Compatibility, Specifications and Support

Compatibility is the buying decision

In technical categories, the customer already knows they need something. What stops them buying is uncertainty about whether your specific item works with their specific situation.

Every hour spent on compatibility data is worth several spent on product photography in these categories. It is the question, and answering it is the sale.

What compatibility information looks like

1. A fitment table — which makes, models and years
2. Cross-references to the part numbers customers search for
3. Superseded parts mapped to their replacements
4. Required accessories or fittings, stated explicitly
5. What it does not fit, where confusion is common

Specifications belong in a table

• Complete, with no blank fields on important attributes
• Consistent units across the catalogue
• Tolerances where they matter
• Standards and certifications named specifically
• The datasheet available without a form

Requiring a form to download a datasheet loses more sales than it captures leads, in almost every technical category.

Search by part number

Technical buyers search by part number, including competitors' and manufacturers' numbers. Your search has to find those, or the visitor concludes you do not stock it.

Cross-reference data in the product record makes that work, and it is one of the highest-return data projects in these categories.

Pre-sale support converts

A technical buyer who can ask a quick question and get a definitive answer will buy from you rather than from a cheaper store that cannot answer.

That is one of the few durable advantages a small technical retailer has over a large marketplace, and it is worth staffing.

Frequently asked questions