Can Your Business Make Money on the Web

The Internet has been around long enough for companies to see phenomenal success and others to crash and burn. Many business owners and marketing professionals are wondering if they can make money and grow their business on-line, or has the Web turned into a risky marketing venture. Despite what you may have heard about dot com companies failing, there are great opportunities to use the Web as a powerful promotional tool for your business. This article will ask the questions that can help you determine if there are opportunities for your business on the Internet and give you a few pointers on getting results.

Internet Target Market

Are the people who buy your products and services on the Internet? Research shows that as many as 40% of Americans may never log on to the Internet. Is your target market a part of this 40%? This number is shrinking, as more people become comfortable with the Internet and as Generation Y, individuals under 25, gain more purchasing power. Remember, the most affluent buyers are on the Internet. Business2.com reports that 67 million people actively use the Internet and total Internet users number about 148 million. The key question you must ask is: "Are my current, and potential, customers using the Internet to find businesses like mine?" There are marketing research tools available to answer these questions, such as the Goto.com search term suggestion tool. A link that allows users to see how many searches are performed by key word each month.

It's Not All About E-Commerce

Having a strong Internet presence is not all about e-commerce and shopping carts on your Web site. It is very difficult to get on-line orders from your site, unless you already have an extensive and loyal customer base. One of the best uses of the Web is as a lead generator for your sales team. It is a way to make the phone ring, or bring people into your store. Much attention is given to e-retailers, however the real marketing power of your Web site goes well beyond sales transactions via the Internet. A marketing strategy, or Internet marketing plan, sets the direction for how the site will generate sales for your business.

If You are Going to Sell On-Line, Do it Right

It takes a lot of trust for shoppers to buy from an e-business. Many will never buy on-line and 98% of site visitors do nothing when they do visit. The following can help build trust and improve your chances of getting orders:
1. Provide and clearly state your 100% money back guarantee.
2. Clearly state that you have secure credit card processing.
3. Include a privacy policy link on your site.
4. Include an easy to find return policy.
5. Establish a link for testimonials.
6. Have easy to find contact information on every page.
7. Include your address, phone and email.
8. Your BBB logo should be prominently displayed.
9. Include inventory and order tracking information.
10. Send emails that let the customer know their order has been placed, and again when it ships.

As many as 70% of on-line shoppers abandon shopping carts before they make a purchase. Make sure your shopping cart is easy to use and ask for customer feedback. Many on-line shoppers abandon shopping carts, if they can't get immediate answers to their purchasing questions.

Give Away Free Information

Your Web site should help your customers do their job better or enhance the quality of their lives. Do this by including value-added content on your Web site. Businesses often feel this means they are giving away secrets, however the opposite is true, you are building customer trust. Trust is essential, in order for visitors to stay on your site, contact you or buy directly from your Web site.

Look at the Big Three

If you decide to move forward with a Web site, consider three critical areas:
1. Marketing the site to draw in visitors
2. Hosting the site and technical issues
3. Site design, navigation and usability

You have probably heard about these three areas and I will not go into detail here, except to say that you must work with a vendor that understands all three. Excellent marketing of your site means nothing if customers do not understand how to navigate the site or are confused by the usability of the site. In addition, the best Web site in the universe is worthless if no one visits. Finally, a site cannot be effective if hosting problems disable the site. Work with a team that understands these critical components and include all three in your strategy.

Establish an Internet marketing plan and find out if the Internet holds promise as a marketing tool for your business.

Can Your Business Make Money on the Web - To learn more about this author, visit Thomas Young's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Tags:

---

	No article feedback found.
	Leave Your Feedback

---

Kim Castle With nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website

George Ludwig George Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website

Michiel Jonker As a Certified Information Systems Auditor, Michiel assists businesses in a professional capacity by evaluating the threats to their businesses. He acquired the necessary knowledge, skills, and techniques to minimize a business owner’s risk of business failure and to maximize his chances of high growth and success. He strongly believes that you CAN maximize your chances of business success, by implementing the business solution he has advocated for more than 12 years in your business plan and planning. Michiel has decided to share his experience with business owners by putting almost everything he knows in a business plan and survival guide (compiled in an e-book format) and written as a high growth SMB coaching course for SMB business owners, directors and managers - titled as the “Survival Kit for Small and Medium Businesses - Profit from your Business Risks!” According to Michiel, his goal was to add new techniques to a business owner’s business planning survival kit and instruct him or her in using these in the future - without any help from a consultant! For more information about the benefits of implementing profit protection planning in your business, please visit: http://www.business-around-the-globe.com - Visit Michiel Jonker's Website

David Barr David Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website

Anne Barr Anne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website

Casey Gollan Casey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website

Jeff Foster WebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas.  We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing.  - Visit Jeff Foster's Website

David Acheson David Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns.  David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website

To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

Thomas Young Subscribe to Thomas's articles (Visit Thomas's Website) Thomas Young, MBA is a marketing consultant helping companies increase revenues. He is the author of Intuitive Selling (www.IntuitiveSelling.com) Thomas Young is a Platinum author on EvanCarmichael.com

Thomas Young's Complete List Of Marketing Articles Name Email If you enjoyed this article, get Thomas Young's Complete List of Marketing Articles For FREE! More Thomas Young Prospecting The Most Important Part of Selling Can the Internet Grow My Business in a Slow Economy To Gain Mindshare Design with the User in Mind Tips for Better Site Design Do You Have What it Takes to be Successful in Sales Getting Inside the Head of the Web User Selling on the Telephone Part 1 Five Steps to an Intuitive Website The Path to Selling Success Holistic Internet Marketing