Products
Every business has a product or service to sell, and if your business has an online presence the question becomes – how can you showcase your product or service in the most appealing way? Most businesses take a static approach to solve this dilemma, resulting in the same tired old picture of whatever it is they’re selling. However, today’s open-source solutions allow any business to create a dynamic product display that both appeals and engages today’s savvy internet (Web 2.0?) user.
Description: What is it?
If you take the time to survey your competitors websites, and surveying what your competition is doing is one of the cardinal rules of marketing principles, you will probably discover that their website displays products in the same old tried and true static photo array most of your customers expect. The problem with tried and true is it’s boring, sedate, and does little to help your business confront another important principle of marketing – how to differentiate yourself (or product) from your competitors.
To put it bluntly, if you don’t differentiate your company or product from your competitors, you blend into the background where no one can see or find you – especially online.
Users: Who needs it?
Even your business sells a mundane product like hammers it’s possible to present them to your customers in a way that sets them apart from the competition. That implies that any enterprise that needs to sell a product or service needs novel ways to display them to their customers, and the implication is true.
The implication is especially true looking forward to tomorrow’s customers. Consumers are becoming more reliant on the web, and studies indicate that regardless of the product they need or want – the first thing today’s consumer do is search online for it. Without an engaging online presentation your business offering will not stand out, will be ignored, and will not provide a return on your investment. It really is that simple.
Features: What does it do?
There are an unlimited number of novel ways to differentiate your business offering online, and many of them are relatively simple to incorporate into your website. Even if your products are simple things like gardening tools, they can be enhanced by a gallery with simple animations – rotating displays of each item within the same category is one example, or if you already have a nifty looking catalogue you can display it online where the viewer clicks to flip the pages. The possibilities are endless.
The most important thing to remember is, today’s consumers expect novel, cool, and jazzy websites that are user friendly. There is no reason your online business offering can’t deliver the same thing. I have a friend who is always sending me links to websites of businesses that provide things neither of us will ever want or need. Why? Because they are interesting to look at or have cool effects built into them. If either of us ever needs what they offer - they will be the first place we go.
Benefits: What is achieved?
Sexy, cool product displays engage potential customers in brick and mortar establishments, but they attract and appeal to online customers even more. Product displays are designed to keep consumer’s eyes and minds focused on the offering, and online a click sweeps your potential sale away into an ever expanding sea of online businesses.
The longer you keep your customer’s eyes on your website, the greater the possibility of making a sale – that’s the primary benefit of creating a functional, engaging online product display. Don’t be a bore, and don’t bore your customers – that’s the general idea.