It’s no surprise to anyone that online shopping is the most accessible market in the modern world. With the plethora of devices that allow us to connect to the internet and the thousands of products available to us, the potential for scams and distrustful businesses has increased significantly.
Shopping has traditionally been a social experience where you can talk and interact with the person selling to you and get a hands-on look at the product. This is great for a few reasons:
- You may feel more comfortable and secure knowing who you are buying from.
- You have a pretty good idea of where your money is going, and you don’t have to pay now and wait two weeks for your purchase.
- You get to interact with the product and see it up close, which is incredibly helpful if you’re not 100% certain about the item.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve purchased something, waited a ridiculous amount of time to receive it only to be incredibly upset when it’s not what I thought it was. I don’t doubt that others share this experience and you can take a look for yourself at the reviews of whatever it is you are purchasing. This creates a sense of distrust amongst online shoppers and for me it means I have to do more research about who I am buying from and take a look at the payment methods to compare them with those of buyers I trust.
Security
The importance of online security in money transaction sites is so important because unlike in-person shops, online stores have generally no direct communication with the buyer and a requirement for you to put your information on the net. There exists customer service lines, e-mails, and sometimes a chat service however these are not always available and can take time. Because of this, customers want to feel secure about their information and their money. High-volume sites like Bookmaker need to have top of the line security to function.
Factors of Online Shopping
Always Open
One of the reasons shopping online is so prevalent is because the store is always open, accessible at any time. This allows for a greater influx of customers, and creates a need for tighter security for money transactions. If you have thousands of potential customers you likely want them to feel safe so they continue to give you business.
Additionally, the amount of consumers that are able to access an online business is essentially limitless. People in the UK can buy products from other countries like America or China simply by navigating to a website on their mobile devices or computers. With this comes the necessity to include conversion programs for currency and introduces the blend of buyer/seller regulations between countries.
Payment Methods
The most important aspect of online shopping is the checkout. Customers need to be able access quick and seamless payment options. If there is a lot of legwork and waiting on their end, glitches that reset the cart, or unintentionally added items you can kiss that business goodbye. There exists today many different payment options such as PayPal, Apple Pay, and the traditional debit or credit card. Whatever you decide to use, you must make it secure. To create return customers and receive orders online, they need to feel safe.
Security
If you are reading this right now, take a look at the website URL, to the left most side. Do you see the small padlock? You should. This tells a customer that any information they input on the site, including their social security number, credit card information, and passwords are safe. You can of course get business without this protection, but it is a major contributor to online security and repeat business.
All that being said, remember to take extra care when doing business online. Whether you are shopping or selling, both parties need to feel peace of mind. Make sure payment methods are quick, easy, and secure. Do everything in your power to create a website with a padlock symbol, and if you are a shopper take care of the websites without it. Also do not do business on any site with a red warning triangle. Each of these aspects are vital in creating a successful and secure shopping experience for the consumer, which will in turn net better business.