The current economic climate is having an impact on all industries but it seems that even with this in mind, online sales are still managing to increase. With MasterCard announcing online sales increased by 17.1% for May year over year compared to 15.1% in April and Channel Advisor indicating their same-stores sales rose by 52.3% for Amazon and 23.4% for eBay, the trends are moving in the right direction. It would be wrong for any new start company to assume that just because the market involving major names like MasterCard, Amazon and eBay is looking good it will be the same for them but there is definitely hope that the e-commerce market is the place to be.
E-commerce books assist with the ground-work
If you are new to the world of e-commerce, welcome aboard and it is time to put the hard work in. You will do well to get yourself copies of some good e-commerce books and develop your plan strongly. One thing that the major companies have, as well as their reputation and years of success, is a concise business plan that is thought out in advance. Many start-up businesses will obviously be thinking on their feet and dealing with new problems as they arise but it can help a lot to have a business plan you wish to stick to. The teachings of e-commerce books should help all new starts to determine what plan is right for them and how they should be approaching the first six months to a year of their business. Entering the e-commerce market isn’t going to be easy but the current business trends indicate that there is the opportunity for success.
One of the biggest benefits of being an e-commerce retailer comes with the ability to drive sales online. There will be customers who are aware of your product and who actively seek out your store but there is a very good opportunity to catch customer’s attention online and then welcome them to your store, where you can provide a positive shopping experience and then hopefully conclude the deal. If you consider yourself to be at the cutting edge of technology, there are plenty of e-commerce ebook examples for you to learn from but it is business technology you should be focusing on.
Follow the e-commerce books approach to engaging with customers
A modern e-commerce merchant needs to drive their business to provide a number of customer experience points, which means thinking about more than just your online store. Having a reliable, reputable and high quality website is an integral part of e-commerce success as all of the best e-commerce books will tell you but it is only one part of the process. Interacting and engaging with customers is crucial if you wish to build a relationship that will see your firm stand out from its peers and to stand out in the eyes of customers. As technology improves, mobile apps, smart-phones and tablets give e-commerce retailers plenty of new ways to engage with customers but focusing on the message, as opposed to the medium, is the best way to developing a strong relationship with new customers. If a start-up firm can develop a relationship with customers, life going forward will become much easier.
Social media marketing advice can be found in e-commerce books
There is no doubt that social media and networking sites have to be part of your thinking with regards to e-commerce. The best e-commerce books have been quick to point out the importance in communicating with customers via social networking channels but also of the importance of doing it right. It needs to be a proper relationship, continually spamming potential customers on Twitter or Facebook is not a way for any retailer, but particularly a newcomer to the marketplace, to develop their name and make sales. Making a positive first impression is crucial in all walks of life but if you are a new company or have a new e-commerce site, your first impression has to be very impressive.
However, it seems that the hope that e-commerce retailers would be able to use Facebook as a shopping channel has not went as successfully as some would have hoped. This is not to say that this form of retail channel will not develop in the future but at the moment, many retailers are removing their Facebook shopping channel and focusing on using the site to drive purchases at their primary e-commerce store. This is where the teachings of e-commerce books stand strongly, indicating how start-up businesses should reach out and interact with customers. Having a Twitter account or Facebook is a good start but it is only the beginning, there needs to be effective communication.
This can be daunting for many e-commerce retailers but with many e-commerce books highlighting good practice and effective ways to communicate, it isn’t too difficult. Drawing on your own personality and experience to provide a personal touch, coupled to the effective communication tips provided by a reputable e-commerce book can go a long way to helping a firm develop a great relationship with clients.