By John freech
Marketing an online business can be challenging for many business owners, but when you put yourself in the shoes of a potential customer it can simply your promotional efforts. Customers have a need to trust a business before they choose to make a purchase from them.
When you think as a potential customer, you look at all of the reasons why you would not want to purchase a product from your website. Trust is one of the leading reasons for not making a purchase. Remember that a customer can not touch or feel the product you are selling. They do not have any personal interaction with you or any salesperson. When you take those obstacles and expect someone to share their address, email and credit card information with a data collection tool, you can understand the fear that keeps a portion of the population from buying from some websites.
There are many steps you can take to build trust and make your website more appealing to a buyer. An online business owner should always strive to make a buying experience as easy and rewarding for a customer as possible. The best place to start is by having a clean and professional looking website. Make sure that your site includes an About Us or Contact page which includes an address and email and telephone contact information.
Your site should also include appropriate links for Terms and Conditions, a Privacy Policy and a Refund Policy. If you are accepting credit cards, you should already have a secure socket layer encryption certificate installed. When you are accepting payments, try to include as many options as possible. While credit cards are the most popular form of payment, there are some people who prefer PayPal.
Another way to build trust with customers is by having an email list. Offer an incentive for customers to sign up to your email list such as a newsletter or special sales offers. Over time, with regular informative emails, you will build a relationship with your customer by adding value. Also, by having an email list, you help build repeat business. Many online customers perform a search when they need a product and will repeat the process the next time they need a product. There is no point in risking that their search will result in their choosing another business. By establishing regular email communications with your customers, you keep your brand name in front of them.
The most important means of establishing trust with customers is by offering outstanding customer service. At the end of the day, no one wants there to be a hassle with ordering online. Ideally, customers want to order a product and have it show up at their doorstep a few days later. Establishing a policy of shipping products within 24 hours of an order being placed will set a consistent expectation with your customers. If there is ever a reason that you will not be able to meet a customer's expectation or will fall behind your standard shipment schedule, communicate this to the customer. Customer service queries should always be addressed within 24 hours, but during business hours you should try to respond within an hour or two. Remember that if you impress your customers, they will remember you.
Customers are the reason you are in business and as a small business owner you need to ensure that they trust you and remember you as a business that offers great service. Doing so will build your success over time and provide for "word of mouth" recommendations which carry more weight than any paid advertising.
Tim Knight is a work from home dad and entrepreneur who specializes in internet marketing and investments. He has over 15 years experience in the financial services industry in financial analysis, relationship management and consulting. Tim runs a website at http://www.cashresidual.com where he provides assistance to those looking to establish an online business or presence.
Marketing an online business can be challenging for many business owners, but when you put yourself in the shoes of a potential customer it can simply your promotional efforts. Customers have a need to trust a business before they choose to make a purchase from them.
When you think as a potential customer, you look at all of the reasons why you would not want to purchase a product from your website. Trust is one of the leading reasons for not making a purchase. Remember that a customer can not touch or feel the product you are selling. They do not have any personal interaction with you or any salesperson. When you take those obstacles and expect someone to share their address, email and credit card information with a data collection tool, you can understand the fear that keeps a portion of the population from buying from some websites.
There are many steps you can take to build trust and make your website more appealing to a buyer. An online business owner should always strive to make a buying experience as easy and rewarding for a customer as possible. The best place to start is by having a clean and professional looking website. Make sure that your site includes an About Us or Contact page which includes an address and email and telephone contact information.
Your site should also include appropriate links for Terms and Conditions, a Privacy Policy and a Refund Policy. If you are accepting credit cards, you should already have a secure socket layer encryption certificate installed. When you are accepting payments, try to include as many options as possible. While credit cards are the most popular form of payment, there are some people who prefer PayPal.
Another way to build trust with customers is by having an email list. Offer an incentive for customers to sign up to your email list such as a newsletter or special sales offers. Over time, with regular informative emails, you will build a relationship with your customer by adding value. Also, by having an email list, you help build repeat business. Many online customers perform a search when they need a product and will repeat the process the next time they need a product. There is no point in risking that their search will result in their choosing another business. By establishing regular email communications with your customers, you keep your brand name in front of them.
The most important means of establishing trust with customers is by offering outstanding customer service. At the end of the day, no one wants there to be a hassle with ordering online. Ideally, customers want to order a product and have it show up at their doorstep a few days later. Establishing a policy of shipping products within 24 hours of an order being placed will set a consistent expectation with your customers. If there is ever a reason that you will not be able to meet a customer's expectation or will fall behind your standard shipment schedule, communicate this to the customer. Customer service queries should always be addressed within 24 hours, but during business hours you should try to respond within an hour or two. Remember that if you impress your customers, they will remember you.
Customers are the reason you are in business and as a small business owner you need to ensure that they trust you and remember you as a business that offers great service. Doing so will build your success over time and provide for "word of mouth" recommendations which carry more weight than any paid advertising.
Tim Knight is a work from home dad and entrepreneur who specializes in internet marketing and investments. He has over 15 years experience in the financial services industry in financial analysis, relationship management and consulting. Tim runs a website at http://www.cashresidual.com where he provides assistance to those looking to establish an online business or presence.
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