Build better bricks and mortar with a multi-billion dollar network
According to comScore, more than $117 billion was transferred from Internet customers to Internet providers in 2004. That’s one billion with B. Compared to the previous year, this value means an increase in sales of 24%. Compared to the early 1990s, when the Internet was a questionable commercial venture, today’s $117 billion proves that the Web is a legitimate money-making machine. It seems like such a big pie that any retailer with a website could get a big piece.
Not so fast. Any marketer who has tried to tackle the Internet will tell you that making profits on the Internet is not as easy as putting together a few pages. Professional websites are very expensive in terms of design, display and maintenance. Either you have to hire a full-time editor or technician to run your online store, or you have to pay a triple-digit hourly wage to outsourced online specialists. You will then have to pay hosting, broadband and IT maintenance costs.
Even after you’ve spent all the capital and launched your website, you still have no guarantees. Your website will have millions if not billions of them. Yes, that’s still billions with a B. After all, the Internet is like a clear sky on a dark night. How can you expect a customer to choose your star among all the others that shine and catch their attention?
On the Internet, you’ll quickly realize that attracting customers and building an online business is just as difficult as opening your first brick-and-mortar store. It requires smart investments, creative marketing, a little luck and a lot more knowledge.
However, the beauty of the business side of the web is that your old knowledge transfers very well to the web. A good example is the timeless marketing saying: “Location, location, location.” This saying also applies to the Internet. You can place your storefront somewhere on the web where you won’t be discovered, or you can place it in a “high traffic corner” of the internet.
An example of this is
online classifieds sites. These websites offer similar services to newspaper advertisements. Sellers can place advertisements on the Internet that describe a specific product for sale. Buyers view these offers and, if interested, contact the sellers. However, online ads are much more dynamic. They allow the retailer to showcase dozens or even hundreds of their products with photos and descriptions. And believe it or not, some online job boards let you do this for free. Yes, with an F it’s free.
The benefits don’t end there. As a seller of a classifieds site, you can benefit from:
The shop that never closes. Your properties are for sale 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The internet never goes out.
shopping center that offers online shopping. Think of your classifieds website like a virtual mall with ads grouped under your virtual storefront. A storefront allows you to place your website and listings on your classifieds page.
chain reaction of purchases. “Real” shoppers go to a mall to visit one store, but often end up browsing every store in the mall. The same applies to virtual customers. Even if they visit a classifieds site looking for a specific item, they will likely “shop” at your store out of curiosity. At the very least, this leads to advertising for your shop; Business at its best.
Advantage only from online sellers. Your classifieds site connects you with smart online sellers who only sell their products online. This is where your stationery store comes in handy. It’s been proven that buyers seem to trust online sellers who have a real address and store.