As an increasing number of bricks-and-mortar retailers are forced out of the market by rising business expenses, online retailers are finding it easier to make their millions.

Brighton-based e-shopping experts Dreamteam Design are well placed to help any local business which wants to make its mark on e-commerce.

Commercial director Malcolm Duffitt is keen to see more Sussex-based businesses taking a lead in the world of online trading.

He said: "We'll be exhibiting at the Learning Pays! Business Training and Skills Exhibition on Saturday and Sunday at the Hilton Metrople in Brighton. The exhibition is organised by the Learning and Skills Council and the Federation of Small Businesses and will help all kinds of businesses to forge ahead of their competition."

Dreamteam Design has developed an application that creates online shops, called EROL, which is currently the UK market leader.

Mr Duffitt said: "We will be giving demonstrations of EROL 3 Business Edition at the exhibition.

We will also be running a competition to give away some free copies."

Dreamteam Design offered its top tips on setting up and running an online shop:

Plan your online store carefully. Think about the structure needed to make browsing easier. Visit other online stores to see which methods of navigation are effective
*Design your store. Customers will respond to a professional-looking web site with clear information about products. If you are serious about the business your online store will generate, employ a professional web designer.

Internet consumers are often persuaded to buy because the internet pricing is different to retail outlets. Consider how this might affect your own retail outlet trade before deciding what type of discounts and pricing structures you offer online.

Be responsive to customer enquiries from your online store. Remember the customer may not be able to visit your retail outlet and speak to a sales person, particularly if they are browsing from outside the UK. Fast, polite and efficient e-customer service will lead to more sales.

Invest money in your online store by getting specialist search engine placement or paying for search keywords on search engines and directories like Google. Good search engine results will mean higher traffic to your store.

Pay a little more for fast, reliable hosting - if your online store is online all year round you are always open for business.

Cover yourself. Provide good terms and conditions, privacy information and other information to your customers.

Show clearly-displayed contact information. Customers will know you are happy for people to contact you and it will give them confidence they are dealing with an honest company.

Make sure you deliver. If you say it will be there in 24 hours, make sure it is.

Use a secure, reliable online payment service provider, like WorldPay, to take credit card payments. Ask your service provider about their anti-fraud measures, which will protect your business.

To chat to the Dreamteam Design experts, visit them at the exhibition.

For more information, contact: 0870 7479141 www.dreamteam.co.uk
www.erolonline.co.uk
Tuesday March 18 2003