Yahoo Store Floating Cart-Just released!

Thanks to the Yahoo Team for this great new feature!

Our clients have seen the benefits of custom floating carts with our customizations before, but now it is easier and more accessible for more stores!

Our initial testing is showing some minor issues with IE, but Yahoo is aware of the issues and is working thru them.

For stores with custom templates and those unfamiliar with CSS, contact www.fastpivot.com for help!

in reference to:

"Using Floating Cart Manager, you can now set up and customize a mini-cart and floating cart for your store pages. These features are designed to keep your customers in the shopping flow until they’re ready to complete their order, which helps optimize their shopping experience and encourages increased order values."
- Official Yahoo! Store Blog tips and tricks for ecommerce success » Introducing Floating Cart Manager (view on Google Sidewiki)

Comparing conversion rates chaps my chaps

This recent Marketing Sherpa chart got my hackles up because it reminded me of so many conversations with newbie etail and ebusiness folks who ask "what should my ideal conversion rate be"?

Jen Doyle's post alludes to the fact that conversion rates are so site specific and 'user defined'...

The main issue isn't comparing conversion rates with other sites but:
Having proper site specific unique conversion events defined,Measured and in a
State of continuous improvement FOR YOUR SITE and business!

Your ideal conversion rate should be something better than your current rate, but isn't really productive to spend much time comparing it to others...

Whew. Had to get that off my chest.

in reference to:

"In analytics, a conversion event is what is known as a user-defined event. In other words, it can be anything you want it to be."
- MarketingSherpa: New Chart: How Do Your Search Conversion Rates Compare? (view on Google Sidewiki)

Masters Athletes Goals: All American Anyone?

It seems that through college, many of us found competing easier and benchmarks closer at hand.

Enter jobs, kids and responsibility and athletic pursuits (and often our own health and fitness) take a priority backseat.

After becoming thirty-something, it is great to rediscover the joys of youth again! (Or at least some of the pursuits of youth!)

Enter USA Track and Field (USATF) and their "age graded standards for long distance running"!

What a hoot it would be to see how many of these marks me and my fitness/triathlon training buddies could achieve in the next five years!?! Any takers? Are you an "All-American"? Check it out! I challenge you to begin where you are and go for it!

in reference to: http://runtrails.blogspot.com/2010/01/hey-masters-runner-are-you-all-american.html (view on Google Sidewiki)

How will America respond and lead in helping, will this be our "finest hour"?

Prayin' for Haiti and all the relief workers being rallied around the globe and their leaders. Heartbreaking tragedy...

May God help us in love and action to help Haiti rise from the ashes and rubble to help be a better place in the aftermath...

in reference to: Haitians Confront Devastation of Quake - NYTimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Wondering about exercise nutrition? Great NYT article on the basics!

Seems like in the New Year, everyone is starting or restarting an exercise program. Leslie Bonci in one short Q&A style NYT article packs a lot of good sense into a single article. Her advice on drinking during exercise may bear some individual testing (i.e.) gulps, but aside from that solid counsel reminding folks that ultimately food is fuel for your body, not entertainment. ;-)

in reference to:

"No matter what kind of exercise you do – whether it’s a run, gym workout or bike ride – you need food and water to fuel the effort and help you recover. But what’s the best time to eat before and after exercise?"
- Eating to Fuel Exercise - Well Blog - NYTimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)