There is no doubt that e-commerce has forever revolutionized the way goods and services change hands. This effect has been felt most by the small business owner, who may now find themselves selling their products to people and businesses halfway across the world. The dynamic nature of the internet gives the clever marketer an all in one tool for attracting, snaring, and finally converting visitors who come looking for a little help. The trick is staying ahead of the curve when it comes to the next good idea.
The world moves faster today. In the past decade, the email marketing campaign became an obsolete archaic form of sales. Due in part to the over use and abuse (Spam, anyone?) of email advertisements, but also because there are faster ways you spread the word today: social media networks. Many of the boundaries previously existing between customer and product are virtually gone.
The Internet: Game Changer
The service provided by the salesperson has a much more dramatic effect on the process; the customers can chat online with them for the best information and live assistance. There is still real time, two way communications all without the customer changing out of their pajamas- and even better- on their schedule.
Earning money and targeting customers only became easier with the advent of Facebook and Twitter. A friendly, easy going approach in the tone of the messages is important, because the individuals that are plugged into the network are there for casual reasons. To the people companies are targeting as customers, Facebook is a party, an if someone was going around the party, yelling about how great their stuff is, you would want to talk to them would you?
Let the people become interested in you, create something worth notice, and word of mouth will do the rest. Answer the people’s questions, be a resource and expert on the subject to earn their trust. Once a reputation for service and excellence is established, there is little else to do but enjoy the inevitable success.
The New Way to Make Sales
There are more e-commerce web sites than ever before. With a greater multitude comes fiercer competition. It takes a savvy eye to create a site that is eye catching without being belligerent. Informative without being arrogant. Exciting without being hyperactive. The expectation of the average online consumer has of the quality of merchant sites has increased to a level where you need a good site more than you necessarily need just good products. You need to be perceived as a problem solver to make sales. They must be able to interact with your site effortlessly, or will become the source of their immediate problem.
Any economics student can tell you that the first purchase a customer makes is likely to be far less than hey can actually afford to spend. If and when they return, however, the next purchase is likely to be larger and larger again the next time. Repeat business is always the goal, so make sure you storefront is easy to use, appealing and informative.
