These days, online shopping is so popular and so common that it's hard to believe it has been going on for less than 30 years. The first online bookstore opened in 1992, followed by online banking and online pizza.
One-third of people who shop online use a search engine to find products and services only. About one out of four online shoppers find websites by word of mouth. Research shows that 60 percent of shoppers who have a good experience with an online merchant will return to that website for more shopping.
Successful online marketplaces focus on building relationships with customers and satisfying their needs and expectations. Websites should be informative, reliable, and easy to navigate. Merchants will be more likely to succeed if they focus on attracting customers rather than selling products or services. They can do this by providing additional information, such as relevant articles, price comparisons, discussion boards, links, and reviews to keep the interest of visitors. For example, a travel site that sells cruise vacations might offer a free, downloadable e-book on a travel destination. A site that sells men's health products may include a podcast on nutrition or exercise. People like to shop from people who give them something they value.
What do people shop for online? Well, just about anything. Books, clothes, shoes, cosmetics, toys, household items, and toiletries are popular web purchases. About one-quarter of airplane travelers compare travel costs and buy their tickets online. Online shopping is not all about buying: people shop for dates and mates online as well. Online matchmaking is proving very rewarding for many folks.
While early online merchants specialized in a particular product or service, more and more websites now offer a wide array of goods. It is not uncommon to find one site that carries thousands of items as diverse as garden plants and theatre tickets. Another trend is to link from a site that's like a department store or variety store to specialty shops. The specialty shop pays the "department store" a commission every time a visitor clicks on the link (pay per click) or perhaps when the linker makes a purchase.
Entrepreneurs can find plenty of business opportunities through online shopping. They can buy into franchises, get involved in affiliate marketing, or find any number of moneymaking schemes. But, buyer beware! Some of these schemes are legitimate and some are not. It's up to the consumer to do the research and use common sense before signing on the dotted line and plunking down money. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
What are some of the other advantages of online shopping? It's easy to compare features and prices online. Consumers can shop from the comfort of home, avoiding travel time and expense and crowded stores. In addition, they have access to a huge variety of products. Delivery is usually very quick, and most merchants offer guarantees and reasonable return policies.
It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but online shopping is here to stay.
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About the Author
Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2011 (Wed Dec 09 2009) Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource internet marketing web site at: http://www.majon.com
