E-commerce or electronic commerce can be defined as selling and buying of goods and services over the internet (Donegan, 2000).  It is a commercial transaction or any type of business involving exchange of information across the internet and covers a variety of distinct businesses for instance music or auction sites, business trades between corporations and consumer based retail sites (Manes, 2000).  E-commerce is convenient as it allows consumers to transfer information, goods and services electronically without experiencing any barriers as concerns distance or time (Bonisteel, 2000).

E-commerce is considered one of the most vital facets of the internet to have emerged with modern day technology in the recent past.  It also has a number of benefits or advantages for instance it allows the buyer to make better buyer decisions as concerns the goods andor services they would be interested in purchasing (Bonisteel, 2000).  As compared to costs incurred during traditional exchange of goods and services, the direct cost of sale for purchases and sales conducted from a website are lower since there are no middlemen involved during the transaction process (Donegan, 2000).  E-commerce is not only the cheapest and most affordable means of conducting business but also is ideal for niche products because its customers are few.  This form of business transaction gives customers control of the sales and purchasing process thus building loyalty (Manes, 2000).

RESEARCH
E-tailing or electronic retailing, on the other hand, can be defined as the practice of selling products and services over electronic mediums such as the Internet (Donegan, 2000).  An example of a widely recognized e-tailer is the which was established in 1995, developing its own structure as well as managing its own site (Bonisteel, 2000).  Other e-tailers include Bizrate.com and Toys-rus.com (Manes, 2000).  E-tailing provides a wide range of individuals to sell products to leading to increased profits and decreased costs.

This form of business transaction is easy and comfortable since all information concerning the products and services are just but a click away and is easily accessible for the comfort of ones home (Donegan, 2000).  E-tailing also has the ability to create interaction en-masse in that it is capable of interacting with consumers on a personal level and be able to react to responses of individual customers, worldwide (Manes, 2000).  With this form of business, accessibility is possible from any part of the nation or the world using a website and therefore increasing potential customer base as compared to a supermarket with limited area of operation (Donegan, 2000).  In addition, customers are able to conduct transactions using the same medium from where the information is obtained, creating no disconnection between the ability to purchase and the desire to purchase (Bonisteel, 2000).

There are a few strategies used by e-tailers to ensure customer retention and satisfaction for instance pricing, store design, repeat purchase, customer loyalty as well as interactive marketing. E-tailers have to constantly keep in mind, stick to and create a sound internet strategy, one of them being scalability. Scalability is the term used to refer to the software, network infrastructures as well as hardware used to ensure Web sites and related systems are up and running (Donegan, 2000).  E-tailers have realized that it this is an important strategy since investments and valuable resources are not lost when any changes are required to be made to them.  In recent studies carried out, Shop.org discovered that approximately 100 of online retailers went through planned e-mail marketing efforts where about 97 would conduct organic and paid search marketing activities (Manes, 2000).  In addition, social media usage increased from a smaller base but at a higher rate. Organic search marketing and social media usage are two other strategies used by e-tailers to conduct business transactions.

Reports have shown that brands as well as retailers have opted for a more aggressive approach in trying to implement social media strategies in an effort to foster greater customer engagement (Donegan, 2000).  A number of social media tools are used such as Facebook, community forums, Customer Q  A, social listening tools, Twitter and product suggestion boxes (Manes, 2000).  E-tailers have accepted the fact that majority of individuals are willing to engage through social media and that if they do not get into it, consumers and potential consumers will leave.  This strategy invokes certain consumer behavior and that is the main reason as to why e-tailers choose social media usage.  It not only mobilizes advocates to advertise for their products and services through word of mouth but also enhances greater customer engagement (Donegan, 2000).  It also increases brand and customer engagement.  Every time individuals discuss about social media strategy, they discuss about community sites, apps on social networking sites, blogging as well as how brandproduct can be communicated or position with the customers through such medium (Bonisteel, 2000).
As a form of internet marketing strategy, organic search marketing considers how search engines work as well as what individuals look for in web sites.  E-tailers have observed that organic search marketing is necessary in the marketing mix for modern day businesses since it not only delivers the most easily measurable solutions but also inform customers of the latest available goods and services (Bonisteel, 2000).

Organic search marketing is perceived as being accurately refined and suited for better performance.  A number of benefits that e-tailers are much aware of are associated with organic search marketing.  For instance, organic search marketing if free of charge.  Google and Yahoo are some of the search engines enabling organic search marketing to occur and have been consistently steady (Donegan, 2000).  Research has revealed that individuals are more comfortable relying on organic listings as compared to paid listings as far as organic search marketing is concerned (Manes, 2000).

The aforementioned strategies used by e-tailers serve the purpose of informing the customers of what is available in the current market and how much it would cost (Bonisteel, 2000).  They also promote consumer loyalty, motivation and repeat purchase in addition to enabling advocacy of the products and services through word of mouth.

Sample Persuasive Message
Ever wish that your shopping could be made easier Ever wish that you could find someone to do all your shopping due to your busy schedule Fortunately, you do not have to wish anymore for this has just become a reality.  Facebook and Twitter have introduced a new website, which is easily and readily accessible, offering catalogues containing different products and services at cheap and affordable prices.  Shopping-made-easier is a website found on facebook or twitter at the left hand side also indicating individuals and delivery companies that one can get in touch with if any delivery services are required.

This website will be beneficial in that unlike other sites where one has to pay in order to view what is available, one just has to log on to hisher facebook or twitter website to view the available catalogues and prices.  At the click of a button, one can be able to place orders and receive immediate feedback from online customer care as concerns the products and services one desires to purchase.  The other benefit is that it is absolutely user friendly in that one is able to communicate with other users as concerns effectiveness of the products and services.

Once you access this website, your shopping experience will never be the same again and you will be able to relax and carry on with your day-to-day activities, knowing that all your shopping needs are catered for. Try it You will not regret it

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