5 Advantages of E-Commerce Website to Put You Ahead of the CompetitionBrand360 Logo-150brand360-logo-bluewhite-1505 Advantages of E-Commerce Website to Put You Ahead of the Competition
  • SME GRANT
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Brand Design
    • Brand Strategy
    • Marketing
  • WE ARE BRAND360
  • OUR CLIENTS
  • RESOURCES
  • WORKSHOPS
    • Personal Branding Workshop
    • Brand Storytelling Workshop
    • Brand Strategy Workshop
    • Digital Marketing Workshop
  • CONTACT US
✕

5 Advantages of E-Commerce Website to Put You Ahead of the Competition

E-commerce website advantages

By Julia Koh
2020 is the turning point where many businesses turn to online stores and e-commerce websites. Malaysia is already an online-shopping haven for digital businesses. And thanks to the new way we live in today, more customers are migrating to the internet to do shopping, pay bills, transfer funds- basically work and play on the net.
Interestingly, we observed and identified 3 levels of how local business adapt to e-commerce this year:
Level 1: Whatsapp & Social Media
The most basic form of e-commerce we see runs through Whatsapp orders, which is a popular method among hawkers and solopreneurs. They would advertise their goods and services on FB groups or Insta pages, leaving their Whatsapp numbers as links for taking orders. During this year’s Ramadhan, many traditional bazaar sellers adapt to this version of e-commerce due to MCO.
Level 2: Online Marketplace
Malaysians cannot get enough of marketplaces such as Lazada, Shopee, and Tmall. These platforms often know the best times to push promos and sales that would send shoppers into a shopping craze.
Marketplace platforms are always on the lookout for new merchants, thus making them popular for both SMEs and larger brands. Brands can also piggyback on these platform’s marketing and online reach.
Level 3: Online Store
The final level of e-commerce is a real operating e-commerce website store. By now, we know that having an online presence is imperative to survive the year. However, it isn’t enough to create a free Facebook page, upload some product pictures, and dust your hands clean. There’s a lot of work to be done before you can strike-off ‘online branding’ on your to-do list.

In 2020, many businesses are taking the leap from Level 2 to Level 3. Marketplaces might be perfect for resellers and agents, but if you want to be ahead of the curve and stay competitive in another volatile year, an e-commerce website is your best chance for:

  1. Autonomy & Ownership
    Perhaps the best reason to get your own e-commerce site is the autonomy it provides. When you rely on marketplace platforms, you’re not only subject to their terms, conditions and markups, but you also don’t get to ‘own’ your brand. Customers will say they buy your product from ‘Lazada’ or ‘Grab Food’, not your brand name.
    That’s why a great advantage of a website store is being able to control everything about your brand; from stock, promos, marketing, customer experience, design, and more!
  2. Wider Brand Reach
    Geography is not a factor if you have an e-commerce website. Audiences all over the world can enter your web store and learn about your brand. You’ll also have the ability to extend your deliveries to East Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Australia and beyond. Compared to a traditional brick-and-mortar, a web store has a wider customer reach.
  3. Better Accessibility
    Customer service has never been easier with e-commerce websites. It saves your customers time and money to physically be there and allows them to have access to your brand 24/7. Now, there are even chatbots and automatic sales assistants to streamline the process and make the customer experience more seamless and pleasant.
  4. Customer Analytics
    Brick-and-mortar stores and online marketplaces don’t provide as much data about your customers as e-commerce websites do. Imagine being able to keep in touch with your customers and create campaigns for them to keep coming back? Isn’t that nice?!
    With your own e-commerce site, you’ll be able to gather demographics data, page views, time spent on your web pages and more. You’ll also be able to get the key to your customers’ hearts; their email addresses. With emails, the sky is the limit!
  5. Strengthening Your Brand Online
    In 2020, e-commerce websites also act as a digital storefront that represents your brand. It is one of the first touchpoints where your customer will interact with you and form impressions of your brand. Thus, it’s an advantage for you to build an e-commerce site to gain control over how you want to be perceived in cyberspace.

In Conclusion

Marketplaces, social pages, and traditional retail stores are great distribution channels for your brand, but it should not be the sole touchpoint for your customers.
In today’s age, getting a digital presence is a must for a business to survive. However, for brands looking to do more than just to survive and instead aims to thrive, getting an e-commerce website should be the top priority. There are so many web platforms, payment getaways, chatbots, CRM and other SAAS that you can choose from to get started.
Or better yet, just get someone to do it for you. Professional agencies are there to provide the best e-commerce solutions tailored to your unique business needs. Whatever your methods may be, you should be starting soon and get ahead with your competitors!

Related posts

January 4, 2023

2023 Digital Marketing Trends: 5 Tips To Conquer The Year


Read more
December 23, 2022

Zus vs Gigi: The Great Coffee War of the 21st Century


Read more
November 14, 2022

Influencers vs Content Creators: Who To Hire?


Read more
Share
Subscribe to our newsletter for social resources
Name
Email address

Step By Step Guides

  • 0
    Best Examples of Visual Hammer and Verbal Nail in Action
    March 22, 2023
  • 0
    WhatsApp, Instagram Job Scams: This is how they trap you
    March 6, 2023
  • 0
    Influencers vs Content Creators: Who To Hire?
    November 14, 2022
  • 0
    A Look Into TikTok Advertisement and Why It Works
    October 31, 2022
  • 0
    2022 TikTok Slangs You Shouldn’t Miss!
    October 17, 2022
5 Advantages of E-Commerce Website to Put You Ahead of the Competition

We are in the business of helping build real and enduring value for brands through insight, strategy and marketing. We out-think your competition, not out-spend them.
Tel: +6 (0) 3 6272 3299
Email: hello[@]brand360.com.my
 

Privacy Policy | Security Policy | Disclaimer

Recent Posts

  • Best Examples of Visual Hammer and Verbal Nail in Action
  • WhatsApp, Instagram Job Scams: This is how they trap you
  • Brand Positioning Strategy: Better, Cheaper, Different, or Forgotten?
  • 2023 Digital Marketing Trends: 5 Tips To Conquer The Year
  • Zus vs Gigi: The Great Coffee War of the 21st Century
✕
© 2022 Brand 360 Degree Sdn Bhd 200701034906 (792935U). All Rights Reserved.