• Launched in 1999 in Europe - PriceRunner is among the top 3 shopping comparison sites internationally with a leading presence in the US.
• PriceRunner (as part of ValueClick Inc) accesses the largest online media network with over 70% monthly US online penetration.
• Recent exclusive partnerships will make PriceRunner the shopping engine of choice on MyPoints.com, Juno, NetZero, Morpheus, FortuneCity and the latest Opera Browser.
• PriceRunner shows more information, reviews and prices than other shopping comparison sites – delivering exceptional conversion and sales volume for our merchant partners.
• PriceRunner is ranked #1 – USA - Best Overall Shopping Comparison Site – PC World Magazine – Dec 2005

PriceRunner programs are easy to start with no up front deposits required. Programs are all inclusive -offering logo, link, message and retailer contact information. Reporting provides traffic and costs to the product level along with dedicated account representation. Click here for more information.

1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM):
   CRM is a general term with many possible applications offered by many third party vendors to manage relationships with your customers. CRM could include Order Management, Purchase Order Management, Task Management, Communications Management et, al. CRM could include or exclude almost anything. The real issue for online Merchants is to understand what CRM type solution is best for them and what exactly does it mean to manage your relationships with all of your customers, i.e. supplying products, order follow up, general follow up with email, telephony, and newsletters, customer re-marketing or just staying in touch and being helpful. Each business requires different methods to manage customer expectations and then to execute those methods.
   Some online retailers have one simple online storefront, others have multiple brick and mortar facilities as well as many online storefronts, each with its own purpose. Furthermore, it sometimes makes more sense to use a combination or suite of software rather than one expensive “turnkey” solution. This is an area that should be thoroughly researched before an online merchant implements methods and works with CRM solutions and applications so that the merchant doesn’t spend unnecessarily on software that doesn’t precisely answer specific needs. As a side note, CRM is now often referred to as CEM – Customer Experience Management.
2. Accounting:
   Accounting is sometimes considered a part of the CRM, but many companies are using a simpler, less expensive and versatile accounting package, and using a separate software package to handle operations and other processes unique to online retailing. For example, a merchant might use an order management application created for online retailers, a point of sale application for their brick and mortar operations, and integrate that with an inexpensive accounting package such as QuickBooks. So standard accounting becomes much less expensive, but the merchant still has the tools they wish to manage the on and off line retail businesses. Alternatively, many retailers purchase integrated total solutions, whether purchased from a third party or created in house, and although it’s likely much more expensive, it could be cost effective. As in the previous section, it’s well worth the time to investigate the alternatives.
3. Performance/Measurement Reporting Tools:
   There is no one set of tools that should be used by all businesses because each business is different and requires different reporting methods to gauge performance in each area of their business cycles. Attending seminars (on or off line) or tradeshows often can be the best way to understand the myriad of technologies and software solutions to help you better manage your business and measure the performance of your online storefront. The real question for many new online merchants is how important are these tools for me to have a successful online business?
   MerchantAdvantage believes that it is always important to have methods in place to measure how your online business is doing on a day-to-day basis on a number of parameters. General parameters might include marketing efforts, sales efforts, customer satisfaction, inventory control, and storefront performance. Online specific parameters could include where do visitors come from, where did the customers that purchased on your site come, which pages on your storefront are most often viewed, which page seems to be the last page viewed, how many “carts” have been abandoned on your storefront, how long do people generally stay on your storefront, and many more. The general concept is: “that which can be measured, can be managed”. So by gathering data on various performance points, an online retailer can react and adjust budgets, change vendors, and generally change the things that aren’t’ working while continuing the things that have performed well. Just when to implement those methods is usually based on time, technological know how, budgets and marketplace knowledge.
4. Sales Force Automation:
   Sales, sales and more sales, without them you may want to consider yourself a not-for-profit! While not often thought of, most online merchants could benefit from excellent third party solutions to manage your sales force to be an efficient and money making division of your company. For smaller online merchants just getting started, these types of solutions probably are not applicable until you have committed yourself to building a robust sales force to help sell and market your company and product line. In the event that you are in the market for better solutions to manage your sales force there are ample ASP, pre-bought software solutions, and third party consultants who can help with this potentially very important part of your business. And if you do decide to better automate your sales efforts be prepared to commit the resources to monitor it daily. Spending money on systems and processes that you do not “work” each and everyday is a waste of your time and money.
5. Employee Management:
   Human Resource management is often thought of last when building a business. It is ironic because the employees we work with and manage each day are the ones helping you build your company. MerchantAdvantage recommends that each online merchant first consider how you would like to be managed, if you were working for you. Often times your payroll service, such as ADP, has simple and excellent Human Resource tools to compliment any other incentive and time and goal management solutions you may have developed to better manage your employees. In any scenario, ensuring that you have a fair and accurate way to manage your employees, your expectations of them, and their expectations of you will help lead to a more collaborative and effective business environment.

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"MerchantAdvantage is here to be your partner in growing your business in the multi billion dollar and complex world of online shopping. We are here because you are online.^sm"

Michael Lambert, CEO

• Online Advertising Revenues set a New Record.
Online ad revenues have set a new record. Advertising revenues rose over 37% over this time last year. For the first 6 months of 2006, online retailers saw $7.9 billion generated by advertising. This marks the third consecutive year of record growth and the industries 4th year of increases.

• Google Base/Froogle News
Google has announced plans to integrate products from Google Base into an initial Google search. Google plans to display a second search box next to the original search after a browser starts looking for a product. The second search will allow a refined query and be populated with only products from Google Base. Currently this is still a free listing for retailers and should be for at least the near future.

• E-commerce is Europe is
growing fast.
Shopping.com has created a new European version of their site called Doorone.com. E-commerce is Europe is growing fast: retailers will sell $97 billion in goods and services this year, up 37% from last year. Europe already has 56% of it’s population shopping online.

Bad software purchase, or bad software management?
Hi, my name is Michael and I’m a software developer, but I am also a software user. Having both of these perspectives has prompted me to write about some questionable software decisions that have been made by many people, including myself. Many of us have purchased software with the best of intentions, based on the promises made by the marketers behind the product, only to place it on a shelf and never use it. Next, we see the software on the shelf and curse the marketers that “forced” us to buy the software.

Although this may sound familiar, I hope that this scenario also sounds ridiculous. I think a more likely occurrence is that a software package was purchased with the correct intentions, but perhaps at the wrong time. Unfortunately, the software was placed out of sight, and out of mind, and wasn’t even considered when the occasion arose that called for use of the software. Then it was found later, again when not needed, and once again the software marketer was cursed.

So what’s a software user to do? Well, I’m not sure I’ve got all the answers, but I certainly have some suggestions. First, and I suggest right now, take inventory of your software. Use an asset management package, a spreadsheet, or a pen and a sheet of paper. Put the name of the software, the cost, date purchased, and general purpose for the software. Keep this information posted nearby and refer to it every time a new issue arises within your business, as a carpenter might do with her tool belt. You may find that you are perfectly equipped to handle all of the issues that arise, and end up extremely grateful for the handy software tools that you’ve so intelligently purchased. Furthermore, you’re likely to find a “sweet spot” of types of software that are typically useful, and others that are just wishful thinking. Generally speaking, software is good…become a user.

For information on how MerchantAdvantage may help your business grow, please contact us:
Chip Arndt
Executive Vice President
Business Development and Strategy
305.895.9466 x113
partnerships@merchantadvantage.com