2. Selling to Consumers Selling to Consumers
It is common for sellers to use multiple channels in order to reach more potential buyers. Your choices then are to go broad or narrow, realizing that a presence on multiple channels may tax your ability to monitor and manage them all. An option is to start narrow—your own site plus a popular marketplace with a worldwide reach. Test the waters before expanding further.
Selling to Consumers:
Ways in which US retailers say they sell to international customers:
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Transactional Site
People who shop online are most familiar with this type of website. A transactional site may be an electronic storefront for a brick-and-mortar retailer, a catalog business, or a manufacturer showroom for those wishing to sell directly to the public. Transactional sites conduct full “end-to-end” transactions via the website, allowing customers to search for, order, and pay for products online as well as allowing them to contact the company for after-sales service. The most sophisticated sites create efficiencies by integrating the transaction process with back-office systems such as accounting, inventory, sales and others.
Information Delivery Site
This site generates sales by promoting company and product awareness rather than facilitating online transactions. Its function is similar to a brochure, providing information about the product, or service, and contact information on how to proceed with a purchase. Because this site is often static and doesn’t require the software systems necessary for online transactions, it is less expensive to design and maintain than the transactional site.