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Online Business: 4 Unique Ways to Set Your Site Apart from the Competition

Rachelle Wilber

August 23, 2017

The evolution of the internet has made it easier than ever to do business online. However, there are hundreds of sites just like yours that are likely competing for the same or similar types of customers. What can you do to make sure that your site stands out from the crowd?

Focus on Your Process

Having a great product or service is a great way to make money in the business world. However, it is not the only variable that you need to focus on. In addition to offering a great product and offering incredible customer service, you need to focus on the process of doing business with the customer. This means that your checkout process should be clear, fast and easy.  Ideally, a purchase can be made in three clicks or less on a secure server. After the purchase is made, a confirmation should be sent to the customer's phone as well as to his or her email address. On your end, make sure that you have a clear process as it relates to storing and shipping items to customers. This means knowing how much inventory that you have at all times and keeping it organized to get items out quickly.

Show Your Commitment to Others

If your items are locally sourced or sourced from underdeveloped countries around the world, talk about that as part of your brand story. People love to buy products from their hometowns or to support small businesses. They may be even more likely to buy your products if they know that they will making a direct impact on someone's life or the lives of their family members. Even if a person doesn't make a purchase, he or she may share your story to raise awareness, which may lead to future sales.

Design Your Site to Be User-Friendly

You should make it as easy as possible for a site visitor to find exactly what he or she needs in a matter of seconds or minutes. This means that you want your site to load in less than five seconds. You also want it to look good on mobile devices. That’s why it’s so important to find reliable web design and development services for your business. Mobile devices are what many people use these days to either research product or service providers, or actually make a purchase. It is also important to cater to mobile users because failure to do so could impact your ranking in search results. Regardless of where how someone finds your site, clearly label all sections of your site, and make sure to add a live chat feature in case a potential customer needs help. Just like in a physical store location, no one wants to shop on an e-commerce site if no one is tending to their needs.

Make Sure That Your Content Speaks to the Reader

It is critical that you understand who your target market is and what their needs are. Otherwise, you won't be able to create effective sales copy whether you choose to write articles, create videos or use a combination of both to make your sales pitch. In addition to catering to the needs of your target market, make sure that content is easy to read and that everything is spelled correctly. On the internet, people tend to notice and highlight the small mistakes, which could be bad news for your brand.

Without a quality website, your business won't reach its full potential. Therefore, it is critical that you create a site where customers can easily find what they need or get help from a sales representative. By focusing on process and ease of use, you can show how much you care about your customers and give them a shopping experience that they won't find anywhere else.

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