In the years to come a considerable part of the world population gets access to the online possibilities. And they will use them.
Start today to get familiar with sales from webshop. Read the booklet and you will be on top of the challenges you meet. The booklet: How to Open a Webshop is a well designed PDF-document of 20 pages.
Some webshop hosting companies give you fourteen days free trial so set up your webshop and see how it works. It is the best way to learn how to manage a real life webshop - also called eCommerce Store. Go for the offer at the bottom of the page.
Before you start exploring the free webshop and shopping cart do read the
booklet How to open a webshop.
Download webshop book as a free PDF document.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SELL?
- Distribution
- Old knowledge In new surroundings
- Think global
- Everything can be sold
COMMERCIALLY VIABLE
WHO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS?
HOW DOES A WEBSHOP FUNCTION?
- The shopping area
- The shopping cart area
- The payment area
- Choose a webshop system
A PRE-DEFINED WEBSHOP
- Shopping area
- Shopping cart
- Pros and cons
- Price
THE PAYMENT AREA
- Cash on delivery and Bank transfer
- A national credit cart solution
- International credit cart solutions
- Price structure with the use of credit card
- PayPal and others
DEVELOP YOUR OWN WEBSHOP
- Examples
- Mixed systems
- Hire software developers
- Pricing
MARKETING OF THE WEBSHOP
- The product in the webshop
- Domain
- Can Google find your web site
- Link cooperation
- Google AdWords
- Directories
- Newsletters
- Send to a friend
- Be referred to in the press
- Analysing your effort
80 / 20 RULE DOES NOT APPLY FOR WEB SHOPS
DISTRIBUTION OF SOLD PRODUCTS
- From one to 10 orders
- Distribution is a sales parameter
- Make it easy for yourself
BUDGET FOR A WEBSHOP
- Establishing budget
- Operating budget for a year
- Make your own operating budget
To sell goods and services from a webshop is in many ways similar to sales from a shop in a shopping street:
Without investigating the above basics business questions thoroughly it would be risky business to open a webshop.
The biggest difference between sale from a physical shop and a webshop is the way in which the product is distributed. The customer no longer gets to your shop and asks: "Could I have a look at that one over there?"
The customer sits
behind a computer somewhere in your own country. Or maybe in another country if
you have created your shop in such a way that it appeals for international
customers.
The direct contact to the "no name and no face customers" around the country or
around the world gives the webshop owner an interesting challenge but also
unlimited possibilities.
Those who grew up in a time when personal contact was a key element in a sales
situation should learn to use their "old knowledge" in our new internet times.
If they do they will find some brand new possibilities for reusing there
knowledge.
An example is the elderly car sales manager for a well respected automobile
firm. He had profound knowledge of the car market and knew that the car purchase
price in his country was lower than in the surrounding countries.
He also knew
that car dealers in the country had difficulties selling old models when new
models were introduced.
With this knowledge he used the internet to sell yesterday´s car models to
surroundings countries at a very good price. His country´s car dealers were
happy to get rid of their old models, the customers were happy because they got
a nearly new car at a good price and the elderly car sales manager got at profit
for each sold car.
If people with a solid knowledge from "yesterday" could learn to think
positively of the possibilities of the internet, many new and viable webshops
can be opened.
If you live in a small country, in a limited language area or you only consider
your home town as your market you will have a limited number of customers. The
internet opens up to the world. Often it is not anymore difficult to send your
product to other pats of the world than to your neighbouring town.
When you plan your webshop you should consider whether you want to target your
webshop towards customers in your province, in your country, to your language
area, your continent or to the whole world.
If you are a bit creative and have the courage to change deep-rooted habits many
different kinds of products can be sold over the internet. Also products and
services that might be too specialised for your local market.
Below you see examples of goods and services that are sold through webshops.
What can you sell?
Expert entrepreneurs believe that the future is shaped by people. They believe that if they can make the future happen.
- Saras D. Saravethy, professor in entrepreneurship