Where do web projects live?
The article describes why a web project needs a server, what it is, and how to choose the right one.
Is an online store necessary for online sales?
An online store for business has become a real godsend in the world of entrepreneurship. Its creation has revolutionized the business world, as now it is not necessary to organize a physical point of distribution to sell. Some people see online stores as a supplement, but they are a completely self-sufficient tool with their own advantages and features.
How to formalize online sales?
The online sales industry has undergone a significant transformation since its inception. Today, we can find offers to purchase goods or services not only on specialized websites.
Let's take a look at the typical formats of online sales.
Online store
An online store is a specialized website that, in addition to a catalog of goods, provides tools for accepting and processing orders and making payments. Such resources are a tool for online commerce literally, because they directly carry out the sales process. The website is located on its own domain and is controlled by the owner.
Online stores offer goods and services from a single seller. Everything that happens on the website depends on the owner: new deliveries, discounts and promotions, catalog volume, and production. Disputes with customers are resolved directly by the administration of the online store - there are no third parties involved.
The development of an online store allows you to sell without geographical restrictions, offers are available to all customers within its logistics capabilities.
Instagram store
Instagram is very popular among users. It can also be used for business. An Instagram page can act as an independent trading platform or be an addition to the main online (or physical) store.
Popular trading niches are:
health and cosmetics
food
everyday goods, children's goods;
clothing, accessories.
The Instagram sales model as a standalone sales outlet is more suitable for small businesses and has great limitations in attracting customers - only Meta ads. There are almost no alternative ways to get traffic, unlike a website where you can use advertising, as well as website promotion on Google and other channels. Frequently, large companies use the platform to prepare customers to come to the main store.
Marketplace+CRM
A marketplace is a ready-made trading platform with many sellers. The principle is simple: the provider offers a sales platform with a ready-made customer base contained in the CRM, and sellers rent virtual stores. A typical example of a marketplace is Amazon.
Top marketplaces have a huge audience of customers ready to make offers. Integration of a CRM system will further increase the seller's potential, especially at the stage of its expansion.
Online e-commerce marketplace
This type of website does not engage in direct sales. It is a platform where buyers can act as sellers at the same time. Online marketplaces are only platforms for finding a suitable client (buyer or seller). The rating of a website directly affects its traffic - the higher it is, the more chances you have to find the right offer.
Typical examples of platforms with ads: Ebay or Facebook marketplace.
Advantages of an online store and comparison with other platforms
Criteria. | Online store | Instagram store | Online e-commerce marketplace | Marketplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Service area | Within one country or internationally | Locally | International trade is possible | |
Language localization | Multilingual | Monolingual | Mostly monolingual | Mostly monolingual |
Adaptation to small businesses | Adapted | Adapted | No | No |
Support for large businesses | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Suitable for any industry | Absolutely | No | Suitable | Suitable |
Audience engagement | Middle | Middle | High | High |
Uniqueness of offers | Full | No | No | No |
Start-up costs | High | Low | Middle | High |
Online store VS Instagram store
In this aspect, the advantages of an online store are obvious. The only point is that Instagram trading is more suitable for small businesses without large investments. If the seller has limited offers, and there are no plans to expand production at this stage, it is more profitable to use this trading format. As the business grows, priority should be given to the first option in the comparison of an online store vs an Instagram store.
Online store VS Marketplaces
A marketplace is a promoted brand with a large number of potential sellers. By launching trading within such a platform, the seller automatically subscribes thousands of customers to their product. There is no need to attract them further, they are already registered on the marketplace. All that remains is to make them interested in the offer.
Marketplaces do not limit sellers in the assortment. One outlet can have several brands, and the catalog can be expanded during seasonal offers.
In the comparison of online stores vs. marketplaces, the second option wins, but there is a point. An online store is more reasonable when:
- you have a unique offer;
- you need to use special promotion tools (marketplaces do not allow this);
- you need to organize your own customer base;
- you set a personal price without regard to other sellers.
There are no competitors within the online store, it is the property of a specific business.
Online store VS Online e-commerce marketplace
An online e-commerce marketplace is a simple way to try your hand at online trading. You need minimal investment, just your own profile on a website with services. In a few minutes, the user posts an ad, photos of the product (or service), and waits for a response. The message board already has an audience that is interested in buying something.
The need for an online store for business arises when it comes to systematic trading. As a rule, you cannot place the entire catalog of your offers on a bulletin board. There are no options for convenient online trading, price management, etc. - the entire range of tools is limited to the offers of the platform itself.
An online store is your space where you set the rules.
Summary: why do you need an online store?
Why do you need an online store - a few important points:
the owner needs to promote his/her brand;
you need access to an unlimited audience;
the resource is almost fully automated in combination with CRM;
there are no restrictions on marketing, promotion, and competition.
In today's realities, top manufacturers have no question whether their business needs an online store. The effectiveness of this tool has been proven, and our website development company, including online stores, will help you with the technical implementation of your business in sales.
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