Whatever you sell in your store, you should also be selling online. Not because it\u2019s the latest trend. Not because your competition is doing it. It\u2019s simple: because your customers are shopping online! That\u2019s why you should be selling online.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all about choice!<\/p>\n
At one time grocery stores only used paper bags. Then they offered customers paper or plastic. They didn\u2019t get rid of paper bags; they added a second option. Now customers are encouraged to bring a reusable bag as a third option.<\/p>\n
Likewise, engaging in ecommerce doesn\u2019t mean you should close your brick-and-mortar shop. You need to expand options for your customers. You need to do both so your customers can choose the option that works better for them.<\/p>\n
Selling online is a win-win proposition. Many of the benefits ecommerce provides for your business also provide benefits for your customers. Here are the key reasons you should be selling online:<\/p>\n
Selling online benefits you because you\u2019re now open for business 24\/7. And you don\u2019t need to hire a security guard or schedule a shift for cashiers, or pay overtime to any employees.<\/p>\n
You spend enough hours keeping your brick-and-mortar store open, so keeping those doors open 24\/7 has little appeal. Selling online means your shop is open even when you\u2019re asleep.<\/p>\n
You could open a second or third shop in other locations to attract new customers, but that\u2019s costly. Selling online opens your doors to anyone with access to the Internet.<\/p>\n
Your customers benefit because they can now shop on their schedule from the comfort of their home or even on the go. And home can be far enough away to make shopping at your brick-and-mortar store impractical or even half way around the world.<\/p>\n
So that\u2019s another benefit for you: \u201canywhere anytime\u201d means an expanded customer base!<\/p>\n
You aren\u2019t paying for additional space and utilities for your inventory. You aren\u2019t paying wages for employees to work those extended hours. The cost of setting up shop online is considerably less than opening a brick-and-mortar shop!<\/p>\n
Keeping your overhead low benefits your customers because you can pass along the savings to them without sacrificing your profit margin.<\/p>\n
Your website allows you to educate your customers with more in-depth product information and how-to videos. You highlight your expertise while marketing your products. It\u2019s a great way to build your brand while you provide good old-fashioned customer service.<\/p>\n
Customers benefit by finding the information they need to make more knowledgeable purchases. So why would you provide product information for potential customers without also providing the means to make the purchase? Close the sale! Let them make the purchase online!<\/p>\n
Another reason you should be selling online is that it allows you to easily offer your customers the opportunity to personalize their purchases. Capture customers who would otherwise browse and move on when they don\u2019t see quite the right size, shape, or color.<\/p>\n
Your customers benefit because they can get exactly what they want. What\u2019s better than that?<\/p>\n
Selling online doesn\u2019t have to mean you lose the ability to suggest additional products. In your dress shop you direct a customer\u2019s attention to accessories that complement the dress she tried on. You can do the same online.<\/p>\n
You benefit from selling more products. Your customer benefits because your \u201cyou might also be interested in\u201d suggestions saved them time. You did the searching for the customer.<\/p>\n
There will always be brick-and-mortar stores, but taking your business online provides you with flexibility. You can manage your online business from home, from your storefront office, or from the beach. You\u2019re no longer tied to a physical site.<\/p>\n
Customers also enjoy the flexibility online shopping provides. What\u2019s more frustrating for a customer than driving to the store only to find out that you\u2019re out of the product they\u2019re looking for? Ordering online ensures that the trip isn\u2019t a waste of time. Online orders can be shipped directly to the customer or if the customer prefers, they can order online and pick up in the store.<\/p>\n
Do you need more reasons for selling online? There are plenty of other benefits just for business owners.<\/p>\n
After you set up shop online, you\u2019ll have access to analytics that will keep you on top of your business. Your site can track purchases, including items that are removed from a shopping cart. You gain incredible insight into customer behavior and preferences.<\/p>\n
You can also use customer reviews to compensate for the limitations of shopping online. Customers can comment on product qualities that images alone don\u2019t reveal. Were the colors what the customer expected? Was the fabric high quality?<\/p>\n
And make sure that your site is mobile-friendly. Although more customers still make purchases from their desktop computers, give your customers the choice to use mobile devices. Always think \u201cboth\/and\u201d rather than \u201ceither\/or.\u201d<\/p>\n
You\u2019re convinced that you need to be selling online. Now what do you do? Just as you wouldn\u2019t open a second shop without planning in advance, you shouldn\u2019t jump into ecommerce before addressing the issues that concern your customers most.<\/p>\n
Security is a customer\u2019s single biggest concern with online purchasing. Given some of the breaches over the past couple of years, customers have reason to feel leery about cyber security. You need to assure them that all financial transactions are secure.<\/p>\n
Also make sure that your customers\u2019 other personal information is secure. Assure them that you won\u2019t sell their information to third parties. No one enjoys being bombarded by spam. Your customers will thank you.<\/p>\n
Whether you currently have a business website or not, Solutio can help you make the leap to selling online. You have a lot at stake. You need a secure site so your customers won\u2019t worry about breaches. We\u2019ll build security into your site so your customers can shop safely.<\/p>\n
But you also need a site that encourages customers to browse and buy. Solutio\u2019s team of experts can help with that, too. We\u2019ll make certain that customers can quickly find the products or services they\u2019re searching for. We\u2019ll also make sure customers can easily access product information and how-to videos.<\/p>\n
Your website should work for you as well as your customers, so Solutio will also help you behind the scenes. We\u2019re experts at data integration. Your ecommerce website will compile the information you need to make smart decisions, increasing your bottom line.<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re ready to take that leap into ecommerce, give us a call at (989) 486-9283<\/strong><\/a>, contact us<\/strong><\/a>, or visit our offices. Consultations are free. So is the coffee.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll walk you through the process of taking your business online. With Solutio, you\u2019ll make the shift from \u201cyou should be selling online\u201d to simply \u201cselling online.\u201d What are you waiting for?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/blog.jdrgroup.co.uk\/digital-prosperity-blog\/bid\/351159\/Why-You-Should-Sell-Online-7-Benefits-Of-Ecommerce-Websites<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nchannel.com\/blog\/advantages-of-ecommerce\/<\/a><\/p>\n