Beginning Phase
Running Head: ONLINE PRESENCE
ONLINE PRESENCE
Online Presence
(Name)
(University)
How might the company build more of an online presence?
The Peapod should build a stronger relationship. According to Becker (2008), the closer relationship involves gaining customer loyalty. Constant remind clients of existing and new products. Customers should be alerted via email updates, Facebook and Twitter updates and videos on Instagram and YouTube. Digital marketing present an excellent platform where the online store can interact with customers. Customers will want to interact with a responsive firm who response to their concerns and plight. Response by the online company is the equivalence of personal touch in a brick and mortar business unit.
Peapod should offer discounts for referrals; that is a discount to the referred customer and customer who sees them. That will motivate existing customers to invite their relatives and friends to try shopping at Peapod. Saarinen (2005) says that getting goods at a discount with the quality and packages remaining unchanged presents an opportunity to attract more customers. Customers feel recognized when they are offered a discount. Recognition of clients goes a long way in earning customer confidence for they know they are valued and highly treasured in their tastes and preferences.
Analysis of their website. What was favorable about their website? What are some of their website attributes that customers may find unappealing?
Ordering on Peapod website has been made easy and straightforward by use of an aisles arrangement. The online shop has arranged items like they are in a conventional grocery store (Becker, 2008). That makes it easy to navigate the website from one aisle to another. The aisle is categories which touch on things like foods, clothing and other personal care items. The site notifies customers of items that are in or out of stock. Delivery schedule is hugely followed with cases of late deliveries handled with an apologetic call.
According to Saarinen (2005), existing customers have established an account which can be personalized. The account store the customers credit/debit card information and their address. That makes it for delivery of orders. The firm relies on the customers’ information to offer door delivery to customers located in different places. The delivery personnel help customers carry goods into their houses. That makes it easy for clients who are busy or physically challenged to get access supplies in the comfort of their home. Their prices are significantly reasonable when compared to another grocery store whether physical or online.
Recommendations for data that they should capture to help with their online conversions (sales) and why.
Becker (2008) says that inquiries on social media platform present an opportunity for the firm to know customers better. The inquiries reveal details about customer preferences and tastes. That will make the strong present goods and packages in a way they like. Peapod will thus customize products and services in a way that meets customers’ needs and wants. Offering goods and services in a way that satisfies customer requirement will make customers satisfied with operations of the firm. That will act to boost sales for the firm to new untapped markets.
According to Saarinen (2005), online businesses should focus on number of people who are busy, inclement weather and physically challenged person’s makes it easy for target them. Peapod will advertise their services that they will beat jam and time for the convenience of the customer. Individuals who work on tight shifts have less time to visit the store. Inclement weather makes people stay indoors, and a door delivery is convenient for their life. Physically challenged people will not have to struggle to reach the store.
The number of people with smartphones presents an opportunity for the firm to convert them to customers (Becker, 2008). Peapod operates on the online platform and thus digital savvy persons are potential customers. The majority of the youths are the digital generation where their uptake for electronic commerce is on the rise. That presents an opportunity for the firm to tap into this generation by advertising the online grocery business as a compliment people who use smart devices to access the internet.
Discuss how the business would benefit from adding a company-sponsored blog to their website.
A blog attached to the Peapod increases the online presence of firms. According to Saarinen (2005), a blog grows more content accessible to Google. More content implies Peapod website will show up for more searches in Google and other search engines. Blogs will be a method for Peapod to cast their net wider. The move is intended to catch more prospectus customers who visit search engines.
Becker (2008) says that a blog is one way of showing a business is concerned about their clients. Blogs are easy to set publishing articles on a regular schedule that follows a set pattern. Blogs can be set to automatically update themselves where articles are available. Thus, articles should always be ready for publishing. Peapod should set a team to manage its blog. The team will ensure that an article appears on the blog every two days.
Blogs can be used to nurture good relationships with existing and prospectus customers (Saarinen, 2005). Blogging will allow Peapod to connect with their site visitors. That is achieved by asking their readers questions at the end of their blog posts to allow visitors comment, give feedback and keep the conversation flowing. By responding and reviewing to visitors’ comments, the firm will create a rapport with their audience, build trust, and gain valuable insight into what their customers expect of them.
References
Becker, S. A. (2008). Electronic commerce: Concepts, methodologies, tools and applications. Hershey PA: Information Science Reference.