The internet may seem intimidating to small businesses; if business owners are not conscientious, money can be poured into an online site with little return. However, online marketing, when done properly, can create an additional mode of effective business and offer a wealth of potential customers that a brick and mortar business might not find walking down the front sidewalk.
Rather than fear the internet, embrace it and use it to your full advantage. Consider if you are falling victim to the following myths concerning online marketing.
Myth #1 – My business does not need online marketing.
As mentioned above, the internet can provide a variety of potential customers to any business that decides to approach marketing online. Joseph Elkouby of WSI Marketing (2006) notes, “The reality is, if you have a product or service to sell, prospects are looking for it online, even if the actual purchase is made offline.” Consider the fact that you are reading this article online; so are many others. If you find general information on the internet, remember that your customers are also looking for the items they need online.
As a small business owner, you may be looking to expand your customer base, especially during the economic downturn of late. With online marketing, your business can receive global customers.
With WebRecept services, you can also connect with these potential clients in a live chat. This ultimately offers your business the same small business connection that is so valuable to customers.
Myth #2 – Only people in the “know” use the internet.
The internet provides service around the world; with the variety of items that are sold online, businesses are going to find larger numbers of potential customers online. It has been predicted that by 2013, Americans will be at a 100% per capita for personal computers (Welsen, n.d.). This only refers to users in America! Can you afford not to reach out online? People who are familiar with computers as well as those who are looking to learn can find your company online.
It’s also important to note that the average time spent looking at a webpage is roughly 33 seconds, total (Gassee and Filloux, 2009). The benefit that WebRecept’s Web Receptionists add to your website is that the invitation to chat occurs roughly 15 seconds after the customer hits the webpage. This interaction keeps customers alert and on the website for longer, creating more time for potential sales conversions.
Myth #3 – Bells and whistles make the sale in an online forum.
Bells and whistles are overrated in any situation. People see through them in a walk-in business, and they will be annoyed with them in an online business as well. Try not to overwhelm the customer. Sales pitches are expected, but offer customers a clear view of the sales without many exciting extras that will detract their attention from what you really want them to focus on. Within the ecommerce industry, it is important to recognize, “Effective sites offer interactive tools and value added content” (Ross, 2000). Convenience is the number one reason that customers shop online. Provide easy access services and enable them to work on your website in a quick and easy fashion.
WebRecept offers live chat that you can add to your company’s website, enabling your customers to ask questions and receive immediate answers without searching. This can increase their satisfaction with your online presence, prompting a return to your website and to the services or products that you offer.
Myth #4 – It’s too expensive.
Advertising is an expense for all businesses. It may be time to reevaluate the effectiveness of your advertising dollars. Have you asked your customers lately how they found you? Are you drawing in new customers each month? How much are you spending currently on advertising? With WebRecept, you receive website monitoring services that will tell you monthly how effective your website is. You’ll receive information about which of your web pages are receiving the most hits, how long the average customer views a page, where your customer base online is originating, and with the chat features, you’ll also be kept abreast of the questions your customers are asking most frequently. The website monitoring is only one facet of the services that WebRecept provides.
The most prominent feature that WebRecept will add to your website is a live Web Receptionist, available Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for as little as $299 a month. That’s less than $2.00 per hour for a virtual full-time employee, and you don’t have to pay the benefits. This Web Receptionist will chat with your customers as they desire and be able to answer questions about your business, just as you would. The additional features that the Web Receptionist will be able to offer your clients are cutting-edge features such as click-to-call, click-to-chat, page push, and active assist co-browsing.
If you’re concerned about working with a business that you can trust online, take time to visit WebRecept. WebRecept works to ensure that this company operates in integrity and develops a relationship with its clients to provide the best service possible.
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Elkouby, J. (2006). The Top 3 Myths About Internet Marketing. Retrieved December 2, 2009, from http://www.wsimarketing.com/DynamicData/FileLibrary/WSI-Top_3_Myths_About_Internet_Marketing_13.pdf
Gassee, J-L. and Filloux, F. (May 25, 2009). Measuring Time Spent on a Web Page. Retrieved December 2, 2009, from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/24/opinion/main5037448.shtml
Ross, T. (2000). The Myths and Realities of E-Apparel. Retrieved December 2, 2009, from http://www.techexchange.com/thelibrary/myths.html
Welsen, J. (n.d.). Eshopping – Catching Up. Retrieved December 2, 2009, from www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Eshopping-Catching-Up/716904
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