The essentiality of your own website
Future Trends: E-Commerce & E-Marketing
The advent of e-commerce & e-marketing has opened up a world of opportunities for individuals and businesses. The question now is: – how will we make optimal use of these opportunities and take advantage of the possibilities that is present? Africa alone has seen a 429.8% growth in internet usage over the last five years, and high-speed internet access through ADSL lines seems to raise this figure dramatically.
Easier access to the internet, lower telecoms costs and a growing public confidence in the safety of online transacting: can your business resist embracing this favorable climate for e-commerce and e-marketing?
What is E-Commerce and E-Marketing?
E-Marketing (electronic marketing) is the moving of marketing strategies and activities to a computerized, networked environment such as the Internet. It is the strategic process of creating, distributing, promoting, and pricing goods and services to a target market over the Internet or through wireless digital tools e.g. mobile phones and pocket PC’s. E-commerce (electronic commerce or EC) is the buying and selling of these goods and services on the Internet.
Why should your business consider E-Commerce and E-Marketing?
Whether you believe your business is suited for e-commerce or not, you should nevertheless consider a “brochure” website. Research shows that an increasing number of consumers research products and services on the Internet before purchasing a product or making use of a service. With a website, your business doesn’t need a shop in every high street across the country in order to make sales. You don’t have to print and distribute expensive catalogues and brochures to market goods and services; yearly repeating the costly process to reflect changes. Your staff can now spend valuable time in the workplace as opposed to answering customer calls, product queries and taking orders. Customers will happily use your website to undertake these chores themselves. By having your own website and using e-commerce and marketing, your business can also now contribute in the economical growth of your country through job creation and expansion of markets both locally and internationally.
How to generate a profit using E-Commerce and E-Marketing
There are several ways to attain this primary aim - to generate a profit with your website - online. The most common ways are to sell your own products and services or sell advertisement space on your website when your site has enough traffic and the users or traffic are highly targeted. A lower risk way is by affiliate marketing where you promote another company’s products or services on your website in order to earn a percentage of each sale. If shipping, receiving, warehouse space organisation and inventory tracking is not for you, drop shipping might also be a good option to consider. Drop shipping is a type of retailing where you do not have to keep goods in stock, but instead passes the customer's order and shipment details to the wholesaler, who then dispatches the goods to the customer directly. Your business makes a profit on the difference between the wholesale and retail price.
What to consider when developing a website for your business?
If you consider online sales and marketing to be a growth opportunity for your business, the Inspired Archetypes team can assist you to plan and develop your website in detail. A well developed website is paramount to your business’ long-term success online. Our team of professionals at Inspired Archetypes can assist and advise you on:
- Domain Name Registration: registering your web address.
- Website Design
- Website Hosting
- Payment Solutions
- Traffic Coverage
Please contact us for any further enquiries.
