Hail customers! Hail Customers! Hail Customers! – Thus goes the legendary saying ages after ages. How to truly win your customer’s heart and rightfully fulfill their expectation is known to very few though.
Creating a presence in the customers’ mind which is already saturated with unlimited brands and products makes the job for businesses slightly tough. Consumer mindsets are like imaginary bubbles. They take shape of what they desire or harbour in their dreams. Underlining every desire though, is the value that every consumer seeks from a transaction, be it online or offline.
Maximum Value = Customer Retention
Just that one has to do it creatively. Times change. People change- every change is marked by the power of creative thought. Just like the genius of one generation is the common sense on the one succeeding it, emerging businesses in changing times, have to think innovation at every step.
An Example:
Creating contests to lure the customers is cliché. A contest may not always follow one’s whim and fantasy. Rewarding points to have your customers participate in contests is innovation. To ensure that you, as an enterprise value people’s most treasured currency, be it time or money will never let you down in the eyes of your audiences. They’ll value you for valuing it.
The above mentioned example is a unique strategy employed by an e-store called Retails Direct, in its newly born community feature called Café Retail. The idea is time-worn but this concept is the newest wrinkle ever introduced in the history of e-commerce.
Thus, the idea is to make your customers, your collaborative partners so that each one benefits from the mind pool created by both. Having inputs coming straight from the consumer themselves or rewarding them with points (to save their almighty money) to join hands with you is a well-thought out strategy to keep moving ahead with high tides.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
How are online shoppers converted to in-shop buyers within a jiffy?
New York, January 29, 2008. Press Trust of India on Hindustan Time’s website reads that, ‘Indians are among the most online shopping savvy people (84 percent) when it comes to using credit cards. They stand second only to Turkish shoppers who topped global rankings for credit card usage (91 percent). The icing on the cake is IAMAI’s latest e-commerce report which says that the Indian e-commerce industry has reached a 9000 Crore growth figure in 2007-08.
Well, that’s some news but my point to state the mentioned facts is to bring to light the innovations which players (online retailers) are employing to make it big in this ever-expanding industry. That Internet is convenient, time-saving, effort-saving, provides better deals and comparisons, not to mention the immediate variety it offers is known to all of us. What’s new on the horizon? How are newbies able to immediately draw customer’s attention? How are online shoppers converted to in-shop buyers within a jiffy? You may call the answer a cliché but that’s what it is – UNDERSTAND YOUR CONSUMER NEEDS AND WANTS!
Changing times have changed people’s fancies too. All you have to do is catch them.
My latest study on internet about how are new players catching up with the rising currents reveals that entrepreneurs are keeping it simple but smart. You whip all that your customer desires and serve it with your USP’s garnished as toppings.
Here’s an example for you!
A new kid on the block, I have been reading extensively about is Retails Direct. It is a rising web portal, increasingly integrating features on its site which will bring to the customers everything they dream of, under one roof. An exclusive corner for bloggers, shoppers’groups, voice/video/text chat, contests, option to create and choose bargains, photo gallery and forum to discuss products and brands . What’s interesting is Retails Direct will reward its members to participate in all of these. The concept is to integrate a social networking medium with a shopping portal to give people a platform to shop and connect, at the same time.
Therefore the need of the hour is to think beyond traditional monotones. The new mantra is to connect with your audiences is to facilitate them get connected with themselves. The world, in present times is in need of some real talk. Give it to them and they make you a king of their heart. Time now climb No. 1 slot on the victory stand. Lets get geared!
Well, that’s some news but my point to state the mentioned facts is to bring to light the innovations which players (online retailers) are employing to make it big in this ever-expanding industry. That Internet is convenient, time-saving, effort-saving, provides better deals and comparisons, not to mention the immediate variety it offers is known to all of us. What’s new on the horizon? How are newbies able to immediately draw customer’s attention? How are online shoppers converted to in-shop buyers within a jiffy? You may call the answer a cliché but that’s what it is – UNDERSTAND YOUR CONSUMER NEEDS AND WANTS!
Changing times have changed people’s fancies too. All you have to do is catch them.
My latest study on internet about how are new players catching up with the rising currents reveals that entrepreneurs are keeping it simple but smart. You whip all that your customer desires and serve it with your USP’s garnished as toppings.
Here’s an example for you!
A new kid on the block, I have been reading extensively about is Retails Direct. It is a rising web portal, increasingly integrating features on its site which will bring to the customers everything they dream of, under one roof. An exclusive corner for bloggers, shoppers’groups, voice/video/text chat, contests, option to create and choose bargains, photo gallery and forum to discuss products and brands . What’s interesting is Retails Direct will reward its members to participate in all of these. The concept is to integrate a social networking medium with a shopping portal to give people a platform to shop and connect, at the same time.
Therefore the need of the hour is to think beyond traditional monotones. The new mantra is to connect with your audiences is to facilitate them get connected with themselves. The world, in present times is in need of some real talk. Give it to them and they make you a king of their heart. Time now climb No. 1 slot on the victory stand. Lets get geared!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
NO more to Purchase Anxiety for your customers
The ‘new media’ has broken all shackles that traditional mediums laid. From being the information super highway, it is now turning into a dynamic marketplace facilitating people to not just transact but to actively interact as well. However, it has its lapses too.
In my last blog, I addressed the apprehensions that most shoppers confront while buying products online - security, cost and post delivery services being the primary parameters. In an industry which is spreading its wings by the second, there is certainly no space for anomalies like these to impede businesses from growing at the same rate. Or perhaps even higher!
But exist they do. And is also clogging potential buyers to shop online in scores (millions to be precise).
In this blog, I have tried to outline some remedies which, if employed by site owners can considerably help reduce purchase anxiety that online shoppers often undergo now a days. I thought to explain it best with an active example presently employing these measures. I have once again picked Retails Direct because of the following reasons:
Data security:
Telling your customer that you initiate all the stages of the purchase transactions through a secured server is the first step towards winning his heart. Incorporating security seals to protect your site from the hackers is therefore, a mandate.
Include personalized remarks:
Retails Direct has a unique feature of making its consumers rate as well as write their personal comments about any product purchased by them. This feature greatly eases the buying decision of other customers.
Include your source:
Retails Direct (RD) is seen to have a very transparent approach. If a customer seeks to get the details of a desired transaction, it can easily be acquired from the RD help desk. The customer care services are worth mentioning. Prospects should try this.
Contact Information:
Mentioning an e-mail id for contacting your business is not enough. My post purchase queries were very politely put to rest by their customer care executives. Talking to them over the phone was a big relief.
Inclusion of reputed certifications:
Retails Direct, though a newbie in the industry, already has 40 brand tie-ups to its credit. When asked about the authentication of the same, they sent me scanned copies of MOUs, seeing which all my doubts immediately vanished.
Be your consumer's friend:
People whether on net or offline, like to buy from someone i.e. a living entity and not from 'something' which gives them no real experience. Retails Direct has an active blogging site where you get to not only read what others have to say about it, but you also get to read messages from their business head and organization head in their official PRs at regular intervals.
Following –up, a mandate!
Purchase anxiety certainly doesn't end with the purchase. I just bought a Moto Rokr E6 from Retails Direct a week back and the post-purchase follow-up I received is one of the best I've got so far from any site. I was informed about every stage of delivery until it finally reached my hands.
The reason behind incorporating all these elements is not only to let your customer shop with ease but smartly as well. We are dwelling in a world where time is the new currency and if people have to spend more to save this new moolah, they will!
In my last blog, I addressed the apprehensions that most shoppers confront while buying products online - security, cost and post delivery services being the primary parameters. In an industry which is spreading its wings by the second, there is certainly no space for anomalies like these to impede businesses from growing at the same rate. Or perhaps even higher!
But exist they do. And is also clogging potential buyers to shop online in scores (millions to be precise).
In this blog, I have tried to outline some remedies which, if employed by site owners can considerably help reduce purchase anxiety that online shoppers often undergo now a days. I thought to explain it best with an active example presently employing these measures. I have once again picked Retails Direct because of the following reasons:
Data security:
Telling your customer that you initiate all the stages of the purchase transactions through a secured server is the first step towards winning his heart. Incorporating security seals to protect your site from the hackers is therefore, a mandate.
Include personalized remarks:
Retails Direct has a unique feature of making its consumers rate as well as write their personal comments about any product purchased by them. This feature greatly eases the buying decision of other customers.
Include your source:
Retails Direct (RD) is seen to have a very transparent approach. If a customer seeks to get the details of a desired transaction, it can easily be acquired from the RD help desk. The customer care services are worth mentioning. Prospects should try this.
Contact Information:
Mentioning an e-mail id for contacting your business is not enough. My post purchase queries were very politely put to rest by their customer care executives. Talking to them over the phone was a big relief.
Inclusion of reputed certifications:
Retails Direct, though a newbie in the industry, already has 40 brand tie-ups to its credit. When asked about the authentication of the same, they sent me scanned copies of MOUs, seeing which all my doubts immediately vanished.
Be your consumer's friend:
People whether on net or offline, like to buy from someone i.e. a living entity and not from 'something' which gives them no real experience. Retails Direct has an active blogging site where you get to not only read what others have to say about it, but you also get to read messages from their business head and organization head in their official PRs at regular intervals.
Following –up, a mandate!
Purchase anxiety certainly doesn't end with the purchase. I just bought a Moto Rokr E6 from Retails Direct a week back and the post-purchase follow-up I received is one of the best I've got so far from any site. I was informed about every stage of delivery until it finally reached my hands.
The reason behind incorporating all these elements is not only to let your customer shop with ease but smartly as well. We are dwelling in a world where time is the new currency and if people have to spend more to save this new moolah, they will!
Friday, March 21, 2008
How Do I begin E- branding?
No surprises here- let me jump in: How to build an E- brand?
Let’s start with the basics:
• Get your goal right!
The first thing is to decide your reason of choosing the internet as a medium.
If you already have a presence offline i.e. in the 'real market', then having people to identify you makes it easy. In that case you can be called as a brand on the internet.
If you intend to generate sales from your business on the web (for eg. affiliate marketing, e-store, Search engine marketing etc.), then things may take time to shape up. You'll be required to carry out an extensive competitive research about the global market trends in your industry vertical.
• Strike the cupid at the first glance!
Visitors dislike scrolling. So even before they see your homepage, which i'm sure may be inviting, relevant and cognate, their eye balls will on the topmost banner on your site. Only if they find something lucrative enough on that banner, will they stay to look around furthermore. That banner should be a snap shot of what your company does and the benefits it offers to the consumers. This will make the consumers wanting to know more.
The list of tools is a long one and I believe that curiosity is a virtue that should often be exercised. So until I put the rest of my experience in words, soak in all that is said and be ready to meet me right here again tomorrow.
Let’s start with the basics:
• Get your goal right!
The first thing is to decide your reason of choosing the internet as a medium.
If you already have a presence offline i.e. in the 'real market', then having people to identify you makes it easy. In that case you can be called as a brand on the internet.
If you intend to generate sales from your business on the web (for eg. affiliate marketing, e-store, Search engine marketing etc.), then things may take time to shape up. You'll be required to carry out an extensive competitive research about the global market trends in your industry vertical.
• Strike the cupid at the first glance!
Visitors dislike scrolling. So even before they see your homepage, which i'm sure may be inviting, relevant and cognate, their eye balls will on the topmost banner on your site. Only if they find something lucrative enough on that banner, will they stay to look around furthermore. That banner should be a snap shot of what your company does and the benefits it offers to the consumers. This will make the consumers wanting to know more.
The list of tools is a long one and I believe that curiosity is a virtue that should often be exercised. So until I put the rest of my experience in words, soak in all that is said and be ready to meet me right here again tomorrow.
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