ECOMMERCE: Carbonite
Developing a website around an eCommerce offering relies on simplicity and good design in order to make your business stand out. Data backup company Carbonite has managed to achieve a simple eCommerce offering without burdening users, according to category judge Naomi Simson, CEO of RedBalloon.
"Carbonite has an impressive page rank for an organisation so young.
Using Wordpress as an underlying technology has minimised its financial outlay, and given them early rewards. It has been innovative and looked at what it can automate to achieve the best scale," she says.
The website, which offers a data backup service for businesses along with distribution of anti-virus software, uses blogging software Wordpress in favour of a simple design.
Carbonite product manager Arthur Koulianos says any eCommerce offering relies on ease of use, and the ability for users to buy what they want quickly.
"We have a focus on direct online sales. We wanted people to get a trial quickly and simply, and then we have processes that get them back to buy. We ask for an email address and password, no more and no less, so it's simple and quick and then we send them a series of emails convincing them to buy."
"So far it's working with a conversion rate of about 30%, and that's growing. We've also been working on things like live chat in order to engage with customers a little bit more, and answer questions as soon as they come up. I also work a lot on SEO, but we went from no site last year to ranking in the top 10 entries for several important keywords."
