2. I see it happening all the time... websites with no physical
mailing address. It's as if they don't exist anywhere but in
the scary world of cyberspace. I say scary because that's
exactly what a high percentage of the web browsing
population thinks of the Internet. When these people are
looking to purchase a product and don't see a physical
address, they get scared, and very likely abandon the
purchase. And don't think that a typical email address for
your contact information cuts it. People want a physical
location.
3. So, what do you do? Simple. Use a physical mailing
address as a contact option in your 'Contact Us' page
and/or website order form. However, if you're a website
owner that operates from your home, don't go and attach
your home address to your website just yet, you might
want to think about your mailing options.
4.
5. 1. Your Home Address2. Mailing Services (Mailboxes Etc.,
The UPS Store, etc.)3. Mail Forwarding4. Post Office Box
(P.O. Box)
7. Using your home address is definitely the cheapest option.
To the small to medium size website owners, it is probably
the best option. However, if you tend to grow rapidly, or if
your website already has a large user-base, then your
home address may not be the best option for you.
8.
9. Then there's the fact the all of your customers can easily
find out where you live. Not that you're hiding from
anyone! But you could find yourself in the situation where
you have a few inquisitive customers that don't mind
"stopping by" to ask a few questions!
10. Using a Mailing Services (Mailboxes Etc., The UPS Store,
etc.):
11. The use of a mailing service can be quite expensive ($25-
$45 per month). However, there are some benefits. You
can assign a suite number or have a real street name
assigned to your business address, instead of a P.O. box.
This can give the potential customer the impression that
your business has an office or building that resides at the
location. However, I have found that the cost of this
service usually outweighs the benefits associated with it.
Nevertheless, the money you pay to use a mailing service
is tax deductible as a business expense.
13. Now, if you REALLY want to get fancy you can opt for the
mail forwarding option. Here you can pay a company in a
"big time" city like New York or Chicago to accept your
mail and forward your mail to you. This is EXPENSIVE! And
there is another major drawback - you are always getting
your mail about 2-5 days late due to the forwarding time.
15. The use of a P.O. Box is, in my opinion, the best choice for
those that run high traffic websites out of their home. Not
only does your mail get to the P.O. Box more quickly, but
also the cost is relatively cheap (about $50-$125 per year).
Again, this cost is a business expense, so save your receipt
and write it off!
16. In my opinion and experience, most people are accustom
to the P.O. Box and do not mind sending orders to it. In
fact, many big companies use P.O. boxes as a matter of
conveniently keeping the mail separate.
17.
18. Good luck! And be sure to come back to visit VictoryKey
often for more online business tips and discussions!