Got a new Online Store ! What to Expect

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Created on Friday, 19 August 2011 14:19

Last Updated on Friday, 11 May 2012 07:14

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What to Expect from a New Online Store

Let's face it if you're just entering the world of e-commerce then you're coming into the game 10 years late, so there's a lot to catch up on.  That's not to say you shouldn't bother though.  If you have a business in the real world then it makes sense to have an online presence where you customers can visit at any time of day and night and make purchases if they want to.

Who's going to be buying

Let's say for example I opened a surf store on my local highstreet, I'd have a competition from possibly a couple of other stores.  Even if I were to open a Surf shop in Newquay, where the concetration of Surf Shops per square metre is probably higher than anywhere else - then I'd have maybe 20 odd competitors.  If a customer was browsing an item in store and they liked it then they'd maybe check another store or 2. Prices they're would more than likely be the R.R.P  anyway and the customer would make a purchase from one of these stores.

Now lets compare that to the online surf store.  A customer spots a Surfboard Bag that fits the bill - the 6'6" Bulldog Surfboardbag . The customer than visits Google Shopping and types in ' 6'6" surfboardbag '  and instantly they'll see pretty much every surfboard bag there is on the net.

img: is the web crowded in your market place

Is Your Lisinting Competitive

in this case 'yes' - the cheaper items have less thickness and with a couple of reviews next to our name puts our online store near the front for choice.

This isn't the case on all products though.

Take the Gorilla Surfboard Tail Pad - that retails at 31.99 - some places are selling it at £17.99 .

Unique Products or Services

This is pretty much the best way to make money on the internet and that's if you make a product or have a service that is pretty much Unique on the internet then you'll do well.  As long as you make sure your customers can find you.

Playing the Long Game

If your business is succesful on the high street then there's a good chance it'll be a success on the internet aswell but it's a marathon and not a sprint.  
Getting your website listed on Search Engines definatley need a long term statergy and you should look at regularly adding and improving your Keywords.  
Building a customer base who trust and use your website regularly is something that may be in place but with the use of email, facebook and twitter then the experience can be enharnsed, bringing in regular sales.     Please note this isn't relevant for all business, as some products could be one offs.     For businesses that specialise in one of sales then your budget should concentrate on really good keyword listings.


REMEMBER: The key thing is to see month to month improvement and keep at it.

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