How to keep the edge as an online shopping website

As Internet access is becoming widely available, online shopping websites have seen a dramatic increase in their numbers. As an online shop owner, it is of paramount importance to try and keep the edge over your competition. Even though there’s no secret formula for the success of an online shop, there are a couple of guidelines which are bound to help you compete even with the best online store.

First off, it’s best to have an overview of the online shopping industry. Even though consumers might still be concerned about the security aspects of online shopping, studies of online store activity point out that the industry is showing an upwards trend. To this extent, IBIS World – a company that has been focusing on online shopping patterns - forecasts the online store segment will see a revenue increase of around 8.7%. Such an increase is fueled by both consumers’ openness to online shopping and by the increasing number and types of goods available in an online store. At the moment, an online store makes most of its profits from small-ticket items, with high-ticket items within an online shop lagging further behind. Online shopping practices have not only picked up in online store first tier economies such as USA, Europe or Australia but also in lesser developed areas such as Africa. For example, in Kenya, around 18% -24% of individuals with internet access tend to rely on an online store.

As the practices of online shopping become more familiar to people world-wide, it is of paramount importance for online store owners to be aware of market trends and principles. Below we will go though a couple of effective tactics that are certain to create a steady consumer base for your online shop.

First tactic of an online shop revolves around the price of your products. What can add further value to your online store is the offering of bundle packs at discount prices. Try and add a neat and attractive design to these bundle packs and, most important, try and bring through your online shop a unique bundle pack to the market, which no other online store has. Try and provide the best online offers out there and always be aware of what a competing online shop has to offer!

Secondly, try offering ‘free shipping’ for your online shop products. This will further help you in becoming the best online shopping website.

Next important practice for your online shop is your relationship with the customer. Follow-up letters will in turn bring more customer feedback to your online store, which might bring in other prospective customers. Everything is connected.

Finally, always state the return policies for your online shop as clearly as possible. Always be pro-active in trying to find what would better suit the need of the customer who has returned a product.

Always remember, customer service can go a long way when you aim to be the best online shopping website.

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