By 2016 Forrester Research, Inc. estimates that business-to-business commerce on the web will hit $2.7 trillion. It’s true that the web can be a highly profitable venture, but without careful planning, your business may flounder before it ever makes money. Following these steps can help you plan a cohesive strategy before you sell your first product.
Even if you don’t sell online, you need to answer these questions.
Can customers pay online with a credit card? They increasingly like the convenience of this. The order is placed quickly and they receive an instant confirmation receipt. Post your site to a trustworthy web-hosting provider- Your site is effective only when people can see it. A good provider gives you access to web statistics. Statistics can tell you where customers are coming from, what they look at and what lead them there in the first place. Because you are dealing with sensitive information, your provider should use state of the art security to protect your site from hackers.
Put your web site on your business cards, print it on receipts, put a sign in your store window, tell people you’ve started a website. A link exchange is useful. Make sure your links are relevant and compliment your site. Web statistics can provide important information. You may be getting a lot of visitors, but very few orders. Even angry letters can serve a purpose. When customers take the time to give you feedback, the underlying message is “We want to order from you, here’s how you can let us.” Pay attention to their comments and give customers what they want, by Amy Flynn, Go Daddy Software.
For example, he says, Home Depot has a low price strategy in their stores. Their Internet strategy is to warn suppliers that if they catch them selling the products on the Internet they will drop them, Ries notes. “They’re in a squeeze because suppliers could make more selling their products online.”
In order for both Home Depot and its suppliers to thrive, Home Depot could shift its store strategy from price to a more service-oriented approach, perhaps giving classes in plumbing and carpentry. Then they could launch a web site under a different name, and the suppliers would be able to sell to Home Depot and through their own Web Sites.
“The Number One retailer in America is Wal-Mart. Their theme is ‘we sell for less.’ Because of the Internet Wal-Mart could potentially be in trouble strategically. They have to move toward service because Internet companies will be able to sell the same products for less money because as a result of their lower overhead.”
INTERNET CAN’T PROVIDE A HAND SHAKE
“If all you want is the low price, you have to go to the Internet. The Internet can’t provide one thing that people still want: to touch and try the product.” A recent study by the London-based by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) drew the same conclusion. It reported that instead of the Internet crushing traditional dealerships, car buyers are likely use Web sites for finding information, but not for completing deals.
Projections were that 60 percent of car sales would be made over the Internet by 2005, says Ian Robertson, director of the EIU’s automotive group.
Some may insist that Internet businesses will provide low price, convenience and service. Others will note that the trend toward one-hour delivery by companies like http://www.kozmo.com will add the element of instant gratification now missing from the online experience.
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It takes motivation but it is cheaper to start online then having a brick and mortal business:seo service
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