According to eMarketer, the global retail e-commerce surged by 27.6% last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That is equivalent to an estimated worldwide total of $4.28 trillion made by 1.92 billion people who purchased goods and services online.
E-commerce is a huge industry that continues to grow and change as technology advances. There are many different ways to improve your e-commerce business through various marketing techniques and by providing an excellent customer service experience.
There is no denying that starting an e-commerce store can be a daunting task. Before launching your business, the number of things you need to consider often leaves many entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start. But as with any other type of business, there are some tried and true methods for success. In this article, we will discuss the top 11 tips for a thriving e-commerce business.
Tips for E-commerce Success
1. Offer Free Shipping on All Orders
Free shipping helps put your customers’ minds at ease because they know their purchases would not cost them anything more than they usually pay. Even if it means losing money in the short term, if you want your customers to keep coming back, you need to do everything to make them happy.
In addition, studies show that customers are more likely to shop online again when they know they do not have to pay for shipping.
2. Create a Great Website
You need visitors to be successful. People will not visit your site if it is not well-designed or easy to navigate. Make sure you have clear headers and subheaders engaging for users when they browse your categories page. Also, think about how your images look because sometimes the smallest things can make all the difference.
3. Optimize Your Site for Mobile Users
If you have ever used a smartphone or tablet for shopping online, you know how frustrating it can be when the website is not optimized for these devices. Make sure that people browsing on their phones and tablets have a leisurely experience by designing pages with responsive web design (RWD) technology.
4. Focus on Social Media
Social media is a great way to build brand awareness and can help your e-commerce store get noticed. You should spend some time engaging with the people who follow you, sharing photos of products they may like, posting links to relevant articles, and running contests where followers get discounts if they share a picture of their purchase.
5. Do Not be Afraid to Go Offline
If customers are struggling to find your store, try putting up signs in the windows of other stores to help you get noticed and introduce people who might not have known about your e-commerce store before. You can also take advantage of online reviews sites like Yelp, where users share their experiences at local businesses with others around them.
6. Ask for Feedback
People like to know that their opinions matter, especially when it comes to the businesses they shop at. If you are unsure what your customers want or need from your e-commerce store, then ask them. Consider hosting a survey on social media where people can give honest answers in exchange for something like a discount.
7. Make Sure Your Site is Secure
People have a lot of trust in sites that are “secure.” If you are not already displaying the green lock icon on your website, make this one of your top priorities. It tells people they can shop safely because their information will be protected, which means fewer abandoned carts and more sales for you.
8. Keep Track of Your Competitors
If you are not noticing the success you want in your e-commerce store, then it is time to look at what other people in our industry are doing. There is always something new and unique with thriving businesses, so keep up on trends.
9. Build a Strong Email List
It would help if you always look for new ways to get people engaged with your e-commerce store, and having an email list is one of the best tools you have. Make sure that you are collecting emails at every opportunity to keep your customers up-to-date on sales or upcoming discounts.
10. Pay Attention to Social Media Mentions
Social media can be great for building brand awareness, but it is also a fast way to get customer complaints or feedback. Please make sure you have alerts set up to see any negative comments as soon as they are posted, and offer good follow-up service after each interaction.
11. Build Relationships with Influencers in Your Industry
Influencer marketing is all the rage right now because of its effectiveness for businesses across industries, including our e-commerce store. If there are people whose opinions matter (bloggers, celebrities, etc.), then make sure you reach out to them with announcements about new products or exclusive discounts.
These promotions will help you spread the word more efficiently and get more attention from the people who matter.
Conclusion
When it comes to e-commerce, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. If you have been in the game for a while, you know what I am talking about. But if this is your first time getting started, do not worry. Grab time with me on my calendly: https://calendly.com/jayant-eproxim/linkedin.
