Overview
A hosted store on ExpertVoice creates a seamless experience for all experts who shop and purchase with your brand, allowing them to engage with your brand and shop all in the same place. The full e-commerce experience lives on ExpertVoice.com, including product display pages, inventory management, as well as the complete check-out process. Products are organized using the ExpertVoice taxonomy system to allow for a clean and efficient shopping experience. As a brand, you can choose to add your own “collections” to a store for additional organization. Hosting a store on ExpertVoice requires you to manage a store file, inventory levels and process orders on a regular basis.
Store benefits
There are many benefits that come with hosting a store on ExpertVoice. A hosted store allows for a more seamless checkout process for the expert as the entire process is completed on ExpertVoice.com. The hosted experience also allows for more robust data collection, particularly in relation to sales. Additionally, by hosting products on ExpertVoice.com, we are able to collect digital product recommendations that can then be used on or off the platform. Lastly, a hosted store allows for more flexibility when it comes to product selection, discounts, promotions, etc.
Set up a managed-service hosted store on ExpertVoice
Connect with your Customer Success partner and Account Executive to ensure a hosted store is a good fit for your brand. Come prepared to discuss the following:
- Store File - You have complete control over the catalog and selection of products hosted on ExpertVoice.com. This is managed through an excel file that we refer to as the store file. This document will help you manage product descriptions, photos, specs, pricing, discounts, etc.
- Order Processing (link) - ExpertVoice has a few options to support you, the brand, with order processing and fulfillment. As you begin to create your hosted store, you will work with your ExpertVoice team to determine the best option
- Inventory Management (link) - You will be responsible for managing your inventory on ExpertVoice.com
New managed-service hosted store request
If you would like to target a specific audience with a new unique hosted store experience, we require that the request be submitted a minimum of two weeks before the store needs to be live. Follow the steps below to begin.
Note: Please submit a request to your Customer Success partner at least two weeks in advance of when you need the store to be live.
Request a new hosted store set-up
- Connect with your Customer Success partner and Account Executive to discuss targeting and discount strategy.
- Provide the needed details and assets for setting up a new hosted store including the following:
- Audience (refer to your Solution Template)
- Discount
- Shipping guidelines (if different from current store)
- Order guidelines and rules (if different from current store)
- You can find your current order guidelines/rules in the Advocacy Platform by clicking on Libraries -> Incentive Library. Then, click on the three-dotted colon next to the store and click View rules & guidelines
- Your Customer Success partner will provide a store file template and instructions. Update and submit the completed store file.
- The store will be built using the store file and submitted for review via a link your Customer Success partner will provide when ready. This is your opportunity to request further edits if needed.
- Give the approval to go live
Update order guidelines and/or rules
Your order guidelines and rules shape the shopping experience for your audience by setting up the right expectations when it comes to placing and receiving an order. Members must agree to these guidelines before checkout. Follow the steps below to update or change order guidelines and rules.
Note: Included in your guidelines will be a note about your average number of business days to process & ship orders. For processing time, you can determine what you want to communicate to members at launch. After your brand has been live for 30 days, we will update the guidelines with what your actual processing time is based on processed orders. This is automatically calculated by our system and cannot be changed.
This is automatically calculated by our system based on your average order fulfillment and cannot be changed.
Note: You will need to be sure that the parameters and expectations for your hosted store are clearly outlined for ExpertVoice members. For example, calling out your brand policies such as no returns, no exchanges, etc.
- Prepare your list of changes, then reach out to your Customer Success partner.
- You can find your current order guidelines/rules in the Advocacy Platform by clicking on Libraries -> Incentive Library. Then, click on the three-dotted colon next to the store and click View rules & guidelines
- If there are critical points that you want to make stand out, let your Customer Success partner know so we can bold and/or highlight them and list them in order of importance
- Your Customer Success partner will work with the ExpertVoice Commops team to make the requested changes and then confirm with you once the changes are live
SAMPLE order guidelines
- Purchasing is for personal use only.
- For retail affiliates, orders must be shipped to your retailer's address and you must be a current employee.
- Please allow 1 to 2 weeks for processing and delivery of your order. Orders will ship via CARRIER NAME.
- All sales are final.
- Applicable sales tax will be charged upon final billing.
- Please do not share your Expert Pricing.
Live view order guidelines example
Additional resource: ExpertVoice Store Implementation Form
Learn how to update your store catalog.
Need more help? For additional support, you can also reach out to stores@expertvoice.com