In the beginning, the internet was used for research and email. Today, e-commerce websites are a common way to purchase goods and services from all around the world. According to Forrester Research, online sales in the United States alone totaled $225 billion in 2010 [1]. As broadband continues to become more prevalent in American homes, people continue to spend more time on these sites.
What is an e-commerce website?
It is a term that refers to any company or business that operates solely with electronic transactions between customers and suppliers. It encompasses activities such as buying products online, paying bills online, donating money over the web, computer-based training, conducting banking transactions at an automated teller machine using a smart card.
E-commerce websites allow customers to browse the website and buy the items that they want online. The company sends the goods directly to them and also maintains electronic records of all their transactions. This system allows people to shop without having to leave their homes or even talk with a salesperson face-to-face. Most e-commerce sites do not require you to create an account, but creating one makes shopping on your next visit even easier as it speeds up checkouts, saves billing information, and allows repeat customers access to past purchase history so they can easily reorder products.
Reasons why e-commerce is so important for your business
A business can choose to sell its products in a physical location or establish an online store. If you are an entrepreneur who has just started out, it is essential that you know the benefits of having an e-commerce website. E-commerce websites have completely transformed the way in which people buy and sell goods and/or services.
Here are 6 reasons why e-commerce is so important for your business:
- Establish and strengthen your brand
Having an online store helps you establish a strong brand among your target market which provides an excellent advantage for small startup companies who do not have many resources to invest in marketing strategies such as advertisement, endorsements, and others just to be recognized by people. Instead, they can create websites that can draw traffic from around the world.
If you are operating a local store, customers only get to see your storefront, but if you decide to create an e-commerce website, they will get to see how your brand looks digitally as well. E-commerce websites offer businesses the opportunity to express themselves creatively through their web design, store layout, and product images.
- Helps businesses go global
eCommerce is the best way to expand your business worldwide because it does not have geographical limitations, unlike brick-and-mortar stores which are limited by their physical location. Even if you do not have a physical store or office in other countries, you can establish yourself as an international brand by selling your products on an e-commerce website.
It allows you to attract a larger number of customers from different parts of the world by not limiting your business geographically. The internet has no boundaries and with an e-commerce website, it will be easy for you to reach out to potential customers from other countries – particularly if you have the right shipping/delivery system in place. In addition, with faster communication made possible through e-commerce websites, your company can build strong customer relationships that could potentially last a lifetime.
- Gives you marketing opportunities
By using an e-commerce website, your business can take advantage of the different marketing opportunities offered by such a system. Electronic marketing is still considered to be the most effective type of marketing in terms of costs and return on investment (ROI), especially when you run special campaigns or promos. You can also build stronger relationships with existing customers through newsletters and other targeted campaigns that they will definitely appreciate and look forward to in the future.
Ecommerce site provides excellent marketing opportunities for both customers and businesses alike especially with online promotion campaigns through social media sites such as Facebook ads which allow companies to gauge customers’ reaction on their products before launching them in supermarkets and shops nationwide. Furthermore, e-commerce allows you to track customers’ behavior through analytics, user demography which you will not be able to do so by having your business only based online.
- Higher conversion rate
According to one study, an impressive 97% of customers conduct some form of research before making a purchase. For most products, this research begins with a search engine query on Google or another search engine. Websites that rank highly in search engine results will get a large number of visitors, but not all these visitors will convert to paying customers.
An e-commerce website often has a higher conversion rate than other types of websites because it is designed with the specific goal of making the customer want to make a purchase. The design and layout place information that is relevant to the product you are selling front and center, and makes it easy for visitors to find their way around. For example, well-designed product pages should include clear images that give potential buyers an idea of what they can expect after checkout.
- Your online store will stay open 24*7
Thanks to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, there is no limit on when your online store can be accessed. As long as customers have their devices with them, they can shop your online store at any time of day or night. And since you don’t close up shop, potential sales are passing you by every minute your website isn’t open for business!
You can now start selling even when you are asleep or away because you will never experience downtime unlike in physical stores with their own set of procedures and rules that require human intervention during different hours of the day.
- E-commerce is easier & more convenient
Not only is shopping through an e-commerce website easier for customers, but it’s also much more convenient. When buyers are browsing products on an online store, they instantly have access to a much wider selection than what would be available at their local stores. Customers can also take advantage of special offers, search for items based on specific criteria, and filter the search results to find exactly what they need – all without having to step away from their computer.
For the above reasons, e-commerce has become an integral part of businesses everywhere today regardless of size, niche, or market. As seen in this article there are many reasons why people should have e-commerce websites. Ecommerce websites allow businesses to sell their products around the world instead of being limited geographically, increase conversion rates with their higher accessibility, and reduce overhead costs.
Conclusion
According to a website marketing expert, there are some other reasons why you need an e-commerce website. One of the most important business decisions an owner of a small or big business must make is getting his own online store – this provides new ways to generate sales, increase brand awareness, and develop customer relationships. It will help you go global with ease, give new marketing opportunities, higher conversion rates, and customers always buy from websites that are open 24/7. Lastly, e-commerce will save your time which you can utilize for more productive purposes than hanging around at business premises all day long waiting for potential customers to drop up by their shop which might not happen even once in a month. It is easier and more convenient!
If you’re in need of a website, then Pixel Street is the company for you. We offer up-to-date websites that are user-friendly and easy to maintain! You can also get more information from our experts anytime with just an email or phone call – we’ll be happy to help however much it takes 🙂
