Getting Your Business Online – Disadvantages
June 8th, 2007 by Andrew YuenPosted in Live Stores
Although there are many advantages to having a website, one also must consider the disadvantages. There are a large number of people who do not use the internet. Some people actually want to physically touch and see products that they want to purchase. Many people have an issue with using their credit card’s online, they are afraid of credit card fraud. Some people think that going to a traditional store to buy a particular item is much more convenient not use the internet.
The main point:
Depending on the business not everyone will use the web to find that particular business.
On a side note: You may think that the elderly in particular do not use the internet. Surprisingly, the elderly are the LARGEST population of growing internet users. The majority of them go online to shop for pharmaceutical products.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ITFacts/?p=8049
Although I am at the computer every day doing work for clients and surfing the web for information, sometimes it does not cross my mind to search the net for a particular product. For instance I recently was looking for a new lawnmower. It never occurred to me to check eBay for lawnmowers on sale in my area for pickup (to save on shipping). I ended up going directly to the local hardware store to buy a new lawnmower. People do not always turn to the internet as their first choice of places to purchase a particular product.
If your have the impression that you will be instantly raking in tons of money by opening an online store on the internet, you should reconsider building that store. Even major companies are having trouble converting visitors into sales. A majority of people use the internet to compare prices and then go to local stores to purchase the item. As a store owner you should not depend on your online store as your sole source of revenue and expect it to make a major impact on your bottom line.
The main point:
Before you dive into e-commerce and start your own online business consider both the advantages and disadvantages. Depending on what you are selling, it just may not be a good idea to build an online store.
