When developing and maintaining an effective retail website, one concern many merchants face is the possibility of the online storefront crashing or slowing down, which can result in lost sales. This was a big worry for many businesses over Thanksgiving weekend, as a record number of shoppers used the internet to purchase items and gifts for the holiday season. For the most part, websites held up to the vast amounts of traffic.

Internet Retailer reports that there were no major power outages throughout the weekend for the retailers that were tracked on the Keynote Mobile Commerce Performance Index. There was a slight problem with site availability on Cyber Monday, but it was not enough to significantly deter retail sales. The source notes that to avoid these types of situations in the future, especially ones that can have a severe impact on customer purchases, regular testing should be conducted to ensure that the sites can withstand large amounts of traffic and any interruptions.

Cyber Monday turned out to be the biggest online spending day in history, according to a study by comScore. Approximately $1.46 billion was spent on retail sites throughout the day, which was an increase of 17 percent from the same time last year.

When developing and maintaining an effective retail website, one concern many merchants face is the possibility of the online storefront crashing or slowing down, which can result in lost sales. This was a big worry for many businesses over Thanksgiving weekend, as a record number of shoppers used the internet to purchase items and gifts for the holiday season. For the most part, websites held up to the vast amounts of traffic.

Internet Retailer reports that there were no major power outages throughout the weekend for the retailers that were tracked on the Keynote Mobile Commerce Performance Index. There was a slight problem with site availability on Cyber Monday, but it was not enough to significantly deter retail sales. The source notes that to avoid these types of situations in the future, especially ones that can have a severe impact on customer purchases, regular testing should be conducted to ensure that the sites can withstand large amounts of traffic and any interruptions.

Cyber Monday turned out to be the biggest online spending day in history, according to a study by comScore. Approximately $1.46 billion was spent on retail sites throughout the day, which was an increase of 17 percent from the same time last year.

When maintaining an ecommerce website, retailers are tasked with a variety of aspects, including customer service. This element can become difficult to convey through online portals, as face-to-face interactions are not possible. However, by incorporating social media and live chat strategies, businesses can ensure they are giving shoppers great experiences on their websites.

The importance of online customer service was recently highlighted on Cyber Monday, as consumers flooded company sites to buy items and gifts for the holidays. LivePerson, a firm that provides solutions for businesses to interact with customers online, revealed that it hosted more than 860,000 live chats on Cyber Monday. This represents a 30 percent increase from the same time last year, highlighting the fact that shoppers are frequently looking for service options when they are accessing retail websites. By offering this channel, companies can boost the experiences they are providing.

Internet Retailer writes that specially-designed websites can also increase service and ultimately lead to higher satisfaction and revenues. Offering simple and clean pages that are also attractive draws in customers and makes their browsing and transactions processes easier.

When maintaining an ecommerce website, retailers are tasked with a variety of aspects, including customer service. This element can become difficult to convey through online portals, as face-to-face interactions are not possible. However, by incorporating social media and live chat strategies, businesses can ensure they are giving shoppers great experiences on their websites.

The importance of online customer service was recently highlighted on Cyber Monday, as consumers flooded company sites to buy items and gifts for the holidays. LivePerson, a firm that provides solutions for businesses to interact with customers online, revealed that it hosted more than 860,000 live chats on Cyber Monday. This represents a 30 percent increase from the same time last year, highlighting the fact that shoppers are frequently looking for service options when they are accessing retail websites. By offering this channel, companies can boost the experiences they are providing.

Internet Retailer writes that specially-designed websites can also increase service and ultimately lead to higher satisfaction and revenues. Offering simple and clean pages that are also attractive draws in customers and makes their browsing and transactions processes easier.

When maintaining an ecommerce website, retailers are tasked with a variety of aspects, including customer service. This element can become difficult to convey through online portals, as face-to-face interactions are not possible. However, by incorporating social media and live chat strategies, businesses can ensure they are giving shoppers great experiences on their websites.

The importance of online customer service was recently highlighted on Cyber Monday, as consumers flooded company sites to buy items and gifts for the holidays. LivePerson, a firm that provides solutions for businesses to interact with customers online, revealed that it hosted more than 860,000 live chats on Cyber Monday. This represents a 30 percent increase from the same time last year, highlighting the fact that shoppers are frequently looking for service options when they are accessing retail websites. By offering this channel, companies can boost the experiences they are providing.

Internet Retailer writes that specially-designed websites can also increase service and ultimately lead to higher satisfaction and revenues. Offering simple and clean pages that are also attractive draws in customers and makes their browsing and transactions processes easier.

Although Black Friday is known as the official start to the holiday shopping season, and retailers experience strong sales throughout the entire weekend. This includes Cyber Monday, which is the Monday immediately following Thanksgiving. On Black Friday, consumers hit retail brick-and-mortar locations to stock up on products, but that Monday is mainly designated for internet purchases. For this year, ecommerce amounts spent on Cyber Monday are expected to significantly surpass last year's totals, as more shoppers logged on to the internet to find and buy the items and gifts they want.

Cyber Monday to see nearly 130 million consumers

Independent Retailer reports that according to a recently released study by Shop.org and BIGinsight, approximately 129.2 million American consumers are expected to go online to purchase products for the holiday season. This is a significant increase from last year's total of 122.8 million, and an even bigger jump than the 106.9 million who participated in Cyber Monday in 2010. 

Besides desktop computers, many shoppers will be using their mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets to access merchants' websites. The research found that 20.8 million Americans will use these connected tools to buy items this year, up from the 17.8 million who did so last year.

"The momentum from a solid Black Friday weekend certainly looks like it will carry on into Cyber Monday," stated BIGinsight Consumer Insights director Pam Goodfellow. "Millions of shoppers will be visiting retailers' websites from their smartphones, tablets, home computers and work computers to check out special Cyber Monday promotions and make the most of their holiday shopping budgets."

The source reports that Shop.org created the term "Cyber Monday," after an online shopping trend was discovered the Monday after Thanksgiving. Retailers have taken notice of the designated day and are now offering a variety of discounts and deals for consumers on the internet.

Purchasing amounts expected to increase

As more shoppers go online for Cyber Monday this year, total purchasing amounts are also expected to drastically increase. Business Day reports that analysis from comScore revealed that approximately $1.5 billion will be spent through the internet throughout the day. Last year brought in $1.25 billion for web retailers. This rise is mainly due to the fact that businesses will be offering a variety of deals and discounts aimed at drawing in consumers to their websites.

One aspect that many retailers focus on is keeping customers coming back into their stores. With the rise of ecommerce, these retention strategies are becoming increasingly important, as businesses are looking to drive their internet sales along with the revenues at their brick-and mortar locations.

According to The E-commerce Report, nearly three-quarters of retailers surveyed said they believe that their customers' experiences on their retail sites can influence whether or not their internet shoppers will return. Companies are using many methods to keep these consumers coming back, with 48 percent saying they offer product bundles and packages that are timely and relevant. Thirty-five percent are doing more in-depth research, by analyzing the cross-channel behaviors of their customers and then providing targeted messages to these shoppers.

These strategies among retailers are expected to continue, especially as ecommerce steadily increases. Internet Retailer reports that according to a recent study by comScore, online retail sales rose by 15.4 percent during the third quarter, in comparison to the same time last year. This accounts for $41.9 billion, up from the $36.3 billion that was spent in 2011's third quarter.

Consumers in the United Kingdom are using their mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets to complete a variety of daily tasks. This trend is expected to continue into the holiday season, as shoppers purchase items and gifts with their mobile devices.

Internet Retailer reports that according to the IMRG Capgemini eRetail Sales Index, sales made through the mobile channel will reach £920 billion ($1.5 billion) during the first few weeks of December. This represents 20 percent of the £4.6 billion ($7.3 billion) that is estimated to take place online.

"What we are seeing in this 20 percent mobile forecast is a shift in the way that consumers interact with brands online," says Tina Spooner, CIO at IMRG. "While it is still common for consumers to browse the shops at weekends before making the final purchase online at Monday lunchtime, we are increasingly seeing the popularity of 'second-screening,' where people browse on their mobile devices in front of the TV."

Online retail sales are anticipated to keep growing in the U.K. even after the holiday season is over, states Computer Business Review. A report from the Economist Intelligence Unit found that while ecommerce only comprises about 10 percent of retail purchases now, by 2022, nearly a third of all sales in the country will be done online.

Retailers across the United States are aware of the fact that consumers are increasingly taking to the internet to research, compare and buy products. To accommodate these shoppers, many businesses that did not have online storefronts are now launching their websites and other merchants are incorporating digital elements into their operations to keep their internet-connected customer satisfied.

Brick-and-mortar stores offering ereceipts

Retailers are now offering their in-store consumers the option to receive their sales receipts either as printed copies or by email, reports USA Today. This is being done for several reasons, as more companies want to save paper and money on printing. Additionally, merchants are offering this digital choice so that they can market directly to their shoppers.

The source states that a study by Epsilon revealed that approximately 35 percent of retailers across the country currently send their customers ereceipts if they so choose. Of this number, half provide the option at all of their brick-and-mortar stores. Some of the businesses that have made the move to emailed receipts are Macy's, Whole Foods, Sears and Kmart. Banks are even getting in on the trend, as Citibank and Wells Fargo have said they plan to give their customers the choice to have their ATM receipts emailed to them.

Despite these digital offerings within retail stores, more consumers are going online to buy items. This purchasing trend is being helped by mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, which gives customers the chance to be connected from anywhere and at anytime.

Ecommerce steadily increasing in the US

As retailers continue to increase their ecommerce and digital offerings, even in their brick-and-mortar locations, they are seeking the help that is needed to maintain the systems and solutions they are giving their shoppers. According to recent research by WANTED Analytics, businesses are putting more effort into their websites to feature their products and services, and this is resulting in boosts in hiring of information technology professionals to keep these online storefronts up and running.

The research found that ecommerce hiring has rose by 9 percent in October 2012, compared to the same time a year ago. From October 2010, retail IT employment increased by 40 percent. Some regions are seeing more need for hiring, the report states. These areas include New York, Boston, Seattle, Chicago and San Francisco.

Free gifts and items are always welcomed by consumers when they buy products and services from retailers. Recent research has revealed that ecommerce merchants can benefit from offering small perks for shoppers when they purchase items online. Increased customer retention and satisfaction can be boosted by these efforts.

Two out of five Americans would be more likely to continue doing business with an online retailer that offered them a free gift with their purchases, according to a study by IDR Marketing Partners. When ecommerce merchants include unexpected free items for consumers who are buying from their websites, these businesses will see increased retention.

"Customers are more loyal to online retailers that make an authentic effort to connect with them," said Doug Guyer, co-founder and president of IDR Marketing Partners. "Receiving a free product that is relevant to the customer creates a 'surprise and delight moment' that they not only remember, but share their positive experience with friends and reward the online retailer with additional purchases."

For the upcoming holiday season, internet retailers could increase their sales amounts by offering free gifts with purchases. Econsultancy reports that there are several other strategies that web merchants can follow to boost retention. This includes providing fast and free shipping, making repeat purchases easier and allowing customers to access their accounts quickly.