E-Commerce Or Brochure Website- What Trini Customers Really Want

With all the questions I get about e-commerce websites you’d think that the Trini shopping public is clamoring to shop online. Far from it- they’re not as concerned as you may think and that’s despite its unquestionable potential. What they are crying out for, believe it or not, are regular brochure/catalog sites for the stores they love to shop at but sadly, Trini businesses don’t seem to be listening.

What is a brochure/catalog site?

Everyone is so impressed by the internet that they fail to realize that as a marketing tool, stripped to its basic function, it’s exactly like a printed catalog, brochure or even a flyer for a business. The difference is that the business only ‘prints’ so to speak, a single copy to be viewed online. The advantages are then the same as this printed material (plus many more by virtue of the web itself: 24/7 visibility, access from any part of the world, larger audience, etc.) and if the business owner believes that printing catalogs, brochures or flyers would be effective marketing and promotion then wouldn’t it be the same online but with a heck more advantages?

Prominent businesses are not online in T&T

What amazes me is that many well known and long established businesses in Trinidad & Tobago are not even online with even a basic site for ‘show’. Of the few who are, their websites are woefully ancient, totally devoid of style and substance and look like they haven’t been touched since the day they went live. Yet these businesses continue to be oblivious to what’s happening around them or may be simply turning a blind eye with the false notion that the internet is not that big of a deal.

Standard as a stapler

Many moons ago when cell phones were first introduced- and in their original brick form- no one imagined they would be so ubiquitous today and such a standard commodity that even every kid in school would have one. Resistance, as they say, is futile and there is absolutely no arguing that a computer on your desk connected to the internet (the computer that is, not the desk) is as standard as a stapler. As we say in Trini ‘tell mih ah lie!’

If you don’t, your competition will

There is no room for complacency and while some businesses twiddle their thumbs their competitors will quietly establish and cement themselves online. History is rife with real examples of small upstarts with barely two cents to rub together who stayed steady and did their thing. All the while the then ‘big dog’ who thought he was invincible continued his merry way and…as I said the rest is history. Do you want to also make history?

What Trini shoppers want in your catalog/brochure website

I’ll tell you what they want:

• A professional looking site, they don’t care if your web designer uses a template just don’t use those ugly ‘do it yourself’ website builders for they look cheesy and screams you’re cheap. A website is not an expense it’s an investment, stop treating it like it is.
• A FULL catalog of what you sell by category with good pictures and descriptions that you take the time to photograph and write
• Everything must be UP TO DATE so for heaven’s sake please take your site maintenance seriously
• Show you really care about your customers by speaking to them on your site and this means GET PERSONAL.  Show them that there is a person, a live human being with a first and last name behind the company.
• CUSTOMER SERVICE- my pet peeve about the Trini business mentality. All I hear after I pay for something is ‘take your bag and get the hell out my shop’

5 reasons why NOW is the best time to get online in T&T

Sorry, I reserve this info for only MY clients  🙁

Okay, so does it make sense? Facebook is just not enough, you have to back it up with a bona fide website else you better close up shop and relax in the hammock.