About AOL Canada

1) What's new at AOL Canada?

AOL Canada Merchant Membership

1) Are all businesses eligible to participate at SHOP.AOL.CA?
2) I offer Professional Services. Is there room for my business on SHOP.AOL.CA?
3) Can International merchants participate at SHOP.AOL.CA?

Membership Levels

1) What's the difference between the various Membership levels?
2) Which Membership level is best for my company?

Intro Membership

1) What type of company is best suited for an Intro Membership?
2) What are the features of an Intro Membership?
3) How will my target audience find my business at SHOP.AOL.CA?
4) What are the costs?
5) How do I apply for an AOL Canada Intro Merchant Membership?

Community Membership

1) What type of company should upgrade to a Community Membership?
2) What added features are there in the Community Membership?
3) How will my target audience find my business at SHOP.AOL.CA?
4) What are the costs?
5) How do I apply for an AOL Canada Community Merchant Membership?

Regional Membership

1) What type of company should upgrade to a Regional Membership?
2) What added features are there in the Regional Membership?
3) How will my target audience find my business at SHOP.AOL.CA?
4) What are the costs?
5) How do I apply for an AOL Canada Regional Merchant Membership?

National Membership

1) What type of company should upgrade to a National Membership?
2) What added features are there in the National Membership?
3) How will my target audience find my business at SHOP.AOL.CA?
4) What are the costs?
5) How do I apply for an AOL Canada National Merchant Membership?

About AOL Canada

1) What's new at AOL Canada?

AOL Canada's New Online Experience

The new AOL.ca is a premium online destination for Canadians. AOL.ca is a broadband-optimized hub featuring AOL content previously only available to AOL Canada Members.

AOL.ca entices its visitors to interact with a brand new AOL experience through: rich media content like video and streaming audio; free Web-based email with AIM.com; access to Canadian channels like News, Sports, Shopping and Entertainment; and a comprehensive search engine that includes: Web, News, Music, video, local and more. It's only at AOL.ca.

FAQ index

AOL Canada Merchant Membership

1) Are all businesses eligible to participate at SHOP.AOL.CA?

AOL Canada Merchant Membership is open to Canadian businesses and International businesses with a point of presence in Canada that offer merchandising and store information to the consumer and online shoppers.

These businesses must comply with the following:

• have an Internet presence with their own Internet address;
• have a completed and professional looking webpage;
• have an Internet Site that is suitable for family viewing;
• clearly display contact information on their site.
  
  We do not accept:
  
  
• Websites that hot-link or simply promote other retail sites on a commission basis;
• Multi-level Marketing or sites of Independent Distributors;
• On-line casinos;
• Websites selling guns and other similar products and services;
• Companies selling and/or promoting alcohol or tobacco products.

2) I offer Professional Services. Is there room for my business on SHOP.AOL.CA?

SHOP.AOL.CA is focusing on displaying products and providing store information from merchants. However, there are many more valuable and other opportunities within AOL Canada's extensive website! AOL Canada is indeed working actively in creating premium space for the appropriate showing of professional services just like yours. These spaces should be ready first quarter 2006.

Click here to be notified by e-mail when your business sector is ready to launch.

3) Can International merchants participate at SHOP.AOL.CA?

International merchants with a budget of $10,000 CAD or more can contact a
sales representative for a customized quote.

SHOP.AOL.CA will be including International small & medium companies that do not have a point of presence in Canada second quarter 2006. Click here to be notified by e-mail when we will be opening our International registration.

FAQ index

Membership Levels

1) What's is the difference between the different membership levels?

Our membership packages have been designed to assist Canadian Online businesses reach their target audience. The difference between one package and another is the desired Online marketing reach of each business. Therefore, you should select the membership package that corresponds to the geographic area that your business can service.

Intro Membership - Free
Designed for businesses that are either new to the Internet or just want to test the waters of Online marketing.

Community Membership - $250.00 Cdn / year
Designed for businesses that are looking for greater exposure within their
local Community.

Regional Membership - $450.00 Cdn / year
Designed for businesses looking for Multi-City or Regional exposure.

National Membership - SAVE 33% Special Offer - only $499.00 / year
- Reg price $750.00/year
Offer expires Jan. 15 2006
Designed for businesses looking for greater visibility at SHOP.AOL.CA.
These businesses must accept orders, deliver their product and provide after sales service to customers throughout Canada and/or the US.

2) Which Membership level is best for my company?

You should select the upgrade membership level that best fits the geographic Online marketing needs of your business.

FAQ index

Intro Membership

1) What type of company is best suited for an Intro Membership?

Designed for businesses that are either new to the Internet or just want to test the waters of Online marketing.

Companies wishing to have greater visibility at SHOP.AOL.CA can learn about our Community, Regional and National Membership upgrade opportunities in the FAQ's below.

2) What are the features of an Intro Membership?

Below is an example of an Intro Member store listing:

Intro Member Listing Features:
1. ) A Thumb-Nail screen shot of your homepage;
2. ) Your Company name with a direct link to your homepage;
3. ) A (maximum) 45 word marketing message, website descriptor or company profile;
4. ) Unlimited access to our Edit & Upgrade Manager;
5. ) 5 searchable keywords ;
6. ) Listing in 1 Main Category;
7. ) Listing in as many Sub-categories as are applicable to your business.

3) How will my target audience find my business at SHOP.AOL.CA?

Shoppers from your area visiting SHOP.AOL.CA will be directed to your website by our:

a. ) A-Z Store Listing, found in the SHOP.AOL.CA header throughout the site;
b. ) Look for Stores In, local search application found on the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage;
c. ) Shop by Store, local search found as an option in all Browse by Category results;
d. ) Look for Stores In, local search found as an option in all Keyword Search results;

a. ) A-Z Store Listing, found in the SHOP.AOL.CA header throughout the site;



Your customers will easily find your company listing using our A-Z Store Listing.
Visitors will always have access to the A-Z Store Listing by clicking on "ALL STORES" in the SHOP.AOL.CA top navigation bar. Stores are grouped by the first letter of their company name and presented in alphabetical order.

b. ) Look for Stores In, local search application found on the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage;



From the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage your target audience will find your company listing by choosing Province, City and then Category. If the "Keyword" field is left blank all stores in the selected category servicing this area will be listed. If a keyword corresponding to your listing is entered, your listing will be displayed.

c. ) Shop by Store, local search found as an option in all Browse by Category results;



As Online shoppers browse through SHOP.AOL.CA they will readily have access to a button called " Shop by Store". Once they decide they are ready to buy "in store" or would like to view which stores offer these products, they can select their city and see all the stores that are appearing in the product category they are already in.

If the "Keyword" field is left blank all stores in the selected category servicing this area will be listed. If a keyword corresponding to your listing is entered, your listing will be displayed.

Unique at SHOP.AOL.CA is a tool that allows shoppers, once they are in a city or town marketplace, the ability to sort the store listings to view stores that are "Servicing" or "Physically located" within that area.

When the "Servicing" button is selected your company listing will appear in alphabetical order below Community, Regional and National AOL Canada Merchant Members that can service your area.

When the "Physically located" button is selected your company listing will appear in alphabetical order below Community, Regional and National AOL Canada Members that have a physical presence in your community.

d. ) Look for Stores In, local search found as an option in all Keyword Search results;



Your company listing will be found when a shopper from your city or town uses the "Look for Stores In" tool to perform a city-specific Keyword search within the category that your business is listed.

As an Intro Member you can enter up to 5 keywords into our database.

4) What are the costs?

There is NO CHARGE for an AOL Canada Intro Membership.

5) How do I apply for an AOL Canada Intro Merchant Membership?

Click here and complete our AOL Canada Intro Merchant Membership registration application.

FAQ index

Community Membership

1) What type of company should upgrade to a Community Membership?

Our Community Membership package is designed for businesses that are using their website as an additional marketing tool enabling them to communicate directly to a targeted audience within their community.

Typically these companies either offer a product or service that is not conducive to selling Online or the business may not be in a position where they are ready to deliver a product, and provide after sales service outside of their local area.

The objective of our Community Membership package is two fold.
1) to provide businesses with increased exposure at SHOP.AOL.CA in their city marketplace;
2) to help businesses drive online traffic into their physical stores through the use of a suite of specially designed marketing tools.

2) What added features are there in the Community Membership?

Below is an example of a Community Member store listing:

In addition to:
1. ) A Thumb-Nail screen shot of your homepage;
2. ) Your Company name with a direct link to your homepage;
3. ) A (maximum) 45 word marketing message, website descriptor or company profile;
4. ) Unlimited access to our Edit & Upgrade Manager.

Community Members will also receive:
5. ) The ability to link to a coupon page on your site.
6. ) The ability to link to a contest page on your site.
7. ) 15 searchable keywords (up from the Intro level of 5)
8. ) Your business will be listed in alphabetical order above all Intro Members.
9. ) Your business can be listed in 2 main categories (up from the Intro level of 1).

3) How will my target audience find my business at SHOP.AOL.CA?

Shoppers from your area visiting SHOP.AOL.CA will be directed to your website by:

a. ) A-Z Store Listing, found in the SHOP.AOL.CA header throughout the site;
b. ) Look for Stores In, local search application found on the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage;
c. ) Shop by Store, local search found as an option in all Browse by Category results;
d. ) Look for Stores In, local search found as an option in all Keyword Search results;
e. ) Contest; and
f. )  Coupon

a. ) A-Z Store Listing, found in the SHOP.AOL.CA header throughout the site;



Your customers will easily find your company listing using our A-Z Store Listing.
Visitors will always have access to the A-Z Store Listing by clicking on "ALL STORES" in the SHOP.AOL.CA top navigation bar. Stores are grouped by the first letter of their company name and presented in alphabetical order.

b. ) Look for Stores In, local search application found on the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage;



From the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage your target audience will find your company listing by choosing Province, City and then Category. If the "Keyword" field is left blank all stores in the selected category servicing this area will be listed. If a keyword corresponding to your listing is entered, your listing will be displayed.

Your store listing will be included in up to two major categories and as many sub-categories that are applicable to your businesses.

Your company will be listed in alphabetical order above AOL Canada Intro Members.

c. ) Shop by Store, local search found as an option in all Browse by Category results;



As Online shoppers browse through SHOP.AOL.CA they will readily have access to a button called " Shop by Store". Once they decide they are ready to buy "in store" or would like to view which stores offer these products, they can select their city and see all the stores that are appearing in the product category they are already in.

If the "Keyword" field is left blank all stores in the selected category servicing this area will be listed. If a keyword corresponding to your listing is entered, your listing will be displayed.

Unique at SHOP.AOL.CA is a tool that allows shoppers, once they are in a city or town marketplace, the ability to sort the store listings to view stores that are "Servicing" or "Physically located" within that area.

When the "Servicing" button is selected your company listing will appear in alphabetical order with all businesses servicing your area.

When the "Physically located" button is selected your company listing will appear in alphabetical order among the local stores that have a physical presence in your community.

In both instances your company will be listed in alphabetical order above AOL Canada Intro Members.

d. ) Look for Stores In, local search found as an option in all Keyword Search results;



Your company listing will be found when a shopper from your city or town uses the "Look for Stores" tool to perform a city-specific Keyword search within the category that your business is listed.

As a Community Member the number of keywords that you can input into our database is bumped up to 15 from the 5 offered to Intro Members.

e. ) Contests
If you are running a contest you will be able to activate a "contest" link that will be seen on your store listing. The link will lead directly to the contest page on your website.

f. )  Coupon
If you offer coupons on your site you will be able to activate a "coupon" link that will be seen on your store listing. The link will lead directly to the coupon page on your website.

4) What are the costs?

The cost for an AOL Canada Community Merchant Membership is $250.00 cdn / year.

5) How do I apply for an AOL Canada Community Merchant Membership?

Click here and complete our AOL Canada Community Merchant Membership registration application.

FAQ index

Regional Membership

1) What type of company should upgrade to a Regional Membership?

Our Regional Membership package is designed for:
1. ) Businesses that have stores located in more than one city or town and are using their websites as an additional marketing tool enabling them to communicate directly to a targeted audience within those communities. Typically these businesses either offer a product or service that is not conducive to selling Online or the business may not be in a position where they are ready to deliver a product, and provide after sales service outside of their local area.

2. ) Businesses that have the ability to service cities/towns outside their local area and are looking to expand regionally.

The objective of our Regional Membership package is to provide businesses visibility to their target audience in multiple SHOP.AOL.CA City pages and where appropriate, assist businesses in their efforts to drive Online traffic into their physical stores.

2) What added features are there in the Regional Membership?

Below is an example of a Regional Member store listing:

In addition to:
1) A Thumb-Nail screen shot of your homepage;
2) Your Company name with a direct link to your homepage;
3) A (maximum) 45 word marketing message, website descriptor or company profile;
4) Unlimited access to our Edit & Upgrade Manager.

Regional Members will also receive:
5) A presence in up to 200 city/town Marketplaces.
6) The ability to link to a coupon page on your site.
7) The ability to link to a contest page on your site.
8) 15 searchable keywords (up from the Intro level of 5)
9) Your business will be listed in alphabetical order above all Intro Members.
10) Your business can be listed in 2 main categories (up from the Intro level of 1).

3) How will my target audience find my business at SHOP.AOL.CA?

Shoppers from your area visiting SHOP.AOL.CA will be directed to your website by:

a. ) A-Z Store Listing, found in the SHOP.AOL.CA header throughout the site;
b. ) Look for Stores In, local search application found on the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage;
c. ) Shop by Store, local search found as an option in all Browse by Category results;
d. ) Look for Stores In, local search found as an option in all Keyword Search results;
e. ) Contest; and
f. )  Coupon

a. ) A-Z Store Listing, found in the SHOP.AOL.CA header throughout the site;



Your customers will easily find your company listing using our A-Z Store Listing.
Visitors will always have access to the A-Z Store Listing by clicking on "ALL STORES" in the SHOP.AOL.CA top navigation bar. Stores are grouped by the first letter of their company name and presented in alphabetical order.

b. ) Look for Stores In, local search application found on the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage;



From the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage your target audience will find your company listing when a shopper from a city or town where your company has a presence uses the "Look for Stores In" tool to perform a city-specific search and chooses a category that your business is listed in.

Your store listing will be included in up to two major categories and as many sub-categories that are applicable to your businesses.

Your company will be listed in alphabetical order above AOL Canada Intro Members.

c. ) Shop by Store, local search found as an option in all Browse by Category results;



As Online shoppers browse through SHOP.AOL.CA they will readily have access to a button called " Shop by Store". Once they decide they are ready to buy "in store" or would like to view which stores offer these products, they can select their city and see all the stores that are appearing in the product category they are already in.

If the "Keyword" field is left blank all stores in the selected category servicing this area will be listed. If a keyword corresponding to your listing is entered, your listing will be displayed.

Unique at SHOP.AOL.CA is a tool that allows shoppers, once they are in a city or town marketplace, the ability to sort the store listings to view stores that are "Servicing" or "Physically located" within that area.

When the "Servicing" button is selected your company listing will appear in alphabetical order with all businesses servicing your area.

When the "Physically located" button is selected your company listing will appear in alphabetical order if your store has a physical presence in the community.

In both instances your company will be listed in alphabetical order above AOL Canada Intro Members.

d. ) Look for Stores In, local search found as an option in all Keyword Search results;



Your company listing will be found when a shopper from a city or town where your company has a presence uses the "Look for Stores" tool to perform a city-specific Keyword search within the category that your business is listed.

As a Regional Member the number of keywords that you can input into our database is bumped up to 15 from the 5 offered to Intro Members.

e. ) Contests
If you are running a contest you will be able to activate a "contest" link that will be seen on your store listing. The link will lead directly to the contest page on your website.

f. )  Coupon
If you offer coupons on your site you will be able to activate a "coupon" link that will be seen on your store listing. The link will lead directly to the coupon page on your website.

4) What are the costs?

The cost for an AOL Canada Regional Merchant Membership is $450.00 cdn / year.

5) How do I apply for an AOL Canada Regional Merchant Membership?

Click here and complete our AOL Canada Regional Merchant Membership registration application.

National Membership

1) What type of company should upgrade to a National Membership?

Our National Membership package is designed for businesses that deliver their product, and provide after sales service to customers throughout Canada and/or the US.

These businesses can range from a small company with a single location selling a niche product all the way to the large National brands that have stores in all the major centres.

The objective of our National Membership package is to provide maximum visibility in all our 477 Canadian cities represented on SHOP.AOL.CA. Businesses servicing the entire US market will also be eligible to participate in our US Visitor directory.

In addition to your store information, unique to the National Membership, is the ability to display at any given time, up to 15 products within our "What's on Sale" section. These products shall reflect products that are "On Sale" and offer online shoppers a direct view of the merchandise you carry. Appropriate links back to your site are all at your fingertips. Updated regularly, these merchandising spots offer you an added promotional advantage.

2) What added features are there in the National Membership?

Below is an example of a National Member store listing:

In addition to:
1) A Thumb-Nail screen shot of your homepage;
2) Your Company name with a direct link to your homepage;
3) A (maximum) 45 word marketing message, website descriptor or company profile;
4) Unlimited access to our Edit & Upgrade Manager.

National Members will also receive:
5) Presence in our National listings by category.
6) Presence in all 477 community marketplaces.
7) If applicable presence in US visitor directory.
8) Up to 15 items displayed in our "What's on Sale" section.
9) The ability to link to a coupon page on your site.
10) The ability to link to a contest page on your site.
11) 30 searchable keywords (up from the Intro level of 5)
12) Your business will be listed in alphabetical order above all Intro Members.
13) Your business can be listed in 2 main categories (up from the Intro level of 1).

3) How will my target audience find my business at SHOP.AOL.CA?

Shoppers visiting SHOP.AOL.CA will find your business in our national stores listings.
Your company will also have a presence in each of our city / town pages.

Your company will be found by:
a. ) What's on Sale - product display;
b. ) A-Z Store Listing, found in the SHOP.AOL.CA header throughout the site;
c. ) Look for Stores In, local search application found on the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage;
d. ) Shop by Store, found in all Browse by Category results;
e. ) Look for Stores In, Keyword Search results;
f. ) Contest; and
g.) Coupon

a. ) What's on Sale - product display;
Show your stuff! This is the perfect opportunity to show online shoppers what's "inside" your site. Images sell and there is no better opportunity then to display your merchandise on a site like SHOP.AOL.CA. Each National Member Merchant can upload up to 15 products and has the flexibility to make changes at any time and as often as necessary.

Below is an illustration of the fields that comprise a product listing in our "What's on Sale" section.

You can view how products are actually displayed Online by one of our National Members by clicking here.

To appreciate just how easy it is to add and upload items directly in our "What's on Sale" database we invite you to test our "Add Item" application. Click here to try it out.

b. ) A-Z Store Listing, found in the SHOP.AOL.CA header throughout the site;



Your customers will easily find your company listing using our A-Z Store Listing.
Visitors will always have access to the A-Z Store Listing by clicking on "ALL STORES" in the SHOP.AOL.CA top navigation bar. Stores are grouped by the first letter of their company name and presented in alphabetical order.

c. ) Look for Stores In, local search application found on the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage;



From the SHOP.AOL.CA homepage your target audience will find your company listing when a shopper uses the "Look for Stores In" tool to perform a city-specific search and chooses a category that your business is listed in.

Your store listing will be included in up to two major categories and as many sub-categories that are applicable to your businesses.

Your company will be listed in alphabetical order above AOL Canada Intro Members and as a National Members servicing all Canadian cities your listing will appear in all city and town searches.

d. ) Shop by Store, found in all Browse by Category results;




When online shoppers click the "Shop by Store" button within any category, without selecting a city or town, the default results will list National Merchant Members and the other large merchants with previous arrangements with AOL Canada. Your store listing will be found in the categories associated with your business.

When online shoppers click the "Shop by Store" button within any category and select a city or town, your store listing will be found in the categories associated with your business.

If the "Keyword" field is left blank all stores in the selected category servicing this area will be listed. If a keyword corresponding to your listing is entered, your listing will be displayed.

Unique at SHOP.AOL.CA is a tool that allows shoppers, once they are in a city or town marketplace, the ability to sort the store listings to view stores that are "Servicing" or "Physically located" within that area.

When the "Servicing" button is selected your company listing will appear in alphabetical order.

When the "Physically located" button is selected your company listing will appear in alphabetical order if your store has a physical presence in the community.

In both instances your company will be listed in alphabetical order above AOL Canada Intro Members.

e. ) Look for Stores In, Keyword Search results;



Your company listing will be found when a shopper from any city or town uses the "Look for Stores In" tool to perform a city-specific Keyword search within a category that your business is listed.

As a National Member the number of keywords that you can input into our database is bumped up to 30 from the 5 offered to Intro Members.

f. ) Contests
If you are running a contest you will be able to activate a "contest" link that will be seen on your store listing. The link will lead directly to the contest page on your website.

g. ) Coupon
If you offer coupons on your site you will be able to activate a "coupon" link that will be seen on your store listing. The link will lead directly to the coupon page on your website.

4) What are the costs?

The cost for an AOL Canada National Merchant Membership is:
Special Offer SAVE 33% - only $499.00 / year - Reg price $750.00/year
Offer expires Jan. 15 2006

5) How do I apply for an AOL Canada National Merchant Membership?

Click here and complete our AOL Canada National Merchant Membership registration application.

FAQ index