E-Commerce

Overview

The online market place is not just here to stay, it is often times the preferred method of doing business.  In 2005, the US Census Bureau estimated that US E-Commerce sales totaled $86.3 billion, up 24.6% from 2004.  Okay, is that enough to make you see where we’re coming from?  if you sell anything, you need to also sell it online if you’re not already.  If you’re selling online, you need an experienced development firm to make sure you’re maximizing your opportunities. 

You Only Get One Shot

When a customer visits your site, it imperative they have the ability to easily navigate, find, purchase, and check out via your ecommerce system.  If they leave, they might never come back.  Think of it in these terms…How many times would you go back to WalMart to look at the same pack of #2 pencils before you bought it?  Better yet, would you price compare Walmart versus Target, versus Costco for such an item?  You are there to buy NOW, so if the lines are super long, or you can’t find the item you’re looking for, or no one can help you, you’ll leave and will not come back.  The same goes for your website, it’s called “Shopping Cart Abandonment”, don’t let it happen to you.  

Okay, what about a $2000.00 item you say?  Yes, it is expected that customers might want to do their research.  However, you want them to research the product, NOT where they buy it from.  Make sure that when they do make their buying decision, that they buy from you.  How do retailers and online retailers alike accomplish this?  By making sure visitors have a great experience when they visit their stores.  I know that I would prefer to buy a big screen TV from BestBuy, who invests in having a friendly staff and a good ambiance of high tech gadgets, versus buying from the guy selling TV’s out of his trunk.  Do you want your e-commerce site to look like the back of some guys used van, or to look like a quality retailer of high end items? 

Usability and functionality are the key principles, while having an enjoyable shopping experience and compelling reasons to return help people coming back time and time again.