Apologies To Gateway Customers Our apologies go out again to Gateway customers who were unable to receive our last newsletter. This was due to a certain type of filter Gateway use that is designed to stop spam - but it also stopped emails from innocent sources such as ourselves!
Funding For South West Business Training Some funding is available for businesses in Western Australia to undertake funding. For further details of the offer, and for contact details to see if you're eligible, check out this month's Enterprise article on South West Life - Bonuses For South West Businesses.
South West eCommerce Strategies is happy to consider exchanging web site links with other quality sites. If you would like to exchange links with the South West eCommerce Strategies web site, please email us. |
12 May 2003
The success factors applying directly to ecommerce are multi-faceted, but can be refined into eight jewels for e-business assuming you have a product or service that people want/need. 1) Attractive, easy to navigate web site. Don't "do-it-yourself" unless you are very good with design! Web savvy surfers may accept a do-it-yourself look with canned graphics and static pages from hobby sites, but never from a business site. Professional logos, graphics and high quality web specific writing are expected of any real business online, as well as quick load times and consistent, understandable navigation. 2) Crystal clear communication of your benefits. You must communicate to your visitor immediate, concise benefits of doing business with you. If they are confused by your web site and don't understand what it is you offer them, they are gone in less than thirty seconds. Can you make their life easier? Can you make them happier, more productive or successful? Tell them on the first screen-full. Quick, stop them before they click! 3) Build customer relations with newsletters, forums, frequent buyer reward programs, special discounts or referral rewards for existing clients/customers. What can you offer them that makes your site one they care about? Most web sites offer "something for nothing" in the form of content. That is CONTENT related to your business. That is why so many sites provide articles, advice, e-books, software downloads and other related goodies. You will never achieve online success if you offer no understandable perks. 4) Multiple forms of online, immediate payment options. Accept credit cards, check by fax or online checks, approval methods in real-time while the customer is at your site and ready to buy. The most common way to lose a buyer is to make them fill out and print a form to be mailed in. You must accept payment online. They'll want it NOW, or not at all. 5) Search engine optimization and submission. Showing up in the top 50
results for your search phrase keywords is the only way
to attract significant traffic to your site outside of
spending substantial sums advertising, 6) Effective online marketing and promotion. This includes getting other complimentary sites to link to your site and is a standard marketing task online. As much as half of your web visitors may find you through links at other web sites. This is definitely NOT through Free-For-All (FFA) links pages, but "recommended" links from other site owners at high traffic web sites. Use a "signature
line" on your e-mails and regularly visit online
chats, forums and bulletin boards with useful comments
questions or advice in your area of expertise, this 7) Immediate response and follow-up to e-mail contact. The immediacy of the web makes people expect quick responses to all queries. If they can't find the answer at your FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page, you must be prepared to answer e-mail queries within 24 hours or less. 8) Networking and Joint Venture relationships with complimentary online businesses. Take a look at online business sites for the "Our Partners" link. You will see that most effective businesses work with other online companies that can offer complimentary services or products. This is common practice on the web.
-------------------------------------------------------- WebSite101 "Reading List" Weekly Netrepreneur Tip Sheet Weekly Ezine emphasizing small business on the Internet http://website101.com/arch/ e-tutorial online at: http://website101.com/shortcourse.html By week's end you're ready expand your business to the web! --------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This newsletter is designed to provide information only and is not a substitute for advice that is specific to your business. Before acting on any of the information above it is important you seek further advice from a professional who has taken into consideration the nature and circumstances of your business.
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