Dollars & Sense

Our Digital Gym 🏋️‍♀️

In a recent NY Times article about working out, the author Christie Aschwanden gives readers tips on how to make working out more enjoyable. (Read the article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/well/move/habits-motivation-exercise.html). In reading this, I saw many parallels between working out and helping our stores get their websites ‘in shape.’ The author encourages readers to not think of working out as exercise and instead think of it as "hanging out with friends.”  I encourage our members to think of running their online stores the same way: you’re hanging out with business friends. On Bridge, businesses can share news and each other’s sales successes. 

Ms. Aschwanden continues by suggesting that people include exercising with things they enjoy, such as listening to music or taking a photo while running. When members use Bridge, we want them to bring fun and enjoyment to their online business management. We want them to add fun pics of their store and staff, their store displays, and their positive interactions with customers. We recently shared a graphic comparing two people updating their sites--one alone and the other having fun. The store owner that is alone may be using Shopify or a similar siloed platform. On Bridge, members are connected with their customers, brands, reps, and other business friends. (View post: https://marketplace.bridgecatalog.com/news.cfm/21455/Lets-Make-E-Commerce-Fun.) Much like a pleasant gym, Bridge brings little points of joy and encouragement to running an online store.  Unlike other platforms that silo users, we want to connect members and embrace the fun that comes with connection.

When people exercise in groups, the article shares they often pursue their workout goals for greater lengths of time. In other words, they stick with it longer.  Bridge brings members this same benefit: collaboration to better help individuals achieve their goals. We can see members appreciate Bridge’s connection strategy because, each month, 99.6% of our members retain our service. The average length of a paid Bridge membership is: 56 months—(that’s more than 4 and a half years).

An important element in connecting people either in a gym or in a business environment is: coaching. Whether we connect people to each other or coaches, benefits occur.  Bridge gives our nearly 1,000 stores and 100 brands free access to our coaches who offer support, tips, and strategy.   Our coaches actively call on stores and brands to check in and make suggestions. We also have software that does some of this coaching via automated emails—which ensures that we can attend to so many clients. (A special thank you to our hard-working coaches: Jordyn, Jim, Daphna, and Abby! 👏)

The Times article closes by suggesting that people imagine the benefits they’ll receive. There are so many benefits to exercise, including reduced stress levels, an increased sense of worth, and greater happiness.  One has to keep those in mind when one is too tired to begin exercising. Bridge reminds members of what they will likely receive when they ‘workout’ on Bridge. For example, Bridge often brings members 18% more in sales, savings of $1 per synced item, and $142 in sales per gift registry order. We share this info with ’tired’ stores and motivate them to start their e-commerce workout. 

We enjoy making our retail industry healthier. Let’s keep up the great work (out)! 

Here’s a sample 20-minute 'digital workout':

• 5 minutes: Add 4 new products from your store to your Bridge Store.
• 5 minutes: Add 2 new slides to your Bridge.
• 5 minutes: View your business friends' content on Bridge, and like and comment on it. 
• 5 minutes: Add news about your store and pictures of customers to your Bridge.

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In this post’s image, behind the person working out, we inserted the Bridge ethos poster on a concrete column. Learn more about the Bridge ethos poster here:
https://marketplace.bridgecatalog.com/news.cfm/18455/Bridge-Ethos-Poster
 

Tags:
coaching website training community software collaboration software

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