Because of all the competition, you have to win customers over to purchase from you. Despite how easy it is to start a business online, run a store, and make money, the internet is still a highly competitive place. Unlike a local brick and mortar, you're competing with all the other brands and businesses online. Which can be based just about anywhere in the world. And there are a lot of them!

You need to build your profile as a professional in your niche and prove to customers that you're the one they should be going to.

This is called winning over the customer and it's EVERYTHING in terms of doing business online. With so many options, consumers need your help to find the best retail store online.

To do this, you need to focus on answering their questions. Do this throughout your content, create pages entirely dedicated to frequently asked questions and offer a contact form. Most importantly, be there and available for them when questions come up. You don't need to necessarily be available by phone, but you need to be available as much as possible.

Remember, whenever someone asks you a question about a product, it gives you the chance to sell something. Your style depends on how you want to approach your sales and customers -- it doesn't have to be aggressive, yet it doesn't have to be completely neutral and passive either. Provide the customer with the information and let them know how much it will benefit them to have it. For more on this, check out Every Product Page is a Sales Page.

3 Ways to Win Over Customers

Here are a few ways you can take this idea to the next level and actually practice with your own retail store online -- with time, hard work, and even a little luck, you'll be increasing your sales before you know it.

1. Organize Your Website -- this is where a lot of retailers go wrong. Without a proper website set up, you're going to find it more difficult to persuade people to check out your products and become your customer.
2. Provide A Lot of Information -- go beyond the manufacturer product description (it's duplicate content anyway) and create content that provides a lot of information for the potential buyer. This is where you create your pitch and actually persuade the viewer to buy the product from you.
3. Be Transparent and Upfront -- Present yourself and your business upfront as much as possible. This has become a major selling point for those shopping online, because it adds a layer of trust.

Where to Win Your Customers

You can win customers just about everywhere. But the most common place is right there on your website. This is where most people fail, because they're not giving the customer what they demand upfront. Which is excellent customer service and a non-messy website design (read how to clean your retail store online).

Other places where you might be able to win over customers includes any social network in which you're active, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, video sharing platforms, such as YouTube, and through your blog.