Question

How important is it for businesses to have an online presence / website? And have the capability to sell products online? Also share with the class an e-commerce site you enjoy that is a good example (appropriate for class). Remember e-commerce is the exchange of goods online, (so share an online store not just a website). How has social media impacted marketing? Is the tracking of websites / products viewed an invasion of privacy or relevant marketing data?

Answer 1

Today's business environment has undergone a huge transition in recent years. Earlier, the business was done from the brick mortar shop or from the places, which have their physical existence. Nowadays, most of the business transactions are conducted online. Customers do not take the pain to visit the shops and instead order their things online. It not only saves the customer's time but also the time of the shopkeepers. As for doing online business, having individual websites, help the customers to browse through the products of their needs. This saves the shopkeeper's time of showing personally, different things to the customers. Hence, to start an online business, firstly a website is to be designed. The website provides a different identity to the business. Through the websites, any person at any place can contact the business owner through their contact number, address or email displayed on the website. Business websites help to increase contacts with people. Many business sites display their product range with the price on the websites, it proves to be of great importance to the customers.

Starting an online business is not a very difficult task. Everybody, whether a small or big business owner is capable of starting an online business. The basic need for this is to understand the technology needed to start business operations. An online business can provide huge profits if the business transactions are done properly.

Amazon's website (www. amazon.in) is an e-commerce store site. It deals with a variety of products and customers can purchase the products from the online stores, according to their wishes.

Social media has a great impact on online marketing. It provides a great promotional platform, to get in touch with the mass audience. Online marketers can use social media for the promotion of their goods and services.

No, the tracking of websites/products viewed is not an invasion of privacy but it is relevant marketing data. The products are displayed on various websites, with the intention that customers will surf through them and will purchase them. Customers also search for various websites to know about the availability of different products. These searches are done with the intention of marketing and thus they are only marketing data. Invasion of privacy happens, when someone tries to collect one's personal information or data. The websites contain information for public viewing and can't be an invasion of privacy.