There are between 12 and 24 million active businesses operating online in 2022, a phenomenal number and one that holds out a distinct challenge to anyone wanting surety that they are investing their time, money, and resources in the optimal organization for their requirements. Online services hold out many distinct benefits over their brick-and-mortar counterparts, for example, as this huge number of businesses makes clear there is an abundant choice for consumers out there that far exceeds what you would find in even major global cities.
Furthermore, due to a combination of lower overhead costs, and more competition, prices for goods and services online are often considerably lower than what you would find at a physical location. Another key point that bears noting is accessibility, as before e-commerce grew in popularity, the vast majority of the global population were without easy access to many of the services provided by businesses now operating online. If all of this sounds like objectively good news it’s because this is essentially true. As consumers are wont to vote with their feet, the fact that the online goods and services industry have consistently outperformed the high street for over 20 years points to the very real benefits it is felt to confer to its patrons.
Yet it’s a maxim that holds true in all areas of life that once one problem is solved, more spring up to take their place. The abundant choice and accessibility of online services is too often marred by the lack of regulation found online. This opens the door to shady business practices and unreliable providers who are able to operate in the grey area created by this new commercial context. From retailers selling knock-off or duplicate items to consumers who know no better, to platforms infecting your computer with spyware and harmful viruses.
It can be tricky to navigate the online goods and services sector, especially for those unfamiliar with these concerns. Fortunately, there are some tried and true means by which anyone can ensure they’re protecting their confidential information, getting a good deal, and ensuring top-tier service when shopping around online. Below we’ll be looking at the various ways you can choose the right online services for you by focusing on various sectors and exploring the commonalities in quality practice they each share.
Online Retailers: Shops, Goods, and Services
There are many online retailers operating today, which makes it challenging to zero in on a trusted supplier. One reasonable strategy is to, where possible, restrict your inquiries to major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Walmart. This is because these organizations have robust security features, modern infrastructure, and streamlined help desks, should anything go awry with your transaction. On such a platform it pays dividends to check out which items are rated highly by previous buyers before committing yourself to a purchase. Do take note of whether a highly rated item is sponsored by the platform you’re purchasing from first though, as in such cases its rating is often artificially inflated.
When shopping at a smaller, boutique platform, it is a good idea to look up the business on Trustpilot beforehand. Trustpilot is a community-generated review platform that ranks the quality and validity of service for most businesses operating online. If a business is not listed there, this alone is a good signifier that it may be wiser to opt for an alternative provider. Elsewhere, one can make use of platforms that collate small businesses together, such as Etsy, which can give you the best of both worlds — approachable customer service, and robust safeguarding.
iGaming Platforms and the Entertainment Sector
The online gaming sector has gone from strength to strength over the years and offers competitive value, and the kind of on-demand access to entertainment that tech-savvy professionals everywhere have come to expect. Yet like the other sectors on our list, it’s important to check out an individual provider’s credentials before signing up with one. Fortunately, all legitimate platforms are upfront with the steps they take to ensure your safety and the confidentiality of your financial information. Such details can be surveyed in the privacy link found at the bottom of most websites.
Another key point to bear in mind before you commit to a specific provider is that there are a huge variety of different online casino platforms out there. As such, it’s beneficial to arrive at some clarity around exactly what you would be looking for in such a service. For example, not all iGaming providers will host the same formats, features, and titles you may be familiar with from other contexts. This step is a foundational component of the casino registration process, particularly for those with a preference for a specific slots title, or niche game. Such users may need to shop around before settling on a particular platform. This is in contrast to those who, instead, prefer more traditional games like roulette, as they will generally be able to satisfy this requirement through most iGaming venues.
Insurance for Home, Car, and Travel
Online insurance is big business and with everything from travel to cars, homes, and life insurance available online it can be difficult to figure out which provider is able to offer you the best market rates on a quote. Fortunately, this has led to the rise of an entire sector of comparison websites that, for a small commission, gather together all trusted insurance providers in one place, enabling you to compare rates and assess the various merits of each insurance company in one location.
Major providers of this service include The Zebra, Confused.com, and ComparetheMarket. Each will give you a comprehensive run-down of what you can expect from the various providers without having to spend a penny. What’s more, these comparison platforms can be used as a safeguarding measure as you can be relatively safe in the knowledge that any organization that is not listed among their directories is unlikely to be in accordance with the industry standards of reliability and professionalism.