How to Create an Online Presence
Establishing an online presence is very important in starting an online business. It is very important to understand necessary things so as to attain the effectiveness of the online business in addition to the marketing strategies of the venture. Initially, there must be a website that the company owns and controls. Even though there are free online services that can be used to introduce the online business, there are still possibilities that these free services may be bought up, shut down, or even increase their prices eventually (reallysimpleweb.com). Also, the online business should also be aware that there are current, relevant and useful content in their website (reallysimpleweb.com). Since, content is website content is very important, it should benefit the target customers. The content must also focus on getting the customer’s trust so that the online business may have a future business with its target customer.
In addition, establishing an online presence includes an easier way for the customers to get in touch with the company regarding their products and services, this is because making it easy for the customers to enquire about the products would also make it easier for the profit to come in. Social media is another thing. Using the social media to establish the online presence could also help in reaching the customers since online buyers also use social media. This will also drive customers to go to the online business own website, which will increase the presence.
There are tools that can be used by the online business to keep their websites updated for their customers. The company must use these tools to save the company in time keeping everything and ensuring the website’s security (reallysimpleweb.com). These tools such as buffer application will be responsible in updating the company’s social media account. They can also use Google analytics to monitor the website traffic in addition to the hack and backup monitoring services for the website’s security.
Tools and Skills Required for Electronic Commerce
Building a website for electronic commerce may be difficult as there are a lot of requirements needed to ensure its effectiveness and profitability. However, there are some tools and skills that would help in attaining the online company’s goals. One good example is that an e-commerce may need to have back-end services like the programming and database integration (allbusiness.com). The company also needs to have some special software and well-experienced web developers. This will ensure that the online business will have a reliable support for its day-to-day operation.
On the other hand, front end needs to be as effective as the back-end as it will be responsible for enticing the customers. This should be an easy-to-use platform for the target customers (allbusiness.com). The website may use some e-commerce and web servers that ensure the personal information security of the customers who purchase products online. Additionally, the company must have a reliable web developer or a third-party service provider that the can be trusted in maintaining and running the online business (allbusiness.com).
Tools and Skills Required for Mobile Commerce
Starting with a clear strategy by defining mobile’s purpose in an organization would be the initial thing that the company may consider in executing an m-commerce technique. In this case, internal efforts, budget and the development timelines can be guided accordingly (oracle.com). Once definition of purposes and goals has been done, the company needs to understand how and where the target market interacts with mobile channel. This is because customers may use two different mobile environments such as the mobile application and mobile site (oracle.com). Mobile applications are the ones that can be downloaded and the mobile sites are the internet sites that can be accessed by any internet-capable mobile device. Understanding these two channels will help the business in reaching their target customers.
Focusing on device in which the business wants to support comes after choosing the ideal environment to develop. It is better to determine the platform, which your customers often use (oracle.com). iPhone would be an ideal starting point because it possesses the highest online interactions among device users. Android is also another option as it is the second most popular platform among mobile device users. (oracle.com). Technology is the backbone of an online business, specifically the m-commerce and deciding whether to outsource or own a technology support is also an essential skill in m-commerce (oracle.com). Some companies are struggling when it comes to technology decision that is why it is imperative to know cost-effective outsourced technology support will work or if the company can handle it internally.
Challenges/Opportunities of Mobile Commerce
Mobile devices nowadays work almost the same as a personal computer. It is nearly replacing personal computer as the traditional computing machine for most mobile device users. However, there are challenges along with the opportunities that m-commerce provides. Opportunities may include the behavioral changes of the consumers in which affects the brand loyalty and shopping experiences (gs1.org). This is because mobile devices are now enabling consumers to be more connected compared before. In this case, consumers may have a positive feedback to the company, which spends more time in understanding consumer-based needs and this will be a good opportunity for the company to provide better customer service. On the other hand, consumers continuously change their needs in which becomes a challenge for the company to cope with these changes. However, companies may take advantage these challenges to take advantage of their existing technology to become more efficient and more intelligent provider.
In addition, online businesses may have the opportunity to enable and adapt these changes globally (gs1.org). Using the mobile technology, companies may be able to connect with their consumers easier and faster through mobile devices.
Challenges/Opportunities of E-Commerce
Electronic commerce has many opportunities and challenges as it is being executed by companies. One of the opportunities is its ability to engage with the customers and listen to their needs (thenextweb.com). This opportunity will build a strong relationship between the company and its consumers. More companies are now taking advantage the use of internet to achieve this goal such as using the social media and other web applications. On the other hand, ensuring that online consumers will entrust their personal information over the company’s website can be a challenge. That is because of some of the reported online frauds that victimized some of the online shoppers. Trust over the online customer’s information is challenging to gain. However, this is an opportunity for the company to provide a short, but well-written privacy policy to make the customers aware what they are about to share and whom with whom they are sharing their information. Through this manner, customer’s trust can be gained little by little towards a strong business relationship between them and the company.
Works Cited
"10 Step Online Presence Checklist for Small Businesses." Really Simple Web. N.p., 11 June 2012. Web. 30 Dec. 2013.
Agathou, Amalia. "Opportunities and challenges for e-commerce in 2011." The Next Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2013.
"Does E-Commerce Require Special Skills? | Retail > Retailers from AllBusiness.com." Small Business Advice | Business News & Articles | AllBusiness.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2013.
"Mobile Commerce: Opportunities and Challenges." Home | GS1 - The global language of business. N.p., Feb. 2008. Web. 30 Dec. 2013.
"Six Steps for Building a Long-term Strategy for Mobile: Technical Considerations." Oracle | Hardware and Software, Engineered to Work Together. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2013.
