| Almost everyone wants to get online these | | | | completed system to weed out potential bugs |
| days with an e-commerce website/ online store | | | | and problems before it is released for actual |
| and start selling to the global masses. But | | | | public use. Test the e-commerce system |
| before you build or design your e-commerce | | | | yourself and get your friends to do it with |
| website, keep in mind the below tips. | | | | you before you open your ‘store’ |
| | | | to the world. Launch your online store only |
| Remove customers’ fear | | | | when you are completely satisfied with the |
| | | | ordering process. Otherwise, go back to the |
| How easy is it to use your product? How easy | | | | drawing board. |
| is it to place an order? How easy is it to | | | | |
| get a refund if I am not completely | | | | Check out the competition |
| satisfied? If your customers are not | | | | |
| convinced that using your product is as easy | | | | It’s always healthy – not to |
| as ABC, they won’t buy it. They may | | | | mention fun – to watch your rivals and |
| need it but they won’t buy it unless | | | | learn from them. It’s easy to do this |
| you show them that it is easy to use/install. | | | | on the Internet because you can always surf |
| | | | into their websites and check out what |
| Since there’s nothing to touch or feel | | | | they’re doing right and more |
| online, give your customers a demo version if | | | | importantly, what they’re doing wrong. |
| you can. Let them have the freedom to try out | | | | Observe and apply what is interesting to your |
| your product before they decide to buy. If | | | | own online store but never copy! It’s |
| you sell tangible products, give away | | | | not being sneaky, it’s called checking |
| samples. Many people are hesitant until they | | | | out your competition. |
| get a free trial version or samples. Also, | | | | |
| make it clear that you will be there to guide | | | | Make them trust you |
| and help them in case of any problem. | | | | |
| | | | Trust is important if you are selling online |
| Make it easy to buy | | | | because if your customers don’t trust |
| | | | you, they won’t buy from you. To enable |
| If they’re going to buy from you | | | | them to trust you, be as explicit as |
| online, ensure the ordering process is easy | | | | possible. Display your privacy policy and |
| and uncomplicated. Don’t have too many | | | | return policy clearly. State how you will |
| steps – people may not have the | | | | ship products to customers and what happens |
| patience to go through different pages and | | | | if there are returns. What else can you do to |
| clicking on a dozen yeses before they finally | | | | grow trust? Put up a money back guarantee so |
| get to ‘buy’ the product. Value | | | | that the risk is completely on you, not on |
| the input from your web developer but take a | | | | the customer. Assure the customer that others |
| closer look at the ordering process before | | | | have bought safely from you by putting up |
| the website goes live. | | | | customer reviews or testimonials. Use real |
| | | | customer names for greater credibility when |
| Try beta testing – this is what web | | | | you are putting up testimonials. |
| developers call real user testing of a | | | | |