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If you want your business to expand, going online is essential. The following sections/elements should be included on your website:
ABOUT US
This section should outline all things related to your company and answer any questions that current or prospective clients may have.
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Company Profile: Include a section on who you are, what exactly your company does, how many years you have been in the business/industry.
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Contact Information: Make sure that your contact information on the website is easy to find. Provide information such as contact names, office location (if you have one), mailing address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address. Designate individual e-mails for different departments, such as sales and customer service. This is more professional, even if you run your business on your own.
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Competitive Advantages: Include why your basket business is unique and why a potential customer should choose you over a competitor. What do you do that is different? Whether it is excellence in customer service, your ability to improve the way your customers do business, or saving customers' time and money.
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Testimonials: Include a testimonials section. Use quotes from past and present customers with regards to the quality of your products; the ability to meet and exceed customer needs, and customer service. These function as an excellent sales tool. Use client and company names (only with their approval) under the quote. This is much more effective than an anonymous quote. Include any awards or recognition that you have received for your work.
OUR PRODUCTS/BASKETS
This section should include everything about the actual products you sell: your baskets.
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Finished Basket Samples: Make sure to have pictures of all the baskets that your company offers, giving each a brief description listing its contents. Visuals are very important. Make sure that you offer close-ups of finished baskets to give the client a chance to see samples of your work. The samples that you use should be based on actual work that you have done for other clients.
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Name Your Baskets: Name all of your baskets according to the contents. Doing so creates purchase intent. For example, you can name your baskets after cities or countries that are known for something in particular. A basket full of various cheese products can be named 'Fancily French'; one filled with pasta, sauces and antipasto can be named 'Italian Delight'; one filled with items for a newborn baby can be called “Its a Boy/Girl”. You could also have baskets for the different seasons. Be creative!
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Themes: After naming each basket, separate them into themes, such as: Gourmet, Baby, Wedding, Bath, Holiday, etc. Let your customer know that you can make various baskets according to individual needs.
ORDERING INFORMATION
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Price: Including the prices of your baskets on your website is optional. If you do include prices, they must be kept up to date. Include at least three different price ranges to provide various options for customers. For example: Under $50.00; $50.00-$100.00; $100.00 and up. If you do not wish to include prices, simply state on your website that the prices vary from basket to basket and that the customer can e-mail or call for information.
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Shipping Information: Include method of shipping, cost of delivery, and delivery time.
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Payment Methods: List all types of payment methods that your company offers, whether it is C.O.D., Visa, MasterCard or Cheque. Also include a list of ways in which orders can be placed, such as by: fax, phone, e-mail, and online through a “Shopping Cart” feature.
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Secure Site: Make sure that you have a secure site. Many people are leery of giving their credit card information over the Internet. If you do have a secure site, let your customers know that they can safely shop with you.
MISCELLANEOUS
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FAQ'S: If there are a series of question that you find customers always ask, include approximately 10 FAQ'S. This section saves both your and the customers' time.
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Catalogue: If you currently have a catalogue, include a section on your site where customers can request one.
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Contact Us: Have a section with this heading to encourage existing and potential customers to contact the company for any reason, whether it is for a catalogue, to inquire further about a product, or to order a basket. Ensure that all contact information is provided within this section.
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Satisfaction Guaranteed: Let your customers know what can be done to rectify a situation if for some reason they are not satisfied with the finished product. If you have a no-refund policy, make sure to state this.
Make sure that the layout of your website is not cluttered. If there is too much going on, it will be difficult for customers to quickly find the information they are looking for. Make sure that your telephone number is included on each page of your site along with your company logo.
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