Amish Business Model
A1. Viability of Service
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is an online store dedicated providing consumers with the top quality goods along with Amish values that have been passed on from generation to generation. The Amish traditions and values have can be traced back to the 18th century.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM was founded in Ohio’s Amish heartland in 2005. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM currently operates the store online with quality goods, hard work and priding their selves with outstanding customer service. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM graciously commits a portion of the proceeds going to families that are in need.
The barn-star is an Amish tradition that was used in the United States in the late 18th century in Ohio with the popularity increasing following …show more content…
the Civil War. The barn-star was meant to represent the signature of a builder. However, in recent years the barn-star has become more frequently used for aesthetic purposes and added to buildings after the completion of construction. The five-pointed star which makers describe as “barn-stars” remains to be a very popular form of décor to modern homes. The barn-star is often purposely distressed or rusted, alluding to the traditional décor.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM market started as a store in Ohio and began collaboration with online buyers in the Northeast Region. The current advertisement has been through word of mouth and limited online campaign. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM currently has minimal online presence limiting the search for new customers. Creating an online presence for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will provide greater existing customer satisfaction along with providing a means to increase market share.
Target Market THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is an online store which acts a monopoly for its onsite customers as well as its out of state customers. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s mission is based on the Amish tradition which is to provide customers with Amish values and quality products that have been passed down for generations.
The Amish market THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM competes in is segmented by Amish who are in other states that do not cater to the Amish tradition. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s share of the market is not only limited to the Amish community. This allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to market outside of the Amish community and increase its market shares. As part of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s online expansion, it plans to increase its target customer base to include customers in the other 27 states as well as Canada and Mexico. With the population of Amish families at 251,000 just in 28 states, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will greatly increase its market share by incorporating Canada and Mexico.
Feedback from current customers along with employees has given indication for the need for online expansion in order to improve customer satisfaction. Creating an online presence will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to grow beyond a limited customer base of having a “brink and mortor” store front. This will provide the opportunity to engage customers using technology. It will also provide and atmosphere allowing customers to easily manage ordering and logistics by using a single “point of sale” online store front. The creation of a professional online presence blog will provide customers a place to be interactive with the available activities along with information on special events and products. For continual satisfaction, a customer survey will be accessible to further improvement.
The interactive site will also provide contact information. The blog is also utilized as a forum for the latest news, video, products, and tutorial that relates to products and Amish culture. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s blog offers visitors an opportunity to learn more about the Amish community and the historic significance of many of their products. The blog will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to have “sticky” content which visitors can return time and time again without being pressure to make purchases.
The increase market share is the next benefit provided by creating an online presence. Market data shows that, while Amish customers the main point of purchaser, non-Amish customers are incorporating as prime customers. There is an estimate of 251,000 Amish Americans in the United States including Ontario, Canada. Based on current data, the growth of the Amish community is increasing (Noyes 2012). With an increasing customer base, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will create a new online feedback survey chat room for new and returning customers. This new survey chat room will provide multiple benefits for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM and its customers. First, it will improve the transfer of information and set a standard for customer feedback. It will also provide a data real time and instant response to customer questions or complaints. Creating this online feedback survey chat room is imperative to the customers, giving them the means to receive results instantly.
A2. Current Online Competitors
In its current environment, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM acts as a near domination, and provides unique and original handcrafted one of a kind barn-stars. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has an advantage because of the variety of customer that they cater too. The loft townhomes and condo owner not just the town and country. All of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM products are handmade by real Amish people in Amish country in United States. A portion of our entire sale goes directly back into the Amish community, where many are impoverished. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has limited competition in the industry, and its closest competitors are AmericanMetalTinBarnStar.com, AmishWares.com, and AmishBarnStar.com. Table 1 show each companies cost for a 16 inch barn-star.
A thorough evaluation of each competitor’s websites was performed to increase understanding on their strengths and weaknesses. Table 2 shows which four criteria that were used to evaluate each competitor along with if they met the criteria. The four points used to evaluate each company was website search, ease of use, resources, and social media. Website search evaluates whether the webpage is searchable to locate information easily and quickly. Ease of use evaluates whether the website is designed in a comprehensible and consistent manner with information that is straightforwardly identifiable. Resources evaluates if the website has a blog, newsletter, and/or links that provide instant online customer feedback survey. Social media evaluates if the organization has any form of social media incorporated into its main website.
Table 1 | 16 inch White | 16 inch Metallic Gold | 16 inch Country Blue | 16 inch Americana | TheAmishBarnStar.com | $13.45 | $13.45 | $13.45 | $13.45 | Competitor | | | | | AmericanMetalTinBarnStar.com | $20.70 | $20.70 | $20.70 | $20.70 | Amishwares.com | $19.95 | $19.95 | $19.95 | $19.95 | Amishbarnstar.com | $20.70 | $20.70 | $20.70 | $20.70 |
Table 2
Comparison of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM's Rival Websites Criteria | AmericanMetalTinBarnStar.com | Amishwares.com | Jollieprimitives.com | Website Search | YES | YES | YES | Easy to Use | YES | YES | YES | Resources | NO | NO | YES | Social Media | NO | YES | NO |
THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM is an Amish online store. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM has a searchable website. The website search ability is admirable. The website search ability is one of the top five when searched through Yahoo and also Google. Data was easily available on the website with the use of a sidebar to assist with locating specific data quickly when unfamiliar with the site. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM’s website is designed in a comprehensible manner. However, THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM resources are limited. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM does not have a newsletter page and has no availability to chat with a customer service representative online or blog. There is a tab located on the sidebar that links the customer to other resources such as Arts and Crafts, Home and Garden and other miscellaneous links. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM has no social media integration. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM is neither on Facebook page nor on LinkedIn. The use of no social media leaves THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM limited online advertising efforts.
AMISHWARES.COM is another Amish online store.
AMISHWARES.COM gives the “Dusty” Amish which are the poorer Amish the exposure of their handcrafted items worldwide. AMISHWARES.COM provides a lot of information on its website sidebar. The website also allows customers purchase items wholesale. AMISHWARES.COM has excellent resources on in its link directory. There is a link where other Amish sites can be found sites and other sites. Navigation between the pages is easily managed with the use of the sidebar. AMISHWARES.COM has no additional resources to assist customers with a live chat or blog. With this limitation, customer satisfaction is hard to follow giving customers no benefits of returning to the website. Additionally, without benefits for customers, the website is restrictive future brand loyalty. AMISHWARES.COM has limited social media integration. AMISHWARES.COM has a Facebook page which is not linked to its website. AMISHWARES.COM’s Facebook page is under managed, and it has no new events or information posted to keep customers engaged. AMISHWARES.COM uses no other forms of social media, which limits online advertising efforts. With limited social media, AMISHWARES.COM is missing advertising for those customers who are active on social media …show more content…
sites.
JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM is a competitive online Amish store that has the largest variety of galvanized barn stars along with other handcrafted products. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM has a searchable website through Yahoo and Google. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM’s website is easy to use with information and products located on the accessible sidebar. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM’s webpage has various forms of additional resources to provide extra value to its customers. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM has a resources tab that provides various details from available products to purchase to useful links. In addition, JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM has the resources of newsletters, return policy and testimonials from customers. However, JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM does not have a blog or chat available for customers to receive instant feedback. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM has no form of social media on its webpage, nor has it created any social media pages. This limits the means for modern and socially integrated customers to interact. Additionally, without any form of social media, JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM is omitting advertising for those customers who are active on social media sites.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s closest competitors provide various threats when it comes to product availability. However, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s competitor’s threats are limited. In its current state THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM is not a threat strictly because the customers have to submit an email or hope to get a customer service representative on the phone to answer any questions or concerns they may have. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM does not have a blog with would allow customer feedback along with instant surveys for THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM to respond in a sufficient and prompt time frame. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM is a minor threat to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM has no social media and is although the website has many resources, the lack of rapid customer support and a blog decreases its competitiveness to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. AMISHWARES.COM is THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s closest rival and is in the best position to steal THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s market share because it gives its customers access to social media along with personal emails to contact the owners of the website. With the access of social media, AMISHWARES.COM targets a different customer base than THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. However, limited because of its lacks of online chat and having no blog.
Competitive Advantage THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has multiple competitive advantages over its three main competitors, which include price, location, customer feedback and quality of service. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM provides customers with products are handmade in the United States. We don’t have our products cheaply made overseas to cut cost. This provides customer satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is conveniently located in the Amish community for convenience of onsite customers. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has experienced and knowledgeable staff that provides outstanding service. The one limiting factor to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s competitive edge is the website search. When using search engines, it is easy to locate THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s competitors. This allows customers to easily utilize one of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s competitors. Despite this limitation, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has the ability to maintain a strong competitive advantage over its rivals.
A3. Online Marketing Suggestions and Strategies
Marketing Objectives * Reach a 90% customer satisfaction rating each month. * Increase THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM market share by adding customer survey and a 24 hour chat to give quality feedback. * Increase social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Market Segmentation There are 251,000 Amish in the United States and Ontario Canada (Noyes, 2012). The market is segmented by which states he population of Amish in the United States. There are 49,750 Amish in Ohio where THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM was established and has the highest percentage of Amish population. This gives THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM a 5% market share of all the Amish population. The population rate of Amish is rapidly increasing which gives THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM infinite opportunity on THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s market share.
Market Strategy * Increase Customer Satisfaction * Increase Social Media * Use of Banner Ads * Web Videos * Free Classified Ads THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will first increase customer satisfaction. Updating THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be able to advertise its new services to all Amish communities. This will be obtained by the addition of a customer service chat line along with a customer survey link. By creating the customer service chat line and customer survey link, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will provide multiple ways to improve customer satisfaction. Customers will be able to obtain instant feedback and answers to any questions or concerns. The updated website will provide a newsletter, customer survey and a chat. By marketing to the Amish community, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will increase its customer satisfaction and customer base. Social media will be used to increase new customers and retain old customers. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will create Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages to disseminate official company marketing material or mass messaging. The use of social media and search engine will also allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to advertise its operation and special events. Search engine optimization will be used so customers can rapidly find THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website and the information it contains. Keeping customers up to date benefits both THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM and the customer by allowing maximization of the amount of customers. This allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to function in a proficient manner. Additionally, customers will be engaged by the resources provided, which will increase their interest in returning to the website or social media pages. The use of Banner Ads will provide THEAMISHBARNSTARCOM with a wider range of marketing to increase its market share. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use Banner Ads on the live chats, website, blogs, and also Google. This will also increase the search engine for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM keeping in competitive advantage. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will implement the use of web video. Using web video will be done on our web gallery and also through YouTube. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has the needed software installed on their system so the cost for adding web video is none. This allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to keep expansion cost at minimal. In todays market, customers respond and also purchase products from watching videos. Web videos will increase THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s competitiveness. The final marketing strategy THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use is adding the company to the online classifieds. There are several sites that THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use for free. Some sites like wordreminder.net and nyuvolve.com allows ads to be posted without a required registration. With the use of wordreminder.net and nyuvolve.com no one is allowed to flag your advertisement like on craigslist and some of the other advertising website.
A4. Search Engine Considerations and Optimization Strategies * Purchase of GoDaddy’s SEO * Increase of Keywords * Monitoring Ranking * Site Map Search engine optimization (SEO) is a crucial component when expanding any website. A website designed on SEO principles creates exposure for the company and website. The exposure is critical in order to create new traffic and repeat visits. In order to maximize benefits from SEO, it is important that a website remain on the first page of any search engine. According to a study from Optify, 58.4 % receive clicks from users when in the top ranks of a search engine (Goodwin, 2011).
Social media and search engine optimization will also be used to increase THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s customer base. Search engine optimization will increase customer awareness of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s new products and services. This will provide customers easy access to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s webpage and social media sites and allow them to become customers, which will in turn increase THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s customer base. In addition, by creating social media sites, customers will have incased awareness through social networking, allowing THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to increase its customer base. The strategy THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use is redesigning the website to be as functional as its competitors. The addition of social media will be purchasing the Go Daddy search engine optimization package (www.Go Daddy.com). This package will permit THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to target customers who are computers. The SEO package provides topics and keywords, which improves search engine rankings. In addition, it will provide an easy way to register THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website to multiple search engines at once. This will ultimately provide THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM with the expertise needed to enhance its sites ranking, and save it time and money. Obtaining a high rank will allow all customers to find information provided by THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM in a timely manner. The use of keywords is one important facets of SEO. By updating the THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM website, adding the appropriate keywords throughout the entire website including the titles, content, image name and also the Domain name URL’s. Keywords that have a lot of traffic but have little to medium competition will be used to optimize the search engine for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. In order to optimize which keywords to utilize, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will invest in Wordtracker. Wordtracker is a tool that will find keywords that are not currently being used by competitors. It also provides an extensive online library dedicated to make an expert in SEO. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM currently added Analytics to the website to monitor their ranking. This also allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to monitor the websites traffic and significant changes. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also monitor if the site is producing slow and poor experience for its users. Keeping up with the Analytics of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also allow protection of the business image, maintain customer satisfaction, preventing loss sales, obtain the best search results raking, and detect hacker quicker. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will increase its chance of being on the first page of search engines by also adding a site map to the website. Creating a site map will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM an easier way to organize their website, identify the URL’s and also the data under each section. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use XML sitemaps. The XML sitemap will inform customers of the search engines in the website, the importance of each and how often they are updated. This also helps visitors find the pages on the site.
A5. Social Media Integration
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM currently has limited form of social media integration, and will need to take great strides to increase all forms of online media. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s customer base is predominantly Amish population, and is increasingly integrated with social media usage. The use of social media throughout the day via work computers, home computers, smart phones and other mobile devices are increasing within the Amish community. With limitations on the use traditional media and customer media preference; using social media will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to run as a more appropriate and significant organization. Finally, it will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to engage customers in a real time results with continually improving service. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM would create a Twitter page, which would allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM customers to follow current events. Twitter will give THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM the ability to send out short messages, interesting URL’s, and manage its online character. Twitter will provide THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM the opportunity to engage a percentage of the 55 million customers who use Twitter (www. Twitter.com). Twitter resource is valuable to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM in order to spread messages that include special events and products that are on sale for a limited time. Additionally, it will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to deliver interesting articles for its members to view. Twitter will also allow customers a way to post comments. This is beneficial to both the customer and THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM by improving customer satisfaction and daily operations. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also create a Facebook to engage the 1.2 billion Facebook users worldwide (www.statisticbrain.com). This will be THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM greatest resource to engage its consumers in the online environment. A Facebook page will provide the medium for an online presence which interacts with friends and family member’s activities and interest. The page will provide data of upcoming events, pictures, and micro blogging comparable to the Twitter page. Customers will be able to communicate to each other and to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM about their varying experiences in real time. Thus allowing THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to react to customer’s feedback in real time as well, and further improving customer satisfaction and the efficiencies of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM daily operations. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also create a LinkedIn account that will integrate the networking side of social media. LinkedIn will provide THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM a means to network and get the website out not only to the Amish population but also business. There are currently 56% of people who us social networking and 13% use LinkedIn (www.statisticbrain.com). This will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to attract new customers and increase market share. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s final step is to garner a greater customer base through visual social media using YouTube. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will implement YouTube to increase its market share along with videos that are pertinent to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. The videos will contain how THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM makes their products. The use of the blog will provide comments from viewers along with the website link. Besides, without any form of social media, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is missing advertising for those customers who are active on social media sites. The use of blogging creates a reason for customers to return to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website and ultimately increase brand loyalty. YouTube is currently ranked second of the most searched websites and third on the most visited (Protalinski 2012).
A6. Online Customer Relationship Management * Customer Profiles * Use of multiple networking sites * Live Chats and Blogs
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM owes it mere existence to its Ohio based onsite customers. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM only goal is to provide high quality products and excellent customer service. In order to continue the high quality of customer service, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will create an instant chat room, along with online customer surveys. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use a customer surveys to measure the means of voicing customers opinions through word of mouth, online reviews and forums, blogs, and social media.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use the profiles of current customers in two ways. First, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be able to better assist customers in finding which product they need. Each customer will have a profile to inform THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM of what they would like to use the products on. This will help THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM better understand the customer’s intentions of the product and also help to assist the customer of which products best fits their needs. The second use of profiles will be used to acquire new customers. These new customers will be other customers who handcraft their buildings.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will take a multi-faceted to its customer relationship management (CRM). THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will provide assistance from initially acquiring customers through past purchases. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will build on its active database that tracks customer demographics, phone numbers, and previous products sold. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will ask customers to provide an active email address along with the collection of data from THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s online visitors creating a more in-depth profile of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s customers. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s next step is to create multiple channels of communication, which will give customers the ability to choose which medium to contact THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. These channels will include feedback section on the website, email, Twitter, Facebook, live chats, phone numbers, and face-to-face interaction. Allowing customers an easy means to voice their concerns and THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to identify problems and correct these issues quickly. Resolved issues create improved customer satisfaction and increased brand loyalty. This benefits THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM in two ways, with less issues products can be made in a more efficient manner and customers will continue to use THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will finally continue customer satisfaction by giving the customer the opportunity to complete a survey. This will provide feedback information THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be used to evaluate and provide outlook for improvement and advancement. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also purchase two survey software packages to enhance the THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM website expansion. The first will come from Providesupport.com which has been one of the leading Live Chat and Web Monitoring software providers since 2003 to more than 30,000 customers globally. Providesupport.com software will be for the Live Chat and online survey. The Live Chat has features include traffic stats, live chat link for emails, post chat survey and many more customized features.THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will increase customer satisfaction and brand loyalty, which will create return customers.
A7. E-Commerce Solutions In today’s society, it has become vital to provide customers with the means to access products online and feel secure about their purchase. The current nature of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s business requires a shopping cart and THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s shopping cart currently is supported by Shopify.
Shopify was used to help create THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s online store. Shopify provides THEAMISHBARNSTAR’s customers with an easy online means to purchase products safely and securely. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM was able to choose its them from over 100+ selections. Shopify is a Content Management System which give THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM complete control of their website. With Shopify THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is able to not only learn more about their customers with their detailed profiles but it also creates customer groups making it simple to categorize and export customer list. Shopify’s many features allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to manage the ranking. Providesupport.com software was chosen for multiple reasons. Providesupport.com is an established online chat and survey Software Company that caters to small and medium business. Furthermore, it is competitively priced based on functionality compared with other companies. Key features include live chat, real-time visitor monitoring, and traffic stats. In addition, it provides unlimited staff logins, as staff changes new employees can create new logins (www.Providesupport.com.com). Providesupport.com offers multiple benefits to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM.
The first benefit it provides is the ability to improve sales and customer satisfaction on the internet. In addition, Providesupport.com provides 24/7 live customer service, allowing any issues to be confronted at any time of the day. Finally, Providesupport.com is digitally protected and secured. These features are important to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM and maintaining its reputation. By using Providesupport.com THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be able to run as a more efficient organization, which in turn will allow it to provide more products to
customers. Providesupport.com provides multiple benefits to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s customers as well. Customers will be able to comment on the quality of customer service and easily quickly get feedback that will be given rapidly to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website and social media pages. Furthermore, customers will be able to contact THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM at any time of the day. All of these benefits provided to the consumer will increase their satisfaction with THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM, and increase brand loyalty. Moreover, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be operating more efficiently allowing more time for customer service and interaction. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use the help of Shopify
A8. International Considerations
In order to maintain a prosperous business and sure to rise as the world moves closer to a global economy, marketing across countries is necessary in the world today. There are multiple considerations which THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM must take into account to expand internationally. The first consideration for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be to establish a relationship with Amish communities in Canada and Mexico. In order to ensure proper etiquette, all staff will be required to take basic language, professionalism, and etiquette courses before traveling. Beyond missions, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s business opportunities abroad are endless. Having the ability to reach worldwide internet users, countries everywhere are assessable for increase business. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will update the website by adding a culturally sensitive link. This will be done guaranteeing that there are texts, pictures and link on the website, which could be considered culturally insensitive. By creating a website that is culturally sensitive, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will gain an international reputation as well as protect its reputation in the United States. Language sensitivity will also be addressed with THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. SEO will allow users from all over the world to find THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website. Additionally, current and future customers may speak English as a second language. To provide multiple languages for user of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use Google Website Translator and Converter (Google, 2012). Google Website Translator provides a drop box that translates. Google Website Converter will convert the dollar amounts in to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website to the user’s preferred language.
A9. Costs THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s projected budget for its website expansion can been seen in Table 3.
Table 3
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s Projected Website Expansion Expenses EXPENSE | MONTHLY COST | YEARLY COST | Go Daddy Domain | $0 | $130 | Google Advertising | $20 | $240 | Linux Deluxe Web Hosting | $200 | $24,000 | Live Chat and Chat Survey Software | $0 | $100 | Snap Survey Software Package | $0 | $350 | Shopify Shopping Cart | $59 | $708 | Total Cost of Expansion | | |
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is currently registered with GoDaddy.com at an annual low cost fee of $130.00. This allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to help minimize the expansion expense. The use of GoDaddy.com includes protection of registered domain along with standard search engine visibility. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM also utilizes GoDaddy.com for the Standard SSL Certificate. The use of Google Advertisement for $240 annually will help increase the marketing for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM when similar words or phrases are entered into the search engine.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has an established account with Linux Deluxe Web Hosting with fees of $24,000 annually. Linux Deluxe Web Hosting will provide THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM numerous security features. These features include protection from hackers, capabilities to protect PHP websites, applications, and databases from malice on the web (Simpson 2012). Web application protection, managed backups with 14 day retention and real time event monitoring/ alerting is also available.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also purchase two survey software packages to enhance the THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM website expansion. The first will come from Providesupport.com for $100 which has been one of the leading Live Chat and Web Monitoring software providers since 2003 to more than 30,000 customers globally. Providesupport.com software will be for the Live Chat and online survey. The Live Chat has features include traffic stats, live chat link for emails, post chat survey and many more customized features.
The second survey software will be purchased from Snap Surveys for $350. Snap Surveys product will be utilized to provide THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM the means to create online, paper, and even mobile surveys. Some key features include design and publishing questionnaires easily, data collection and respondent management, results, analysis and reporting along help and support.
In order to provide safe and secure purchases for their customers, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM uses Shopify. Shopify provides THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM with over 70 payment gateways that allows credit cards to be accepted from all over the world. Shopify offers 50 plus languages that can number of local currencies and they automatically handle major country and state tax rates.
The low cost for the expansion of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is an advantage to the business and Amish community. Having GoDaddy.com, Google, Linux Deluxe Web, Live Chat and Chat Survey, and Snap Survey gives not only means to maintains its competition, increase market for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM and also products for the all Amish internationally.
Reference List
Goodwin, D. (2011). Top Google Results Get 36.4% of Clicks. Retrieved from http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2049695/Top-Google-Result-Gets-36.4-of-Clicks-Study
Noyes, K. (2012). Amish-Heartland,Rapidly Growing Amish Population. Amish Becoming Fastest Growing Group in U.S. Retrieved from http://www.amish-heartland.com/amish%20culture/2012/09/04/rapidly-growing-amish-population Protalinski, E. (2012). Facebook was the top search term for 4th straight year, accounting for 4.13% of all US searches. Retrieved from http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2012/12/20/facebook-was-the-top-search-term-for-fourth-straight-year-accounting-for-4-13-of-all-us-searches/
Simpson, K. (2012). Top 5 ways to Measure Customer Satisfaction. Retrieved from http://www.returncustomer.com/2010/08/25/5-ways-to-measure-customer-satisfaction/
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is an online store dedicated providing consumers with the top quality goods along with Amish values that have been passed on from generation to generation. The Amish traditions and values have can be traced back to the 18th century.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM was founded in Ohio’s Amish heartland in 2005. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM currently operates the store online with quality goods, hard work and priding their selves with outstanding customer service. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM graciously commits a portion of the proceeds going to families that are in need.
The barn-star is an Amish tradition that was used in the United States in the late 18th century in Ohio with the popularity increasing following …show more content…
the Civil War. The barn-star was meant to represent the signature of a builder. However, in recent years the barn-star has become more frequently used for aesthetic purposes and added to buildings after the completion of construction. The five-pointed star which makers describe as “barn-stars” remains to be a very popular form of décor to modern homes. The barn-star is often purposely distressed or rusted, alluding to the traditional décor.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM market started as a store in Ohio and began collaboration with online buyers in the Northeast Region. The current advertisement has been through word of mouth and limited online campaign. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM currently has minimal online presence limiting the search for new customers. Creating an online presence for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will provide greater existing customer satisfaction along with providing a means to increase market share.
Target Market THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is an online store which acts a monopoly for its onsite customers as well as its out of state customers. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s mission is based on the Amish tradition which is to provide customers with Amish values and quality products that have been passed down for generations.
The Amish market THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM competes in is segmented by Amish who are in other states that do not cater to the Amish tradition. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s share of the market is not only limited to the Amish community. This allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to market outside of the Amish community and increase its market shares. As part of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s online expansion, it plans to increase its target customer base to include customers in the other 27 states as well as Canada and Mexico. With the population of Amish families at 251,000 just in 28 states, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will greatly increase its market share by incorporating Canada and Mexico.
Feedback from current customers along with employees has given indication for the need for online expansion in order to improve customer satisfaction. Creating an online presence will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to grow beyond a limited customer base of having a “brink and mortor” store front. This will provide the opportunity to engage customers using technology. It will also provide and atmosphere allowing customers to easily manage ordering and logistics by using a single “point of sale” online store front. The creation of a professional online presence blog will provide customers a place to be interactive with the available activities along with information on special events and products. For continual satisfaction, a customer survey will be accessible to further improvement.
The interactive site will also provide contact information. The blog is also utilized as a forum for the latest news, video, products, and tutorial that relates to products and Amish culture. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s blog offers visitors an opportunity to learn more about the Amish community and the historic significance of many of their products. The blog will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to have “sticky” content which visitors can return time and time again without being pressure to make purchases.
The increase market share is the next benefit provided by creating an online presence. Market data shows that, while Amish customers the main point of purchaser, non-Amish customers are incorporating as prime customers. There is an estimate of 251,000 Amish Americans in the United States including Ontario, Canada. Based on current data, the growth of the Amish community is increasing (Noyes 2012). With an increasing customer base, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will create a new online feedback survey chat room for new and returning customers. This new survey chat room will provide multiple benefits for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM and its customers. First, it will improve the transfer of information and set a standard for customer feedback. It will also provide a data real time and instant response to customer questions or complaints. Creating this online feedback survey chat room is imperative to the customers, giving them the means to receive results instantly.
A2. Current Online Competitors
In its current environment, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM acts as a near domination, and provides unique and original handcrafted one of a kind barn-stars. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has an advantage because of the variety of customer that they cater too. The loft townhomes and condo owner not just the town and country. All of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM products are handmade by real Amish people in Amish country in United States. A portion of our entire sale goes directly back into the Amish community, where many are impoverished. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has limited competition in the industry, and its closest competitors are AmericanMetalTinBarnStar.com, AmishWares.com, and AmishBarnStar.com. Table 1 show each companies cost for a 16 inch barn-star.
A thorough evaluation of each competitor’s websites was performed to increase understanding on their strengths and weaknesses. Table 2 shows which four criteria that were used to evaluate each competitor along with if they met the criteria. The four points used to evaluate each company was website search, ease of use, resources, and social media. Website search evaluates whether the webpage is searchable to locate information easily and quickly. Ease of use evaluates whether the website is designed in a comprehensible and consistent manner with information that is straightforwardly identifiable. Resources evaluates if the website has a blog, newsletter, and/or links that provide instant online customer feedback survey. Social media evaluates if the organization has any form of social media incorporated into its main website.
Table 1 | 16 inch White | 16 inch Metallic Gold | 16 inch Country Blue | 16 inch Americana | TheAmishBarnStar.com | $13.45 | $13.45 | $13.45 | $13.45 | Competitor | | | | | AmericanMetalTinBarnStar.com | $20.70 | $20.70 | $20.70 | $20.70 | Amishwares.com | $19.95 | $19.95 | $19.95 | $19.95 | Amishbarnstar.com | $20.70 | $20.70 | $20.70 | $20.70 |
Table 2
Comparison of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM's Rival Websites Criteria | AmericanMetalTinBarnStar.com | Amishwares.com | Jollieprimitives.com | Website Search | YES | YES | YES | Easy to Use | YES | YES | YES | Resources | NO | NO | YES | Social Media | NO | YES | NO |
THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM is an Amish online store. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM has a searchable website. The website search ability is admirable. The website search ability is one of the top five when searched through Yahoo and also Google. Data was easily available on the website with the use of a sidebar to assist with locating specific data quickly when unfamiliar with the site. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM’s website is designed in a comprehensible manner. However, THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM resources are limited. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM does not have a newsletter page and has no availability to chat with a customer service representative online or blog. There is a tab located on the sidebar that links the customer to other resources such as Arts and Crafts, Home and Garden and other miscellaneous links. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM has no social media integration. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM is neither on Facebook page nor on LinkedIn. The use of no social media leaves THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM limited online advertising efforts.
AMISHWARES.COM is another Amish online store.
AMISHWARES.COM gives the “Dusty” Amish which are the poorer Amish the exposure of their handcrafted items worldwide. AMISHWARES.COM provides a lot of information on its website sidebar. The website also allows customers purchase items wholesale. AMISHWARES.COM has excellent resources on in its link directory. There is a link where other Amish sites can be found sites and other sites. Navigation between the pages is easily managed with the use of the sidebar. AMISHWARES.COM has no additional resources to assist customers with a live chat or blog. With this limitation, customer satisfaction is hard to follow giving customers no benefits of returning to the website. Additionally, without benefits for customers, the website is restrictive future brand loyalty. AMISHWARES.COM has limited social media integration. AMISHWARES.COM has a Facebook page which is not linked to its website. AMISHWARES.COM’s Facebook page is under managed, and it has no new events or information posted to keep customers engaged. AMISHWARES.COM uses no other forms of social media, which limits online advertising efforts. With limited social media, AMISHWARES.COM is missing advertising for those customers who are active on social media …show more content…
sites.
JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM is a competitive online Amish store that has the largest variety of galvanized barn stars along with other handcrafted products. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM has a searchable website through Yahoo and Google. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM’s website is easy to use with information and products located on the accessible sidebar. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM’s webpage has various forms of additional resources to provide extra value to its customers. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM has a resources tab that provides various details from available products to purchase to useful links. In addition, JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM has the resources of newsletters, return policy and testimonials from customers. However, JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM does not have a blog or chat available for customers to receive instant feedback. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM has no form of social media on its webpage, nor has it created any social media pages. This limits the means for modern and socially integrated customers to interact. Additionally, without any form of social media, JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM is omitting advertising for those customers who are active on social media sites.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s closest competitors provide various threats when it comes to product availability. However, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s competitor’s threats are limited. In its current state THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM is not a threat strictly because the customers have to submit an email or hope to get a customer service representative on the phone to answer any questions or concerns they may have. THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM does not have a blog with would allow customer feedback along with instant surveys for THE AMERICANMETAL/TINBARNSTAR.COM to respond in a sufficient and prompt time frame. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM is a minor threat to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. JOLLIEPRIMITIVES.COM has no social media and is although the website has many resources, the lack of rapid customer support and a blog decreases its competitiveness to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. AMISHWARES.COM is THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s closest rival and is in the best position to steal THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s market share because it gives its customers access to social media along with personal emails to contact the owners of the website. With the access of social media, AMISHWARES.COM targets a different customer base than THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. However, limited because of its lacks of online chat and having no blog.
Competitive Advantage THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has multiple competitive advantages over its three main competitors, which include price, location, customer feedback and quality of service. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM provides customers with products are handmade in the United States. We don’t have our products cheaply made overseas to cut cost. This provides customer satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is conveniently located in the Amish community for convenience of onsite customers. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has experienced and knowledgeable staff that provides outstanding service. The one limiting factor to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s competitive edge is the website search. When using search engines, it is easy to locate THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s competitors. This allows customers to easily utilize one of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s competitors. Despite this limitation, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has the ability to maintain a strong competitive advantage over its rivals.
A3. Online Marketing Suggestions and Strategies
Marketing Objectives * Reach a 90% customer satisfaction rating each month. * Increase THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM market share by adding customer survey and a 24 hour chat to give quality feedback. * Increase social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Market Segmentation There are 251,000 Amish in the United States and Ontario Canada (Noyes, 2012). The market is segmented by which states he population of Amish in the United States. There are 49,750 Amish in Ohio where THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM was established and has the highest percentage of Amish population. This gives THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM a 5% market share of all the Amish population. The population rate of Amish is rapidly increasing which gives THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM infinite opportunity on THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s market share.
Market Strategy * Increase Customer Satisfaction * Increase Social Media * Use of Banner Ads * Web Videos * Free Classified Ads THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will first increase customer satisfaction. Updating THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be able to advertise its new services to all Amish communities. This will be obtained by the addition of a customer service chat line along with a customer survey link. By creating the customer service chat line and customer survey link, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will provide multiple ways to improve customer satisfaction. Customers will be able to obtain instant feedback and answers to any questions or concerns. The updated website will provide a newsletter, customer survey and a chat. By marketing to the Amish community, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will increase its customer satisfaction and customer base. Social media will be used to increase new customers and retain old customers. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will create Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages to disseminate official company marketing material or mass messaging. The use of social media and search engine will also allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to advertise its operation and special events. Search engine optimization will be used so customers can rapidly find THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website and the information it contains. Keeping customers up to date benefits both THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM and the customer by allowing maximization of the amount of customers. This allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to function in a proficient manner. Additionally, customers will be engaged by the resources provided, which will increase their interest in returning to the website or social media pages. The use of Banner Ads will provide THEAMISHBARNSTARCOM with a wider range of marketing to increase its market share. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use Banner Ads on the live chats, website, blogs, and also Google. This will also increase the search engine for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM keeping in competitive advantage. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will implement the use of web video. Using web video will be done on our web gallery and also through YouTube. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has the needed software installed on their system so the cost for adding web video is none. This allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to keep expansion cost at minimal. In todays market, customers respond and also purchase products from watching videos. Web videos will increase THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s competitiveness. The final marketing strategy THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use is adding the company to the online classifieds. There are several sites that THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use for free. Some sites like wordreminder.net and nyuvolve.com allows ads to be posted without a required registration. With the use of wordreminder.net and nyuvolve.com no one is allowed to flag your advertisement like on craigslist and some of the other advertising website.
A4. Search Engine Considerations and Optimization Strategies * Purchase of GoDaddy’s SEO * Increase of Keywords * Monitoring Ranking * Site Map Search engine optimization (SEO) is a crucial component when expanding any website. A website designed on SEO principles creates exposure for the company and website. The exposure is critical in order to create new traffic and repeat visits. In order to maximize benefits from SEO, it is important that a website remain on the first page of any search engine. According to a study from Optify, 58.4 % receive clicks from users when in the top ranks of a search engine (Goodwin, 2011).
Social media and search engine optimization will also be used to increase THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s customer base. Search engine optimization will increase customer awareness of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s new products and services. This will provide customers easy access to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s webpage and social media sites and allow them to become customers, which will in turn increase THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s customer base. In addition, by creating social media sites, customers will have incased awareness through social networking, allowing THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to increase its customer base. The strategy THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use is redesigning the website to be as functional as its competitors. The addition of social media will be purchasing the Go Daddy search engine optimization package (www.Go Daddy.com). This package will permit THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to target customers who are computers. The SEO package provides topics and keywords, which improves search engine rankings. In addition, it will provide an easy way to register THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website to multiple search engines at once. This will ultimately provide THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM with the expertise needed to enhance its sites ranking, and save it time and money. Obtaining a high rank will allow all customers to find information provided by THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM in a timely manner. The use of keywords is one important facets of SEO. By updating the THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM website, adding the appropriate keywords throughout the entire website including the titles, content, image name and also the Domain name URL’s. Keywords that have a lot of traffic but have little to medium competition will be used to optimize the search engine for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. In order to optimize which keywords to utilize, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will invest in Wordtracker. Wordtracker is a tool that will find keywords that are not currently being used by competitors. It also provides an extensive online library dedicated to make an expert in SEO. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM currently added Analytics to the website to monitor their ranking. This also allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to monitor the websites traffic and significant changes. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also monitor if the site is producing slow and poor experience for its users. Keeping up with the Analytics of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also allow protection of the business image, maintain customer satisfaction, preventing loss sales, obtain the best search results raking, and detect hacker quicker. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will increase its chance of being on the first page of search engines by also adding a site map to the website. Creating a site map will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM an easier way to organize their website, identify the URL’s and also the data under each section. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use XML sitemaps. The XML sitemap will inform customers of the search engines in the website, the importance of each and how often they are updated. This also helps visitors find the pages on the site.
A5. Social Media Integration
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM currently has limited form of social media integration, and will need to take great strides to increase all forms of online media. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s customer base is predominantly Amish population, and is increasingly integrated with social media usage. The use of social media throughout the day via work computers, home computers, smart phones and other mobile devices are increasing within the Amish community. With limitations on the use traditional media and customer media preference; using social media will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to run as a more appropriate and significant organization. Finally, it will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to engage customers in a real time results with continually improving service. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM would create a Twitter page, which would allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM customers to follow current events. Twitter will give THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM the ability to send out short messages, interesting URL’s, and manage its online character. Twitter will provide THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM the opportunity to engage a percentage of the 55 million customers who use Twitter (www. Twitter.com). Twitter resource is valuable to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM in order to spread messages that include special events and products that are on sale for a limited time. Additionally, it will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to deliver interesting articles for its members to view. Twitter will also allow customers a way to post comments. This is beneficial to both the customer and THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM by improving customer satisfaction and daily operations. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also create a Facebook to engage the 1.2 billion Facebook users worldwide (www.statisticbrain.com). This will be THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM greatest resource to engage its consumers in the online environment. A Facebook page will provide the medium for an online presence which interacts with friends and family member’s activities and interest. The page will provide data of upcoming events, pictures, and micro blogging comparable to the Twitter page. Customers will be able to communicate to each other and to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM about their varying experiences in real time. Thus allowing THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to react to customer’s feedback in real time as well, and further improving customer satisfaction and the efficiencies of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM daily operations. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also create a LinkedIn account that will integrate the networking side of social media. LinkedIn will provide THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM a means to network and get the website out not only to the Amish population but also business. There are currently 56% of people who us social networking and 13% use LinkedIn (www.statisticbrain.com). This will allow THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to attract new customers and increase market share. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s final step is to garner a greater customer base through visual social media using YouTube. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will implement YouTube to increase its market share along with videos that are pertinent to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. The videos will contain how THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM makes their products. The use of the blog will provide comments from viewers along with the website link. Besides, without any form of social media, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is missing advertising for those customers who are active on social media sites. The use of blogging creates a reason for customers to return to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website and ultimately increase brand loyalty. YouTube is currently ranked second of the most searched websites and third on the most visited (Protalinski 2012).
A6. Online Customer Relationship Management * Customer Profiles * Use of multiple networking sites * Live Chats and Blogs
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM owes it mere existence to its Ohio based onsite customers. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM only goal is to provide high quality products and excellent customer service. In order to continue the high quality of customer service, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will create an instant chat room, along with online customer surveys. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use a customer surveys to measure the means of voicing customers opinions through word of mouth, online reviews and forums, blogs, and social media.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use the profiles of current customers in two ways. First, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be able to better assist customers in finding which product they need. Each customer will have a profile to inform THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM of what they would like to use the products on. This will help THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM better understand the customer’s intentions of the product and also help to assist the customer of which products best fits their needs. The second use of profiles will be used to acquire new customers. These new customers will be other customers who handcraft their buildings.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will take a multi-faceted to its customer relationship management (CRM). THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will provide assistance from initially acquiring customers through past purchases. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will build on its active database that tracks customer demographics, phone numbers, and previous products sold. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will ask customers to provide an active email address along with the collection of data from THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s online visitors creating a more in-depth profile of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s customers. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s next step is to create multiple channels of communication, which will give customers the ability to choose which medium to contact THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. These channels will include feedback section on the website, email, Twitter, Facebook, live chats, phone numbers, and face-to-face interaction. Allowing customers an easy means to voice their concerns and THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to identify problems and correct these issues quickly. Resolved issues create improved customer satisfaction and increased brand loyalty. This benefits THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM in two ways, with less issues products can be made in a more efficient manner and customers will continue to use THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will finally continue customer satisfaction by giving the customer the opportunity to complete a survey. This will provide feedback information THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be used to evaluate and provide outlook for improvement and advancement. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also purchase two survey software packages to enhance the THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM website expansion. The first will come from Providesupport.com which has been one of the leading Live Chat and Web Monitoring software providers since 2003 to more than 30,000 customers globally. Providesupport.com software will be for the Live Chat and online survey. The Live Chat has features include traffic stats, live chat link for emails, post chat survey and many more customized features.THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will increase customer satisfaction and brand loyalty, which will create return customers.
A7. E-Commerce Solutions In today’s society, it has become vital to provide customers with the means to access products online and feel secure about their purchase. The current nature of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s business requires a shopping cart and THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s shopping cart currently is supported by Shopify.
Shopify was used to help create THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s online store. Shopify provides THEAMISHBARNSTAR’s customers with an easy online means to purchase products safely and securely. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM was able to choose its them from over 100+ selections. Shopify is a Content Management System which give THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM complete control of their website. With Shopify THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is able to not only learn more about their customers with their detailed profiles but it also creates customer groups making it simple to categorize and export customer list. Shopify’s many features allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to manage the ranking. Providesupport.com software was chosen for multiple reasons. Providesupport.com is an established online chat and survey Software Company that caters to small and medium business. Furthermore, it is competitively priced based on functionality compared with other companies. Key features include live chat, real-time visitor monitoring, and traffic stats. In addition, it provides unlimited staff logins, as staff changes new employees can create new logins (www.Providesupport.com.com). Providesupport.com offers multiple benefits to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM.
The first benefit it provides is the ability to improve sales and customer satisfaction on the internet. In addition, Providesupport.com provides 24/7 live customer service, allowing any issues to be confronted at any time of the day. Finally, Providesupport.com is digitally protected and secured. These features are important to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM and maintaining its reputation. By using Providesupport.com THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be able to run as a more efficient organization, which in turn will allow it to provide more products to
customers. Providesupport.com provides multiple benefits to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s customers as well. Customers will be able to comment on the quality of customer service and easily quickly get feedback that will be given rapidly to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website and social media pages. Furthermore, customers will be able to contact THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM at any time of the day. All of these benefits provided to the consumer will increase their satisfaction with THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM, and increase brand loyalty. Moreover, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be operating more efficiently allowing more time for customer service and interaction. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use the help of Shopify
A8. International Considerations
In order to maintain a prosperous business and sure to rise as the world moves closer to a global economy, marketing across countries is necessary in the world today. There are multiple considerations which THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM must take into account to expand internationally. The first consideration for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will be to establish a relationship with Amish communities in Canada and Mexico. In order to ensure proper etiquette, all staff will be required to take basic language, professionalism, and etiquette courses before traveling. Beyond missions, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s business opportunities abroad are endless. Having the ability to reach worldwide internet users, countries everywhere are assessable for increase business. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will update the website by adding a culturally sensitive link. This will be done guaranteeing that there are texts, pictures and link on the website, which could be considered culturally insensitive. By creating a website that is culturally sensitive, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will gain an international reputation as well as protect its reputation in the United States. Language sensitivity will also be addressed with THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM. SEO will allow users from all over the world to find THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website. Additionally, current and future customers may speak English as a second language. To provide multiple languages for user of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will use Google Website Translator and Converter (Google, 2012). Google Website Translator provides a drop box that translates. Google Website Converter will convert the dollar amounts in to THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s website to the user’s preferred language.
A9. Costs THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s projected budget for its website expansion can been seen in Table 3.
Table 3
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM’s Projected Website Expansion Expenses EXPENSE | MONTHLY COST | YEARLY COST | Go Daddy Domain | $0 | $130 | Google Advertising | $20 | $240 | Linux Deluxe Web Hosting | $200 | $24,000 | Live Chat and Chat Survey Software | $0 | $100 | Snap Survey Software Package | $0 | $350 | Shopify Shopping Cart | $59 | $708 | Total Cost of Expansion | | |
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is currently registered with GoDaddy.com at an annual low cost fee of $130.00. This allows THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM to help minimize the expansion expense. The use of GoDaddy.com includes protection of registered domain along with standard search engine visibility. THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM also utilizes GoDaddy.com for the Standard SSL Certificate. The use of Google Advertisement for $240 annually will help increase the marketing for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM when similar words or phrases are entered into the search engine.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM has an established account with Linux Deluxe Web Hosting with fees of $24,000 annually. Linux Deluxe Web Hosting will provide THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM numerous security features. These features include protection from hackers, capabilities to protect PHP websites, applications, and databases from malice on the web (Simpson 2012). Web application protection, managed backups with 14 day retention and real time event monitoring/ alerting is also available.
THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM will also purchase two survey software packages to enhance the THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM website expansion. The first will come from Providesupport.com for $100 which has been one of the leading Live Chat and Web Monitoring software providers since 2003 to more than 30,000 customers globally. Providesupport.com software will be for the Live Chat and online survey. The Live Chat has features include traffic stats, live chat link for emails, post chat survey and many more customized features.
The second survey software will be purchased from Snap Surveys for $350. Snap Surveys product will be utilized to provide THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM the means to create online, paper, and even mobile surveys. Some key features include design and publishing questionnaires easily, data collection and respondent management, results, analysis and reporting along help and support.
In order to provide safe and secure purchases for their customers, THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM uses Shopify. Shopify provides THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM with over 70 payment gateways that allows credit cards to be accepted from all over the world. Shopify offers 50 plus languages that can number of local currencies and they automatically handle major country and state tax rates.
The low cost for the expansion of THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM is an advantage to the business and Amish community. Having GoDaddy.com, Google, Linux Deluxe Web, Live Chat and Chat Survey, and Snap Survey gives not only means to maintains its competition, increase market for THEAMISHBARNSTAR.COM and also products for the all Amish internationally.
Reference List
Goodwin, D. (2011). Top Google Results Get 36.4% of Clicks. Retrieved from http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2049695/Top-Google-Result-Gets-36.4-of-Clicks-Study
Noyes, K. (2012). Amish-Heartland,Rapidly Growing Amish Population. Amish Becoming Fastest Growing Group in U.S. Retrieved from http://www.amish-heartland.com/amish%20culture/2012/09/04/rapidly-growing-amish-population Protalinski, E. (2012). Facebook was the top search term for 4th straight year, accounting for 4.13% of all US searches. Retrieved from http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2012/12/20/facebook-was-the-top-search-term-for-fourth-straight-year-accounting-for-4-13-of-all-us-searches/
Simpson, K. (2012). Top 5 ways to Measure Customer Satisfaction. Retrieved from http://www.returncustomer.com/2010/08/25/5-ways-to-measure-customer-satisfaction/