PHP and MySQL Web Development 4th Ed-tqw-_darksiderg

Considering the Types of Commercial Websites
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Paying a specialist market research company is one way to get a well-run focus
group and useful results, but it is not the only way. If you are running your own
focus groups, choose a skillful moderator.The moderator should have excellent people
skills and not have a bias or stake in the result of the research. Limit group sizes
to 6 to 10 people.A recorder or secretary should assist the moderator to leave her
free to facilitate discussion.The result that you get from your groups is only as relevant
as the sample of people you use. If you evaluate your product only with friends
and family of your staff, they are unlikely to represent the general community.
Taking Orders for Goods or Services
If your online advertising is compelling, the next logical step is to allow your customers
to order while still online.Traditional salespeople know that it is important to get customers
to make a decision now.The more time you give people to reconsider a purchasing
decision, the more likely they are to shop around or change their mind. If customers
want your product, it is in your best interest to make the purchase process as quick and
easy as possible. Forcing people to step away from their computer and call a phone number
or visit a store places obstacles in their way. If you have online advertising that has
convinced viewers to buy, let them buy now, without leaving your website.
Taking orders on a website makes sense for many businesses. Every business wants
orders. Allowing people to place orders online can either provide additional sales or
reduce your salespeople’s workload. Providing facilities for online orders obviously
involves costs. Building a dynamic site, organizing payment facilities, and providing customer
service all cost money.
Much of the appeal of online sales is that many of these costs stay the same regardless
of whether you take 1,000 orders or 1,000,000 orders.To make the costs worthwhile
though, you need to have products or services that will sell in reasonable numbers.
Before you get too attached to the idea of online commerce, try to determine whether
your products are suitable for an e-commerce site.
Products and services commonly bought using the Internet include books and magazines,
computer software and equipment, music, clothing, travel, and tickets to entertainment
events.
Just because your product is not in one of these categories, do not despair.These categories
are already crowded with established brands. However, you would be wise to consider
some of the factors that make these products big online sellers.
Ideally, an e-commerce product is nonperishable and easily shipped, expensive enough
to make shipping costs seem reasonable, yet not so expensive that the purchaser feels
compelled to physically examine the item before purchase.
The best e-commerce products are commodities. If a consumer buys an avocado, he will
probably want to look at the particular avocado and perhaps feel it.All avocados are not the
same. One copy of a book, CD, or computer program is usually identical to other copies of
the same title. Purchasers do not need to see the particular item they will purchase.