How to Compete Selling Computer Hardware & Software Products Online
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How to Compete Selling Computer Hardware & Software Products Online
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You remain competitive by focusing on a niche market first. There are way too many online super stores with millions of marketing dollars for you to compete against them. Yet by focusing on a niche market, your competition shrinks to those who are in the same niche market as yours.
Then it becomes a matter of competing with them and them only. Search for your top 5 to top 10 niche market competitors and add them to your favorites list to check on them every few days. See what they’re doing and go one step further.
You’ll find that most internet retail sites, niche market and super stores alike focus on one thing and one thing only, and that is to make the sale; which would work out well if everyone on the site was there to buy. However, the more traffic you’re able to obtain then the more sales you’re able to make. And one of the best ways to draw traffic is by creating a content rich website based upon your niche market.
Then it becomes a matter of competing with them and them only. Search for your top 5 to top 10 niche market competitors and add them to your favorites list to check on them every few days. See what they’re doing and go one step further.
You’ll find that most internet retail sites, niche market and super stores alike focus on one thing and one thing only, and that is to make the sale; which would work out well if everyone on the site was there to buy. However, the more traffic you’re able to obtain then the more sales you’re able to make. And one of the best ways to draw traffic is by creating a content rich website based upon your niche market.
Create a content rich website:
Content is king. And creating a content rich website is one of the best ways to remain competitive while creating loads of new and fresh targeted traffic. And the more traffic you create then the more sales you'll make.
A content rich website may consist of:
- Extensive product pages
- Product reviews
- Comparison charts
- Top 10 list
- How to articles
- and any other type of information that you as a consumer for that product would search for online.
Most internet retailers provide short product description pages along with one or two small images. And many times resellers place a link to the manufacturers’ website for the customer to get more information about that particular product. This is a huge mistake. It's best not to give any reason for your potential customers to leave your website. All relative information needs to be found on your website.
Therefore, if you want to remain competitive then you’ll have to provide complete and extensive product features and specification pages with multiple product images. And you can obtain product images and complete product information from the manufacturers’ website.
A content rich website may consist of:
- Extensive product pages
- Product reviews
- Comparison charts
- Top 10 list
- How to articles
- and any other type of information that you as a consumer for that product would search for online.
Most internet retailers provide short product description pages along with one or two small images. And many times resellers place a link to the manufacturers’ website for the customer to get more information about that particular product. This is a huge mistake. It's best not to give any reason for your potential customers to leave your website. All relative information needs to be found on your website.
Therefore, if you want to remain competitive then you’ll have to provide complete and extensive product features and specification pages with multiple product images. And you can obtain product images and complete product information from the manufacturers’ website.
Your website should offer the same information or more than what is found on the manufacturers’ web site for that particular product.
If you want to remain competitive then you'll also need to provide product comparison charts based on features, specifications and pricing in order to give the customer enough information to make that final buying decision right there and then.
You can even add product reviews or write your own reviews by reviewing the product yourself. Or you can re-write product reviews from others using your own words in your own personality while adding more information as well.
Before searching online, people always want to know what the best products are for that particular product category. Therefore, you can provide a Top 10 list for your product category letting your potential customers know what the top 10 products for that category are.
If you want to remain competitive then you'll also need to provide product comparison charts based on features, specifications and pricing in order to give the customer enough information to make that final buying decision right there and then.
You can even add product reviews or write your own reviews by reviewing the product yourself. Or you can re-write product reviews from others using your own words in your own personality while adding more information as well.
Before searching online, people always want to know what the best products are for that particular product category. Therefore, you can provide a Top 10 list for your product category letting your potential customers know what the top 10 products for that category are.
All of these niche content additions will draw targeted traffic to your web site over and over again.
Yet most of your competitors won’t even bother to provide such information on their website as this is considered extra work for them.
Yet by taking the time to add the extra, helpful and informative content to your website you’ll be able to remain one step ahead of your competitors and be seen as an expert in your field as well.
Yet most of your competitors won’t even bother to provide such information on their website as this is considered extra work for them.
Yet by taking the time to add the extra, helpful and informative content to your website you’ll be able to remain one step ahead of your competitors and be seen as an expert in your field as well.
Show your best products on your main page:
Your main page should always display the latest and greatest products in your niche market, followed by sub-category products and accessories as well.
Best sellers, products on sale, and the most popular products should always be displayed on your main page to create excitement for your website visitors.
Once your potential customers see top of line products on your main page then they’ll know that they came to the right place. They’ll know that your store specializes in that particular product line.
Best sellers, products on sale, and the most popular products should always be displayed on your main page to create excitement for your website visitors.
Once your potential customers see top of line products on your main page then they’ll know that they came to the right place. They’ll know that your store specializes in that particular product line.
Make site navigation quick and easy:
It’s important to make your site ‘easy to navigate’ and easy to get to those top selling products with just one click, (three clicks the most). Don’t make your customers take the time to look for products or information on your website. Make every section of your website clear and accessible from your main page. This can also be supported by adding a site map page to your website which is where most savvy web surfers check when looking for specific information.
Easy navigation leaves a comfortable impression on your customers which makes it that much easier for your customers to return to your website.
Easy navigation leaves a comfortable impression on your customers which makes it that much easier for your customers to return to your website.
Provide fair pricing:
As a basic guideline, you can mark up your products anywhere from 8%, 10% to 14% to even 17% depending on the product and the product category. To remain competitive, it’s best to set your pricing as low as possible while yet still being able to make a profit. Top selling products are being sought after everywhere online. And in order to remain competitive then your pricing will have to either match or come very close to your competitors' pricing.
Offering free shipping:
Offering free shipping is another way to remain competitive since many of your competitors are offering free shipping as well. And your free shipping offer should be made visible on each and every page. Offering free shipping with or without conditions allows you to remain competitive in a market where internet shoppers are used to receiving free shipping offers.
Respond to emails right away:
When potential customers inquire about products or services via email then it’s either because they’re not able to call or because they’re sending their questions after normal business hours. And some people simply prefer to do everything via email instead of talking to someone on the phone as they find email more convenient.
But if you’re able to respond then do so in a prompt, courteous and knowledgeable manner. In time you will begin to see that most questions are the same in some form or another. Therefore, you may want to have pre-written answers ready to insert into your responses in order to save time.
By having pre-written responses typed out and ready to send, you’ll be able to answer emails much faster and much more effectively. And if you can answer their emails before your competitors do then this will allow you to remain competitive in the area of email communication.
But if you’re able to respond then do so in a prompt, courteous and knowledgeable manner. In time you will begin to see that most questions are the same in some form or another. Therefore, you may want to have pre-written answers ready to insert into your responses in order to save time.
By having pre-written responses typed out and ready to send, you’ll be able to answer emails much faster and much more effectively. And if you can answer their emails before your competitors do then this will allow you to remain competitive in the area of email communication.
Same day shipping:
You’ll want to do your best to place your customers’ orders with the distributors right away to ensure that products get shipped out to the customers that same day just as expected.
You remain competitive by applying many business practices and strategies such as providing a professional and highly informative website and offering competitive pricing as well. Honesty and integrity is also a must.
You’ll also need to keep marketing, advertising and promoting your web site on a daily basis and remain consistent in your marketing campaigns.
You remain competitive by applying many business practices and strategies such as providing a professional and highly informative website and offering competitive pricing as well. Honesty and integrity is also a must.
You’ll also need to keep marketing, advertising and promoting your web site on a daily basis and remain consistent in your marketing campaigns.
Focus on customer service:
Your focus must be on obtaining new customers and keeping your current customers loyal by providing the best customer service possible. Internet retailers succeed by providing their customers prompt, courteous and knowledgeable customer service. And businesses are built one customer at a time. So don't worry too much about the competition. Instead, focus on getting new customers and keeping those customers loyal to your business.
If you want to remain competitive then you must treat every customer as if it was your only customer while implementing all of the strategies mentioned above. And in doing so, you'll remain competitive, successful and profitable as well.
If you want to remain competitive then you must treat every customer as if it was your only customer while implementing all of the strategies mentioned above. And in doing so, you'll remain competitive, successful and profitable as well.
