| There are many ways to use the Internet to | | | | enter their shipping and payment information. |
| promote your brick-and-mortar retail store. | | | | The capability of buying and selling goods |
| All it takes is a little Internet knowledge | | | | and services online is often referred to as |
| and some creativity. | | | | e-commerce. |
| | | | |
| While general internet marketing strategies | | | | One major note about e-commerce needs to be |
| will certainly help promote your retail | | | | made here: you must have a completely secure |
| store, there are some unique marketing ideas | | | | payment system before you start selling |
| that can help propel you right past your | | | | products online. The last thing you want is |
| competition, many of whom don't even have a | | | | for someone to have their credit card |
| web presence. | | | | information stolen. |
| | | | |
| First, you should make use of all the general | | | | Shopping cart systems are available for |
| Internet marketing strategies: set up a | | | | purchase from many software companies, and |
| website, get links to it from as many sites | | | | there are even some great open source |
| as possible, submit it to search engines | | | | solutions, which means they are free. There |
| (especially local search engines like Google | | | | are also online services that provide robust |
| Local and Yahoo Local), and generally promote | | | | e-commerce solutions, often integrated with |
| it in every place and on everything you can. | | | | email services and extensive tracking and |
| Once this is done, it is time to look at the | | | | reporting tools. |
| more specialized marketing a retail store can | | | | |
| do. | | | | Besides e-commerce, you can also use the |
| | | | Internet to promote your brick-and-mortar |
| Most of your walk-in clients are going to be | | | | retail store by offering online coupons and |
| familiar with the products you sell, and | | | | other Internet only promotions. Run an online |
| chances are many of them will already be | | | | sale, offer free shipping for orders over a |
| regular customers. Your online campaign, | | | | certain amount, or give the first 100 buyers |
| then, is not really aimed at people who | | | | a free promotional item. |
| already shop at your store. | | | | |
| | | | People love getting something for nothing, |
| Instead you want to attract new business. For | | | | and many will visit your online store just |
| small brick and mortar retail stores, the | | | | for the special bonus. This gives you the |
| goal should probably be to go from being a | | | | additional benefit of getting your visitor's |
| strictly local business to a regional or even | | | | contact information so you can follow up via |
| national business. This is not as crazy as it | | | | email and postal mail. Just be sure visitors |
| sounds, because retail stores have a huge | | | | know they will be receiving information, and |
| advantage over service-oriented businesses. | | | | always provide a way for them to unsubscribe |
| While most services require the customer to | | | | from your email list. |
| be nearby, a retail business can usually can | | | | |
| send products to customers no matter where | | | | All of these ideas will help you use the |
| they live. | | | | Internet to promote your brick-and-mortar |
| | | | store, while bringing you new customers and |
| To do this, you will need a shopping cart | | | | providing information and services to the |
| system like the ones used by or the major | | | | customers you already have. So go for it. Get |
| online department stores. Shopping carts | | | | your website up and running and watch your |
| allow customers to select which of your | | | | products sail off the shelves! |
| products they want, decide the quantity, and | | | | |