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MarketLive(R) Performance Index(TM) v13 Shows 38.33% Surge in Traffic Year-Over-Year While Revenue Grew 13.63% and Conversions Rose by 14.33%

Q3 2010 Report Details Strategies to Convert Browsers Into Buyers and Convert Traffic Momentum Into Holiday Success

MarketLive, Inc., the leader in eCommerce software and solutions, today released the MarketLive Performance Index™ Volume 13, Q3 2010 Update: Poised for Holiday Success. According to the report, merchants experienced a huge surge in year-to-date traffic of 38.33%, driving an increase in sales of 12.63% and a 14.33% increase of conversions over Q3 2009. The report details strategies for converting the increased traffic into sales and capitalizing on the momentum going into the holiday shopping season.

Mark Pierce, Chief Executive Officer of MarketLive commented: "The strong year over year performance experienced by our retailers signals momentum going into the critical holiday season. Even so, merchants must apply aggressive strategies to capture purchases and register growth this holiday season. Integrated mobile, on-site and in-store strategies will help brands rise above the competition, while leveraging social media and sophisticated customer segmentation and promotion strategies will convert browsers to buyers."

Key Strategies for Holiday Success
By now, most merchants have holiday promotion plans in place. However, the Index suggests that merchants who hone holiday strategies with three customer-centric strategies will increase holiday success and build a foundation for lasting growth.

1) Multichannel integration: Flaunt what you've got -- Tout the convenience and ease of cross-channel options such as browsing in-store while purchasing and shipping from mobile devices or in-store kiosks. Doing so will appeal to time-pressed holiday shoppers looking for shortcuts.
2) Social media: Responsiveness is key -- Now is the time for retailers with a social networking presence to boost resources for increased monitoring, customer interaction and promotion. Transactional pages on social sites and cross-promotion between eCommerce sites and social sites encourages shoppers to share enthusiasm for products and brands, and helps to drive momentum and activity.
3) Implement Smart Free Shipping Offers to Maximize Profit-Segment free shipping offers by customer, order size or special sale times -- While a universal discount for free shipping above a certain threshold is potentially effective, it's also a blunt instrument. This is because shoppers who qualify by buying two items at full price receive the same reward as bargain-hunters who snap up five steeply-discounted products for the same price. To make free-shipping even more effective, use existing segmentation and personalization tools to tailor free shipping offers to suit individual purchasing behaviors and take into account gift-buying preferences.

Key Takeaways
With the economy in recovery mode and shoppers engaged with eCommerce sites as well as mobile and social sites, merchants are poised for a profitable season. Minor tweaks to holiday strategies will improve the customer experience, drive sales and brand preference, and provide a foundation for lasting momentum.

Merchants can download a free copy of the Performance Index v13 at the following URL: http://www.marketlive.com/performanceindex.

The MarketLive Performance Index™ is the original quarterly report of important trends affecting online retail. In its 13th quarter of publication, the Performance Index represents aggregate performance data from approximately100 retail sites and provides actionable tactics that drive eCommerce success. To be included in Performance Index results, MarketLive analysts must have a full 12 months of data -- resulting in the most accurate year-over-year performance numbers possible. The MarketLive Performance Index provides a holistic, timely view of consumer behavior and reveals current retail trends.

About MarketLive
Since 1995, MarketLive, Inc. (www.marketlive.com) has provided enterprise-class eCommerce retail technology and services that help fast-growing companies successfully sell goods and services online. Designed to meet the unique requirements of catalogers, retailers, direct marketers, and manufacturers, the extensible MarketLive® eCommerce Suite and MarketLive's best practices-based Intelligent Selling® methodology enable merchants to enhance their customers' experience online while dramatically improving acquisition, conversion, and retention rates. The MarketLive platform is the most retail-targeted, fully featured, customizable eCommerce solution on the market today. MarketLive powers successful retail eCommerce sites, including Learning Resources, Peruvian Connection, Sports Chalet, Armani/Exchange, Gaiam, Helzberg, Party City, and many others.