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B2B vs B2C: Designing The Right Website

When you are building your website, it is important to identify your target audience. Are you directly selling to businesses or are you dealing with consumers? Whether it is a Business-to-Business (B2B) or a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) website, you need to be distinct and straight to the point. The design and details of the website must depend on who the buyer is.

Planning

B2B vs B2C

Both B2B and B2C websites need to come up with an adequate marketing plan. There are instance when both strategies overlap so being aware with the two kinds of businesses will really help you ensure that your website’s marketing strategy is on the right track.

We are going to compare and contrast B2B and B2C companies. We will look into specific elements that are important in each side.

The Process

  • The buying process in B2C website is simpler compared to a B2B. Anyone can just freely browse a B2C website without any problems. The length from choosing a product to actually buying it is shorter.  Customers are guaranteed an easy and effortless shopping experience.
  • Nowadays, B2C websites do not require their customers to register in order to purchase a product or service. They can just quickly select the items they want and click the check out button. Your website will only stand out among the rest if you give your customers an uncomplicated way ordering items.
  • On the other hand, a B2B process is the exact opposite of B2C. It requires a lot of specific details like you need to meet up with a company representative. You will need to submit your proposed plan and the business will evaluate the proposal.
  • After being approved, usually, companies insert their own set of guidelines to be followed. This is common among B2B businesses. In order for another business to avail a product or service, they need to make sure that you can meet their demands. In B2B, it’s nearly impossible to complete a transaction without an initial meet up or a personal interaction.

The Elements

  • Relationships are important in B2B websites. These online businesses focus on a smaller market than the general population. Concentrating on a specific group of customers will help B2B companies to strengthen every relationship it creates.
  • B2B sales take longer than usual because you should consider the company’s insight. It’s more like a give and take relationship. Companies work with you not so much because of your brand’s identity, but it is mainly because of the personal relationship you both developed.
  • With B2C companies, you are selling to different kinds of people. For instance, you selling vegan cookies to the health conscious and double chocolate chip cookies to the chocoholics. There’s also rainbow cookies for kids! So, you have to deal with different types of consumers.
  • B2C companies focus on products instead of offering services. Usually, a B2C company will a variety of products to a very broad market. B2C purchases are shorter than B2B so you need to capture the consumers’ emotion right away.
  • If B2B value relationships, B2C needs a strong brand identity. In order to successfully entice customers, B2C websites should focus on imagery. Creating a need or desire for the product is important. Price drops and sales should be highlighted to get the attention of the customers.

Being able to distinctly identify the difference between a B2B and B2C website will help you generate a marketing plan that fits your business. Then, you can create useful campaigns that will convert website viewers to buyers. If you need B2B tips, just click here while the B2C tips are on this link.

Designing a B2C (Business to Consumer) Website

On the last article, I posted about helpful B2C marketing tips. You may ask, “What is B2C the model?” The B2C (business to consumer) model is the most common business model. If you bought an item online, that online retailer is an example of a B2C website. Any products and services that are sold online through a website or virtual storefront are all considered B2C businesses.

Woman Shopping

A woman enjoying the convenience of online shopping.

The Beginning

  • The B2C concept started in 1979 and retailers would sell their products on TV. Interested buyers would purchase through the telephone number flashed on screen. English inventor Michael Aldrich called this “teleshopping.” Eventually, when the people discovered the internet, domain names became the new avenue for shopping.
  • During the 1990s, e-commerce websites started to pop up everywhere. Today’s top retailers like Amazon, Zappos and Victoria’s Secret are all considered B2C websites. With having a website, a business does not need an actual store to operate. Moreover, customers can easily shop for products in the convenience of their own homes. The B2C model is ideal for fastfood, bakeries, jewelry stores, shoe stores, flower shops, and other small businesses.

How should you design a B2C website?

  • Capture their emotions.
    • This is the main target of a B2C website because it is the emotions that triggers the consumers to buy a product. For example, in the mobile phone market, there are a multitude of options. Still, majority of the customers choose to buy an iPhone even though it has the same features as an LG, OPPO, Nokia, and Samsung phone. Why is this? It’s the feeling of owning an iPhone. Apple’s branding exudes class and elegance.
    • This common in most B2C businesses than in B2B. Customers don’t care of the features and technical specifications. They usually go for the trendier and the popular product.
  • Upselling and cross-selling products.
    • The prices, in B2C, are straightforward. Everyone is offered the same price and the only difference is the shipping fee.
    • To generate more profit, websites upsell and cross-sell their products. Upselling happens when a customer is offered a series upgrades. For example, when you customize a jewelry and engrave a message, that is considered upselling. Wrapping your gift in a box and adding a note. These customizations are not given for free and websites earn more through these methods.
    • Cross-selling is offering more options to customers so that he can add more items to his cart. When you shop online, websites usually recommend you other products that go with your existing purchase. It encourages customers to buy in bundles to avail the free shipping incentive.
  • Talk directly to the customer.
    • When creating a business-to-consumer website, remember that you are only transacting to one person and that is the buyer. This potential buyer does not need justify his decision or need to ask permission. When a consumer is purchasing a product, it is most likely out of impulse. So, take advantage of this by creating marketing strategies that will make them click that BUY NOW button. Provide limited-time offers that are hard to resist like a free shipping option or a discount code.

 

B2B Web Design Guidelines that You Should Follow

blogging, blur, business

When designing a website, it is crucial to know who the target buyer is. Are you selling to a business, or a consumer?

B2B, if you ask investopedia, refers to a type of transaction that’s conducted between companies. Business to business is the polar opposites of business to consumer (B2C) and business to government (B2G) transactions. B2B marketing can make your business, if executed perfectly.

To do that, here is a list of procedures you should always keep in mind:

  • DO NOT IGNORE VITAL METRICS

    This basically means keeping track with all of your performance analysis. Have determinants, measures, and all sorts of identifiers to gauge how your transactions, operations and overall performance are going. Don’t neglect numbers and percentages that could make or break your entire business. At the end of the day you should be able to answer questions like, “which of these activities would I gain more profit?’, “what can I do to increase revenue?”, or “how can I maintain my sales?” etc. These are only a few of the many questions you should always keep on track with.

  • DO NOT FAIL TO BLOG

    Being religious when it comes to blogging your contents will give you higher probability of boosting the search engine of your rank site more. This means that you can be more visible to the world in just a click of the mouse so don’t neglect blogging your contents because this could be your business saver.

  • ALWAYS MAXIMIZE YOUR VISUAL CONTENTS

    Most people have photographic memories. We tend to process information better if we comprehend and appreciate what our eyes see. Researchers have proven that marketing and other promotional activities associated with images tend to attract more customers than those you only use texts as their props. Always make sure to incorporate images and infographics to your marketing activities because this is essential to the success of your business.

  • DO NOT PROMOTE EXCESSIVELY

    One of the things you should stop doing is promoting your business too much. While it is a great way to build your business or your business’ credibility, it can be overbearing at times. Most of the time, customers don’t really want to hear much about your business or how your business grew from its humble beginnings, they care more about how you are going to serve them. Instead of boring your customers with your endless self-promotion, use a customer-focused approach because at the end of the day your customer’s satisfaction is what really matters.

  • DO NOT NEGLECT EMAIL MARKETING

    It will be hard for new customers to commit to buying your products for the first time. It is important to pay attention to maintaining your email marketing this will bridge you to your prospective and existing clients. This can help you generate the highest return on investment.

  • DO NOT FAIL TO SECTION YOUR AUDIENCE

    While it is safe to say that you need to match your business and your business style to your demographic, or to your target market, it is wrong to think that they want the same things, or they are ready for the same things. This is not something that is universal. You need to segment them, classify them and tend to their respective needs.

  • DO NOT IGNORE THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA

    Do not ever underestimate the wonders of social media. This is not just to build a social media profile; this will also open countless of doors for your business. This will help you become more visible to the market because social media is where everyone is at nowadays. This will not only help you better interact with your existing clients but will also connect you to prospective ones with just a post away.

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