8 Ways To Construct The Ideal Comparison Shopping Site

Setting up a comparison shopping site is somewhat easier than selling your own products because all you have to do is sell other people’s products instead. Of course, it’s besting other comparison shopping sites the trickier part!

Tip #1 Choose the right name for your comparison shopping site. Websites like PriceGrabber and Bizrate no doubt own a portion of their popularity and success to their well-chosen names. Your comparison shopping website could also be similarly successful with the right choice of name.

When choosing a name, make sure it connotes any of the following: the main idea of your website – which is price comparisons, the quality of your service, or any unique feature your website has and which your competitors don’t or can’t compare to.

Tip #2 Choices, choices, choices. These matter a lot to your clients so when you’re selling a television set, it’s important that you don’t restrict themselves to buying Panasonic, Philips, or Sony. Allow them to view selections from Samsung and JVC as well. The more choices you give them, the longer they’ll shop with you!

Of course, giving your customers a wide array of choices means having to deal with just as many merchants – and you can’t be sure that all of them will agree to have their products hosted in a new website. While you can’t really force them to make you their retailer or reseller, you can however submit additional proof that will support your credibility as an e-business owner.

Lastly, sell as many things as you can in your website, too, so that they won’t have to visit other websites to complete their shopping experience.

Tip #3 Create as many categories as you can for each product type to make your customer’s shopping experience more convenient. And as there are various ways you can cut a piece paper, so it is for categorizing a product type. Going back to the television set example, you can create categories based on their screen size or dimensions, screen type (LCD, plasma, or HD), and price range.

Of course, make sure that you also allow your customers to press the View All option. Some buyers only know they want to buy a television set without knowing even what kind of TV set they wish to buy.

Tip #4 Invite as many people as you can to write product reviews on their firsthand knowledge and experience with any of the items you’re selling in your website. Testimonials can go a long way in helping a person reach a buying decision. Allow visitors in your website to rate products as well – this feature is designed to include those who don’t have the energy or interest to write even a few words but willing enough to rate a product if it’s good or bad.

Tip #5 Minimize use and display of ads in your website. This may increase your revenue, but it won’t make your website more lovable to your customers. But since comparison shopping websites mainly depend on the loyalty of customers, you should prioritize their preferences more than the possible revenues generated by ads in your website.

Tip #6 Allow your customers not only to view product charts but to customize them as well. Let them choose which products – around three to five – they wish to compare then generate a comprehensive chart listing which product adheres to a certain product feature. A product chart will let them know which phone gives them the most features at a glance. If the features in your product chart can also be customized, they can also allow your customers to know which product matches their preferences the best.

Tip #7 Give your customers a wide selection of online payment methods as well. This will especially benefit first-time online buyers who have a natural distrust towards e-merchants. Allowing them to choose their preferred payment method will let make them more confident about their planned purchases.

Tip #8 Lastly - and this involves a need for provision of more choices once more - you have to give them as many options as possible when it comes to getting their orders delivered to their doorstep.

And that’s it! Good luck on constructing your own comparison shopping website!