The Final Touches
As you are wrapping up creating the perfect online store, you have a few things that you need to consider. Of course you have looked over security, products and even the design of the site itself. The hard work is essentially out of your way. However, there are still a few things that you can do to greatly improve your overall business and ensure that you have everything that you need, when you need it. For example, keeping customers happy is often about more than merely giving them the products that they want.
The products that they want at the right price, with fast shipping, good customer service and an occasional special deal is a great way to gain a loyal customer. Consider what makes you want to go back to a store. If you have questions is it not nice to be able to simply pick up the phone and make a quick phone call to the customer service phone number? This is a luxury that not all businesses can afford, especially initially when occasional phone calls can really disrupt the flow. However, there are several ways to handle this. One of the main ways is to wait until your business is large enough to need a dedicated phone person. Otherwise, you could look into outsourcing your customer service calls to a customer service center.
Regardless of which method you choose, this is a great way to ensure that your customers get the personal touch that telephone service provides; without having to try to determine how you can clone yourself. If you are determined that telephone support is not the option for you, or if you are looking for an additional option then exploring the world of live help services is another place to look. Using instant messenger programs you can quickly and easily attend to the needs of customers using an online chat program that will allow you to answer a question in a matter of minutes, without the use of a phone, and without the hassles that come from using a forum that needs to be continuously maintained.
Choosing some specific hours that your instant live chat help is available is a great way to ensure that customers know exactly when they can reach you, and what needs to be done in the meantime. However, choosing the best program for your needs is important. Looking over all of the options that are available, it is quite easy to see how this can become rather overwhelming, but at the same time it is necessary in order to truly get the results that you want.
As a final note, your customers greatly appreciate the value of the occasional freebie, or even a nice sized discount. Giving these to repeat customers is always a wise idea because it shows that you value them and their business. What you give away does not need to be large; it simply needs to be something to show your appreciation. You could even arrange free tax (you pay for the tax) in lieu of another discount. You could even offer to include a small wallet with purchase of a purse. The options are almost unlimited. But having these available will often encourage customers to come back.
Another highly popular strategy is selling up as someone is checking out. This is often the types of sales that you see such as free shipping on purchases over $100. While the exact value of the item that you offer can be flexible. It is the enticement of the offer that usually catches people’s attention and will have them spending more money with you. It is important to realize that the actual products that you offer to customers is not so important as the fact that you have taken the time to tell them thank you.
You will discover that part of the biggest problem that you will have is showing the customer your appreciation without seeming desperate. If you seem overly desperate them buyers are likely to be nervous about you, however it is a fine line to tread. For example, you would not give away a 25” plasma television with the purchase of an iPod. This would be seeming desperate, however giving away an iPod with the purchase of a 25” plasma television is a great special.
Choosing the best deals for your business will take you some time. Deciding which promotions your customers are most interested in will likely take even longer. Study the shopping patterns, look at which promotions are actually used the most and you will be able to start seeing a significant pattern. Over time your business will grow, your ability to successfully market will grow and you will be quite excited over the entire process.