In fact, there are probably hundreds or even thousands of other e-commerce websites selling exactly the same products as you.

So, why should any online shoppers buy from you and not one of the many other online stores?

In order to stay on top of the heap and achieve those sales, you have to ask yourself that question…..and then do your best to answer it and take the required action!

Let’s say that you sell a popular and very  well known brand of work boots called bestevaboot. When any online shopper does a Google search for “work boots” or “bestevaboot” they will be bombarded with many pages of results.

So, what can you do to set yourself apart and above the rest of your competitors selling these bestevaboots? How can you convince the shoppers to part with their cash and buy from you instead of the multitude also offering the exact, identical product?

Well, you might try reducing your price to undercut your competition, but this is definately not advisable, simply because it’s a mission to failure, a game you can’t and won’t win. There will always be competitors who will lower their prices even more so than yours, in the hopes of acheiving a sale. This may happen for a short while, until either you or yet another competitor comes along and cuts prices even lower. Ultimately, you wouldn’t have any profit left, and that defeats the whole purpose of being in business, doesn’t it? So definately rule out the idea of trying to sell your products cheaper than everybody else.

What else might you do to make your e-commerce site stand out in the crowd and encourage shoppers to buy from you before anyone else?

One proven tactic you might consider is making your website more interactive. Internet marketing research has shown that shoppers really, really love websites that allow them to interact. You may have to shell out some bucks to hire a pro to do this for you, but sometimes you simply have to spend money to make money.

Or, another proven option is to make your product descriptions a bit more appealing and descriptive. Many entrepreneurs vastly underestimate the importance of good, informatime (and not forgetting accurate!)product descriptions. So food for thought there….don’t make the same mistake, that will give you an edge over a lot of the competition.

Think about it for a moment, if you are selling bestevaboot work boots and your competitor is also selling bestevaboot work boots and his product descriptions reads “Leather work boots. bestevaboot. Brown.”  and your e-commerce store description for the same pair of boots reads “Bestevaboot: Rugged, high quality work boots since 1901. Rich brown smooth leather, high cushioned padded collars, steel toes, lug soles for extra traction, waterproof and insulated to keep your feet dry and warm—built tough and made to last!”

Which site sounds like they offer the better deal?

There are other ways to get shoppers to buy from you instead of your competition, these are just a couple of suggestions to guide you in the right direction.

Put your thinking cap on and jot down some ideas of things you might to do increase your competitive edge, maybe experiment with your ideas and then in theory you will be watching your sales increase!