Today, the
amount of business carried out over the Internet is growing fast and has
developed to become the business arena for a number of players of all sectors,
size and nationality. Most of these companies are putting considerable effort
into conquering an anticipated market, offering appealing, attractive and often
expensive interfaced web pages over the Internet.
The Internet has
created the next revolution in marketing. It has opened up brand new
communication channels, the Web, e-mail, and mobile devices with the promise of
even more new channels as the wireless era unfolds.
There are many
influences that may, to some degree act upon the purchasing decision of a
customer. Marketers may have influences on customers, but there exists more
powerful influence that marketers have little influences upon, such as socio-cultural influences, Psychological Influences (Attitude, Learning,
and Personality).
The use of IT as
a Marketing tool has different effect the diagram outlines the main influences
that act upon a consumer.
There are (4) FOUR
VIRTUAL CHANNELS of Information Technology (IT) which can create a synergy for
effective marketing.
Ø INFORMATION CHANNEL-
it’s a medium that defines the company’s economic agent and accessible products,
service related information, and explains the stuff the company’s has to offer
the customers.
Ø COMMUNICATION CHANNEL-it’s
a medium that engage in the relationship, ideals and opinion building
activities such as lobbying, negotiating etc.
Ø DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL – it’s
a medium that defines the company’s economic agent, the distribution of
products and services (digital goods and contents etc)
Ø TRANSACTION CHANNEL- it’s
a medium that defines the company’s economic agent to initiate and execute
business related transactions (payments, orders etc)
The survey
indicated that the total number of Internet users during the year 2000 was
60,850. From the
survey it resulted the age group of main users was registered amongst the 16-24
years bracket. The use of Internet decreased proportionally with the rise in
the age. (The
Information
Society marketplace 2002)
E-Business
It alters the
business foundations and it is not about automating parts of the business that
was often the case, but about rethinking and redesigning business models, which
is essential for surviving in an information era. Most organizations have found
that success in e-business is typically based on building efficient value-added
relationships with their customers. For example, the travel industry offers
on-line bookings, through which the company can gain valuable insight about the
need of its customers
E-Commerce
E-commerce is
any networked enabled business practice such as Electronic Data Interchange
(EDI), the World Wide Web, direct telephone connection e-mail and more.
TYPES OF
ADVERTISING ON THE INTERNET
An article by
Chaplin identified five general types of web advertising formats which are:
1. BANNERS -an
advert appearing at the top of a web page
2. VERTICAL
COLUMNS - on a frame web page positioned alongside requested content (often as
form of sponsorship)
3. POP-UP
WINDOWS - Java script opens a browser window with an advert
4. INTERSTITIALS
- full screen adverts that appear on a web browser while a page is loading
5. ADVERTORIALS
- content-based advertising related to an article or other site content.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
ON THE INTERNET
The Internet has
gathered a great deal of hype and media attention in the past few years.
The descriptions
of the Internet as a whole new way to communicate and to do business, is now a
fact that cannot be contradicted.
It would be
improper to ignore a new way to communicate with one’s customers. Today, a
number of companies are building websites in order to communicate to their
customers instead of with them. Most Web sites are created to provide an
electronic brochure, essentially the Internet version of a sales pitch, a sort
of on- line Television Ad. Customers can get the specific information they're
interested in, but companies are giving little thought to two-way
communication. Companies have to identify the Internet as a communication tool
rather than a broadcast medium. Brand managers and market researchers must
fully embrace the Internet if they are to learn from their customers
IMPORTANCE
The Internet
offers a whole new way to establish rapport with customers. Answering customer
questions, solving their problems, and selling them additional products can now
be computerized.
The Web offers
an additional means of creating the all-important bond of trust and loyalty
between buyer and seller. The web has given customers another means of
conducting business. The rewards have been lower customer service costs and
higher customer satisfaction. These are clearly goals to be envied.
Respond
to your e-mail--Create a Bulletin Board--Keep a Customers' Log
Give
Access to live Information--Every Customer Is an Individual--Loyalty on the
Internet
CONTACT US
COMPUTER LITERACY CENTER
23,Aiyetoro Street, Aguda, Surulere
mayfoundationcrew@gmail.com
+234-8056310293,08080446031
