Explain & discuss the stages of the online buying process from a consumer & site owner perspective - Essay Example

Stages of the Online Buying Process Online buying has become widespread especially in developed countries. It is being uses not only by young people who understand new technologies but also by old people who use it for its convenience. In fact, online buying is slowly replacing the traditional way of buying goods and services. It involves a customer paying for services and goods which are delivered to them at their home or offices by using the internet. Generally the process of online buying involves five steps, (Smith & Chaffey, 2013).

Security IndicatorsOne major threat of online buying is the high insecurity that faces it, (Gay, Charlesworth & Esen, 2007). As a result, the first thing a consumer looks for when he or she wants to buy a product through the internet is whether their money will be safe if they use the site. Due to this, the company should ensure that the providing security indicators that will make the consumer confident that his or her money is secure if they use the site.Privacy and Identity ProtectionAfter a customer is contented about the security of the online buying website, they then try to establish that their privacy is protected.

Another issue that customers determine during this stage is if the site has measures to ensure that their identity is safe from identity thieves. Hence, the company should ensure that customer information is treated with at most privacy ensuring that it cannot be stolen by either hackers or even the company’s staff.Looking out for ScamsPeople are always very cautious in order not to become victims of internet scams. After the second stage, customers usually try to find out if the website facilitating online buying is a fraud or it is real deal.

Due to this, the company should provide the customers with sufficient information for them to ensure that the company’s site is not a scam.Methods of PaymentDue to the issues of security, online buyers mostly use the best means of online payment. This is because it is through this that they feel their money will not be lost. This being so, the company should ensure that it accepts all the best methods of payment. It should use all the best because customer opinions on best payment methods often differ from each other.

DetailsCustomers try to make sure that they have all the details of the transaction that they took part. They tend to require sellers address, billings, mode of delivery among others. The company should ensure that its website provide all these details to customers to ensure that customers are satisfied with the siteAll these five steps will guide the company in creating a good site for online buying. However, it is important to note that the process of getting customers is a small part of marketing in online buying.

Retaining customers involves more marketing since it is customer loyalty that makes online buying successful. If the company adheres to the five steps involved in online buying, then it will be able to come up with a website that will generate a lot of profit for the company (Chaffey & Ellis, 2008).Works CitedSmith, P & Chaffey, D. (2013). E Marketing Excellence Planning & optimising your digital Marketing 4th Edition. Oxford: Routledge.Chaffey, D. Ellis-Chadwick. (2008). Digital Marketing strategy, Implementation& Practice 4th Edition.

New Jersey: Pearson Education.Gay, R., Charlesworth, A. & Esen, R. (2007). Online marketing a customer led approach. Oxford : Oxford University Press.