During and after this COVID-19 era, the eCommerce market is expected to maintain its upward trajectory and exponential growth. This trend provides entrepreneurs with an interesting and optimistic opportunity for success and longevity. Whether you already have an ecommerce business running or you’re looking to start one, now is the perfect time to put your best foot forward. Here are 10 things to do to help your eCommerce flourish.
1. Offer the Right Product
Perform intensive research before settling on the product(s) to offer on your store. Don’t launch your eCommerce store because your peers are doing well in a specific niche or just because you’ve products you want to sell. Instead, identify what your target market needs and provide what can meet those needs. Look for products that already have a starved audience, but with fairly limited competition. If you’re targeting overseas consumers, working with a reliable globalization partner will pay off.
2. Develop a Solid Branding Strategy
Why do millions of people buy products from giant eCommerce businesses like Alibaba, Amazon, and eBay? The answer is simple – these companies aren’t just popular shopping sites, they are also prominent brands. So to help your eCommerce store become successful and sustainable, you must get your branding right. Branding comprises things like the name and logo of your website and your customer care principles. Consider what sets your online store apart from your competitors. Why should people buy from your store and not your competitors? Do you provide low-priced, yet better quality products than your competitors? Do you offer one-day shipping? These questions will help you come up with a solid branding strategy.
3. Create an Intelligent Marketing Strategy
Don’t fall in the trap of thinking that having a website is all you need for your online store to thrive. A good marketing strategy is crucial to growing your business and winning customers. Here are a few helpful tips for developing an effective marketing plan:
· Know your target market. What viewpoints do consumers have about your products? What are their purchase habits? Do they buy at their first visit? What are they saying about the price? Answering these questions will help you create a smart marketing strategy.
· Stand out from Your Competitors: The eCommerce market has so many established brands. Instead of competing with them, do something different to help you stand out.
4. Optimize Your Website
Websites of most established eCommerce businesses have a clean design, seamless navigation, quality product images, understandable messages, and simple cart. They are also highly responsive and have fast loading speeds. So it’s wise to commit your time and efforts towards optimizing your website. Ensure your products along with their descriptions are well organized on your website’s homepage. Make your cart buttons as easy to find as possible to avoid wasting your customers’ time.
5. Make the Checkout Process Accessible Across all Devices
Mobile purchases have grown from about $1 trillion in 2016 to around $3 trillion in 2020. Based on an eMarketer forecast from 2018, global mobile purchases may hit $3.56 trillion in 2021. These stats show that you can no longer ignore mobile shopping. You need to ensure your checkout process is accessible on multiple devices, from mobile to desktop to laptop.
6. Offer Multiple Login Options
Over 75 percent of eCommerce businesses are using several login systems. Increase the chances of your target customers discovering and interacting with your company by setting up multiple login systems. You can use two prominent social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. If you’re going to use a typical registration form, make it as customer-friendly as possible. Don’t ask irrelevant questions that may piss off customers.
7. Set Up Multiple Payment Systems
Another great way to make customers happy is to include multiple payment options. Other than popular payment methods like PayPal and Visa, you can offer a wallet system. You can also implement a payment plan like Stripe that automatically saves the card information on your site, saving your customers from the hassle of having to provide their card details every time they want to make a purchase. Be sure to enhance your site security to protect your customers’ financial information.
8. Create a Clear Return Policy
Before purchasing a product, most customers review the return policy to find out how fast they’ll get a product replacement or their money back. An unclear return policy is a big turn off for most customers. Develop a clear, brief, and practical return policy and place it in a conspicuous place on your site.
9. Gather Customer Feedback
Customer reviews are important. When prospective customers see that your current customers are happy and satisfied, they’re more likely to buy from you. Take your time to deal with issues raised by your shoppers to reduce your chances of getting negative reviews. Most importantly, provide avenues for shoppers to share their experience. It could be through email, on your site’s “thank you” page after buying, or on receipts.
10. Offer Excellent Customer Support
Excellent customer support results in return clients. Taking time to answer phone calls, emails, and chat messages is the easiest way to build trust in your brand. Offer all this within a short time and you’ll attract more customers to your store. In case the questions you’re getting are revolving around a similar issue(s), set up a page for frequently asked questions and provide their answers to minimize the number of times you’ve to answer them.
Final thoughts
There is no magic or overnight solution when it comes to helping your eCommerce flourish. You’ve to invest time, effort, and resources. Study your target market and find out what’s likely to work. If you already have a successful eCommerce brand and you want to venture into the international markets, a professional globalization partner can help you navigate the challenges associated with expanding globally.
