Quite often when business people think of ecommerce they associate it with the process of selling products online to new customers all over the country. This type of ecommerce, requires all new processes for brick and mortar retailers. Selling products all over the country and even the world, is also a very competitive business that requires a very robust marketing plan that often includes components of SEO, SEM, email marketing and social marketing ads. That is a form of ecommerce, that can be really effective for some retailers, depending on their goals, product mix and budget.
However, there is a form of ecommerce that is quite often overlooked, and that is what we refer to as online ordering. Online ordering still involves customers buying your products from your website, but the target is local customers. The goal is to provide customers with a convenient online shopping alternative to visiting your brick and mortar location. Online ordering in this context is different because it focuses on offering your customers a way to buy from your business in a way that best suits the new way they like to buyā¦ online!
Todayās trends show that customers are increasing interested in buying from retailers that make it easy!
The rationale for shopping online is increasingly tied to a shopperās preference for saving time and energy. As a store owner, youāre busy! Itās important to remember that your customers are too. It may not be easy for your customers to make it to your store before you close at 5pm. Your customers may not want to wait in line, deal with pushy sales associates or drive all the way to your store. In fact, your customers may want to shop at the time and place when it is convenient for them. Namely, at 9pm on a Wednesday night while they are sitting on their couch.
Online Ordering is about giving todayās consumer what they are looking for ā choices and convenience.