How to Beat the Competition OnlineIf you want to beat the competition, then you’re going to have to implement every successful and proven internet marketing strategy.
You’re going to have to do things right, in every aspect of your business venture, beginning with the selection of a popular niche market. |
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How to Beat the Competition Online
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Focus on a niche marketStatistics have shown that the best way for small businesses to succeed online is to focus on a niche market. The internet is saturated with online super stores and many of them are internet giants with millions of marketing dollars on hand.
However, by focusing on a niche market, your competition is reduced to those who are in the same market as you are. Then it’s just a matter of competing against them. And the most popular niche markets online are as follows: |
1. Books
2. Computers, Computer Hardware
3. Computer Software
4. Consumer Electronics
5. Apparel
6. Toys/Video Games
7. Videos DVD’s
8. Health and Beauty
9. Music
10. Jewelry
11. Office Supplies
12. Linens/Home Décor
13. Flowers
14. Sporting Goods
15. Footwear
16. Small Appliances
17. Tools and Garden
18. Gifts
Choose your niche market and then focus on that without falling into the lure of building an online super store.
2. Computers, Computer Hardware
3. Computer Software
4. Consumer Electronics
5. Apparel
6. Toys/Video Games
7. Videos DVD’s
8. Health and Beauty
9. Music
10. Jewelry
11. Office Supplies
12. Linens/Home Décor
13. Flowers
14. Sporting Goods
15. Footwear
16. Small Appliances
17. Tools and Garden
18. Gifts
Choose your niche market and then focus on that without falling into the lure of building an online super store.
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Create a search engine optimized business name
Creating a search engine optimized business name is one of the most important aspects of starting and running a successful internet business online.
An optimized business name which includes your most important keywords sends a straight forward marketing message to your customers. It lets them know who you are, what you do, and most importantly, what you sell.
Furthermore, your domain name must match your business name and vise versa, seeing that search engines love optimized domain names as well.
An optimized business name which includes your most important keywords sends a straight forward marketing message to your customers. It lets them know who you are, what you do, and most importantly, what you sell.
Furthermore, your domain name must match your business name and vise versa, seeing that search engines love optimized domain names as well.
Create a search engine optimized domain name
Search engines love keywords. And one of the most important places to implement your keywords is within your domain name, (wwwyourbusiness.com) among other places as well.
However, keywords found within the title tag, description tag and anywhere else on the webpage can be updated and changed at a later time. However, the keywords within your domain name are permanent and can not be changed at any time. (In order to implement new keywords within your domain name you would have to purchase and register a new domain name.)
Therefore, it’s important to get this right the first time by using your most important keywords in your domain name as this one move alone will help place you ahead of the competition in the search engine search results.
However, keywords found within the title tag, description tag and anywhere else on the webpage can be updated and changed at a later time. However, the keywords within your domain name are permanent and can not be changed at any time. (In order to implement new keywords within your domain name you would have to purchase and register a new domain name.)
Therefore, it’s important to get this right the first time by using your most important keywords in your domain name as this one move alone will help place you ahead of the competition in the search engine search results.
Create a content rich website
One of the best ways to beat the competition is by creating a high traffic website. More traffic means more sales. And although there are many ways to create a high traffic website, one of the best ways to do so is to create a content rich website with many, many web pages.
Most online stores have simple product pages with basic information and one or two product images on display. But you can go the extra mile by providing extensive product pages providing as much information as possible and plenty of product images as well.
Each product page should consist of the same amount of product information found on the manufacturers’ website or more. Distributor websites provide basic product information but the manufacturers’ websites always provide more detailed and complete information.
Each product page should consist of the same amount of product information found on the manufacturers’ website or more. Distributor websites provide basic product information but the manufacturers’ websites always provide more detailed and complete information.
And the last thing you want to do is to encourage the customer to go to the manufacturers’ website to look for more product information. Don’t give them a reason to leave your site. However, extensive product pages are just one part of the picture. In order to create a content rich, high traffic website you’re going to have to provide more than just product information.
For example, you can add top 10 lists, product reviews, comparison charts and more. You can even add “how to” articles and news articles as well and then build a webpage of each of those articles. And as a result, all of these pages will be indexed by search engines and create in more traffic as well. And in time, you can create a popular, content rich, high traffic website which creates targeted traffic daily.
For example, you can add top 10 lists, product reviews, comparison charts and more. You can even add “how to” articles and news articles as well and then build a webpage of each of those articles. And as a result, all of these pages will be indexed by search engines and create in more traffic as well. And in time, you can create a popular, content rich, high traffic website which creates targeted traffic daily.
Display your best selling products on your main page
One of the best ways to show your visitors that your store is the place to be is to show off your best selling and most popular products on the main page of your website.
Your main page is your landing page where most visitors will land. And this page should display the most important products on your website such as best sellers, most popular, on sale, and on clearance now, as these types of products promote consumer excitement and create a buying atmosphere as well.
Your main page is your landing page where most visitors will land. And this page should display the most important products on your website such as best sellers, most popular, on sale, and on clearance now, as these types of products promote consumer excitement and create a buying atmosphere as well.
Provide fair and low pricing
You’re in business to make a profit, but it’s also important to remain competitive as well. And one of the best ways to compete online is by offering fair and low prices on all of your products.
However, profit margins vary within different product categories as well. For example, with computer hardware and software products, margins can vary from 8% to 14% while jewelry products boast a profit margin of 50% or more.
Yet to beat the competition, it’s always best to offer the lowest pricing possible while still being able to make a profit as well. And in order to remain competitive, your prices will have to match or beat your competitors and include incentives as well, such as free shipping for example.
However, profit margins vary within different product categories as well. For example, with computer hardware and software products, margins can vary from 8% to 14% while jewelry products boast a profit margin of 50% or more.
Yet to beat the competition, it’s always best to offer the lowest pricing possible while still being able to make a profit as well. And in order to remain competitive, your prices will have to match or beat your competitors and include incentives as well, such as free shipping for example.
Offer free shipping
If you’re going to remain competitive online, then you’re going to have to offer free shipping in one form or another seeing that most of your competitors will be doing the same.
And free shipping can range from shipping on selected items, orders for $50 or more or free shipping on every item. But if you want to compete online then offering free shipping with or without conditions is a must.
Just by placing a free shipping notice at the top of every page on your website can increase sales within a very short period of time. And if the price is right on the product, then your free shipping offer can help close the sale, each and every time.
And free shipping can range from shipping on selected items, orders for $50 or more or free shipping on every item. But if you want to compete online then offering free shipping with or without conditions is a must.
Just by placing a free shipping notice at the top of every page on your website can increase sales within a very short period of time. And if the price is right on the product, then your free shipping offer can help close the sale, each and every time.
Make sure products get shipped out that same day
After the customer orders the product from you, then you have to order the product from the distributor. Then the distributor will drop-ship the product directly to your customer with your name on the box.
But it’s very important to make sure that the product gets shipped out to the customer on that very same day that the order is placed. And to make sure all goes well, it’s best to place the order with the distributor right after receiving the order from the customer. And at the end of the business day, you can get the tracking number from the distributor, (or the distributor will send the tracking number to you) to confirm that the product has been shipped.
But it’s very important to make sure that the product gets shipped out to the customer on that very same day that the order is placed. And to make sure all goes well, it’s best to place the order with the distributor right after receiving the order from the customer. And at the end of the business day, you can get the tracking number from the distributor, (or the distributor will send the tracking number to you) to confirm that the product has been shipped.
Execute all internet marketing strategies
If you want to beat the competition and compete online, then you’re going to have to implement every successful internet marketing strategy available. And for the most part, you can do it yourself for free.
Proven and successful internet marketing strategies include:
-Search engine marketing and optimization
-Link building and link exchanging
-Press release marketing
-Pay-per-click marketing
-Discussion forum marketing
-Article marketing
-Email marketing
-Banner marketing
In order to beat the competition and succeed online, you’re going to have to implement all of these internet marketing strategies into your marketing plan and then execute your plan with full force.
In order to succeed online, you need traffic. And marketing your website will be your main priority; because without traffic there are no sales. But in order to create sales you have to create traffic, and implementing every internet marketing strategy is the best way and the only way to do so.
Proven and successful internet marketing strategies include:
-Search engine marketing and optimization
-Link building and link exchanging
-Press release marketing
-Pay-per-click marketing
-Discussion forum marketing
-Article marketing
-Email marketing
-Banner marketing
In order to beat the competition and succeed online, you’re going to have to implement all of these internet marketing strategies into your marketing plan and then execute your plan with full force.
In order to succeed online, you need traffic. And marketing your website will be your main priority; because without traffic there are no sales. But in order to create sales you have to create traffic, and implementing every internet marketing strategy is the best way and the only way to do so.