The newly released MailBeez module BounceHive Bounce Handling integrates seamless with MailBeez V2.6 and takes care of Bounce Emails.

Once set up and configured this module will automatically detect and mark emails with bounces. Depending on the type of Bounce (hard/soft/transient) different actions are applied.

So over the time you MailBeez System will learn which email adresses bounce and exclude them from further emails – important to reduce the risk to get rated as spam-sender.

Bugfixes:

• setting PHPMailer as email engine caused an error when Bounce Handling is not installed (will be officially released soon)
• fixed an incompatibility with the newsletter module

For updating please apply the upgrade pack for MailBeez V2.5 (even if you are running MailBeez V2.6 or V2.6.1)

Bugfixes:

• on some carts HEADING_TITLE was overwritten by MailBeez – fixed
• Mouseflow include caused an error – fixed

Enhancements:

• added MailBeez Analytics includes for CRE Loaded / LoadedCommerce and Zen-Cart

For updating please apply the upgrade pack for MailBeez V2.5 (even if you are running MailBeez V2.6)

MailBeez im Einsatz

MailBeez ist ein Baukastensystem an Software-Modulen, welche sich nahtlos und ohne technischen Aufwand in viele der führenden Shopsystemen wie osCommerce, xtCommerce, Gambio, xtc-Modified, Zen-Cart, CRE Loaded, WordPress Online Store und weitere integrieren lässt. Ihr Shopadministrator benötigt dazu keine 5 Minuten!

Die einzelnen Module, lassen sich dabei individuell auf Ihr Geschäftsmodell und Ihre Zielgruppe anpassen. Der Clou dabei ist, dass Sie die einzelnen E-Mail Vorlagen nur 1Mal erstellen müssen und MailBeez dann personalisiert und zum richtigen Zeitpunkt die E-Mails verschickt; und das alles vollkommen automatisch!

So lassen sich Geburtstagsgrüsse, Aufforderungen zur Abgabe von Produkt- und Shopbewertungen zur richtigen Zeit versenden. Aber auch komplexe Kunden-Rückgewinnungsprozesse oder die Gewinnung von neuen Kunden durch Weiterempfehlungen (Freundschaftswerbung) wird mit MailBeez ganz einfach realisiert. Mit der integrierten Gutschein- und Couponverwaltung, ist eine geschickte und bewährte Incentivierung der Kunden möglich. Eine Umsatzzunahme und die damit verbundene Reduktion der Kosten pro Neukunde, können Sie dabei über verschiedene Berichte und ansprechenden Widgets auswerten.

Als weiteren wichtigen Aspekt, sollten Sie den positiven Auswirkungen der Interaktion mit Ihren Kunden zunehmend Beachtung schenken. Jede Produktbewertung generiert dabei “Unique-Content”; ein Facebook Like oder Kommentar erzeugt ein “Social Signal” und der regelmässige Kontakt mit Ihren Kunden erwirkt einen Branding Effekt. Auf all diese Faktoren können Sie zukünftig nicht mehr verzichten, wenn Sie in Suchmaschinen wie Google gefunden werden möchten und damit im Vergleich zur Konkurrenz nicht an Relevanz einbüssen wollen.

Starten Sie noch heute mit den kostenlosen Modulen von MailBeez oder profitieren Sie gleich vom Einführungsangebot für Händlerbund Mitglieder – oder werden Sie Mitglied mit dem MailBeez Vorteil.

Wie ich dazu kam, begeistert zu sein.

Vorausschicken muß ich, ich bin ein begnadeter Laie was die Innereien eines PC betrifft und mehr noch was die Softwaren angeht.Aber ich habs gewagt und für meinen Engel Onlineshop – den finden Sie unter www.sichtweise-verlag.de – paar kostenlose Modulchen heruntergeladen (neudeutsch: gedownloaded) die mir mehr Gewinn versprachen. Das mit dem Gewinn werden wir ja schon noch erfahren. Ich hab mir schon mal ein kleines Häuschen auf Hidddensee ausgesucht. Na, war ein Scherz. Aber kein Scherz ist, daß mich Mailbeez zu jeder Zeit mit Rat und Tat unterstützt hat. Keine Frage war zu blöd. Schnell, lautlos und effektiv. Zuletzt hab ich mich fast bißchen was geschämt, mit dem soundsovielten Fragezeichen zu kommen. Nun sieht alles gut aus und die einzelnen Mailbeez Module sind von mir scharf gemacht worden. Politker nehmen für die Eröffnungen von Irgendwas meistens eine Schere, die Presse ist dabei, es werden kleine Kinder auf den Arm genommen und alle sehen spaßig aus.Mir hat’s gereicht, daß ich mich entspannen konnte. Danke Cord! Meine Empfehlungen gehen an den Rest der Welt.PS. Übrigens, rückblickend betrachtet waren die Modulinstallationen gar nicht so schwer.

Hans Blazejewski, February 29, 2012

MailBeez Version 2.6 is a major release with many improvements like

• MailBeez Analytics for tracking of open / click / purchases, enhanced Beez-O-Graph with pop-ups
• Google Analytics Dashboard Integration: see how GA tracks MailBeez Campaigns
• Optional Bounce Handling (hard/soft bounces)
• Mouseflow Integration pre-installed (find a coupon for 500 credits in the MailBeez configuration module)
• MailChimp ready: enhance MailBeez with the MailChimp Integration Module and boost your delivery rate and more

Find the full list on http://www.mailbeez.com/documentation/changelog/

To upgrade just download the Quickstart Package – you will find and Upgrade Pack for MailBeez V2.5, which only contains core files. So the update is done by uploading these files and folder (replace / merge).

The fresh installation on one of the support platforms is very easy by just uploading the new files & folders and making minor changes to the system.

Some visual highlights are the reworked / new dashboard widgets which give you information about the effect of MailBeez Campaigns:

The Beez-O-Graph shows now open, clicks, orders and bounces – with a drill-down pop-up:

The Beez-O-Graph (MailBeez Analytics)

The new Google Analytics Pie gives you the most important figures from Google Analytics directly in your dashboard:

Google Analytics Campaigns

The Customer-Loyalty-O-Graph gives an indication, how many of your orders are coming from returning customers:

The Customer-Loyalty-O-Graph

As before you can use MailBeez Version 2.6 for free. If you like what you see you can enhance (= more revenue) the System step-by-step for your needs.

enjoy MailBeez!

Analyse and Action

You know your business better than anyone, so a first step should be to look at your customer base and order pattern to see if you can spot areas for improvement. For example, you might notice:

Low repeat orders
Accounts often created with no follow up order
A large number of inactive older customers

Most online stores suffer from these issues, but on a positive note, none are so insurmountable that they cannot be addressed, so let’s get started with…

Your first campaign

Once you have your list, it’s time to decide which area of concern to focus on first. Our advice would be to choose the area that has the greatest potential to increase revenue. In our experience, great results can be had from targeting existing customers who have become inactive over time. By offering this group a time limited, personalized coupon in order to motivate them to return – a group which could number in the hundreds at least, you will have taken your first step to proactively increase sales and revenue.

see the Winback Advanced MailBeez module >

Targeting the second problem area

When budget allows, and after you have hopefully seen some positive results from the Winback campaign above, it’s time to take another pressing area of concern out of action – abandoned cart customers, in other words, those visitors who were ready to buy, but for some reason left the checkout process without ordering. This customer group is, in many ways, already expecting a follow up email, such is the prevalence of this practice amongst larger stores; so why shouldn’t you do it?

If you have been following our blog, take a look at a recent post we published about crafting a well written abandoned cart email in order to maximise your campaign here.

see the No Purchase Advanced MailBeez module >

Confronting the final area of concern

Once the two major issues above have been addressed – the problems of inactive older customers and abandoned cart situations, it’s time to look to the third most pressing problem – low repeat orders.

If your store sells products that can be bought regularly, then a core aim of your business should be that a customer must return to purchase again from your store, and not from the competition. Losing future business to competing stores from your existing customer base is simply sloppy salesmanship. They bought once, twice, why not thrice?

In order to ramp up repeat business, you must target existing customers after they have placed an order with a personalized email that includes their previous order information in an attractive product grid style, and at the same time, a coupon code to motivate them to return. Of course, we would not suggest rewarding after just one sale, instead, try setting the parameters to target customers who have placed for example, 2 orders in 90 days.

see the Reorder Advanced MailBeez module >

Product name: Joomecom
What is it? An eCommerce inventory management and forecasting tool
Compatible with? osCommerce (for now)
Website: http://www.joomecom.com/
In a nutshell Streamlines stock levels by bringing the power of predictive ordering and inventory to osCommerce

After struggling for many years trying to force osCommerce to behave like an inventory management system (something Joomecom fully admit it was never designed for), this innovative company took it upon themselves to design and produce their own product, but in the process, went way beyond the basics to create something that, for osCommerce stores at least, offers a new and exciting way to manage and forecast product inventory.

A server installed open-source effort, Joomecom uses collegiate smart algorithms to assist the store in making accurate purchase decisions, utilizing a whole raft of data varying from vendor lead times, products on order, stock levels and sales analysis per product to provide unparallelled information on what’s selling, when it sells, and finally, the correct quantities to order.

As any online retailer knows, it’s the cash flow that can kill you, and what is the biggest sponge? Yep, you guessed it – stock. Reduce your stock or only buy in what you sell, it’s the same end result – better cash flow and profitability, all of which Joomecom can help you with.

Check them out!

Service, not sales

An abandoned cart email should focus on the user and not on sales pitch. Formulated with open questions and chipper copy, it should let the customer know that you are available to answer any question they might have, whether that be a customer service, product or logistical query. Here’s a great example of some well written copy by a MailBeez user of the No Purchase Advanced module (our ‘abandoned cart’ automation email module).

Hi Pete,

We noticed that you recently created an account at Company Name, and as you have yet to place an order, we wanted to email to ask if there is anything we can help with?

From product questions, to queries about our customer service policy, we’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to email back if there is something we can do.

Kind regards,

Company Name

This short, friendly email sent just hours after the customer has abandoned their cart has proved very effective for the retailer in question for these reasons:

• HTML email, but importantly not graphic heavy – looks and feels more service based than a busy newsletter design
• Customer service based content – Open questions and a focus on solving problems, whilst alerting the customer to the store’s availability to help
• Personalized through the customer’s name and sent only hours after they left the site – a key period when the customer is more receptive to an approach, and will most likely welcome an email that starts a conversation
• No discount offered at this stage – to do so both lowers margins and cheapens the store, plus avoiding immediate discounting neatly avoids habit forming patterns where customers share knowledge about a store, and consciously abandon a cart just to receive a discount later

Forming the initial abandoned cart email in this manner, and sending it within hours of the trigger event (the moment the cart was abandoned) is a great starting point if your store is intent on converting some lost business. By proactively reaching out to show your customer service side first, not your willingness to discount just to get a quick sale, you will undoubtedly begin to pick up sales that you may previously have lost, and showcase your store’s attentiveness.

Customer service emailing is a potential minefield of lost time

Before you wonder if we have lost our minds, no, we are not saying that customer service emailing is bad for your business, rather that inefficient emailing and a reliance on manual systems is. As a rule of thumb, for every 10 orders that your store receives, you will need to apportion around 45 minutes to administration, of which the majority will be emailing. This might seem like a lot of time, but between customer queries, address inputting mistakes, returns & exchange processing and potentially even product failures, the average time that you will spend administering the life cycle of one order can equate to a surprising amount of time. The obvious response is of course to make your processes more efficient in order to meet customer email workload and to save time as your business grows, and to this end, you should definitely…

Go ticket based

If you currently rely on your email inbox to both receive and reply to customer emails, then a move to a ticket based system such as the popular Zen Desk environment should be your first consideration in order to save time and improve customer service levels. Using a ticket based system is a revelation. No more forgetting which emails have been replied to, no more forgetting at what stage you are at in the conversation, and finally, a tangible resolution to the conversation when you mark the ticket as ‘solved’ – which is a very satisfying feeling. In addition, you can set up auto responder emails from the service, improve email delivery rates and hence have less chance of your emails becoming junked, and even have comments on both your business Facebook and Twitter accounts turned into tickets automatically – the list is endless.

Potential time saving: 20 minutes per every hour compared to using a non-ticket based system
Cost saving: Technically none as Zen Desk is a paid solution, but if you look at the potential benefits of better and more timely customer service emailing, you could see more repeat business through enhanced customer satisfaction.

Non customer service emails – email marketing

The other side of the eCommerce email coin is of course email marketing. Clearly different to the administrative based customer service email situations we have just been talking about, email marketing is essentially the promotion of your store to both new and established customers via the medium of email. Ok, for regular MailBeez readers and users, that one is a bit obvious, but we’re just trying to clearly differentiate the different worlds that email marketing and customer service emailing inhabit.

Automating email marketing

If you only take one thing away from this it should be that where marketing is concerned, email has the highest ROI (return on investment) of any medium. Forget adverts, Google paid results, even the increasingly popular Facebook ads and sponsored stories, email is still the best medium with which to target your customers. Bearing this in mind, automating your email marketing campaigns is simply essential. If we take even a small eCommerce store with say 500 customers, just imagine having to email each one individually, with for example, personalized offers based on their purchase (or non-purchase) history. We’re talking hours of administration, all of which is simply not feasible, or even necessary, not when there are spiffing automation tools right at your fingertips. Yes, we mean us!

MailBeez is automated eCommerce email marketing

When it’s not automating product review requests, winning back older customers, motivating existing customers to share your store with their friends, or even inquiring why a cart was abandoned, it’s sitting in your store admin giving you widget based feedback on how your campaigns are doing. Yes, MailBeez is a very clever app, one who’s very installation on your site will save you hundreds of man hours, all whilst cleverly mining and developing each and every customer’s life cycle at your store with the sole aim of getting you more revenue and greater sales.

Potential time saving: literally hundreds of hours
Cost saving: €70,000 per year – (the combined salary of 3 members of staff working full time trying to manually replicate MailBeez)

1. Be clear on your objectives

After installing ReferralHoney it is tempting to jump straight in and push the button on the campaign without pausing to think about your referral programme’s aims and objectives. For example, offering larger referral rewards is quite an aggressive approach that will undoubtedly drive a larger amount of referrals and hence, new customers, but which will perhaps (and this depends on your profit margins) only see you making profit on that same new customer’s 2nd or 3rd order as they hopefully migrate to becoming a regular customer with you. Likewise, offering small referral rewards will certainly attract less referral activity (and consequently less new customers) over the same period of time, but will not erode margins so drastically.

Tip to take away - know what you want to achieve, and tailor your referral rewards accordingly

2. Make sure your store is refer worthy

Expecting customers to refer their friends and family to your store is a big ask, and one that can only truly be accomplished if you are running a good ship. For example, if you were to recommend a restaurant a group of friends, and that restaurant gave them some of the worst food poisoning this side of Venus, you’d probably feel pretty bad. We’re not saying that your store might be so bad as to be actually vomit inducing, but if this example says anything it is to remind you that no matter the offer, you will only get a significant number of new customer referrals if you run a good trustworthy business, have an easy to use, reliable site and do right by your customers. Do all of these things, and the door to new customers is wide open.

Tip to take away – don’t expect many customer referrals if you consistently score badly on customer service and trust.

3. Never send a referral reward without a minimum spend requirement

Some retail customers will always want something for nothing, in fact you probably already have a mental list of the customers you hope never visit your store again. For customer referral programmes, or in fact, any form of email marketing campaign, sending discount coupons or vouchers without a minimum spend requirement can leave you wide open to this type of customer, and as experience has no doubt taught you, it’s something you could really do without.

The key then is to always create discount coupons for your campaigns, and this includes for ReferralHoney, with a minimum spend requirement. If not, expect to ship some orders for free as bargain hungry visitors match your referral rewards to a similarly priced product and checkout without spending a penny.

Tip to take away - creating referral reward coupons without a minimum spend requirement is store suicide

4. When it comes to emailing, short is indeed sweet

ReferralHoney ships with pre-written and configured emails for each part of the referral process. Now, one thing we have learned since we launched the product is that customers react a lot better to shorter, infinitely less wordy emails. Bearing this in mind, we would suggest that you familiarize yourself with the ReferralHoney sequence of emails, and decide if some chopping and changing might be required. Of course, you could run the standard emails, and then after 2 weeks swap the text for something more concise and use either Google Analytics, or the MailBeez admin based ReferralHoney reporting widget to show you direct revenue feedback.

Tip to take away - shorter emails will most likely bring greater referrals – test, test and test!