Dear Reader,Today I would like to
introduce to you three great products that can
improve your business a lot if you are an
Internet entrepreneur starting/operating your own
Web site or online store.
I hope
they can help you and your business:
(All of
the following products are in Spanish, however
there are similar products in English so please
google around for them if you do not speak
Spanish.)
1. A
COURSE ABOUT BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET
"Fundamentos
de Mercadeo en Internet" is a 100% free and
complete eCommerce course -- learn what to sell
online, how to automate the sales process, and
much more. Get this excellent course here:
http://www.redtienda.com/english/fundamentos.htm
2. A
SOFTWARE TO AVOID SPAM FROM YOUR WEB SITE
Unwanted
spam emails is a growing problem and the software
ContacteMe will permit your visitors to contact
you without the need of displaying your email
address(es) on your Web site. Learn more here:
http://www.redtienda.com/english/nuncamasspam.htm
3. A
SOFTWARE TO IMPROVE YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Use the
software chaty to help your customers directly
online when they visit your Web site! This kind
of customer service can increase your sales and
customer satisfaction beyond your imagination.
See more:
http://www.redtienda.com/english/chaty.htm
Invest.
Use. Enjoy!
Have a
wonderful day.
All the
best,
Erik G. Olsson, Editor
eolsson@redtienda.com
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Turn On Your Online
Channel
-- by Ken Powell, http://www.marketworks.com
-- http://www.redtienda.com/english/newsletter88.htm#1Many businesses
believe that the online gold rush witnessed
during the late 90s is a revenue opportunity that
has come and gone. The truth is that the
e-commerce revolution is just getting underway.
In the
past few years, online buying has grown to
represent 5 percent of total consumer purchasing
(expected to expand to 15 percent by 2010) and
more importantly, Internet browsing influences 30
percent of in-store purchases, according to
Forrester Research. Online retail sales,
including auctions and travel, will more than
double from $172 million in 2005 to $329 million
in 2010.
Executives
have finally realized that the costs, resource
requirements and logistics of launching and
operating an online storefront have plummeted.
Simultaneously, market demand and online spend
has grown by leaps and bounds. The result? There
has never been a better time for businesses to
sell online.
Some
businesses have embraced online sales while
others—particularly those with retail
partners—are reluctant to create an online
channel. Companies should challenge long-held
beliefs that direct selling will negatively
impact retail performance. It is the
responsibility of the brand owner to stay close
to the consumer and monitor changing behavior.
Businesses
that use the Internet to merchandise, communicate
with and sell to consumers are in a stronger
position to directly learn about consumer
preferences, purchase patterns and motivations.
With the Internet expected to influence at least
50 percent of in-store purchases by 2010
(according to Jupiter Research), increased direct
knowledge of the consumer will enhance future
product developments and potential profitability.
In
general, buyers want quality products, value,
convenience, information and selection. Top-rated
e-commerce experiences include attributes such as
ease of navigation, visual appeal, merchandise
assortment, ease of checkout and several options
for delivery and return.
How Can
You Do This?
There are
three primary options for creating a successful
e-commerce presence with a satisfactory customer
experience:
- Build
it from the ground up: It is possible to
build a Web presence on your own,
designing a Web site, creating online
buying functionality, assigning and
loading products into the online
database, training yourself to use it,
etc. This method is time-consuming,
costly and frustrating, and it can take a
long time to recognize the return on
investment.
- Buy
something off the shelf: Though easier
than starting from scratch, off-the-shelf
tools might not include all the
functionality you want and need from your
e-commerce site. Not to mention the
extensive installation period and staff
training it will require.
- Outsource
everything: Use an e-commerce expert who
will walk you through each piece of a
comprehensive solution, helping you
identify only those capabilities you
need, and then quickly building and
deploying a fully-customized, e-commerce
site.
A Plan
For Action
There are
three basic steps that every business needs to
take before launching an e-commerce site,
regardless of the methods used.
Get in
the Game: It’s not too late to be a
first-mover. The online channel continues to
develop. Unlike most threats, this one is
happening fast and the longer you wait the
further behind you’ll get. Reduced
technology costs and improvements in outsourced
e-commerce products and services can help you
achieve your online objectives faster, smarter
and more cost-effectively than in the past.
Think
Strategically: While it is great to say, “I
think I’ll build a Web site,” it is far
more important to first think about your business
objectives, threats and opportunities and then
develop an online strategy that supports your
plan. Avoid tunnel vision, as it can stifle
innovation and ultimately results.
It’s
a Multi-Channel World: With consumers shopping
for more things in more channels than ever
before, businesses must think multi-channel.
Building a Web site alone will not generate the
traffic nor create the learning your business
requires. It is now estimated that more than 50
percent of online purchases begin at an
aggregation site such as NexTag, Shopping.com or
Yahoo! Shopping. eBay alone accounts for almost
25 percent of all e-commerce in the United States
and it is likely your brand can already be found
on eBay. These channels must be considered in any
online offering.
Most SMBs
do not have the headcount, expertise or
technology to effectively launch a multi-channel
online selling strategy. As a result, they start
by making it a part of someone’s
‘day’ job. Online marketing and sales
are critical—and complex to execute well.
While many organizations understand the basics
and get excited about new initiatives, most lack
the know-how to actually execute them. The smart
money is on outsourcing the execution of your
online strategy to a leading third-party service
provider, one that is capable of working with
your organization to build a strategy and then
manage the implementation. Your costs will be
lower, your results will be faster, you’ll
be able to validate the multi-channel opportunity
and you’ll have a whole lot more fun
thinking creatively about future business
opportunities.
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