Simply Business on the Web – Part 2
The often overlooked parts of business via the internet
As promised, here are a few more simply business tips/suggestions that can make the difference between a successful online presence and one that’s just there.
Online or Offline, it’s about building relationships.
Whether you have a business that is solely online or is half off and half online, you need to concentrate on building relationships. Those relationships should be with everyone from your visitors, customers, vendors, etc. Anyone that you have regular contact with is someone that can be beneficial to you. Take for example your vendors. If you get to know them, treat them like you would your employees and let them know you value the business relationship you may find that you start getting better deals, faster delivery of goods, etc. This can also be true with your existing clients or potential clients. Making them feel like you really understand their needs will let them feel more comfortable doing business with you and allow them to feel confident in referring other people to you.
An online store (ecommerce) doesn’t run itself.
Many people think that as soon as their online store is setup, the money just starts flowing in and they never have to do anything. Unfortunately it’s not that simple. An online store takes just as much time and dedication to maintain and grow as a brick and mortar store does. Some people might even suggest that it takes more time. With an online store you have to make sure inventory is correct, prices are adjusted, messages are updated based on store conditions, etc. The more time and thought you put into your store, the better chance that your store will be successful.
Requiring people to login is like having an open house but keeping the door locked!
There are times when a login is necessary, but many times website owners just don’t know when that time is. If you have sensitive information that you need to share with a select group of people, or you have different levels of pricing based on whether the client is wholesale or not then it makes sense. Ecommerce stores also make sense (after they’ve placed an order, or added things to a cart) to have login so people can check their order history, delivery status, etc. On the other hand, a login screen just to capture your visitor’s information is a poor tactic. People expect to get information on the web without having to give-up their identity. By making people register/login to your site just to get general information you are in effect telling them “come here to get good info” and then shutting the door in their face. They’ll hit that back button and be off to your competitor’s site where the information is available without any hassle.
More simply business to come. If you have any to share please feel free to list them in the comments below.
Remember: Do to your site, what you’d want to experience on others.
--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization
As promised, here are a few more simply business tips/suggestions that can make the difference between a successful online presence and one that’s just there.
Online or Offline, it’s about building relationships.
Whether you have a business that is solely online or is half off and half online, you need to concentrate on building relationships. Those relationships should be with everyone from your visitors, customers, vendors, etc. Anyone that you have regular contact with is someone that can be beneficial to you. Take for example your vendors. If you get to know them, treat them like you would your employees and let them know you value the business relationship you may find that you start getting better deals, faster delivery of goods, etc. This can also be true with your existing clients or potential clients. Making them feel like you really understand their needs will let them feel more comfortable doing business with you and allow them to feel confident in referring other people to you.
An online store (ecommerce) doesn’t run itself.
Many people think that as soon as their online store is setup, the money just starts flowing in and they never have to do anything. Unfortunately it’s not that simple. An online store takes just as much time and dedication to maintain and grow as a brick and mortar store does. Some people might even suggest that it takes more time. With an online store you have to make sure inventory is correct, prices are adjusted, messages are updated based on store conditions, etc. The more time and thought you put into your store, the better chance that your store will be successful.
Requiring people to login is like having an open house but keeping the door locked!
There are times when a login is necessary, but many times website owners just don’t know when that time is. If you have sensitive information that you need to share with a select group of people, or you have different levels of pricing based on whether the client is wholesale or not then it makes sense. Ecommerce stores also make sense (after they’ve placed an order, or added things to a cart) to have login so people can check their order history, delivery status, etc. On the other hand, a login screen just to capture your visitor’s information is a poor tactic. People expect to get information on the web without having to give-up their identity. By making people register/login to your site just to get general information you are in effect telling them “come here to get good info” and then shutting the door in their face. They’ll hit that back button and be off to your competitor’s site where the information is available without any hassle.
More simply business to come. If you have any to share please feel free to list them in the comments below.
Remember: Do to your site, what you’d want to experience on others.
--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization
Labels: small business, tips, tricks
posted by Ignite Media LLC at
Monday, January 19, 2009
2 Comments:
The "building relationships" point is important - and people often miss it. The tendency is to think about the web in "technical" terms. There are many technical aspects to the web and what makes it all tick, but successful long-term strategies will focus on making connections with people.
I would say that eCommerce sites should also offer the ability to checkout without logging in. If people don't want to keep an account with your website forcing them to register can turn them away.
eCommerce without logging in is something that seems to be a sticking point for a lot of people. I personally don't mind logging in when I know I'm purchasing something. I typically feel that when I do that I can almost always go back and check on my order. Without logging in you usually don't have that same ability.
However, I do understand that some people would prefer to just order and leave and not have to be bothered. This is the one area that I find myself on the fence about. I wonder what the reason's for them not wanting to login are? Do they feel they are losing their privacy and if so, then why order at all because your information has to be on the order anyway. Do they feel that it's too time consuming, then what happends if there is a problem with the order and you are informed, but now have to go through the whole process of adding items to your cart because you don't have a saved one.
It's almost a topic unto itself and something that I'm sure you would find many people on either side.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home