Topic for discussion: Business card websites
We're used to thinking of a business card website as simply an online brochure, at best with a contact form. E-commerce is generally considered a separate field, requiring a dedicated website or the use of marketplaces.
I propose a change to this conventional web development approach:
offer users a business card website with online store functionality.
The idea is to redirect customers from marketplaces directly to the seller's website, bypassing marketplace and payment processing fees.
I anticipate the objection that the key feature of an online store is credit card processing. However, I believe the absence of online card processing is not a bug, but a feature. Let's break the stereotypes!
A website shouldn't be a middleman, but a facilitator in transactions between the seller and the client.
This is how ticket booking services work, for example: you make an order, receive an invoice, and pay it via bank transfer. That's it! This way, we bypass unnecessary payment processing, which, by the way, many customers dislike. Nowadays, few people enter their card details on new and unknown websites.The proposed order flow without payment processing is simple and easily integrates with any design. What are your thoughts on this idea?
(P.S. For those unfamiliar with the term "payment processing": it's the ability to accept card payments on a website. The payment processing system is designed so that you don't see which account the money goes to. You pay without knowing exactly to whom. You've likely never considered how strange and wrong this is, as it has become the norm. But it is indeed wrong. We should work through good old invoices, where all parties are transparent to each other.)
Choosing between payment processing and invoice payments depends on the specific circumstances and priorities of the business.
Who is this suitable for?
Businesses tied to a specific location and with a transparent review system can successfully use the invoice payment model. Here's why:
- Local Business: Customers of local businesses often prefer personal contact and trust companies located nearby. This creates a favorable environment for using alternative payment methods, such as invoice payments or cash on delivery.
- Transparent Reputation: The presence of reviews and ratings increases customer trust in the business. If a company has a good reputation, customers are more likely to agree to pay by invoice, even if it's less convenient than online card payment. Reviews are social proof of reliability, compensating for the lack of familiar payment tools.
- Pick-up Option: Being tied to a location often implies the possibility of pick-up, allowing customers to pay for their purchase upon receiving the goods. This is convenient for customers and reduces the risks associated with online payments.
Examples of such businesses:
Local shops: Clothing stores, grocery stores, home goods stores, etc., that are focused on a local audience.
Cafes and restaurants: Catering establishments offering delivery or pick-up.
Beauty salons and hairdressers: Service businesses where payment often occurs after the service is rendered.
Repair shops: Car services, appliance repair, clothing and shoe repair.
Private specialists: Tutors, photographers, consultants who work with clients individually.
In these cases, the business card website serves primarily as a source of information about the company and its services, and payment can be made in various ways, including by invoice. This is a flexible approach that takes into account the specifics of local businesses and the needs of their customers.
A new approach to the visibility and functionality of a business card site. A business card site is now not only an information booklet, but also an online store with the ability to place an order.
Functional https://take-coffee-cup.netlify.app
Functional and noticeable https://infometka.com/online-coffee
The first one takes from 3 days to a week to make.
The second one takes 3 minutes to make.
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