Article from September 1998 issue of The Profit Zone Newsletter
Back to School: the ABC's of E-Commerce
The end of the summer stirs up all kinds of mixed emotions and memories... If you're like me, I had a love/hate relationship with school as a child. On one hand, I hated seeing summer end and closely guarded my freedom from schedules, homework, bedtimes, and such. On the other hand, I loved to start a new school year, learn new things, meet new people and move one year ahead in grade status. Ah... the way those younger kids looked up to us - the upper classmen - was quite enjoyable! Remember those days? You could say that the Internet is like school, too. And summer's over! So let's hit the books and learn how we can be the upper classmen... the successful Netrepreneurs that "newbies" can look up to. Now class, this new Internet school year's focus is to get your erasers out and wipe out all you know about the Internet. That's right! If you think you know all there is to know, then you can't learn anything new. Over time, many marketing methods have succeeded and failed leaving us with new things to learn and very importantly, old things to unlearn. Since the Internet keeps changing, we have to change with it if we want to survive, and of course, succeed. One of the most significant changes occurring online is the growth of E-Commerce (electronic commerce). It is growing in leaps and bounds! So fast, in fact, that it has surpassed the incredible growth rate of Internet users. Jerome Samson, director of technology and business strategy at Nielsen Media Research states, "Using results from a January 1997 study as a baseline, the number of Internet users increased at a robust compounded rate of 2.5 percent a month through June 1998. In that same 18 month period, the number of on-line buyers increased even more dramatically. From January 1997 to September 1997, the number of on-line buyers grew at a rate of 3.5 percent a month. From September through June 1998, the growth in on-line buyers accelerated to 8 percent a month!" What does all this mean? People are spending their money more and more online than ever before! Why? Because they feel more secure about it and love the convenience of online e-commerce. Here are two reasons why people feel more secure about buying online than they used to: 1. Secure online ordering Gone are the days of homemade websites that prompt people to call to order or mail a check. Now most websites take credit cards and offer interactive forms, secure servers, even shopping carts in some cases. If you want to cash in on this exciting growth, you better have an e-commerce friendly website! 2. Credibility People shopping online need to know that you're a REAL BUSINESS that will honor the transaction they are about to make. The sudden turn upward in growth reflects that more and more electronic storefronts are winning over their customers because they seem CREDIBLE. Although there are many websites doing business online that are owned by large corporations with advertising budgets the size of China and brands that everyone recognizes, any small business can still play this game. The best place to start is to have your website designed or re-designed professionally. Think about it... Your website is the first thing a prospective customer sees and totally shapes his impression of you. (You wouldn't setup a shabby tin shack on the street and expect to have tidal waves of customers coming to buy from you, would you?) If you look professional, he/she will feel more confident about giving you his money. These days professional website design doesn't have to cost you a fortune either. Many companies offer website design as part of a hosting package, especially online malls. Even better yet, some of these packages will include the secure online ordering and the shopping cart you need, too! (Visit our website to see who we recommend...) Only one year ago, we were all hoping and wishing to see commerce on the Internet grow... Now it has. Now we have real data, real numbers, real information to tell us what we can and must do to succeed. No more guessing! We feel so strongly about this here at Worldwide TeleNet, that we have completely restructured our entire website to show you the NEW PATH to E-Commerce success. And this new path consists of three steps, or phases, you need to follow from start to finish: Step #1: Getting Your Business Online (the right way!) Step #2: Telling the Web You Exist Step #3: Reaching Your Target Audience Just like going back to school, you can love AND hate the changes on the Internet. But what a wonderful feeling when you've accomplished your goal - to MAKE MONEY ONLINE! Visit our award winning website's grand "re-opening" at http://www.profitzone.com. We'll walk you through, step by step, revealing the ABC's of E-Commerce success on the ever-changing Internet! __________________________________________________________________ This month's Profit Zone Marketing News is by Jeanne Pritt of Worldwide TeleNet, creators of "The Profit Zone" at http://www.profitzone.com * Discover how to CAPTURE HIDDEN PROFITS by delivering information instantly when prospects are HOT! Click Here --> http://www.profitzone.com/k2aweber.shtml * How to START and PROMOTE Virtually ANY BUSINESS, Product or Service on the INTERNET! Click Here --> http://www.profitzone.com/k3corey.shtml * Discover how to PROMOTE YOUR WEBSITE on 400+ SITES with just ONE CLICK of a button! Click Here --> http://www.profitzone.com/k2linko.shtml * ADVERTISE Your Product or Service on Websites Worldwide for FREE! Click Here --> http://www.profitzone.com/k3iadisk.shtml * Discover what exactly makes the difference between the "INTERNET SUCCESS STORIES" and the "Obscure Web Marketers! Click Here --> http://www.profitzone.com/k2inside.shtml
Subscribe NOW! It's FREE! The Profit Zone Newsletter Subscription Form
Click your browser's back button to see the previous page...