Convenience attracts consumers and increases the reach and sales of brands
While physical retail results have been shaken by the economic crisis, the e-commerce scenario is completely different. According to data from ABComm (Brazilian Association of Electronic Commerce), in 2017, online sales grew by 12% compared to the previous year, generating nearly 60 billion reais and totaling almost 2013 million packages sent by Brazilian virtual stores. And for 2018, the forecast is even better, potentially generating over 69 billion reais.
With all this, it is safe to say that creating a sales website for your store is more than a bet; it is the guarantee of the future of your business.
What is e-commerce and how does it work
E-commerce, also known as e-commerce, is the process of buying and selling products or services over the internet, on virtual platforms. Through it, brands can provide a better experience for their customers, facilitating their purchases and, at the same time, finding a new audience, reaching those people for whom the store would be inaccessible (in terms of location) or simply overlooked.
E-commerce was introduced to the market back in the 1960s, with the development of electronic data interchange, which allowed mail and fax to be delivered electronically. But it was only in the 1990s, with the expansion of internet access, that it really evolved, giving rise to various sales sites like Amazon and eBay.
Today, transactions on sales websites are typically divided into three distinct categories: business to business, where online transactions occur between two companies; business to consumer, where a brand sells directly to its end consumer online; and consumer to consumer, which is a new model of sales website that mediates the buying and selling of products between customers themselves.
Advantages of creating a sales website
Your store will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
By creating a sales website, your customers can learn more about your products at any time of the day and view them as many times as necessary from anywhere, facilitating their decision-making at the time of purchase.
Greater reach, more sales
In a physical store, your business is limited to selling to consumers in the area. In a virtual store, on the other hand, there is no such location barrier, as the online universe allows you to open your doors to people all over the world at the same time. Thus, expanding your customer base and consequently increasing your revenue.
You get to know your customer better
In a physical store, it is impossible to know precisely how many times each customer visited and looked at a particular product before making a purchase. However, when you have a sales website, it is possible to track each customer click by click, providing more clarity about the process and helping in decision-making regarding possible changes to make the virtual store more effective.
How to create a sales website
Creating a persuasive, attractive, and easy-to-navigate sales website is not an easy task, and at this stage, you will certainly need the help of an agency specialized in sales website creation. But in addition to the website development itself, there are other decisive factors for those who want to create a successful sales website. Here are some to start planning:
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STOCK: Having a good stock is fundamental to optimize logistics and reduce storage costs. Additionally, having total control over the stock can prevent issues with your future consumers and ensure that your site's reputation is not tarnished by complaints.
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CUSTOMER SERVICE: Good and efficient customer service is the foundation of any business, including those that operate online. Therefore, determine how the entire sector will function, what channels you will make available, and at what hours. Remember: this sector is very important and should never be neglected.
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EXCHANGES: In a virtual store, trust is everything. Therefore, establish and make available on the site a clear and flexible exchange and return policy. Respect deadlines and always act in accordance with the Consumer Defense Code (CDC).
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PROMOTION: The rule is clear: if no one knows about your sales website, no one will access it, let alone buy anything from it. Therefore, invest heavily in digital marketing tools, such as SEO optimization, paid links, email marketing, and social media.