What if you see your competitors offering eCommerce options for the same kinds of products & services that you provide?

It might finally be time to let your website turn literally into a revenue producing machine as so many great websites are today. This does not require a radical shift or business transformation. It’s simply a different and easier way of conducting transactions and collecting money.

From Information to Remuneration

Plenty of high performing eCommerce sites are really hybrids that combine marketing & public relations, lead generation and direct eCommerce sales. Some of those sites were originally information or lead generation based websites which now have seamless eCommerce experiences built into them. You can do the same thing any time you want.

The “when” to monetize your website depends on whether your team is willing to go through a modest learning curve of getting on a new dashboard or two and managing inventories & data much the same as they do now using an ERP system or other database. And you can easily integrate your eCommerce workflows into existing ERP systems, automating the process. Plus, money is deposited right into your account with no collection time or effort.

Happier Customers

Fulfilling eCommerce orders may even be easier as there is less customer interaction, especially upfront. Most eCommerce shoppers know what they want by the time they’re checking out and paying the bill.

The “how” to monetize your website is best left to experienced marketing experts and eCommerce website developers. As a director of those services, of course I would say that, and with full confidence knowing you don’t want to “try this at home.” Every successful business owner knows to consult and work with specialists because they are specialists themselves and understand the common mistakes made in the DIY world. However, we can certainly give pointers.

A Few Tips for Monetizing Your Website

• Have your website on an open source platform like WordPress or choose an eCommerce platform like Shopify, Magento, etc…
• Choose an eCommerce plugin if needed such as Woocommerce.
• Choose a payment processor like Stripe, Square, etc.
• Plan logistics for fulfilling online orders, including carriers and shipping cost calculations.
• Design and build your store using intuitive navigation and calls to action.
• Include a marketing campaign to drive traffic directly to your eCommerce landing pages.
• Enjoy the business growth!

As you can see, it’s all pretty simple and straightforward! The only warning I feel the need to offer is to understand that you are committing your brand as an eCommerce offering and it’s important to honor that commitment by following through on quality deliveries. Confident of that, it might be good to jump in!

May your website make money for you all the days of your business life…

The post When & How to Monetize Your Website appeared first on Chuck Sink Link.

We all know things are different. Now is the time to review every aspect of your service delivery and learn to accommodate the needs and preferences of your customers. Do this right and it will provide you the added bonus of tapping new markets and revenue sources.

If you lead a small business or run a microbusiness, you either have eCommerce, will find a place to add eCommerce to your options, or eCommerce will find it’s way onto your website before competitors lure too many of your clients away with innovative and rewarding online provisions.

eCommerce is increasingly deployed in facilitating the delivery of services, and no products are off limits to electronic transactions on the internet. You can easily buy a car online and have it delivered, and now it’s common for houses to be purchased completely online without showings. If your customers prefer to shop and pay online, it’s your job to give them the goods.

Simple eCommerce Examples

A great way to enter the world of eCommerce is incrementally. You can start with one or two products and build out from there. A few of our clients have done so.

• A photography school recently added prerecorded classes for sale online, opening the doors for more amateur and professional photographers to learn skills & techniques that make them better customers at the online camera supply company that owns that photography school.
• An auto parts supplier that excels in telephone sales & service also offers customers their searchable inventory for sale online, making the processing of small orders almost effortless. Setting up a linked eBay store was a readily available solution that works well for them.
• An industrial netting supplier that specializes in custom-engineered netting solutions is adding over a dozen new products in a new online store to go head-to-head with a competitor in the online consumer market. After determining they can match a competitor’s prices and offer a superior product, the plan is to grow their direct to consumer business.

Now that snow is flying, ski areas are rushing to provide convenient, online ticket sales and touchless RFID card scanning systems that replace wearable tickets. The resorts that make the process easiest for skiers & snowboarders will end up serving the most guests.

“I wish I had eCommerce!”

Rocket Science is for Astrophysicists, not Online Shoppers!

Start simply and keep it simple. An easy toe-dip into eCommerce might be to provide an option to prepay for a defined service package using an online payment portal with auto-responder notifications.

Doing business online doesn’t have to be rocket science. A rule of thumb is, keep it simple for both your customers and your fulfilment team. Grow your eCommerce offerings as you gain experience.

If you would like a complimentary workbook that takes you step-by-step in how to set up your eCommerce store successfully, click here and type “e-commerce workbook” in the message field.

The post Add eCommerce to Your Business appeared first on Chuck Sink Link.

My colleague Jon Parker and I recently presented a 1-hour Webinar to members and guests of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce on how to jump into eCommerce. Moderator Emily Marsh did a superb job hosting the virtual event. You can watch the entire Webinar in the recording below.

We’re happy to summarize a few basics if you don’t have 45 minutes + to watch the whole video. Let’s start with the general theme of the event: Keep it simple!

eCommerce by the Bullet Points

If you and your business are brand new to eCommerce, here are some guidelines to start out successfully.

• Definition: Commercial transactions conducted electronically on the internet.
• Why eCommerce? Because you need to conduct business with customers where they are now – online.
• Your eCommerce Goals: More revenue, new customer segments, accelerate growth, business transformation? Let your goals guide your strategy.
• Are set up and maintenance costs expensive? Expect some additional fees above what a static informational site costs. Keeping your offers simple and using readily available and compatible platforms keep costs way down.
• Platforms and Payment Processing: With myriad options for eCommerce platforms and payment processing integrations, it’s generally best to stick with the popular, proven, most recommended platforms. Look at the reviews or talk with experienced consultants like us.
• How can you assure success? Simplicity has served salespeople and merchants since money was invented. The attempt to offer everyone in the world everything your company does has killed more marketing campaigns than can be counted. Keep it simple!
• Limit the scope of your offering when you launch. Start with your best sellers. Maybe just one product/service. Limiting choices, especially in the beginning, makes it mentally easier for customers to buy.
• Build out product categories and options gradually. Gain experience, data and revenue traction with your best sellers to help fuel your online store’s expansion and growth.
• Use premium photography and video. Be honest! Do your pictures pass your own quality test as a consumer yourself? Would you buy your own product based on your own pictures and video representations? INVEST IN YOUR BRAND – these are valuable and reusable assets!
• It’s all about the User Experience! Simple design, attractive merchandising, limited options and easy transaction processes are the experiences online consumers want. And that makes your job simpler!
• Think through the logistics. Plan for success! When the orders come in, are you ready to fulfill each one to every customer’s satisfaction? Inventory, size, weight, packaging, shipper, postage/freight calculations, shipping labels, accounting or ERP integration…? If a service, how will you schedule sessions or book appointments?
• How will customers find your online store? eCommerce requires a sufficient volume of targeted traffic or leads that will buy, to be profitable. Be sure to implement a prelaunch and ongoing lead generation/marketing campaign.
• Lead Generation – eCommerce Synergy:  A “grand opening” with no customers can be a major disappointment. Make sure to have a lead generation strategy in place or already running by the time you launch. Use strategic paid advertising and email marketing to boost your SEO efforts to gain traffic. Test different offers and dial in your campaigns as you go.

Now, If you have finally decided to go eCommerce, I offer you the pièce de résistance! Contact us here for your free eCommerce Planning Workbook, compliments of Chuck Sink Link and Recharged Solutions. Just type “eCommerce Workbook” in the Message section.

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