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When the Internet, and online shopping, first came to prominence there was a natural distrust among consumers. Individuals didn't want to pay up front for a product that might arrive damaged with questionable recourse for recovery. Additionally, the concept of sending credit card information over the Internet to some unknown source seemed unreliable and untrustworthy. As the Internet has evolved however, more consumers have flocked to the digital landscape to locate products and services that meet their needs and at competitive prices. Big box stores can't always compete with the low overheard that online businesses maintain. In fact, the Internet has drastically changed the way in which consumers view products. Product Information Consumers tend to visit several websites to obtain product information about a product or service they might be looking for. The original website may get lost in the shuffle when it comes time for the consumer to make a decision and purchase an item, which is why businesses must strive to form a connection with the consumer before they leave the site. This can be done via an email newsletter, a special offer or an attractive and secure website that the customer remembers. Usually, failing to engage the customer results in the loss of a sale. Companies that don't stand out and provide unique products and complete information may lose sales to other companies. Product Reviews Customers have an ever-increasing supply of product reviews in the form of customer comments, editorial oversight and top features provided by industry specific online magazines. All of these elements work together to create an overall picture for the consumer and help to guide the decision to purchase a product. Online directories and classified sites compile large amounts of information in a central location. Businesses that want to cut through the noise have to market their product and services to the right directories and advertise with online classifieds relevant to the product or service. Price Comparison One of the greatest advantages for consumers is the ability to use several online products that allow instant product pricing comparisons across several companies. Services like Google Shopping and other comparison sites places the cost of an item along with the customer reputation for a company in a single central location. Many consumers still carefully evaluate online businesses before making a purchase and customer review sites provide one of the ways in which customers evaluate the reliability of a company. Changes in Online Shopping Behaviour In the past, shoppers relied upon word of mouth, brand marketing and commercial advertising when purchasing products. Today however, shoppers are presented with an ever-increasing array of choices. As the Internet has proven to be a reliable and common way to shop for goods, consumers have grown more impatient with convoluted and research-based purchasing paths. Consumers now use more sophisticated search queries and tend to purchase from websites that have the most legitimate customer reviews, high-quality product images, product specs and price comparisons. What's more, consumers now expect that all of these criteria exist within a single site. Commercial sites that don't include complete privacy policies, shipping information, viable social integration and a good reputation online tend to lose sales to more reputable companies. Are you located in the UAE, and would like to post a free classified advert to sell your car, property or a service? Now you can easily do so at sochivi.com! Set to become the leading virtual marketplace in the Middle East, SoChivi offers free classified ads to all users.
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online shopping, online consumers, consumers, buying behaviour, purchasing behaviour,
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