How to Expand a B2B Business Into E-Commerce

If your B2B business doesn’t have an Internet existence yet, you’ve most likely run out of explanations not to be by now. It’s no longer a novelty for businesses — including B2B businesses — to have an e-commerce presence, and those that don’t are missing out on some noteworthy opportunities. Over half of all Internet users have reported making a purchase online in 2016, and that includes your B2B customers.

As vital as growing into e-commerce can be for your B2B business, the process needs to be conducted with care. It isn’t enough to simply throw together a website just for the sake of being on the Internet. An e-commerce site needs to be built to make the process of purchasing your services or products online as useful as possible for customers. That means being well-informed of the best practices in terms of implementing technology, designing the site and optimizing the customer experience to achieve maximum results.

For example, your e-commerce site’s technology needs to integrate scalability so that the site is simple to navigate — no matter what type of device your customers use to access it. A solid web analytics platform built into your site also will give you a good source of actionable data you can use to track conversions and optimize your site. Your site’s design must relate with best practices for e-commerce, featuring professionally sourced content such as copy and photos, as well as a carefully organized structure that is easily searchable.

Making an easy to use e-commerce site also means incorporating protections for your customers to keep their sensitive data secure. This includes the use of data backup systems, security certificates and security software to prevent cyber attacks. These and other tips can help you build an e-commerce existence that will likely enhance your business and help you better serve your customers. It’s time for your B2B business to make the leap into the digital world: The checklist below by CDI Technology contains these and many other recommendations to help bring your B2B business into the world of e-commerce without making some of the most usual mistakes that can trip up companies making the transition.

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