eCommerce Solutions for your Web Site

So, you want to sell stuff online? You may have a business or maybe you just want to de-clutter your home of those “hidden treasures”. Anyway you look at it, this is eCommerce.

eCommerce: The very word scares a lot of people, but there isn’t really any magic to it. If you want to sell online, you can do it! What you need to know are the types of eCommerce that are available to you and the methods that you can go about to start making money. Below is a list of the ways that you can get online.

Business-to-Consumer (B2C): This is the eCommerce that most people think about when they hear of selling online. With this style, you have an online storefront and customers come to your web site and buy things from you. Doing this typically involves having an online merchant account through a bank and paying a small percentage off of each sale to this merchant account. There is usually a monthly fee involved, as well, so you’ll want to make sure you are selling product to off-set these costs.

There are other, more cost-effective ways of selling online. One of these methods is with Google Checkout. This method allows you to sell online with the use of a credit card. It is similar to eBay’s PayPal, but lacks payment of cash from one person to another. Still, I know of people using this method now without an online merchant account. It may be something to consider if you just want to “test the waters” of eCommerce.

Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C): I am sure you know of this type of eCommerce, though may be unfamiliar of the name. This is the type of commerce that people use on auction sites, like eBay or sale sites, like the craft web site called, Etsy. These type of sites usually ask for a nominal transition fee for allowing you to place an item for sale on their sites.

Business-to-Business (B2B): This type of site has been around for a long time. This type of transaction makes up the majority of all commerce online. Types of these sites would include, but are not limited to: Company Web Sites, Product Supply and Procurement Sites, and Pay-for-Information Sites.

Consumer-to-Business (C2B): How does this one work, you ask? This type of site is when the consumer requests a service from a business. A typical site like this would be the William Shatner promoted Priceline.com. You contact the business and tell them what you want to pay.

Adding an eCommerce model to your business does not have to be complex. Our services can either consult you on the processes to start your own online sales or we can set up everything for you.

Contact myWebSource1 if you are interested in selling online today.

Email: The Practically Free Marketing Strategy

by James Fowler
www.mywebsource1.com

Do you email your customers?

Email marketing can be very effective, but you have to be careful. The difference between an email marketing letter and spam is a razor-thin line. You must know your customer to email them. Most businesses don’t even know their customers to email them. It amazes me how many places I have worked with don’t collect an email with every person that walks through their door or purchases from them. I’ve even run into businesses that don’t keep the emails from the people who have purchased from them online! While you can rent email lists, the email method of contacting your customers is almost free and should be a staple in your marketing strategy!

Some simple rules to follow in making your own email campaign:

• Email specials to your customers once a month. Too little and they forget who you are, too many and you become a nuisance.
• Your email could be special, but better yet, if you want to get the emails opened on a regular basis, combine your special with some news-related items. Make it a newsletter if you have the time and mix in a special.
• If you want to email more than once a month, offer the customer something like a coupon aimed directly at them. Example: “Thank you for shopping with us. Here is an extra 10% off coupon if you buy something else in the next 60 days.”
• Invite your customers to open houses or meet-and-greets at your storefront.
• Always, always, always collect an email and keep it for your list. Have your customer service people automatically ask for an email when the phone rings.
• Add a spot on your web site to collect emails from potential customers.
• Every person you meet, every business card you collect should be added to your email list.
  

Hopefully, in time, your list will grow to thousands of people and your business will grow as your advertising costs go down!

Who Is Your Customer?

Who is important to your business?

Who should you sell to on your web site?

Who do you want to contact?

An existing customer is easier to sell to than prospecting a new customer. You want to keep in contact with people that have already given you money. Someone that has already said "Yes! I want your product or service!" should be at the top of your marketing plan.

In any business word-of-mouth (or "word-of-mouse" on the web) is generated by people that know you and your existing customers. Keeping these people happy is a keystone to your business success.

Finally, don't write someone off just because you "thought" they were going to be a customer. Keep their name and information. Email them or call from time to time. A "no" today, may be just a "not yet, thanks".

Needs, Wants, and Desires

by James Fowler
http://www.mywebsource1.com/

Traditionally, the three basic needs are food, clothing and shelter. They are the necessities to survive and have made man the predominate species on the planet. In our modern age, however, the “Need” has grown to more than just the “big three”. Today, we “Need” money to pay for certain things that are required, by law. For instance, you need to have electricity in your house. Thus, you “need” some sort of income or assistance to pay for that electricity.

“Wants” and “Desires” are similar, but different. A “Want” is something that is obtainable, but must have a “Need” to fulfill it. For instance, you “want” to go on vacation, so you “Need” to make the money to do so.

Finally, a “Desire” is something that is long-term and may be unattainable. It cannot be aided with use of a “Need”. You may desire to be an Olympic high-jumper, but you must face the reality that you are 40 years old and overweight.

In business, it is important to fulfill either a “Need” or a “Want”. Typically, “Needs” are easier to sell, but “Wants” will bring in the big bucks. But what happens on the very rare occasion that a “Need” moves over to being a “Want”?

This is happening today. Gasoline prices have now gotten so high that they have gone from the “Need” of fuel for transportation to a “Want” of being able to go somewhere.

With gasoline prices threatening to be above $4.00 and more a gallon this summer, the gas companies have over-priced a “Need” within this company and have moved it to be a “Want”. No longer can the average person making a minimum wage salary afford to fill their automobile with gasoline. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed by our government.

While this is a burden on all of us, to some, it is a crisis. For example, let us say that the analysts are correct and gasoline goes to $4.00 a gallon. To fill a 15 gallon tank of gas will require you to put $60 worth of fuel into your gas tank. Most people need to do this once a week. So this means that approximately $240 a month is spent on fuel. Now, let us take a look at the person making minimum wage. If they work the full time of 40 hours/week at $5.15 per hour, they should bring home approximately $140.00 per week after taxes. Sixty dollars of that is going to fill up their vehicle (assuming they only have a 15 gallon tank) leaving them with $80 a week to spend on other “Needs”. Let us say they rent an apartment at a rate of $320 per month. Most of you will say that this is a very low price for rent. Well, that just ate up the remaining $80 they had to spend from their paycheck. This leaves them no money for food or clothing – the other basic “Needs”.

A person who makes $10,712 per year working minimum wage – and this is before taxes – is NOT considered at a poverty level – yet somehow they are expected to live off of this amount. Likewise, if it were a family of four, with two working individuals at 40 hours per week at minimum wage – they are just above the poverty line.

In a time when gasoline is so important to how we move around, the gasoline companies have overpriced their product. They have moved it from a “Need” to a “Want”. They say that it is because of our nation’s reliance on gasoline, problems with the refineries, injuries at the refineries, or someone had a hangnail…whatever the excuse, they are making billion dollar profits.

So, you will hear of “Gas Boycott Days” on the internet – which don’t mean a thing. The only true way of solving this problem is to find alternative fuel sources, buy vehicles that conserve gas (and these aren’t American cars unfortunately) and start carpooling the way they did it in the 1970s. The gas companies won’t feel a crunch until we stop using their resources in the abundance we do today. If everyone stopped driving in a car without a passenger, gas consumption would drop. Will it make a difference? I am not sure that it would be that significant. I am sure there would be a fire or someone with a stubbed toe to increase the price.