Holiday Ecommerce and your Web Hosting Provider

Holiday Dreams Can Come True With A Little Help From Your Web Host

With Christmas three months away many consumers are already making their lists and checking them twice – especially online shoppers. Hopefully, you have worked with your web host to devisee a brilliant strategy to deliver superior results now and throughout the holiday season. If you have not developed your holiday ecommerce strategy you have two choices: hyperventilate or get in touch with your web hosting provider immediately.

The old adage “failing to plan is planning to fail,” is never truer than during the online shopping extravaganza.  Fifty three percent of the respondents in a recent survey reported that they increased their online buying during the 2006 shopping season. Sixty six percent of the respondents plan to spend “substantially more” online this year.

Billions of dollars will be spent online during the holidays and with guidance from a superior web host, you can reap the benefits. (You can be sure that your competitors are already in the game.)

It is no longer enough to be the site that offers the best deal. To compete successfully in today’s online market, you have to be exemplary in every way, from classy design to security to stellar customer service. Your web host understands this and can help you navigate successfully through the impending online shopping frenzy.

Web hosting and ecommerce to-do list

Here is a basic “to do” list that you and your web host can use to make sure your site is ready for holiday shoppers:

• Make sure your site can be navigated easily. Customers want to be able to browse the store, so make sure they can easily find things by both browsing and searching on any page of your site.

• Communicate your payment methods up front. Let customers know immediately what payment methods you accept. If can be very disengaging for a customer to find out during the check out process that you don’t accept Paypal or certain credit cards.  Also, guide your shoppers all the way through the checkout process. Don’t make them have to “learn” your specific system. Use standardized methods whenever possible. Make it easy for them to spend money with you!

• Have an inventory plan: Develop a fail-safe method for maintaining inventory. Many sites use real-time tracking so they won’t frustrate consumers by “overselling” certain items. Your web host can help you develop an inventory system tailored to your specific needs.

• Clearly explain your shipping methods and costs. High shipping costs are at the top of the list of why customers abandon shopping carts. Consider offering special deals on shipping during the holidays if consumers purchase items by a certain date. Assure your customers that their items will arrive on time.

• Enhance product imagery. Online shoppers need to be able to “feel” your merchandise through imagery, accurate product descriptions and detail such as the actual size of the product. Talk to your web host about the best way to display your merchandise.

Even though spam is a bane to everyone’s existence, many consumers still say that email reminders from companies they patronize are effective. In a recent email marketing study 68% of consumers surveyed said they had been prompted to visit a site after receiving an email from the web shop owner. Be creative with this. Also, use this technique to notify shoppers when a popular item is back in stock.

The “wish list” concept is always popular and is even more important during the holiday season, according to Lauren Freedman, president of the E-tailing Group.  “If this is done right it works extremely well. All wish list functions should be on one page to make it quick and simple to use.”

Freedman also recommends what she calls “the nuance of giving” (using the power of suggestion to generate sales.) Promote gift ideas prominently with graphic icons and arrange the gifts by price range. Categorize items into groups such as “top sellers,” “gifts for her,” or “for the art enthusiast.”

Another strategy that can boost your bottom line during the holidays is the practice of encouraging customers to “think in multiples.” This can be done by offering multiple shipping addresses and different delivery dates. You might also offer a discount when customers buy more than one of a certain item.

Make sure you clearly understand the trends. This is where the expert advice of your web host is significantly important. WebSurveyor’s Services Group of online survey professionals recent conducted a nationwide survey to help identify online spending habits.  

In 2006, women outshopped men in every age category.  Most women in the 31-45 age group list internet shopping as their preferred purchasing method. Because of this, many online businesses would be wise to consider transforming themselves from male-oriented “hunter” sites to female-oriented “gatherer” sites that provide a richer online buying experience.

Superior web hosting provider

There are millions of shoppers out there who are already making their lists and preparing to plunge into holiday shopping mode. With a little bit of planning and a superior web hosting provider, you can make their holiday dreams (and yours) come true.

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