Whether you allow your customers to make their purchases over the web or you offer them the information to finalize their buying decisions, your web site can become an indispensable member of your sales team.

Your company web site can work with your sales staff to perform many of the following tasks:

• direct online sales
• taking requests for special/customized products
• screening potential customers - eliminating the "tire kickers"
• collecting a list of qualified customers
• scheduling appointments/sales meetings with clients
• providing detailed product information and specifications
• offering product demos
• providing immediate answers to common questions
• providing side-by-side comparisons to other products (your own or your competitors')
• offering information about the industry as a whole (safety concerns, legislation, etc.)
• offering product reviews (use third party reviews for added credibility)
• presenting customer comments/recommendations
• presenting product test results
• offering information about related and/or complementary products (ie. Product accessories, extended warranties, etc.).
• working with related companies to offer complementary products (ie. If you sell automobiles, do joint promotions with insurance dealers, car washes, etc.)
• developing better customer profiles - demographics, geography, age, gender, shopping/buying habits - allows for better targeting of your products/services
• using customer profiles to present complementary products for sale to repeat visitors (a customized Point of Purchase display - think of it like having everything at the check out counter of your favorite store customized to your tastes - only your favorite candy bars, the right sized batteries to fit the products you have (and only when your batteries are about to run out of juice), etc.
• encouraging customer feedback - comments and criticisms can help you to better satisfy customer needs in the future.