Access eCommerceExploring Electronic Commerce

Jane Nolan GoekenCommunity Development SpecialistIowa State University Extension

Course Objectives and Outline Part 1 – Exploring E-Commerce

Criteria for evaluating sites The Internet as a research tool

Part 2 – Planning Your Website Stages of website development Website costs and services

Part 3 – Promoting your Website Tell everyone about it All about search engines

Part 4 – Internet Business Plan Case Study

Doing Business Online

How small business use the InternetBringing your business online

Resources you can use today

Today we’ll look at…

Small Business Use of the Net Examples of How Businesses use the Net The Internet as a Research Tool Getting a Web Presence Web Design and Promotion Tips

Small Business Use of the Internet

eCommerce is all about…

Using online resources and tools to do business better

Making money and saving money online

It’s NOT always about SELLING on the Internet!

Changing Internet Statistics

Online access: 58% of American households are

connected to the Internet 16% have a broadband connectionOnline shopping: 43% of Internet users buy online 29 purchases/year Spend $95/month onlineBusinesses online: 60% of small businesses have websites

Online Resources that Small Businesses Rate as Important

Online identity 99.5%

Site interactivity 67%

Online promotions 62%

Online transactions 55%

Source: Interland 2004 E-commerce Survey

Selling Goods and Services on a Website

Websites increase sales indirectly. Stimulates customers to buy by phone, fax, e-mail or brings customers into the store

Only 24% of businesses with a web site sell directly from their sites

Source: National Federation of Independent Business

Examples of How Small Businesses Use the Internet

Businesses Use the Internet to:

Build an existing business Add value to product or service Reach distant markets Offer innovative products and services Build credibility Build brand recognition Cut operating costs Build returning customer base Leverage brick business with clicks Start a business

Reach Distant Markets

80% of business is conducted

over the Internet in a place so remote they

can’t even buy a newspaper.

www.sawbill.com

Offer Innovative Products

www.casketfurniture.com

Offer Innovative Service

www.BlackSocks.com

Start a Business

www.islandshirts.com

The most successful online businesses…

Know which web services meet the needs of their customers and are creative in using the web to attract customers.

The Internet as a Research Tool

Research Doing Business Online

Search for: New suppliers Product ideas Marketing ideas Better prices

Searching for Information

Use a directory Example: Yahoo or Google Directory

Use a search engine Use a site that indexes websites on specific

topics

Google.com

Searches 4,285,199,774 web pages

Tips for Searching

Google search results:

widget parts 268,000 “widget parts” 660 “widget parts” green 56 “widget parts” green -china 20

Research Your Competition

Is your competition across the world or next door?

Search engines are the key to finding your online competition

What can you do better, or different?

Evaluate Your Competition

Visit their websites. What are they trying to do online? What do you like or dislike? What can your company do better?

Find out how popular these sites are Google using: link:www.company.com

Getting a Web Presence

Options for Doing Business Online

Do you really need a website? Consider: Auction Websites Malls or Cooperatives Online Storefronts

Develop your own website Templates Hire a developer Do it yourself

Combine several options

Online Auctions

Niche Malls or Coops

Online Storefronts

http://store.yahoo.com

Website Templates

Web Design and Promotion Tips

Websites Should Be…

Informative Fast Easy to navigate Tidy Accessible

Promoting Your Website

Tell everyone about it

Help search engines find youTips are at www.searchenginewatch.com

Use traditional media

Viral Marketing

“Any advertising that propagates itself the way viruses do.”

Friends and relatives Customers Website visitors

Promotion ideas

GotLogos.com Café Press www.cafepress.com

Summary

Become comfortable with the Internet Decide if you really need a website Explore web hosts, online malls, auctions for

features and costs Decide which services are right for your

business to meet your customer needs Promote to every living being on the planet,

and then promote some more

For more information

www.accessE.info