It`s Only The Beginning

Electronic commerce is all about opportunity. A growing number of consumers are willing to trade in the hassles of searching for parking, going shoulder to shoulder with other shoppers, and dealing with indifferent clerks. A Web store is not bound by the traditional constraints of business: it`s always open, it`s globally accessible, and you as the product or service provider deal directly with the customer. This is all part of the  "new" economy. In growing IdeaOverTen, there were plenty of lessons learned that can apply to any business.

Generally speaking, web site visits are not accidental; browsers arrive for a reason. Once you have them in the door, give them reasons to not only stay inside, but also to roam around, ask questions, and "touch" your product or service, so to speak. Chances are you have provided an email address, but that`s not enough. The key to Internet activity is interactivity. Engagement of visitors allows you to play to the strengths of the Internet. Almost no site stands alone. By sparking interaction, you may not only find customers, you may uncover partners whose products or services are closely related to yours. 

The number of visits a web site attracts tells only a portion of the story. How many of those visits actually led to something tangible, whether that is a sale, comment, or further inquiry? Make your site relevant. What is the focal topic of your site and what avenues are related to it? For instance, a couple developed a site based on parenting. Within months, traffic had grown almost exponentially as parents rushed to participate in interactive tools like newsgroups and discussions. In addition, the site blossomed into a virtual clearinghouse on parenting with links to related topics like children`s products, issues like missing or abused youngsters, and initiatives for improving education.

Along with the particular product or service you`re offering, your Web site has one other potentially valuable commodity - space. Visit virtually any site and count the banners and buttons that adorn it. Some represent paid advertising; others are trade outs between the host and a vendor in a related field. For example, a site offering coffee mugs might run banners touting different varieties of coffee beans or teas, along with ads for pottery. These links spur interactivity, which as we have discussed before, is the key to a successful website. They can also become an additional income source for you. Each product has a particular target market that can be broken down by factors like age, income level, hobbies or interests, educational level, etc. At the very least, you know that someone who will buy mugs online is attracted to the concept of ecommerce. What else would they be willing to buy this way?

When you`re launching a new site, you face the dilemma of landing those initial customers. A logical place to start might be in a brick and mortar business that is related to yours. I put fliers about our services in computer and electronic stores; we`ve put brochures about our home-based business opportunities in grocery stores, video stores, and laundromats. You`ll need a brochure or a one page description of what your company does and how you can be reached. It will be incumbent on you to explain to the merchant what benefits will accrue from posting your materials inside his shop.

If you`re launching an enterprise, chances are your budget is tight and an expansive (and expensive) ad campaign might be beyond your reach. Try free media, the news media. What about your company sets it apart from others in the market? In other words, what about your business is newsworthy and beneficial to your local community? People may tune out commercials; they tune in reports of new things in their communities.

Starting an affiliate program is a powerful tool and should be part of your viral marketing program.  Essentially, this practice pays others for sending customers to your website.  You are using your affiliate partners ability to drive traffic to their site. 

The digital world holds vast potential for any size or type of organization.  We can provide you with invaluable information derived from education and first-hand experience.  Our relationships with Global Partners allows us to offer unique products and services to our clients that puts them ahead of the competition. 

As an IdeaOverTen Client, you become a member of a growing family of successful Internet entrepreneurs and merchants.  You will receive our Email Newsletter, "The Launch Pad" at least once per month.  In it, we offer valuable insight to industry trends as they relate to sales and marketing on the Internet.  We also provide you eBooks on various marketing strategies.  Our marketing staff is available to answer your calls and eMails.  And of course, this blog will give you insight to the latest trends in Internet marketing and search engine optimization.  In short, we offer you knowledge and the tools to succeed. The rest is up to you.  To Your Success!

Ed Kundahl