Many cross-border e-commerce companies provide products and services to overseas customers through their own independent portals. There are many types of independent portals, which can be divided into corporate image websites and corporate functional websites according to their functions. These are two completely different concepts.
The main purpose of the image website is to promote the company and products. Its content mainly includes basic content such as company profile, product introduction, service content, price information, contact information, etc. It has poor interactivity and relatively simple functions. At present, most of the websites of foreign trade companies in my country belong to this category. The functional website is completely different. It is aimed at sales or procurement as the ultimate goal. The image website not only includes company and product information, but also provides customers with online orders, online payment, online consultation, after-sales service and other functions; the functional website needs to provide suppliers with bidding, bidding, negotiation, signing, supplier management, payment review or transfer and other functions.
Whether in corporate image websites or functional websites, “electronic product catalogs” are often used as an important component. In traditional international trade, export companies need to provide detailed information on products and services to foreign customers by mailing paper catalogs. After the commercialization of the Internet, electronic catalogs displayed on the Internet have been greatly developed. The simplest catalog only displays product descriptions and price lists, and does not allow online shopping and payment, while more complex catalogs allow online purchases, order placement and payment methods.
The most important part of the catalog is to display different products and services, including pictures (photos, plates, renderings or illustrations of products), descriptions (including product size, color, material, function and other characteristics), instructions for use or installation, services provided, service period and fees and other specific information. In addition, the product catalog can also add information such as prices, discounts or discounts, contact addresses, telephone numbers, websites, email addresses, branches or subsidiaries, ordering methods, shipping and payment, and business hours.
Electronic catalogs have the following advantages: First, compared with traditional printed catalogs, electronic catalogs are cheaper because there is no paper, printing and international mailing costs (international mailing costs are very expensive); second, unlike printed catalogs, digital catalogs allow companies to establish direct relationships with customers and get feedback in a timely manner; finally, the content of electronic catalogs is stored on servers and can be updated in a fast and simple way, so that customers can access the latest information in a timely manner.
Catalogs come in various forms, and the most common ones are three. The first type is shown in Figure 3-6, which is presented in the form of a common HTML page on the website. The second type is shown in Figure 3-7, which is presented in a more complex, more vivid, simulated paper catalog form, which has a “book flipping” feeling and is more able to attract customers’ attention. The third type is in the form of PDF, Word, Excel, PPT and other format files as carriers, which are placed on the website or sent through emails for customers to view, download and spread.