Ideally, it’s always best to encourage buyers to purchase from your website. Purchasing from your website offers significantly less overhead on your part. No one needs to ring up the purchase and customer service doesn’t need to be delivered on-site.
Image credit: Stuart Miles | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Offer unique promotions and discounts.
Many people will transition to ordering off of your website if a discount is offered regarding your products. You can offer something as minimal as a 5 percent discount to encourage online sales.
Once your consumers see how easy and convenient it is, the consumers will be more willing to order in the future. Offering promotions is a great way to get people to try out your company.
Give free shipping.
One of the reasons many customers hesitate before ordering something from a website rather than buying it in person is because they don’t want to pay for shipping costs. Offering free shipping may be just the push they need. While you will need to absorb the shipping costs, you may still have a wider profit margin than an in-store sale.
When you give free shipping, you may want to review your shipping costs to ensure that they are as low as possible. Packaging materials and other items can be purchased in bulk.
Offer various payment options.
Depending on the price point of the items you sell, it’s a good idea to offer credit and various payment options. In today’s digital world, customers are looking for options. You can allow customers to pay through PayPal or Amazon Payments.
A monthly payment option is also a great option. Some customers may be hesitant to fork out $90 up front, but three payments of $30 a month seems more affordable for them.
Make your website user-friendly.
If your website isn’t user-friendly, consumers won’t want to use it. Payments should be easy to make and automatic, and the website itself should display all of your products and services neatly.
All of your information, such as returns and guarantees, should be clearly displayed so that there is no uncertainty when consumers go to make their order.
Ensure your consumers know about the website.
Mail out flyers regarding your website, and always keep your website URL on all your business materials, such as brochures and business cards. If your consumers don’t know about the website, there’s absolutely no way they’ll be able to order from you. Small business owners can also let their customers know directly when they are at the store.
Create a rewards program.
Rewards programs are excellent ways to keep your consumers engaged. Create a rewards program that is based on online sales – if you purchase enough items on the online store, you’ll be allowed to get another item of a certain price. You can also create certain events based around three-day weekends and other holidays. This will generate both excitement and interest.
Using the above tactics, many companies have been able to transition to primarily online sales. Online sales have wider profit margins and are much easier to manage, making them highly sought after.
About the Author:
Kandace Heller is a freelance writer in Orlando, Florida. She loves to research and share information with others. Kandace got information on different payment options from payin3.com.
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