Ratings and Reviews Speed Up the Decision-Making Process

When I visit an e-commerce website, I’m no different than most other online consumers. I want to make a buying decision and I want to make it fast. Ratings and reviews speed up my decision-making process. But, sometimes websites I visit have distractions on their front pages that actually can take potential buyers away from what they originally wanted. This can delay the buying process. 

A few examples of these interruptions include:

·        * Informative videos that immediately pop-up over the front page without allowing visitors the option to buy the product until after the video is over.

·         *Front pages that try to sell customers on the features without explaining the benefits of the product.

·         *Front pages that don’t provide a price right away.

But wise online business owners know that these types of distractions can confuse and even annoy a visitor who was ready to buy. They know that there are key tools they can display on the front page of their website that will increase the speed at which visitors make the buying decision.

Trust seals, like those provided by Trust Guard have proven to give visitors confidence in the validity of a company, whether it entails verifying their privacy policy, the legitimacy of the website as a real business, or the website’s security. Trust Guard verification and security seals quickly move people from visitors to customers. 

Wise online business owners also use high quality rating and review software to speed up their visitors’ decision-making process. When online consumers see that previous customers have responded favorably to questionnaires given to them by third-party rating and review software companies like Shopper Approved, they are more likely to buy the product. Tests also show that they are more likely to buy that product faster than if they had visited a similar site that sold that same product but did not provide ratings and reviews. 

Ratings and reviews help consumers know what kind of experiences past consumers have had. They help visitors see at a glance – just by looking at the average customer rating seal – how happy most customers have been with the product and service they received. 

http://blog.shopperapproved.com/speed-up-the-buying-process

How Does Social Proof Help Business Owners Make Money?

Social proof is a growing phenomenon. It wasn’t too long ago that we judged the value and effectiveness of a product by what the salesman was wearing, how well he spoke and carried himself, along with his personal guarantee of the product. 

Social media has picked up the pace considerably over the last few years because of the internet. Now we can reach anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds. Instead of seeing what the salesman is wearing, we look at the overall layout and aesthetic nature of the website. Instead of listening to how eloquent he might speak, we look at the readability and easy access to the website’s content. 

Instead of being satisfied with his personal guarantee, now we look to the masses to proof of validity, respectability, and over-all value. This process to vetting a company has come to be known as social proof. Companies that understand the intricacies of social proof will ultimately make more money on less online visitors than their competitors. 

Online consumers are looking for social proof. They want to know if other businesses and organizations respect the website they are visiting. For this they look to the Better Business Bureau or Trust Guard. They want to know if consumers who have bought the product are happy with their purchase. For this they look to five star rating systems, testimonials, and comments provided by trusted software companies like Shopper Approved. 

The truth is, if a website doesn’t provide the above mentioned forms of social proof, online consumers are likely to take their business elsewhere. Providing clear and legitimate forms of social proof from respected organizations and previous customers on websites has proven to increase conversion rates and sales considerably over those that do not.  

So if you are a business owner looking to increase your sales, you have two options. You can provide your online visitors with the social proof they need to make the buying decision. Or you can put on your multi-colored plaid suit coat, splash on a half bottle of Old English after-shave lotion, dust off your leather attaché case and drum up business the old fashioned way – door-to-door.  

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http://blog.shopperapproved.com/social-proof-helps-make-money

watchamakalit: Eating Nutritional Foods vs. Dieting

watchamakalit: Eating Nutritional Foods vs. Dieting: There are several ways to work up a sweat. Some ways are more useful than others. There are several ways to lose weight by controlling w...

Eating Nutritional Foods vs. Dieting

There are several ways to work up a sweat. Some ways are more useful than others.

There are several ways to lose weight by controlling what we eat. As with sweating, some ways are more useful than others.

We can compare dieting to sweating by sitting in a sauna. Just as sitting in a sauna does not require movement, so does a lack of eating. Both ways will allow you to lose weight, but they aren’t the healthiest way of doing so. That’s because a lack of expended energy and a lack of nutrition can cause a body to hold onto fats and eventually shut down some critical life-maintaining systems in our bodies.

We can also compare eating nutritional foods to running a half marathon, swimming 3 miles, or biking 50 miles. Eating healthy requires action – it involves putting valuable nutrients into our bodies that feed it the vitamins and minerals it needs to perform at an optimal level. Running, swimming, and biking make us sweat, but unlike in a sauna, they require action – movement from several parts of our bodies. This movement keeps a body fit through a combination of stretches, repetitive actions and various intervals of high and low exercise.

When we starve the body, whether through lack of motion or lack of nutrition, we are not giving it the opportunity to remain healthy. Even if weight loss should occur through dieting and sauna-like sweating, the lack of nutrients and lack of movement means that the weight loss is unhealthy.

Eating various healthy foods often (in moderate portions) and exercising often (in moderation) allow our bodies to slim down and remain healthy naturally. Instead of dieting, why not just add healthy foods?  Instead of feeling pressure to exercise, find an activity you enjoy.  Start with the changes that you know you can make and stick with. Start small and keep adding.  Eventually, you will find yourself wanting to exercise more and more and you will crave healthy foods.

watchamakalit: Tanya Teaches How to Overcome Cravings

watchamakalit: Tanya Teaches How to Overcome Cravings: Everyone experiences cravings at one time or another.   The most common and well known sugar cravings are signals from the body telling y...

Tanya Teaches How to Overcome Cravings

Everyone experiences cravings at one time or another.  The most common and well known sugar cravings are signals from the body telling you that you need energy.  Other cravings can be caused by dehydration, a lack of nutrients, hormone changes and even your lifestyle.  Being bored, being dissatisfied with work or a relationship can also cause you to eat to fill a void.    Learning to be aware of your body's signals and making sense of your cravings can help you  make healthier choices.

Here are a few tips from physical therapist and health coach Tanya Langis on how to overcome cravings:

1.                   Start with a hearty breakfast. A piece of white toast with jam on it won’t give you the nutrition you need to get your day going. Your breakfast should be your biggest meal of the day and it should include lots of fiber and protein. Although there is considerable debate over the amount of protein a person needs to consume per day, the current recommended daily intake (RDI) of protein is 46 grams for women aged 19-70 and 56 grams for men aged 19-70. Here is some high protein items that you should consider eating with your breakfast: eggs, greek yogurt, almond butter.  If you like eating toast in the morning, buy whole grain bread which has a higher amount of fiber, and spread almond butter on it.  Have a bowl of greek yogurt with fresh berries and flaxseed.

2.                   Plan eating three meals and two healthy snacks each day to maintain blood sugar level. Fruit and vegetable slices make great snacks, although try to make sure you have protein with every meal or snack.  Protein will help slow the break down of your food, help keep your blood sugar stable and make you feel fuller longer.  

3.                   Drink plenty of water throughout the day.  Most people are dehydrated and don't even realize it.  Their body sends them signals, although they are often misread.  Hunger, cravings, headaches and fatigue are all signs and symptoms that may be caused by dehydration. If you are craving something, first try to drink a full glass of water.  

4.                   Limit or avoid eating sugary foods (cakes and cookies), sugary drinks (soda pop and lemonade). Some good suggestions for improving our attitudes and levels of energy include eating apples, nuts like cashews, almonds, and hazelnuts. A citrus-filled salad has been tested to improve energy and decrease levels of depression. Sometimes we think we need sugar, but all we need is to give our body the foods and exercise we need to sustain our energy.  Being bored, feeling stressed or dissatisfied can also contribute to eating emotionally.  If this is the case, be prepared and try to plan for these moments.  Have healthy snacks on hand and stick with your 3 meals and 2 snacks per day.

5.                   Eat healthy fats. Nuts, salmon, avocado and olive oil are good examples of healthy fats. Your body needs these healthy fats to function properly.  If you have cravings for processed or fatty foods,  adding healthy fats to your daily nutrition and lowering your daily consumption of trans fats and saturated fats can help tremendously in keeping cravings for unhealthy fatty processed foods at bay.   

The key here isn’t just being aware of what we need to do to remain healthy. The key is to eat foods that will assist us in our goal to achieving a healthier body and living a happy, fulfilled life.

watchamakalit: Your Health Depends on You!

watchamakalit: Your Health Depends on You!: Take a step back and look at your physical health and well-being. How do you feel? What do you eat? What are your exercise habits? How do...