eBusiness Development Principles – Part 2

In part 1 of this series, we highlighted 5 principles in developing a successful ebusiness:  1) find a need and address it; 2) leverage existing services; 3) use what you know and love; 4) use offline marketing; 5) be patient. You can read the part 1 article at this link: eBusiness Development Principles Part 1. We will now continue with additional principles essential in succeeding in ebusiness. Although we number the principles for ease of reference and memory, they are not necessarily followed in the same order or followed in any particular order, but rather overlap and may need to be followed at the same time. In this article, we focus on establishing a strong Web presence.

6. Choose a domain name wisely – your domain name is how your ebusiness will be remembered. A domain name can have a powerful reinforcing impact on an ebusiness if selected well. A poorly chosen domain can have a deflating effect on an ebusiness and may cause you to work harder to establish a recognizeable brand.

7. Content is key – focus on well written, clear and concise Web copy. Endeavor to create a unique voice and personality that projects a professional image with personal warmth. Make your copy easy to read and help the visitor see the benefits of your product or service.

8. Have a call to action – don’t leave your visitors wondering as to what they need to do next. Have a clear way for them to make a purchase or contact you via your website. Encourage your visitors to act now.

9. Build trust and confidence – always include a telephone number and address to contact you. If you have testimonials then put them on your website.  If you don’t have testimonials yet, offer free samples in order to get testimonials.

10. Build a professional website – simple design with good layout, color scheme, easy navigation, and a way to contact or purchase online work best. Complex designs with busy pages can easily lose  readers. Make sure your website is compatible with the popular browsers used by your visitors.

In the future installments to this series we will deal with ways to building customer trust and confidence, as well as ways to make money online.