The (Beginner Level) eCommerce Product Management Interview

I am a part of a Facebook Group called 'Women in Product'.  Its a great group to follow - both to ask questions and also learn from other women.  Today, someone asked a question about the eComm Product Management interview and what are some questions that would be specific to eCommerce.

I figured this might be something useful in general, so here goes:

1. If you think about eCommerce, it comes down to a few key components: Site Registration / Account Creation, Browse & Search, Product Details pages, Cart & Checkout.  I am looking for someone who can articulate what makes for a good experience in these components vs. a bad one.

2. If you are interviewing for an eCommerce position, go to the company's website, search for a product, look at the details, add it to your cart, checkout.  Jot down features that you LOVED and things you would improve.

3. Notifications (push, email, SMS) will play a big role in your customer engagement strategy.  Have a POV on who does this well, an email or SMS you got from a retailer that you think was not well thought through.

4. Know the difference between a transactional vs. a promotional email / SMS.

5. Have ideas on what retailers can do to improve conversion rates: think abandoned cart emails, guest checkout, product reviews, reducing steps in the ordering process (lean checkout), improved page load times, online chat, same day delivery, free shipping.

6. Who is winning in your eCommerce space and why?  Don't just think Amazon.  There are other players that are doing things well.  Specialty's (a fast casual restaurant I eat at almost every day) has a FABULOUS ordering experience.  Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack are phenomenal for online shopping.  Chase has done an amazing job with their mobile app.  Walgreens Digital Pharmacy is best in class when it comes to the mobile app.  UBER's mobile app is phenomenal.

7. Be prepared to speak through some omni-channel trends: accurate in store inventory, buy online and pick up in store, mobile wallet, kiosks, lockers etc.

8. Have a list of blogs, books, events etc. you use to keep up with trends.  Internet Retailer, Wired, Fortune, CES, IRCE, SXSW etc. etc.

9. What tactics do you have on hand to build repeat purchase?  Walgreens sends refill reminder emails and texts, Amazon has Subscribe & Save, Specialty's has a rewards system (every 12th salad is free for me :)).  Urban Airship is a great notifications platform used by many leading brands.  Shopkick has done some really cool things to gamify the shopping experience.

10. Do you need a mobile app or just a mobile optimized website?  When would you do both vs. just one? This can very easily become its own thread but didn't want to lose sight of this one.

Good luck in your interview!

P.S. I edited the title to say 'Beginner Level'.  At this level, I don't expect you to know things about PCI compliance, Customer Lifetime Value etc.  It won't hurt to know but these feel like a Sr. Product Manager level interview questions.  Stay tuned for a post on 'Intermediate Level' prep :)