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Update
Recent Bug Fixes on the New Checkout Pages

To increase your customers' satisfaction during the checkout process, we've recently made some small but significant enhancements to the checkout pages' functionality. The latest improvements include:

• New "Apply" button for coupon codes. When customers enter a coupon code, they can click "Apply" and see the coupon discount before placing the order.
• Better messaging on the "Review Order" page. Improved messaging on this page makes it easier for customers to understand and move through quickly.
• Single-screen printing for all checkout pages. Now when customers print out an order confirmation, all the information prints neatly on one page, making it simple to review and save this critical information.

Remember that customer convenience translates into customer satisfaction, return visits, and increased sales!

Store-Building Tip
How to Customize Your Checkout

Now that we've made important fixes to store checkout pages, this is a good time to make sure you're offering the best possible customer experience during checkout. To customize your checkout pages, go to your Store Manager and click "Order Form." You'll go to the Customize Your Order Form page. From there, you can make any or all of these changes:

• Enable the new checkout flow.
  The new checkout flow offers a modern, streamlined, and more professional look and feel for your checkout pages. Differences include:
  
  
  • Special navigation links at the top of each checkout page so customers know where they are in the checkout process
  • The Review Order page lets customers make sure all their order information is correct before submitting the order. This review process significantly reduces order entry errors, saves time for you and your customer, and reduces merchandise returns.
    
  
  To enable the new checkout flow, go to the New Checkout Flow section of the Customize Your Order Form page. Change the pull-down box from "Disabled" to "Enabled for shopping orders" or "Enabled for all orders." (The former will enable the new flow for orders from Yahoo! Shopping only. All other orders will go through the old checkout flow.)
  
  
• Add customized checkout messages.
  When customers go through your checkout process, you can display a brief tagline or important information in customized messages that appear at the top of the Shipping Info and Billing Info pages. You can also add some HTML code here, to format the text. To change these messages, go to the Shipping Info and Billing Info sections of the Customize Your Order Form page. Then enter your unique message text or HTML in the "Message" fields under Shipping Info and Billing Info.
  
  
• Determine which fields appear on Shipping Info and Billing Info Pages.
  Underneath the "Message" fields for Shipping Info and Billing Info, you will see the "Edit Standard Fields" link. Click this link to customize the Shipping Info and Billing Info fields that customers must complete to place an order. This is useful if you'd like to remove some of the fields to streamline the order process.
  
  
• Add fields to collect information that is specific to your business.
  Also underneath the "Message" fields for Shipping Info and Billing Info, you will see a link that says "Edit Extra Fields." This allows you to add additional custom fields to the Shipping and Billing info pages. For example, you could add a "Company Name" field or a checkbox field that says "Check this box to receive an invoice."
  
  

On the Network
Increase Sales With Marketing Tools Made for Your Business

Most Yahoo! Store Merchants already participate in Yahoo! Shopping. Many of you also list your products in an online directory or other paid search program. But what about email marketing, online yellow pages, prospecting lists, and other marketing methods? There are many affordable marketing opportunities that could boost your business significantly.

To explore your marketing options and learn more about some of the Web's best marketing tools and services, visit our Yahoo! Marketing Tools page.

E-commerce on the Web
Links to Sites, Features, and Stories

Words to the Wise
How can you market your business better? Write copy that sells! Take a lesson from the experts with these seven tips to improve your marketing content.

E-Commerce Sales Rise Sharply
Great news for online merchants: The Commerce Department reports that e-commerce sales surged almost 30% in the final quarter of 2003. Get the sales breakdown in this report from Reuters.