Why E-Business Is Different

Selling anything on the internet is dramatically different to selling something in a real store or shop. Why? Because another online shop is literally a few clicks and a couple of seconds away. Current statistics show that on a well-designed website, operated by a trusted business, the amount of users who will end up buying something is still less than 5%. That means that if you have 100 visitors on your site in a day, you may get as many as five customers. The vast majority of your visitors will click away from your website in under half a minute.

Imagine for a moment that you own a more traditional, bricks and mortar retail outlet. If you welcomed 100 visitors in a day but only completed five transactions how long do you think you would be in business? This is just one example of why selling on the web is different. It requires massive volumes of visitors and emphasises the importance of reliability, trustworthiness and security. It also requires diversity in stock ranges and a massive variety of products, all at the same time as a simple, slick and intuitive way to buy them.

Attracting users and converting visitors into customers is key to your success. It’s a tough job to do on the internet and it’s a big part of what we specialise in at Webmaint.

Most users find sites through search engines. If your site is fortunate enough to have been picked out from a page of maybe 10-15 results, you have a matter of seconds to convince the user to stay. Remember, they have many more options than they ever have had before, and this increased element of choice for users raises the bar for retailers.

E-business is unaffected by geographic convenience. It can’t rely on personal connections. Trust in a site can be lost in a matter of seconds, and users are fickle. If a visitor is unable to find a product, they won’t ask a salesperson where it is. They will leave every time, and every time they leave, you have lost a potential customer.

At Webmaint, we understand the distinct nature of online retail. We have operated successful, multi-million pound e-businesses, and we know what works, and what fails. Working within this new model of retail, customer service and business management has taught us how to succeed, and we can lend this extensive experience to your projects.