Your Customers are Online: Are You?

The days of Internet users being afraid of buying products online are long gone. The sheer popularity of sites such as Amazon and iTunes, which are racking up the billions without a hitch, does well to prove this fact. The numbers don’t lie either, with trends showing that online sales will be up 12% in 2010 and potentially skyrocket to 66% to 2014. This combined with the 200+ million Americans using the Internet shows the massive wealth for the taking for businesses online. Between how to market your product or the software, there are a number of factors that can make your break your online business. Whether you’ve made a dime for the Internet or are looking to boost your sales online, there’s a lot to take into consideration.

The first question to ask yourself is exactly what you’re going to sell. Some products are better suited for the Internet than others. In the case of the aforementioned Amazon and iTunes, for example, music is something that can be sent digitally right after purchase and serves as both of those companies’ bread and butter. Unfortunately, the average small business isn’t selling something so convenient. You’ll need to be aware of your inventory and have the ability to ship whatever you’re selling. A nightmare scenario would see a business’ online store taking off without actually being able to meet the demands of its customers. Do your best to not put yourself in such a position by making sure that you’re organized.

A bulk of the work concerning your online store will be done, obviously, online. You’ll need to decide on an ecommerce software that works best for your business’ needs. For example, do you require web hosting for your store? What sort of shopping cart service do you need?

A good ecommerce platform will help do a lot of your work for you, such as how you’ll receive payment and establish your inventory.

As you’re building your store, consider the customer experience. What sort of information would you expect to see when purchasing something online? What sort of design details appeal to you? Put yourself in the shoes of your potential customer, and ask yourself “would I buy from me?” If the answer isn’t clear, you have more work to do.

Once your store is live, it’s up to you to promote through Social Media, deals, and anything else you can come up with. As always, consider your competition and how either your store or products differentiate from there’s. An effective Social Media campaign or running special promotions and deals can do well to drive both traffic and sales. With so many users willing to spend their money online, there’s no reason why your business should miss any of the action.