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Monthly Archive for junio, 2007

Page 2 of 2

Getting Your Business Online – Disadvantages

Publicado junio 8, 2007 en News Oscommerce. Closed

Although there are many advantages to having a website, one also must consider the disadvantages. There are a large number of people who do not use the internet. Some people actually want to physically touch and see products that they want to purchase. Many people have an issue with using their credit card’s online, they are afraid of credit card fraud. Some people think that going to a traditional store to buy a particular item is much more convenient not use the internet.

The main point:

Depending on the business not everyone will use the web to find that particular business.

On a side note: You may think that the elderly in particular do not use the internet. Surprisingly, the elderly are the LARGEST population of growing internet users. The majority of them go online to shop for pharmaceutical products.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/ITFacts/?p=8049

Although I am at the computer every day doing work for clients and surfing the web for information, sometimes it does not cross my mind to search the net for a particular product. For instance I recently was looking for a new lawnmower. It never occurred to me to check eBay for lawnmowers on sale in my area for pickup (to save on shipping). I ended up going directly to the local hardware store to buy a new lawnmower. People do not always turn to the internet as their first choice of places to purchase a particular product.

If your have the impression that you will be instantly raking in tons of money by opening an online store on the internet, you should reconsider building that store. Even major companies are having trouble converting visitors into sales. A majority of people use the internet to compare prices and then go to local stores to purchase the item. As a store owner you should not depend on your online store as your sole source of revenue and expect it to make a major impact on your bottom line.

The main point:

Before you dive into e-commerce and start your own online business consider both the advantages and disadvantages. Depending on what you are selling, it just may not be a good idea to build an online store.

Getting Your Business Online – Advantages

Publicado junio 5, 2007 en News Oscommerce. Closed

You may be wondering why I have not kept up with the site of the month posts. Recently, a featured store option has been added on to the live shops directory. Now, instead of sites of the month, I will be proposing featured sites to the rest of the osCommerce team. When I do select a featured site, I will also blog about why I choose that site if it is approved by the rest of the team.

I will be starting a series of blog entries geared towards small business owners looking to bring their business online with osCommerce.

For my first entry I will be discussing the advantages of the internet and how the internet can benefit small business owners.

Before building an online presence a small business owner must understand the benefits and drawbacks of building a website/ online store.

One of the major advantages of having an online store or website is that information is available to customers 24/7. This is an important aspect of the web that is often overlooked. As a customer, if I wanted information about a company that does not have a web site I would have to wait until they opened to call them. Even then, I may have to deal with an annoying animated phone system or answering machine. The internet, combined with e-mail, allows potential clients or customers to learn what they need to know at their convenience.

What are some other major advantages of having a store online? One major advantage is the reduction of marketing costs. Putting marketing information online saves the business owner a lot of money.

In addition to reducing marketing costs, websites also reduce support costs. A business owner can save money by using the Web to provide support when staff is not available. For instance, a business owner can integrate a Frequently Asked Questions module into their store which will assists in answering customer questions.

Websites also give companies a modern image. Having a .com and a company email address gives the impression that your business is current and up to date on technology. However, if you are creating a Web presence solely based on this decision then you must determine if that is enough of a benefit to justify the costs of going online.

Finally, creating an online store and/or website will greatly help with your company image. A professionally designed website can make your company look important and impressive.  For instance, positive product reviews left on your online store can dramatically improve your company image.

My next blog entry will cover the disadvantages of the web. Poorly designed web sites, web sites that are incomplete and web sites that are partially under construction can have a negative effect on company image. Many home-based or low-budget website fit this category. All too often when reviewing Live Shop entries I see stores that fit this category. These sites do more harm to the business then good.