In Magento, XML is arguably the most powerful tool available to developers. Not only is it used to layout the frontend blocks and templates, but it is also sets the framework for the backend admin sections, extension creation, database configuration, and so much more! For a new Magento developer, it can also be one of the most complex features to grasp. Here are some of the best practices and a few useful tips for making your XML work for you: Condense your code with local.xml You may have heard before about the magical properties of the local.xml file. Think of this file as a master XML file ..read more

HubSpot vs Marketo: Comparing Platforms So, you’ve landed here because you’re interested in evaluating HubSpot vs Marketo. We’re happy you’re here. In this blog, we’re comparing how HubSpot and Marketo stack up against one another in terms of eCommerce marketing. Let’s get right into it! 1. Email Marketing HubSpot With HubSpot, there is no need for help from IT professionals or designers to create and design professional emails. Choose from many of the free templates in the HubSpot marketplace or use goal-based email templates for the best results. HubSpot’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy ..read more

What is B2B Email Marketing? B2B email marketing is when businesses send emails to reach prospects, leads and customers. These prospects, leads and customers aren’t individual consumers, though. Rather, B2B eCommerce involves sending these emails to other businesses who may want to buy your company’s products or services. There are some B2B best practices to follow when it comes to creating and sending emails to other businesses. Because B2B buyers consider the long term and are likely required to get approval from multiple departments before purchasing, there’s no such thing as impulse buying ..read more

Choosing the correct Shopify payment gateway is a decision that eCommerce retailers should not take lightly. This decision affects the customer experience as well as profit margins. Each payment gateway has its own series of benefits and challenges associated with the service. Before diving into the five payment gateways on this list, let's briefly discuss what a payment gateway is. Payment gateways are often referred to as payment processors. A payment processor is a technology that is leveraged by eCommerce merchants in order to complete transactions from a multitude of channels such as cre ..read more

So, your eCommerce store runs on BigCommerce, a SaaS eCommerce platform used by over 60,000 merchants and 2,000+ mid-market businesses. First of all, great choice! In our 14+ years as a full-service eCommerce agency, Groove Commerce has been an advocate for BigCommerce. We’ve found the platform to be ideal for growing brands looking to consolidate technical resources with SaaS. BigCommerce Support Solutions Whether you’re relatively new to BigCommerce or have been using it for some time now, you may have run into an issue or two where you needed BigCommerce support. Our Custom BigCommerce Deve ..read more

Last year, Google announced its release of a Core Algorithm update coming in May 2021. Through several internal and external studies, Google has found that users prefer (and are more likely to convert on) websites that offer a great page experience. With this update, Google will increase the importance of page experience metrics, also called Google Core Web Vitals, in ranking criteria for search. Google Core Web Vitals: The Foundation Of The Update Coming in May, Google's algorithm will change the way in which it weighs on-page performance in terms of ranking. The foundation of Google Core Web ..read more

Advertising on various platforms is a great way for businesses to increase visibility and brand awareness. Whether your goal is to increase sales or drive leads, an optimized B2B advertising strategy will help to drive engagement and website traffic. In this blog, we're sharing how you can leverage Google, Facebook and Instagram ads to promote your B2B eCommerce store. B2B Advertising: What Is It? B2B advertising refers to any paid media and marketing strategies that are geared toward businesses rather than to individual consumers. Groove Commerce, for example, utilizes B2B advertising and mar ..read more

As retailers face the start of a holiday shopping season like no other, there is one dramatic change in consumer behavior that they overlook at their peril. A startling portion of shoppers appear to be ready to bend and break the rules to illegitimately make off with free or discounted products − and this approach to eCommerce fraud can seriously hurt online businesses. eCommerce Fraud in 2020 A Signifyd survey shows that 40% of U.S. consumers said they had falsely told their credit card companies that a charge for an online purchase on their account was fraudulent when they knew it ..read more

Our benchmarking shows that visitors who use eCommerce search are 3 to 5 times more likely to become customers. By creating a seamless path to purchase and removing any difficulties in the buying process, eCommerce businesses can easily guide shoppers to conversion quicker. eCommerce Search: How To Convert More Customers In this blog, we're sharing three features and functionality to look for when evaluating eCommerce search platforms. Though there are a ton of features available to help customers search within a site, we recommend choosing a platform with these three features ..read more

B2B eCommerce businesses often run into problems when it comes to accurately tracking inventory and processing orders. This was the case for one of our clients, so our team created a custom integration to help the company modernize their website and upgrade the user experience. Curtain Call is a B2B retailer that sells dance class wear and costumes for recitals. Before working with the Groove Commerce team, Perform Group, the parent company to Curtain Call, operated a highly customized Magento website that often struggled with speed and page load times. This was due to the complex in ..read more