Resale Stores & the Web

You may enjoy music, but lets be realistic. Which truly professional and aesthetic website includes music?

Your website should be to provide certain level of convenience for your customers. Music on websites are simply not convenient and serve no tangible purpose. They make visiting your website INconvenient.
It not only slows the loading of your site, it can also be annoying for those who are only visiting your site with a specific purpose in mind.

Think of how many of your visitors are surfing the web while at work and while they my be on a T1 line and the music loads quickly, they are probably multitasking when all of the sudden music blares. It’s amazing how quickly we forget where the volume button on the computer is located. Do you think that will attract goodwill? What it does is form a level of embarrassment between your potential customer and that of his/her peers. NOW everyone knows he/she was surfing. Will that person be returning to your site?

Or think about how many people play music “of their choice” through web radio, itunes, etc. Do you really want them to have to fiddle looking for your off button so they can continue to listen to their music of choice? Don’t let that off button be the most used icon on your site.

Will your visitor enjoy the music just because you do? Itunes – a website about and selling music does not have music playing. They know music is a personal preference.

There are places where music has a place – an example are social networking websites. The music has a purpose in that it is a reflection of you. If anyone has ever been to a “myspace” page, how long does it take to download that music. Does your computer hang? It may not for the newest of computers and those who have T1 lines or broadband. But wireless and dial-up and even DSL – well it consumes time and if they can’t find the off icon, they might just be backing out of the site entirely.

For a business website everything on your website should have a tangible purpose. Whether to make a sale, create goodwill, offer a service or provide useful information about your business or your industry. Music can create an ambiance which is also reflected in your physical store or business. Remember though, the visitor is at your website with a purpose in mind. Meet those needs and they’ll come visit you sooner rather than later.

Deb

Possibly Related Posts:

• Get through the finish line!
• Are your customers at the cocktail party?
• Twitter and your business
• Twitter for beginners
• Help save your community – 3 stores and $50 at a time!

I just had a compulsion to write about this topic. I subscribe to Google alerts about a variety of topics and I am quite certain I’m not the only one who does this. Google’s services are quite popular and this one particular tool allows us to get into our email box a summary of what’s new on the web with links to websites which speak to the interest we’ve chosen.

But, that’s not the topic I’m writing about today. I read stories about businesses and it’s rather frustrating to read about a topic and have my interest piqued and then not have a place to go to learn more about this business.

An example is a resale store, new or existing getting a great press story. My interest is piqued. I want to learn more about them and I couldn’t. No website. So, I go on to the next thing in my life. The next story, back to work, the kids, whatever it is that fills my life.

Note, if it were something local I’d probably not think much more about it until it was brought once again to the forefront of my mind. Maybe 6 months later I’d walk in and tell the person behind the counter how I’d read the story and we’d have a small conversation. But, it took me quite some time to make it to the place I’d read about. How many times has that happened to you? Customer walks in, you begin chatting and they indicate they read the story, but life took over but they’re there now. I suppose better late than never.

I have to say, personally, I know that had they had a website to visit I’d be drawn in more and it wouldn’t take me 3 or 6 months to make it in. Why? The website would further imprint your business in my mind and bring it to the next level of consciousness. With each click of the mouse or keyboard I’d be investing a little more time and thought into your business and how your business can meet a need of my own.

Clicking from my google alert, to the press story, to your website further draws me in. Once at your website I’d get the image you created of your business to bring an even higher level of consciousness and the odds of me making a decision to go to your store over another store would be increased substantially. The website is a tool to be used to tickle the interest, to provide information and keep that interest level a higher priority.

As I sit clicking, my mind is working… I know that I have the afternoon off next Friday and that would be the perfect time to visit. OR, I know that I’ll be cleaning the kid’s closets this weekend and although I’d planned to drop off those under loved items at the local thrift on my way to work, I just might try this shop out to consign or sell. OR this would make a great place to visit with my friend as we always go shopping together the last Saturday of the month And, oh, I think I’ll sign up for their newsletter…

Each level of information puts this business more so in the forefront of my mind.

When will the local press contact you to write about your business in their special section of the newspaper? Will you be ready? Are you prepared to use this as a full scale marketing tool (assault)? Did you even know that there are Google alerts people use to notify them of such topics?

Now’s the time to arm yourself with the tools to make that marketing assault fruitful to your business. Been thinking you need a website, but not sure where to turn? Email me and I’ll be happy to guide you as well as provide a personalized quote based upon your needs and desires.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Get through the finish line!
• Are your customers at the cocktail party?
• Twitter and your business
• Twitter for beginners
• Help save your community – 3 stores and $50 at a time!