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Local E-commerce marketing

Written by: Will Atkinson

Article Overview: Websites and e-commerce take up much of the mindshare around retail these days, but e-commerce still only accounts for about 10% of total retail sales. That means that 90% of purchases are still made IN stores, so if you don't have a great website and shopping cart, you can still compete. Local search tools make it easier than ever to be found by customers who can actually visit your store.

Local E-commerce marketing

We've been hearing for years about how the web and e-commerce are going to revolutionize retail and that shoppers increasingly avoid going to the store. Has that come true? Well, sort of. Sure, the web has changed the game, especially from an information standpoint, but the fact is that the great majority of shoppers still make the great majority of their purchases in stores. So, if you have been struggling to design (or pay for) a professional website, or if your merchandise doesn't lend itself to e-commerce (bulky items, antiques, food, liquor, and produce, etc are all examples), then don't despair. You still have an opportunity to attract a large number of shoppers to your store. In the past, marketing meant direct mail, print advertising, signage and more. These are all expensive and of limited benefit. The new world of web marketing is powerful, but has been very fragmented. What good is advertising on the web, and reaching millions of consumers the world over, if you only want to reach the ones in your area? As a result of all the buzz and traffic on the web, banner and click advertising have become very expensive, and probably not very effective for a small retailer. However, there are new local listing and search tools that are much more affordable, or free, and they allow local shoppers to search for your products and services by area, increasing the chances that out of all the stores out there on the web, they'll find you! Google is one of the leaders in this area, but the other search engines are also adding this functionality and there are other specialty search tools as well. I encourage you to start with Google Local listings and spend some time making sure that you are listed in the proper categories, and then go to some of the others like localsearch.com and business.com to get your business in front of local customers today.

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Article Tags: advertising on the web, antiques, benefit, buzz, click advertising, consumers, despair, direct mail, functionality, google, liquor, mail print, other search engines, print advertising, professional website, proper categories, search tools, shoppers, standpoint, web banner



Related Forum Posts
Chain store hurdles - [quote:3v8nzz4s]Everyone I'm targeting are independent stores which helps me overcome one hurdle. [/quote:3v8nzz4s] What hurdle is that? I know the major stores like B&N, etc. like to deal with buyers and distributors, but I think they all cut some slack to "Local" authors, don't they? Every store I go into has its "Local Section," featuring local authors, as well as books about the locality. I wouldn't bypass them altogether. If you drive past one, why not go in and visit, talk to the manager, see what they say? [quote:3v8nzz4s]Bookstores want to order through Bowkers and I have their info and the ISBN (identification) numbers for my books. [/quote:3v8nzz4s] You mean the major chain ones do, right? Independent stores I think have no problem dealing directly with the publisher/author. But you want to get your money up front if possible in case they go out of business....as too many independents do these days.
Re: Google Local Tutorial - Free Online Advertising - You have done a good job on the tutorial and thanks a million for the information, I have never known about Google Local before. I will implement it immedaitely
Re: How can I promote my site? - I recently added my details to Google Places. Is that the same as a Google Local Business Listing?
Looking for creative ideas - I’m a student of Business management. I have been given a task by a local business to Improve there marketing to increase their sales, after a drop in interest in a certain service. The Business is a Local Health and leisure centre and is currently suffering from a drop in sales and interest in the adult swimming service. The Business have suffered from a drop in sales by nearly 50% in the past two years. They have asked me to create a business plan and an idea to how they can improve their marketing and increase their sales in adult swimming sessions. I am posting on here, to seek advice on any ideas that you may have about how a small leisure centre can increase sales in the adult swimming market. Any ideas would be welcome as I am currently struggling to come up with an idea that is very effective and cheap to carry out, so any ideas would be welcome. Hope I have given you enough basic info, don't hesitate to ask if you need more information. Again any ideas would be very welcome and I would appreciate your help. I will be looking forward to hearing some of your ideas. Looking for a quick reply as i have not got long to complete the task and organise my presentation to local businesses. Thanks for your time and interest.
Re: How can I promote my site? - [quote="smartcompanysoftware":1buq8jkk]I recently added my details to Google Places. Is that the same as a Google Local Business Listing?[/quote:1buq8jkk] Yes, they're the same. You add your business information so that you can be found on the web. You can engage with customers and much more. You just reminded me to add my business there as well. Thanks!


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