New Merchant Content Template
Version 8.0 – Apr 2010
Background to merchant pages on Nectar
Every merchanton ‘Nectar Collect online’ has its own dedicated merchant page.
This is where customers can find out about a store’s products and services. With a click of a button, readersare directed to the store to start shopping.
The more enticing the copy on a merchant page is, the more likely customers will be to jump-off to the site and make a purchase.
This document will show you how the merchant page is structured, how to write compelling page copy, and how to make the most of yourmerchant page, enticing customers to come back again and again.
To be completed by the INTERMEDIARY / MERCHANT:
Important:The content provided to Nectar is customer facing and therefore legally binding.
Please ensure MERCHANTS have approved content before it is passed to Nectar, as theyare legally responsible for it.
Copy approved by merchant?
(Tick as appropriate – click on ‘Exit Design Mode’ on the Control toolbar, then simply click in your chosen box).
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Nectar is actively using SEO techniques and keywords on all pages in order to improve Google rankings.
If the copy cannot be changed (e.g. legally binding copy for financial services), please tick the box below:
To be completed by MERCHANTS:
To proceed with set-up you must ensure that you will validate all transactions coming from Nectar within 27 days of purchase.
Also, please indicate your commission below:
Standard commission offered across the programCommission offered to Nectar
About copy:
General copy guidelines
- Remember that all the copy you submit will be read by potential customers! Make it compelling and exciting - why should customers shop with you and not someone else?
- Refer to your store by name – e.g. ‘Amazon sells thousands of products from books to music to DVDs’ or ‘For 30 years, McAfee has been the industry leader in internet security software’
- Do not refer to ‘we’ – in the context of nectar.com, ‘we’ refers to Nectar.
- Readers find the term ‘retailer’ confusing, so please refer to ‘stores’ or ‘online stores’
- Online readers tend to scan read, so use bullet points to make information really stand out
- Merchants’ pages are more likely to do well in search engine results if the text is unique. Please ensure that the text you submit is unique and cannot be found anywhere else on the internet.
- Once it is entered on the site, we do not automatically refresh information for you. Do not refer to seasons, short term or seasonal offers, or other time-limited information. This includes ‘new release’ type products that age quickly. Nobody wants to read about your new range of winter coats in June!
Important note for merchants
- As stated above, none of the copy submitted in this form should refer to anything time limited.
- If you want to submit a time limited offer (e.g. free delivery throughout March), this will need to be added as a special offer and will clearly state the expiry date.
- Ask your network for the ‘Offer sourcing template’ if you want to submit any special offers.
- Any text suspected to be time limited will be removed before the merchant page goes live.
Nectar merchant page – content to be supplied:
The content that merchants provide in this template will be shown on their merchant page. The letters on the screenshot below correspond to the different sections of the template as referenced in this document.
A – Merchant logo
Please provide the following logos:
-Medium logo–150 x 70 - gif or psd files for use for the merchant page
-Small logo – 123 x 29 – gif for use on the A-Z list
-tiff or CMYK for other activities (i.e. potential DM feature, etc).
The better the file quality, the better your logo will look on Nectar.com!
B – Merchant overview– 150 characters maximum
This is a top level overview of the products and services that you offer. The text is aimed at the Nectar collector, who will be clicking from Nectar to your site.
Remember to use the 3rd person or a passive form when referring to your company or brand (i.e. do not refer to ‘we’ or ‘us’) – use your company name instead.
Correct example: Amazon sells thousands of products from books to music to DVDs
Incorrect example: Our website sells thousands of products from books to music to DVDs
Enter your overview here:
Max 150 characters (around 15 words is ideal)
C – Merchant USPs – 300 characters maximum
This is used to drill down a little more into your offering. Highlight your USPs (unique selling points). Your text should engage readers and inspire them to click through to your store.
To make the most of this text:
-Make it exciting! What sets you apart?
-Use bullet points to aid people who scan-read
-If you have free delivery, tell the customers about it.
-Create unique content – not just what’s already on your site
As above, please use the 3rd person or passive form to refer to your company or brand.
Example:
Calling all bookworms! Whether you’re after new, second hand, rare or out-of-print books, you can find it at AbeBooks.
Readers can buy bestsellers and novels, collectors can find rare and out of print books, students can buy new and used textbooks, and treasure hunters can find antiquarian books.
Enter your copy here
Max 300 characters (around 65 words)
D – About the retailer (optional) – 1,200 characters max due to loading time
This is where you can describe your company and products in more detail.
You could, for example, include:
-Descriptions of your product lines or product categories
-Background information about your company
-Any other relevant information that you haven’t already provided
-Anything else that sets you apart from the competition!
Again, this text is more valuable if it is unique. Don’t just copy and paste what you have on your own site.
We recommend that you provide around1,200 characters (circa 200 words).
Example:
Blacks UK, the outdoor clothing experts, offer a wide range of men's and women's outdoor clothes and footwear as well as tents, travel gear, rucksacks and lots more outdoor gear. With a great range of quality products and friendly, knowledgeable advice, Blacks is one of the web's best destinations for outdoor equipment and clothing.
- Blacks Men’s Outdoor Clothes Browse a great collection of stylish and functional Blacks outdoor clothing for men including famous brand names like the North Face, Berghaus, Patagonia and Peter Storm. Get everyday casual wear for wearing around town, or high performance wickable and insulating garments ideal for outdoor use. Buy fleece tops for the ski slopes or Blacks waterproof jackets ideal for hiking and trekking, or base layers and thermals for extra insulation. Stylish and practical, you're sure to find just what you need when you buy outdoor gear online at Blacks.
- Black’s Women’s Outdoor Clothes Blacks women's outdoor clothing comes from reliable, trusted brand names such as Berghaus, Craghoppers and The North Face. Stylish, comfortable and practical, shop online for Blacks waterproof jackets, fleeces, socks, trousers and soft shell jackets. So whether you want to kit yourself out with casual clothes or outdoor clothing and activewear, Blacks outdoor clothing for women is smart and high performance. Make the Blacks online store your first destination for outdoor clothing online.
Enter your copy here
Max 1,200 characters (around 200 words)
E – Important Information – compulsory (*the legal bit*)
This is where we tell collectors if there is anything they won’t be able to earn points on. This corresponds to items that we do not receive commission for.
Where no commission is received, no points are awarded - so this is the legal aspect of the page.
Below, clearly state any items / products / categories, etc. where Nectar will not be earning commission.This will then be ‘translated’ into our correct Nectar jargon when the page is set up by Nectar.
Common examples:
Commission is not awarded on delivery (i.e. commission is awarded on the sale price excluding delivery)
Commission will not be awarded on the sale of certain products - please specify which products – or a certain category of products (e.g. electronics)
Enter your commission exceptions/exclusions here:
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REGISTERED OFFICE: LOYALTY MANAGEMENT GROUP LIMITED, 3rdFLOOR, 80 STRAND, LONDON, WC2R 0NN,
REGISTERED WITH UK COMPANIES HOUSE UNDER NUMBER 5821446.