Aside from retail giants like Amazon and eBay, several other e-commerce businesses are emerging to take advantage of the internet’s interaction with business in today’s world. According to the US Department of Commerce, America’s ecommerce sales reached $595.5 billion in 2019. Online retail is a profitable venture your business can benefit from using the right tactics; you therefore need to learn how best to exploit this platform for optimum results. Are you curious to know what steps to take to boost your e-commerce business? Take a look at these points.
- Outsource Digital Marketing
An effective digital marketing strategy is essential to any e-commerce business’ success in today’s world. The principal means of attracting customers for most e-commerce businesses are through pay-per-click, website design, social media advertising, email marketing, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). However, trying to manage all these platforms concurrently while focusing on business operations can be distracting because it robs you of valuable time to focus on growth. As such, outsource these tasks to qualified people to help drive business growth. An excellent digital marketing agency will free up time for you to engage in other business practices you have more expertise in, increasing your company’s efficiency. Your business can also benefit from exposure to the latest marketing and technology trends when experts manage it compared to personal management. Consequently, consider outsourcing all digital marketing tasks to an excellent agency to propel your online business towards faster growth. You can browse through the online business encyclopedia to check out several digital products and agencies to see which best suits your needs.
- Provide Excellent Customer Service
Several business experts say that many e-commerce businesses fixate on maximizing revenue through sales, neglecting customer needs. However, they believe that this sole focus on sales can be detrimental to your business in the long run. Customers are the lifeblood of companies, so customer satisfaction should be your joint top priority with marketing in your business operations to ensure your longevity. A whopping 86% of customers will spend 25% more on your business if they experience good customer service. Good customer service also creates a loyal customer base who will become voluntary brand advocates, telling others about the positive experience they enjoyed. Therefore, prioritize excellent customer service by offering consumer support solutions through platforms like email, live chat, and phone to ensure that you retain satisfied customers who will help your business grow.
- Ensure That Your Marketing Covers All Stages of the Buying Process
A whopping 92% of first-time visitors to a retail website will not purchase anything. Many business experts say this is because consumers go through different stages before they commit to patronizing a business. As such, you must have tailor-made marketing for each step. Therefore, you should stir up a need for your product and establish your brand as an expert in your industry, which customers will discover through their research. Then allow them to compare competitor rates on your site to simplify their alternative search process. When it’s time for customers to decide on purchasing, remind them why your brand is best suited to address their needs by giving as much information as possible. Optimize your purchasing process to ensure smooth purchasing, and finally send follow up surveys and emails expressing your gratitude after purchase. Although this process isn’t linear, experts advise that marketing throughout these stages leads to higher conversions and long-lasting customer loyalty, so you should prioritize this.
- Engage Influencers
Influencer marketing is the modern-day celebrity endorsement, so you should leverage the reach that influencers have through partnership to promote your ecommerce business. These influencers can be famous social media personalities with niche audiences you can collaborate with to market your company. For example, Instagram is a social media influencer marketing hotspot you can start with to promote your business. You can also engage well-known industry personalities who can lend credence to your products or services and drive people to purchase from you. You can have influencers promote your business as brand ambassadors or product reviewers. Repeated studies have proved the influencer marketing strategy’s efficacy in drawing public attention to your company, so you shouldn’t hesitate to use influencers to grow your e-commerce business for the best results.
- Identify Your Target Audience
Several successful online business owners advise that defining your target audience is vital to growth. Many beginners make a significant mistake of wanting to be a one stop shop for everybody. However, the reality is unless you are an established e-commerce giant like Amazon, trying to be a one stop shop for everyone will likely result in your business’ collapse. Even Amazon didn’t start as a go-to place for everything; they were book retailers before they diversified their product range after some significant success. Therefore, identify a target audience who will most likely be interested in your products and services. Focus on this target audience’s needs by finding out what they want and whether you can satisfy these needs with current and new products. After establishing a reliable production line, you can then market your products and services. A poorly defined target consumer base can hinder your company’s future growth, so prioritize defining your audience well for optimum results.
- Ship Globally
One of e-commerce’s central advantages is allowing you to reach consumers outside your geographical limitations; you should therefore target global extension to reap significant rewards. Making your products available through shipping is a virtual, inexpensive means of opening stores worldwide. Consequently, consider scaling your business through international shipping if your products are relevant to a global audience. It would be best if you planned international shipping by first conducting thorough research to determine whether your products have a genuine chance of success in international markets. Then, familiarize yourself with technicalities like shipping costs, legal issues, payment methods, etc. Also, several e-commerce experts advise that you invest in a well-planned website that favors international commerce by having currency converters and language options. Remember, more customers globally imply higher profits and business growth, so consider international shipping to grow your e-commerce business.
