Small business e-commerce

E- Commerce is the small business owner's best friend if your goal is to expand your reach as far as it will go.On the internet, small start-up businesses have a fighting chance against corporate giants.The world of e-commerce allows not only the tech-savvy business owner with the opportunity to surpass large national firms, but it also provides an opportunity for the average business person to use an online audience to locate customers, buy supplies, and sell products formuch less.

For small businesses, e-commerce can mean the difference between a successful year and a year that is cut short because of a lack of profits.If you can take advantage of the opportunities available online in the following ways:

Use e-commerce to lower business costs

A small business with an internet presence does not need some of the most expensive portions of owning a business.For example, an online business does not need to lease out office space in more than one location, nor is there a need for paid staff in different portions of the world.With e-commerce all that you really need is a computer and you can reach and international pool of potential customers.E-commerce also allows you to lower the liabilities of owning a business in the sense that because transactions are handled electronically and products are shipped from one location, theft and damage are both minimized.

Using e-commerce makes you accessible

When your business is online, you provide your customers with the service of being open all the time and accessible through virtually every internet connection.No matter where your customer is in the world or what time of day they choose to visit your site, they can make a purchase.If you were to offer this service off-line, you would have many tired employees.Additionally, with some additional programming, you can break the language barrier by providing services in a number of different languages.

Provide your customers with personalized service

E-commerce makes it possible to greet and help every return customer with individualized attention.A computer can recognize repeat customers much easier than even a stellar employee can.With some programming, your online system can suggest additional products that your customer may be interested in as well as provide exclusive benefits to keep those customers feeling important and coming back for more.Having these personalized features are also helpful to the business owner because of the opportunity that he or she has to track customer buying trends and make more accurate marketing decisions as a result.

Opportunities to share information that builds customer loyalty

At the point of sale, there are relatively few opportunities to educate the customer on what your company is all about.When the customer is in the store they are more concerned about getting in and out quickly, than they are about learning about your company's vision or goals for the future.Online, however, the customer is much more likely to use their spare time to search through your online site.Doing so from home is much less intimidating.As the small business owner, you can take advantage of the opportunities to post information about the company and even offer free online services.For example, if you were a marketing consultant, you could offer your online customers free articles or research that may be helpful to them (yet distributed with minimal cost to you).You can personalize your company and develop customer loyalty through smart wording, descriptions, and the offering of something of value.Your efforts to educate the buyer are relatively minimal at first, but the benefits can be far reaching.