Business
Top 10 Free and Paid eCommerce Tools for 2023
Published
4 months agoon
By
Skylar LeeStarting an eCommerce business is no easy feat. You have to think about sales, marketing, customer service, invoicing, and inventory all at once. Some platforms may offer those, but you need other eCommerce tools to make life easier and automate your processes. But which are the best ones? I’ve compiled a list of the best ones here.
1. Shopify
Type: eCommerce platform
Any eCommerce tools list would simply be incomplete without the mention of Shopify. After all, Shopify is one of the leading eCommerce platforms of all time. The eCommerce platform makes it easy for new eCommerce businesses to set up shop in no time. They have a bunch of tools to keep any eCommerce business around, such as branding, point of sales, email marketing, and payment tools.
With Shopify, you don’t have to create a website immediately if you don’t need it yet. If you want to start small, Shopify has a Starter plan where you can reach customers via social media or messaging apps.
Pricing:
Starter (social and messaging apps only) – $5/mo
Basic – $29/mo
Shopify – $79/mo
Advanced – $299/mo
2. Veeqo
Type: Inventory and logistics
Even though Shopify has everything you need to get your business ready from launch to your first sale, you can integrate tools into the platform, such as Veeqo. Veeqo is a logistics company helping eCommerce businesses with inventory and shipping.
You don’t have to worry about keeping track of all your products manually. With Veeqo, you can rest easy knowing they automate your stock every time there’s a sale. Plus, with shipping, you’ll have lowered rates on known logistics businesses, such as DHL and UPS. In addition, you can automate shipping processes.
Pricing: Free
3. SurveyMonkey
Type: Survey
One eCommerce tool that you should use is a survey. This helps you get a pulse of what’s going on with your customers, and one of the survey tools you should use for your eCommerce business is SurveyMonkey.
With SurveyMonkey, you’ll also know what your customers think of your products, aside from the reviews they give. Surveys will provide you with more input, and you’ll learn how to improve your products and how you can interact with your customers better. But it’s not just a tool for your customers. You can also ask your employees how they can improve your eCommerce business.
Pricing:
Team Advantage – $25/user/month
Team Premier – $75/user/month
Enterprise – Contact sales
4. Wave
Type: Accounting and Invoicing
Most eCommerce platforms will have their own payment portal. But if you want an all-around easy-to-use small business financial service software, Wave is one of the best eCommerce tools to use. They have these nifty features:
- Invoicing
- Payments
- Accounting
- Banking
- Payroll
- Advisors
With Wave, you don’t need an accountant. Wave helps you with your taxes, bookkeeping, and billing. And if you still need financial help, advisors are ready to help you learn more about finance terms or concepts. Plus, Wave is free to use for their Invoicing, Accounting, and Bookkeeping features. Or, you can even hire a bookkeeper to do all the work for you.
Here’s the pricing for their Payments, Payroll, and Advisors features:
Payments: 2.9% + $0.60/ transaction (AMEX: $3.4% + $0.60/transaction)
Bank payments: 1%/transaction
Payroll: Tax service states – $40/mo; Self service – $20/mo
Advisors: Bookkeeping support – $149/mo; Coaching – $379/mo
5. Rewind
Type: Data protection
Any business with a website should know that they need to back up their data. After all, you can put it right back up anytime if outages or something unexpected happens to your website. And if you don’t want to lose your data, Rewind is one of the best eCommerce tools out there.
Rewind can help eCommerce businesses protect their business from any downtime with their daily backup. If you have integrated a 3rd party app into your website, but it’s not doing you any good, you can just rewind and get back to the last time you didn’t install it. Plus, they ensure your data is secure from any attacks.
Pricing:
Starts at $39/mo
6. Zendesk
Type: Customer service
Zendesk is one of the best customer service tools of all time, with more than 100,000 brands and users helping customers with their concerns. The customer service tool will help eCommerce businesses connect with customers through email, phone, or live chat.
Pricing:
- Suite Team – $49/mo
- Suite Growth – $79/mo
- Suite Professional – $99/mo
7. Jungle Scout
Type: Marketing
If you need a marketing and keyword research tool made for online sellers, Jungle Scout is one of the best eCommerce tools to use. This tool is for Amazon sellers, but you can still use this for your online store anywhere. You can grow your traffic with their keyword research feature, optimize listings, and get more reviews for your site.
They also have an inventory management feature. Plus, Amazon sellers can get more out of the tool with their finances and ads features.
Pricing:
Basic – $49/mo
Suite – $69/mo
Professional – $129/mo
8. Copysmith
Type: SEO/Marketing
Are you having trouble creating product descriptions for all of your items? Don’t fret, Copysmith is an AI writing tool to help you create a copy in minutes. It can be difficult trying to come up with persuasive copy that will get people to click add to cart.
With Copysmith, you’ll have an AI assistant giving suggestions from the keywords you provided. From there, you can choose from the best copy and add it to your website. Plus, they ensure that the copy is search engine optimized, so customers can visit your online store and get more traffic. In addition, you can also create bulk product descriptions for SKUs.
Pricing:
Starter – $19/mo
Professional – $59/mo
Enterprise – Contact Sales
9. MailChimp
Type: Marketing
MailChimp is best known for email marketing. But it has grown into an all-around marketing platform for any business. They have a comprehensive email marketing platform, allowing businesses to segment their audience, reach more, and analyze open and conversion rates.
Aside from email marketing, MailChimp allows businesses to create optimized landing pages and social media ads and send printed postcards.
Pricing (Marketing platform – Starts at 500 contacts):
Free
Essentials – $11/mo
Standard – $17/mo
Premium – $299/mo
10. Google Analytics
Type: Analytics
Any entrepreneur or seller needs to keep track of their online business. And if you want to know how your online store ranks on one of the widely used search engines, you can use Google Analytics.
Most eCommerce platforms will have analytics, but Google Analytics can help you with your marketing, and you’ll know how to reach more customers. Plus, you can run ads with their Google Ads and Search Ads 360 features and get access to the Google Search Console.
Pricing:
Start for Free
These eCommerce tools have proven their worth and helped other eCommerce businesses thrive in their own niche. Plus, they have also provided immense value and eased the minds of new and existing eCommerce businesses.
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Business
Why Use Video Marketing: 8 Compelling Reasons to Convince You
Published
12 hours agoon
March 22, 2023Video marketing is one of the latest trends in business strategy. As it progresses rapidly, 83% of businesses believe that adding videos to their advertising and marketing strategy gives them good ROI. Do you still have doubts? Why use video marketing for promoting your business? The answer is simple. Adding video to your promotion checklist is worth it. Not only because everyone is doing it but because the video is an excellent digital marketing tool. Here are eight reasons to convince you to start working on your video marketing efforts.
1. Video Increases Conversions and Sales
Videos are crucial to the online customer journey and can make you serious money. Consider adding a product video on your landing page and increase conversions by 80%. The percentage shows that people who watch your videos are more likely to purchase your product or service. Wyzowl’s November 2022 survey shows that 89% of people say watching a video has convinced them to buy.
2. Video Builds Trust
Trust is the cornerstone of conversions and revenues. However, building trust should be the ultimate goal. The idea of content marketing relies on trust and creating long-term relationships. That’s why video content is likely to engage and convince the audience.
YouTubers have become the most influential social media personality when discussing audience segmentation to help you promote your product or service. So, if you decide to invest in content marketing, you must also be serious about video marketing.
Promotional videos can foster trust as well. Some consumers are still skeptical about buying online products and services because they fear fraud and cheating. But compelling marketing videos present your products in a conversational form.
Overall, video content is an effective way to build trust with your audience. It allows you to communicate authentically, transparently, and credible, create an emotional connection and establish consistency with your brand.
3. Video Ranks Better in Google
Video content can rank better on Google due to higher engagement rates, improved user experience, diversified content, social signals, and video SEO. You should create and optimize video content for a higher ranking in Google search results.
One of the factors of Google’s algorithm for search rankings is “dwell time,” or how long visitors stay on your website. This may also be called “long clicks vs. short clicks.” If people spend a lot of time on your website, it must have quality content. A short, compelling video is a great way to capture viewers’ attention.
4. Video Shows Higher Return on Investment (ROI)
Statistics show that 83% of companies believe video provides a good return on investment. Even though video production is yet to be the easiest task, it can generate more revenue. Plus, online video editing tools are constantly evolving and have become accessible. Even your smartphone can make decent videos already.
Another good news is that your videos can be imperfect. It’s the content that matters! The latest research shows that users are mostly put off by videos that need to explain the product or service more. Low quality and poor design only matter a little. So the video is like pizza. Even if it tastes terrible, it still looks pretty good.
5. Video Marketing is Versatile
Video marketing is a versatile tool that can be used to achieve different marketing goals. Video can work well when launching a new product or service. More businesses using video marketing said they have an explainer video on their homepage.
You can create animated videos if you’re trying to explain a difficult concept to your audience. Animation can bring ideas to life that no text or live video can. Besides, more than boring talking heads are needed to break through the clutter. Animated videos give a perfect mix of entertainment, education, and simplicity. And they work.
6. Mobile Users Love Videos
Video and mobile go hand in hand because people enjoy watching videos on the go. And as the number of smartphone users continues to increase, the video audience keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Google says smartphone users are twice as likely to watch videos as TV viewers. Likewise, mobile phones are more accessible than desktops, where viewers can easily connect to brands that show video content or ads.
The keyword here is convenience. Videos are easy to consume on mobile devices, requiring minimal effort, and can be viewed on the go. With the increasing number of mobile users, video content has become a popular and convenient way to consume information.
7. Video Marketing Captures a Wider Audience
Video content is an excellent tool for learning, but it’s also super easy to consume. In today’s fast-paced world, people don’t have enough time to read long product descriptions or service manuals. The modern customer wants to see the product in action. This trend has become one of the most fundamental driving forces in video content marketing.
Video marketing can capture a broad target audience and works on many levels, even the laziest ones. Ensure you target not only the eyes but also the ears of the potential client. Your competitive advantage gets double power!
8. A video is an Effective Tool for Social Media Marketing.
Social media channels also encourage video content with their new features. Plus, YouTube is the second most popular social network in the world. Video content is more likely to be shared on social media than text or static images. This means that videos have the potential to reach a larger audience than other types of content.
Conclusion
Video advertising is becoming more and more affordable and widespread. It’s an excellent way for marketers to reach people. It is easier than ever for businesses to create and share high-quality video content. We believe this article helped wipe out your doubts and answered the question, “why use video marketing.”
Typli.AI is an AI-powered software that helps you write content for your business in minutes. The tool is designed for professional writers and marketers who are looking for an easier way to generate ideas and content for blog posts, articles, emails, social media posts, and more.
Yes, it’s designed to make work easier, but all AI writing tools have a learning curve. Some are simpler than others, and no tool generates usable content every time. Before you dive into using Typli.AI, let’s see if it stands up to the test: Is Typli the best AI content writer?
Typli.AI Review: How it Works
In this review, we’ll go over what Typli does, how it works, and why this tool is worth checking out if you want to create more content faster.
Typli is an AI powered software that uses natural language generation (NLG) to write content for you. This AI technology can create unique articles, blog posts, and even sales pages on a wide range of topics like travel, finance, technology, and marketing. It’s all automated, so once you set up your account, you can let it do the heavy lifting while you oversee the writing process.
Typli can be used from a variety of angles. For example, you might write an outline for a blog post and then let Typli fill in the content. You might generate an email or come up with some snappy phrases for ad copy and marketing campaigns. The trick is to give AI all the information you can. The more specific you are, the easier it is for Typli to generate accurate content.
Getting Started with Typli
Once you start your free trial with Typli, you’ll notice right away how simple the platform is. On your lefthand side is the menu. The rest of the space is your textbox for generating content.
You can start by writing a ‘project title’ for your content piece at the top. Next, just type into the textbox what you want Typli to talk about. For example, “How to write the best SEO content” and follow it up with “1.” This lets Typli know you want to create a list article – or at least a list of bulletpoints. Then click “Generate AI content.” Once the bulletpoints are generated, you can get Typli to fill in content for each one to create a blog.
The dropdown menu is especially useful if you don’t know what to write about. Some of the options include:
- Give me a list of misconceptions about…
- Give me a list of synonyms for…
- Give me a list of 5 reasons why…
You can add stock photos to your content right from inside the textbox.
The pricing options are also quite simple:
- $29 gets you unlimited credits for a month
- $290 gets you unlimited credit for a year
Affordability is definitely one of the upsides to Typli. But other platforms like Rytr and CopyAI have similar rates, so check them out too before making a decision.
Typli integrates with Mozilla and Chrome, and a WordPress Plugin is available. This allows you to bring AI writing into other platforms you use regularly and streamline the writing process.
Is It the Best AI Content Writer?
Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding… probably not. While Typli is decent at what it does, AI content writing is now a competitive market. There are plenty of other tools that do the same or even more than Typli – tools like ChatGPT, CopySmith, Jasper, and Longshot AI.
Typli is known for generating subpar content – not every time, but enough times that it makes you question the tool. Another downside is that it only writes in English, whereas other tools can write in many different languages.
Again, unlike some other AI writers, you can’t sort your content into folders or categories – another easy feature Typli could’ve implemented but didn’t. But in Typli’s defense, you can export your content as PDFs or Word docs, which automates organization to an extent.
Despite the downsides, reviews for Typli are all over the board, so we encourage you to try it for yourself. One reviewer called Typli a “game changer” and another even claimed that it helped him raise his conversion rates.
As far as negative reviews, most of the feedback centered around the quality of the content. These reviewers claimed the quality just wasn’t consistent enough to keep using the platform.
As with any AI writer, the quality of the content is largely dependent on the user: what they’re writing about and how they set up the document is going to have an impact. Some topics are way easier to generate content about (eg. factual information that can be found online). On the other hand, more nuanced topics could go either way – the generator might pull it off, or it might fail miserably.
Typli.AI: Worth Your Time?
Overall, Typli.AI is a decent tool for content writers and marketers. It’s easy to use, affordable and can be used on any device. There’s also a free trial so you can test it out before making a commitment. But keep in mind, there are plenty of other AI writers out there, and several of them look almost identical to Typli.
The software has been backed by a 7-day money back guarantee from its developers, so you have the peace of mind to try it out.
Business
10 Examples of Successful Animated Marketing Videos: Inspiration for Your Next Business Campaign
Published
2 days agoon
March 20, 2023Successful business owners attribute their growth to effective marketing campaigns. With the rise of digital media and social platforms, animated marketing videos have become an increasingly popular and effective tool for engaging audiences and promoting brands. Read on as we explore the power of animated marketing videos together and take your marketing efforts to the next level.
1. Google Voice
One of the biggest reasons animated marketing videos are popular is their ability to complex ideas and concepts. In Google Voice’s promotional video, animation was used to explain the idea of a cloud-based communication platform in a simple, straightforward way. It broke down the technology and infrastructure behind Google Voice, making it easy for viewers to understand how the service can improve communication.
The video was effective in helping viewers understand the benefits of a cloud-based communication platform in a way that is engaging and easy to understand.
2. Amazon One
The 1-minute animated video promoting Amazon One showcases the innovative payment system in a concise and visually appealing way. With vibrant colors and a great storyline, the video demonstrates how customers can use their unique palm signature to pay for purchases without needing cash or cards.
The animation style is aesthetically pleasing and effectively communicates the use case of Amazon One to its audience. This video is an excellent example of how animation can promote a product and simplify a complex concept in a visually engaging way.
3. RealtyNinja
For its new website, RealtyNinja released an animated marketing video to explain to prospects what services they offer. In a concise and visually engaging way, the video takes a less formal approach to showcase a relatable case study that illustrates what it’s like to use the service rather than just describing features and benefits.
This approach is effective, as studies show that homepage explainer videos can increase conversions by 300%. The video is an excellent example of how a well-executed explainer video can simplify a complex concept and increase audience engagement.
4. Starbucks
The “Why does Starbucks Blend Coffee?” campaign is an introspective and innovative approach to explaining how Starbucks’ coffee blend works and how they have developed new flavors through blending experimentation. The video takes a simplistic 2D animation style with a fantastic voice actor explaining the campaign’s purpose.
This video is an excellent example of how a well-executed 2D animated marketing video can be unique and engaging for the audience. Using an idea-centric approach and simple animation style, Starbucks effectively communicates the message of its coffee blending process to its audience.
5. Spotify
This marketing video from Spotify is an excellent example of how animation lends a playful, memorable touch to marketing videos, letting viewers know your business isn’t all business. As an audio streaming service, the video puts music front and center, accompanied by vibrant animations and their signature green color, bringing their visual signature to life.
The use of animation in this video showcases the power of visually engaging content in promoting a brand and its products. It is a great example for businesses looking to create animated videos that effectively capture their brand identity and connect with their audience.
6. Samsung
In 2022, Samsung released its animated explainer video for its mobile security platform Knox. The video is an excellent example of effectively showcasing a product feature through animation. It takes the audience on a journey across the use cases of the Knox app, with a well-narrated script that makes it engaging and informative.
The use of 2D animation with a subtle color scheme adds to the overall aesthetic appeal of the video, making it a visually pleasing experience. The video’s quality and attention to detail compel viewers to watch it, making it a great example if you want to create animated videos that showcase your product features effectively.
7. Slack
This explainer video from Slack is an excellent example of how animation can effectively showcase how a platform streamlines team communication to make it more efficient. The video’s message is conveyed through clear and concise visuals highlighting the platform’s key features and benefits. It shows how it can seamlessly integrate with various tools and services, simplify communication, and enhance organizational efficiency.
The video’s style is simple and fast-paced yet engaging. It beautifully takes viewers on a journey through the magic of Slack, showcasing how it can make team communication more straightforward and effortless.
8. Razer Naga
A 3D animated masterpiece, the Razer Naga promotional video showcases stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack to keep viewers spellbound. It effectively highlights all the key features of the mouse, providing a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities.
What’s impressive is that the quality and special effects used in this video are on par with those in a blockbuster movie. Interestingly, this video does not have any background voiceover, which is a rare and bold choice that further emphasizes the power of the visuals. This video is an exceptional example of how you can use animation to create an engaging and informative marketing video.
9. Intercom
A renowned business communication management tool, Intercom stands out in the crowded marketplace. Thanks to its product overview video, the brand has taken on an interactive journey that effectively showcases its unique selling propositions.
To hook the audience right from the start, the video opens with a captivating 2D animation sequence. It then seamlessly transitions to basic animations, including screen recordings of the tool, to provide a clear and concise understanding of how the product works. Overall, this video is a great example of how a mix of animation styles can create an engaging and informative marketing video.
10. Microsoft
This animated marketing video from Microsoft effectively illustrates how their suite of apps can simplify everyday tasks and make work more efficient. The video takes viewers on a journey, highlighting common challenges people face in their daily lives and how Microsoft’s suite can solve them.
The animation style used in the video is 3D and features playful effects and a fun background score that keeps the audience engaged. Overall, it’s a great example of how animation can simplify complex ideas and make them more relatable to the audience.
Final Thoughts
These animated marketing videos showcase how animation can be a powerful tool for explaining complex ideas, promoting products or services, and engaging audiences. Whether highlighting the benefits of a business tool or showcasing a new product feature, animation can make the message more engaging, memorable, and effective.
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