questions about your website, reach out to [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a SmartEtaililng website client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected] and we'll gladly show you around.

We also publish Up Next on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Up Next playlist and a link to this episode.

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

#email marketing #marketing #bikeshopwebsites #merchandising 

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 released some exciting new features and enhancements for SmartEtailing website clients in the first three months of 2022. Here's a short podcast with Suzie and Mark outlining notable updates for websites. Our plan is to release one of these podcasts each quarter to ensure our clients are as informed as possible and know about the work we've done on their behalf.

Let us know at [email protected] if you have any questions about the features and enhancements shown. We'd also love to hear how you're using these features in your own business and what you'd like to see from us down the road.

Links to resources mentioned:
https://youtu.be/_0pQjZjTeQE - How To: Quotes
https://blog.smartetailing.com/quotes - blog - Personalized Online Selling (Quotes)
https://youtu.be/lDjcTJu5vXs - How To: Mega Menu Enhancement
https://blog.smartetailing.com/shoppi... - blog - Maintain Easy to Shop Navigation
https://youtu.be/hVoPF3XhMvI - How To: Streamline Communications
https://youtu.be/6zmcC9K7TWk - How To: Supplier Fulfillment (Drop Ship)
https://youtu.be/rqfjr_msHDo - Up Next Podcast: Benefits of Drip Shipping

As always, our Client Success Team is ready to help you implement and take advantage of anything in our application including these new features. Reach out to them at [email protected] or by phone at 303-527-0676 x 1. You can also use chat from smartetailing.com.

Want even more help? Our Marketing Agency Team works with nearly 400 of our clients taking care of everything from basic website maintenance all the way to advanced content and Google Ads management. Email [email protected] with any questions about those services.

If you are not currently a SmartEtaililng website client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected] and we'll gladly show you around.

We also publish Up Next on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Feature + Enhancement playlist and a link to this episode.

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

#marketing #bikeshopwebsites

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].

Email marketing remains an effective, approachable, and affordable tool to market products and services. We asked Hannah Dittmar, an Account Manager from our Marketing Agency, to join us to talk about the work she does with SmartEtailing clients in email marketing. Hannah and Suzie were both presenters at Frost Bike this year and Hannah's session was specifically about email marketing so it was great to get tips from someone immersed in modern email marketing - along with Google Ads, content creation, strategy, planning, and more - working with some of the largest, most successful bicycle retailers today.

That's what's Up Next!

Here are those resources Suzie and Hannah mentioned for help with writing emails:
Really Good Emails
Headline Studio - Chrome Plugin

If you're a current SmartEtailing website client with questions about your website, reach out to [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a SmartEtaililng website client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected] and we'll gladly show you around.

We also publish Up Next on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Up Next playlist and a link to this episode.

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

#email marketing #marketing #bikeshopwebsites

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].

Can you believe it's already 2022 and we're already a month into 2022? It's all moving fast in the cycling industry as it is in many parts of the economy. How's your business? What did you learn in 2021?

We learned a lot and the data has some interesting stories to tell from another tumultuous year. So, we wanted to do a quick recap and talk about that and what might be coming ... and maybe how Ryan and Suzie have too many bikes to keep up with.

That's what's Up Next!

If you're a current SmartEtailing website client with questions about your website, reach out to [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a SmartEtaililng website client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected] and we'll gladly show you around.

We also publish Up Next on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Up Next playlist and a link to this episode.

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

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].

Shoppers today understand that the products they buy from a retailer's website may be coming from supplier warehouses and they expect a broad selection and excellent execution. Selling both in-store inventory and supplier-held inventory is just an efficient way to help manage inventory dollars and meet demand.

We talk about the details and advantages of using drop shipping to sell more and to find and retain more customers.

That's what's Up Next!

If you're a current SmartEtailing website client with questions about Supplier Fulfillment, reach out to [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a SmartEtaililng website client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected] and we'll gladly show you around.

We also publish Up Next on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Up Next playlist and a link to this episode.

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

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].

Holiday marketing is normally about sales, discounts, and promos but the times we're living in are anything but normal. If marketing isn't about deals this year, what is it about? How should retailers look at marketing their businesses when inventory is scarce and shoppers are plentiful?

Could holiday time be a prep time for spring? Inventory has been super scarce but we're hearing more and more that, at least in some categories, levels are starting to build.

We invited Jenna Poppenhagen, a Marketing Account Coordinator from the SmartEtailing Marketing Agency to join us and talk about what she's working on with her clients to ensure they get their share of all of this pandemic-related activity. That's what's Up Next!

We also publish Up Next on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Up Next playlist and a link to this episode.

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

#bikeshopwebsites #bikeshopmarketing

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 a great team here at SmartEtailing. One of our newest editions to the team, David DeKeyser, has a very interesting history in bicycle retail that has resulted in him joining SmartEtailing as part of our recent merger with Retail Tool Kit. So, we invited him on to talk about how he got started in retail, his decision after 18 years as a business owner to step away, and how he ended up work with Retail Tool Kit.

That's what's Up Next!

Oh, and if you want to connect with David to talk bicycle retail or business ownership, or Retail Tool Kit, he can be reached at [email protected].

We also publish Up Next on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Up Next playlist and a link to this episode.

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

#bikeshopwebsites #bikeshopmarketing

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].

What do you think of when you hear, Google? It's complicated, right? That's why we brought our in-house Google expert, Jack, in. He takes us through some of the work we do with bicycle retailers using both free and paid Google applications to promote their businesses, grow their customer base, and sell more.

You may not use everything Google in your store and not everything with the Google name on it is necessary. Jack talks about the key apps that matter - Google My Business, Google Merchant Center, Google Ads, and Google Analytics and he also tells us why we don't need to be so worried about Google Search Console and Google Tag Manager.

Google shopping is adding sales to local bike shop retailers more than ever before these days. With the inventory challenges facing retailers, being able to focus on available products both in-store and sitting in multiple warehouses has been a strategic advantage to those working with Google Ads.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Up Next, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].

You can also review these resources from the SmartEtailing Help Center:
https://www.smartetailing.com/help/google-analytics
https://www.smartetailing.com/help/google-shopping
https://www.smartetailing.com/help/google-merchant-center-setup-guide

We also publish Up Next on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Up Next playlist and a link to this episode.

#bikeshopwebsites #bikeshopmarketing

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].

All of the retailers we work with are so busy. The service department seems to be a universal challenge for all - staffing, sourcing parts for repairs, scheduling and communicating with customers, walk-ups... these are wild times for sure. While discussing ways we can help, our recently released Service Appointments tool came up as a way to possibly reduce phone calls and walk-ups for service by offering a simple way for customers to book dropoff times for repairs and service.

This feature has been released (in beta) to all SmartEtailing website clients as part of existing subscriptions at no additional cost. Learn about setup and use in this Help Center article that includes a "How To" video. Our Client Success team is here to help with setup and implementation questions.

We also publish Up Next on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Up Next playlist and a link to this episode.

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 we were signing off from our last episode, the one about custom websites, we asked each other if we were forgetting anything. Well, we certainly were forgetting something that is important in our opinion so we turned the cameras back on and hit record. Homepage makeovers, free library marketing content, and more. Wow. We forgot a lot of great information.

We also publish Up Next on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Up Next playlist and a link to this episode.

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].