Why NOT to Start an eCommerce Business

Why NOT to Start an eCommerce Business
In working to help develop eCommerce websites for small businesses, I have seen a few successes and failures over the last 12 years. There are myriad articles to be read on how to start an eCommerce site, and how to market your eCommerce site, but there aren’t many articles on why NOT to start an eCommerce business!

Below are the first 5 reasons why you should think twice about starting up an eCommerce business. These are a few key areas that, in my experience, offer the greatest potential for failure if not properly identified. Conversely, if you excel in each area, more power to ya!

Google Wallet Opens for Business

Google Wallet has officially arrived, and it's brought some new friends with it. Visa, Discover and American Express have each made moves to begin partnering with the mobile payment service, which is already supported by MasterCard. Google Wallet lets users of select Android phones pay for their purchases at select retailers simply by waving the phone in front of a sensor.


Google Wallet Opens for Business

Malaysia Ranks No.4 in Asia for Facebook Countries - Internet Marketing Malaysia Blog

Malaysia Ranks No.4 in Asia for Facebook Countries - Internet Marketing Malaysia Blog

Job Alert! Business Development Manager

Hanventure require a Business Development Manager for the generation and development of both inbound and outbound new business opportunities. The successful candidate will be a consummate and credible sales professional selling a sophisticated search engine marketing service to Marketing Directors and Managing Directors of major brands and corporate companies.

The role is focussed purely on new business and is suited to people who are ‘sales hungry’ and who can exploit their exceptional sales skills with effective and successful results.

Main duties of the post:
• You will develop new business relationships, generate and negotiate new income for Hanventure to an agreed annual target of RM800k invoiced revenue, to increase year on year
• Presenting Hanventure to potential clients through direct communication in face to face meetings, telephone calls and emails
• You will be expected to spend 80% of your time out of the office in meetings. Travel is a major factor and is predicted to be predominantly country with some overnight stops.
• Responsible for your own lead generation and appointment setting
• Actively and successfully manage the sales process: lead generation; credentials pitch; asking questions; solution pitch; negotiation; close; handover to the account management team
• Possess drive, motivation and acute attention to detail in ensuring all sales opportunities to Spannerworks are captured and explored
• You will have individual responsibility for new business, and are expected to self manage, however, you will be part of a growing team of people with the same job title. Support is available by the managing and sales directors for complex large pitches and strategies
• As a representative of Hanventure at industry events and tradeshows, your professional manner and polished appearance will aid your intention of gaining new business leads and contacts
• Managing and maintaining a pipeline and ensuring all sales administration is current using CRM software
• Create and be accountable for all client proposals, contracts and any further documentation, following Hanventure procedure
• A thorough understanding of clients marketing objectives including their Return On Investment (ROI) objectives
• Responding to tenders and requests for information in a timely manner
• You will effectively interact with other departments including the account management and technical team when handing over campaigns ensuring you fully and correctly brief in all aspects of the sale
• Keeping abreast of issues affecting search engine marketing companies and the search engine industry and collecting competitor intelligence
• Ensuring Hanventure remains proactive and responsive to prospective clients Business Development Manager Job Description

Offer Salary: RM 4,000 or depends on experience. (plus sales bonus commission)

Job Alert! Social Media Manager

Job Specification
The Social Media Manager will implement the Company’s Social Media Strategy, developing brand awareness, generating inbound traffic and encouraging product adoption. This role coordinates with the internal Marketing and PR teams to support their respective missions, ensuring consistency in voice and cultivating a social media referral network.


Responsibilities
• Implement the social media strategy, coordinating with stakeholders across the Company to ensure its effectiveness and encouraging adoption of relevant social media techniques into the corporate culture and into all of the company’s products and services
• Work with the Product development team to ensure social media tools (for ex. FB connect, Sharing buttons) are kept up to date
• Manage social media campaigns and day-to-day activites. Duties include online advocacy, writing editorial, community-outreach efforts, promotions, etc.
• Manage presence in social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, and other similar community sites, posting on relevant blogs, and seeding content into social applications as needed
• Become an advocate of the Company in social media spaces, engaging in dialogues and answering questions where appropriate
• Manage a Blogger outreach program and build an active brand ambassador network to spread the word about the Company
• Monitor effective benchmarks for measuring the impact of social media programs, and analyze, review, and report on effectiveness of campaigns in an effort to maximize results
• Regularly feed back insights gained from social media monitoring into the Marketing and Editorial teams, to help them evolve their strategies in a timely fashion
• Monitor trends in social media tools, trends and applications


Requirements
• Strong project management or organisational skills
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of social media platforms and their respective participants (Facebook, Digg, Youtube, Twitter, Flickr etc.) and how they can be deployed in different scenarios
• Knowledge of blogging ecosystem relevant to the Company’s field
• Ability to effectively communicate information and ideas in written and verbal format, and build and maintain relationships
• Team player, with the confidence to take the lead and guide other departments when necessary
• Good technical understanding and can pick up new tools quickly
• Have a good knowledge of principles of SEO
• Public relations, Marketing, Sales, Community Management experience, a plus

Offer Salary: RM 4,500 or depends on experience. (plus sales bonus commission)