The age of the internet has changed the way we consume goods and do business. Online sales allow customers to shop 24 hours a day and 7 days a week giving business owners more earning potential. New business plans must include online sales strategies and digital marketing to stay competitive as consumers demand the convince of online shopping. I am going to dive into the this space and touch on key factors in e-commerce. Welcome to online sales 101.
The internet is a magical tool that has really acted to level out the playing field in commerce and business. Just a few decades ago, you would need massive amounts of capital to reach your target markets through advertising, public relations, grass roots marketing campaigns, and focus groups. Now, with the internet, you can achieve greater reach and market analysis by yourself and basically for free. New technologies and the rise of social media give you access to customers and marketing tools which you can use to drive leads and brand awareness. Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, WordPress, and countless other online media collectives are free to use, easy to learn, and available to everyone. By committing a few hours everyday to mastering these tools small businesses can grow in market share and become more and more successful as long as they give their customers the ability to purchase online.
Mobile sales and mobile applications are now taking center stage in the e-commerce sphere. With the popularity of tablets, smart phones, and robust mobile network speeds customers are now wanting to shop on the go. A business plan that includes online sales, digital marketing, and now mobile sales is the future. In 2012 Ebay did over $500 million dollars in sales on mobile alone! This is a remarkable statement from consumers that online sales and mobile sales are what they want. Luckily for us business owners giving customers what they want has never been easier.
Finding customers and bringing them to your online store takes work, however the tools available are amazing and the opportunity for success is high. Advertising on networks like Facebook are inexpensive, trackable, and highly targeted. Google business tools like Analytics, and Adwords are simple to use and extremely effective. Online marketing, advertising, and analytics will take time to master, however the opportunity they give small businesses is exponential.
Setting up your initial online store can be a daunting task and without the right information can be expensive. You want a online shopping experience that is simple to set-up, easy for your customers to use, utilizes trusted payment processing, has social media sharing options, tracks inventory, is mobile, and cost effective. Out of all the online shopping solutions I have researched only Wazala satisfies all these needs while giving you the ability to run your own website and store with your specific branding.
The future of business and commerce has already moved into the online space. Mobile sales are only going to increase with added devices and stronger networks. Taking some time to develop and implement a solid online sales strategy coupled with digital marketing efforts will put your business in position to grow with the consumer. Lets make 2014 the best year yet and do reach out to me with questions of comments.
