What are the Major Differences Between B2B & B2C Websites In The Halal Industry?

Halal businesses everywhere want to expand their business globally. They want to go global. However, most of them also do retail business in their local markets. In this blog post, we want to discuss some of the major differences between the two types of businesses:- retail as well as wholesale in local and international markets. The primary objective of both types of halal businesses is the same. They want to generate more and more sales. However, the target audience is different. A B2C business targets end user customers. While a B2B business looks for potential business partners in local and international markets.

In a B2B scenario, there are multiple stakeholders. Potential customers make purchasing decisions based on trust and the nature of the relation between the two parties.  On the other hand, in a B2C environment, the purchasing process is relatively simple.  Although the end users may decide to buy from you based on your brand strength, price, availability, ease of buying, etc. it is quite possible that they may never become your repeat customers.

What are the Major Differences Between B2B & B2C Websites In The Halal Industry?

No. of Products Displayed on the Website

The main purpose of a b2c website is to keep their visitors on the site for as long as possible. They try to put as many product offerings on their site as possible so that you buy at least something out of the plethora of product/services available out there.

In a b2b setting, you will see lesser number of product offerings. The website will be less flashy. A b2b website that throws so many product and service offerings to its target users could dilute its message easily. By seeing too many offerings, a prospective customer could get confused and may go away soon to a competing website. B2B websites generally show their product and service offerings on the top of their webpage without being too flashy.

Level of Personalization

As a b2c website has more product offerings, it can customize its look and feel suited to its visitors. A b2c website offers more personalization to its target users. let us take the example of Amazon. The moment you enter into the site, it starts tracking your browsing history via cookies placed on the site. The site starts showing you the type of products you might be interested in. Same is the case with YouTube. As you keep on browsing various sections of the site, you will soon start seeing a pattern in the offerings suited to your tastes, and preferences, etc.

However, in a B2B setting, that level of personalization may not be needed. You do not want to see your browsing history all at once on a b2b site. However, some personalization of the site may be needed keeping in view the customer size, sales stage etc.

B2C customers contact the company only once. However, in a b2b environment, both buyers and sellers interact with one another on a more personal level using various communication channels including email, telephone, product or service demo, one-on-one meetings, etc.

For a b2c website, a blog may not be a big help in selling products to end-users. You may find it difficult to find a blog section on Amazon or Etsy or any other major b2c site. However, a useful blog is a part and parcel of a b2b site. These blog posts may help target customers get approvals from their bosses, understand the product and service offerings at a more deeper level before a purchase decision is actually made.

Search Bar Placement

On a b2c site, the search is placed at the top. In a b2b the site, the search is not that important therefore placed at a relatively obscure place on the site

B2C site wants you to buy something from their product offerings almost immediately. However, in a b2b situation, although, it is nice to get an order from the prospective customer immediately, it is very unlikely and even the target users may not make a decision so quickly.

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier, most of the halal businesses start at a small scale, they sell their products to end-users first before embarking on finding B2B customers in local and international markets, they may want to design their website in such a way that it serves both types of customers satisfactorily.

The founders of The Halal Times have been long term IT specialists. You may be able to get some useful advice by contacting them vie this email message. Please feel free to give your comments about this very important topic. Having a good understanding of the main differences between the two sites will help you optimize your website for the right audience.