HomByz.com for Home Business SUCCESS
2004-11-10 19:18:57 UTC
Online Business : What Sells On The Internet?
by: Elizabeth McGee
For anyone contemplating starting an online business the question of the day
is what to sell online. You not only need to know what to sell on the
internet but you need to know what sells well.
There are many specific answers when it comes to this question but probably
the best answer is people buy products online that they don't need to smell,
touch or examine. They want products that they are fairly familiar with or
products that don't carry an element of surprise upon receiving them. In
other words, they have a pretty good idea of what it is they are getting.
For example, Amazon.com does very well because there's no more mystery to
buying a book online than if they were in the book store purchasing the
book. You can't feel or touch a book online but the internet might even be
better because it offers reviews and ratings that you may not get in a
bookstore. Also, shipping is generally fast and easy. This concept also
holds true for music, videos and CD's. They all sell very well online.
Travel sells well online. Using the internet is easier than making a trip to
the travel store and again, you know exactly what you are getting. The
internet also makes it easy to comparison shop for the best ticket prices.
Offering comparison shopping is a key factor to a successful business online
and the internet has been a huge success in this area.
People often go to the internet to buy what is familiar. Electronics are hot
categories for consumers but some don't do as well online because buyers
like to feel them, turn them on for clarity and test all the features of the
product. Unless someone has seen a particular item in person, tested it out
and knows exactly the style and model it is that they want, they're not as
likely to go shopping online and buy it over the internet.
Items that are hard to find sell well online. If you offer a unique product
that can't be found in stores people are more likely to purchase online.
This is especially true for the more rural areas of the country where it's
harder to find certain products. Here people will turn to the internet to
find what they need.
For all other products there is virtually very little that does not sell
online nowadays. Of course some things sell better than others. For example,
it makes sense that common products that you can buy at the local store
don't sell well online, but if you can identify unique products and focus
those products to their target markets you may have a winner.
Anyone can experience healthy sales for any product sold online by following
some of the guidelines that make sales a success. Ease of shopping. You have
to make it easy for the online shopper. Your site has to be set up so that
the shopping experience and checkout aren't frustrating. If you've ever
bought anything over the internet think about what it is you liked or didn't
like about the experience.
Certainly don't offer what you didn't like and make what you did like even
better. Clear information and quality pictures or photos. Always provide as
much information about your products as possible and always post a clear
picture or photo. If the photo isn't of good quality then your viewer won't
consider you a quality site. Get them as close to touching, feeling and
smelling the product as possible.
Fast or free delivery. Provide shipping information to your viewers
somewhere on your site. Don't force them to place the order to find out how
much shipping is. Be upfront about the costs. If you offer free shipping,
post that as an advantage on your front page. Recent reports show that free
delivery is the third most important factor in attracting repeat customers.
The first two were online security and price.
Always include an 'About' page. Your about page should have your business
name, address and a phone number. What sometimes tips the scales in your
favor is the ability for people to find out who you are and where your are.
They need to feel they are dealing with someone honest and genuine. They
want to know that they can contact you if necessary.
Provide security shopping Use secure servers for ordering and post your
security measures plainly.
Offer competitive pricing. Do your research and offer pricing that will
appeal to your buyers. If your price is higher than your competitors explain
why and what features or quality measures justify your prices.
PERMISSIONS TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in its entirety
free of charge, electronically or in print, provided it appears with the
included copyright and author's resource box with live website link.
Courtesy of http://hombyz.com
About The Author
Elizabeth McGee has spent 20 years in the service and support
industry. She has moved her expertise to the world wide web helping
businesses find trusted tools, enhance customer service, build confidence
and increase sales. You can contact Elizabeth at
***@pro-marketing-online.com or visit her website at
http://www.pro-marketing-online.com
Courtesy of http://hombyz.com
by: Elizabeth McGee
For anyone contemplating starting an online business the question of the day
is what to sell online. You not only need to know what to sell on the
internet but you need to know what sells well.
There are many specific answers when it comes to this question but probably
the best answer is people buy products online that they don't need to smell,
touch or examine. They want products that they are fairly familiar with or
products that don't carry an element of surprise upon receiving them. In
other words, they have a pretty good idea of what it is they are getting.
For example, Amazon.com does very well because there's no more mystery to
buying a book online than if they were in the book store purchasing the
book. You can't feel or touch a book online but the internet might even be
better because it offers reviews and ratings that you may not get in a
bookstore. Also, shipping is generally fast and easy. This concept also
holds true for music, videos and CD's. They all sell very well online.
Travel sells well online. Using the internet is easier than making a trip to
the travel store and again, you know exactly what you are getting. The
internet also makes it easy to comparison shop for the best ticket prices.
Offering comparison shopping is a key factor to a successful business online
and the internet has been a huge success in this area.
People often go to the internet to buy what is familiar. Electronics are hot
categories for consumers but some don't do as well online because buyers
like to feel them, turn them on for clarity and test all the features of the
product. Unless someone has seen a particular item in person, tested it out
and knows exactly the style and model it is that they want, they're not as
likely to go shopping online and buy it over the internet.
Items that are hard to find sell well online. If you offer a unique product
that can't be found in stores people are more likely to purchase online.
This is especially true for the more rural areas of the country where it's
harder to find certain products. Here people will turn to the internet to
find what they need.
For all other products there is virtually very little that does not sell
online nowadays. Of course some things sell better than others. For example,
it makes sense that common products that you can buy at the local store
don't sell well online, but if you can identify unique products and focus
those products to their target markets you may have a winner.
Anyone can experience healthy sales for any product sold online by following
some of the guidelines that make sales a success. Ease of shopping. You have
to make it easy for the online shopper. Your site has to be set up so that
the shopping experience and checkout aren't frustrating. If you've ever
bought anything over the internet think about what it is you liked or didn't
like about the experience.
Certainly don't offer what you didn't like and make what you did like even
better. Clear information and quality pictures or photos. Always provide as
much information about your products as possible and always post a clear
picture or photo. If the photo isn't of good quality then your viewer won't
consider you a quality site. Get them as close to touching, feeling and
smelling the product as possible.
Fast or free delivery. Provide shipping information to your viewers
somewhere on your site. Don't force them to place the order to find out how
much shipping is. Be upfront about the costs. If you offer free shipping,
post that as an advantage on your front page. Recent reports show that free
delivery is the third most important factor in attracting repeat customers.
The first two were online security and price.
Always include an 'About' page. Your about page should have your business
name, address and a phone number. What sometimes tips the scales in your
favor is the ability for people to find out who you are and where your are.
They need to feel they are dealing with someone honest and genuine. They
want to know that they can contact you if necessary.
Provide security shopping Use secure servers for ordering and post your
security measures plainly.
Offer competitive pricing. Do your research and offer pricing that will
appeal to your buyers. If your price is higher than your competitors explain
why and what features or quality measures justify your prices.
PERMISSIONS TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in its entirety
free of charge, electronically or in print, provided it appears with the
included copyright and author's resource box with live website link.
Courtesy of http://hombyz.com
About The Author
Elizabeth McGee has spent 20 years in the service and support
industry. She has moved her expertise to the world wide web helping
businesses find trusted tools, enhance customer service, build confidence
and increase sales. You can contact Elizabeth at
***@pro-marketing-online.com or visit her website at
http://www.pro-marketing-online.com
Courtesy of http://hombyz.com