The internet is still growing, with an estimated 60 million domain names registered (goecart). Yet there is much that a company can do to have a successful ebusiness strategy. This will help your company rise above its competitors and turn just a website into a strong marketing tool.
As with any business venture, a strong business plan is essential. Ebusiness is an investment and needs to be analyzed as such. Be ready for unexpected changes in the internet market and have a plan for meeting them.
Choose software carefully. You do not want to be bogged down with technical difficulties when doing business, and the internet can be fraught with them. Maintenance will be cheaper in the future and shutdowns less common if you understand what you are dealing with from the outset. Do not forget to leave room to grow in the future. Make sure that the backend aspects of ecommerce, such as credit card processing, inventory management, adding new products, etc. are as easy to use and are integrated with other software that you use.
Carefully manage the initial impression that users get when they go to your site. You may have only seconds to capture their attention and keep them from moving on to your competitors. Put your hottest and best products on your home page. Even if they are not what the person is looking for they will stick in the person's memory for the next time they shop. Make sure that the site is visually memorable. Content is important but only effective if you can coax the user into reading it.
Create a relationship with your users. Remember that you are filling needs, not selling products. Offering e-mails of special incentives or the introduction of new products can keep people returning to your site. This is especially important if your product is common and easily open to competitors. For example, FTD and Flowers.com both offer to fill the same need. FTD's uses its member's previous orders to e-mail t...