| Building a web site often can lead to interesting | | | | States, it seems like almost everyone does, this is |
| deviations caused by practicalities and changes in | | | | not true in over-seas markets where there is |
| perspective. This is okay so long as you keep things | | | | resistance to credit. Furthermore, some people just |
| simple for prospects. | | | | don't feel safe providing credit card information over |
| Many business owners unintentionally erect barriers | | | | the web. Regardless of how safe or unsafe Internet |
| between themselves and their customers when it | | | | transactions may or may not be, it is usually the job |
| comes to the site sales process. Simple mechanisms | | | | of the business owner to provide what the |
| can be put in place to remove these barriers. A | | | | consumer wants. |
| business owner that is always looking for new ways | | | | It is a simple matter to provide an address and a |
| to connect with potential customers often finds his | | | | printable order form for most web sites where a |
| or her efforts paying off many times over. Some of | | | | check can be mailed. If you are running a home |
| the most common web sales barriers are lack of | | | | business, a PO box is a simple solution to keep your |
| contact methods, payment methods, and delivery | | | | business separate from your home. Some mail box |
| methods. To bridge these potential barriers, a | | | | services allow for your address to be a suite number |
| business owner can provide more options to crossing | | | | instead of a box number, which can further improve |
| each of these barriers. | | | | the image of your business. |
| Contact Barriers | | | | Providing a phone number by which orders can be |
| Simply adding contact options can be a great way to | | | | placed is also a way to remove a barrier between |
| create more sales. Some web sites only offer email | | | | you and your potential customers. Of course this |
| or even just a contact form as a means of contact. | | | | means there must also be someone there to answer |
| Yet there are many people that prefer to conduct | | | | the phone. Simply answering the phone can be the |
| transactions over the phone, by mail or by fax. Retail | | | | difference between a sale and a lost sale. |
| sites discover this fact the first time they go through | | | | Delivery Methods |
| a hot sales period such as Christmas. Some people | | | | For businesses providing products, providing a variety |
| just like to call. No, I don't know why. They just do. | | | | of delivery methods is yet another way to cater to |
| Providing a broad range of contact options also builds | | | | the desires of your customers and potential |
| credibility. Having an office address, fax and phone | | | | customers. Many people have a preference for |
| number in addition to an email address shows the | | | | delivery and meeting this preference could be a |
| prospective client that the business does in fact exist | | | | deciding factor when deciding whether or not to |
| and has made themselves transparent and easy to | | | | place an order. For those businesses providing |
| contact. Providing such information gives people the | | | | services, providing a delivery pickup service for a |
| impression they aren't dealing with some Nigerian | | | | deposit and/or contract can be a perfect sale closer. |
| scam. | | | | Conclusion |
| Using an 800 number is also an excellent way to build | | | | By removing barriers between you and your potential |
| credibility and remove a sales barrier. Picking up the | | | | customers you can increase the chances of making |
| tab on calls from potential clients is a polite gesture | | | | sales. Other options are also available, like instant |
| and may encourage a potential buyer one more | | | | messaging support, mapped out directions, video |
| reason to call. Toll-free numbers are easy to obtain | | | | conferencing and more. Be careful to not confuse |
| these days and can cost around 6 cents per minute - | | | | your audience with too many options. It is often a |
| a small price to pay for building confidence in your | | | | good idea to direct your audience to default options |
| audience. | | | | for contact, payment and delivery so as not to |
| Payment Barriers | | | | confuse people. Other options can be shown as small |
| Many web sites provide only one way to pay for | | | | links or drop down options. By working to connect |
| merchandise - credit card. There are many reasons | | | | more with your audience, your sales and customer |
| to offer more payment methods. For one, not | | | | satisfaction can be increased dramatically. |
| everyone has a credit card. Although in the United | | | | |