eCommerce is a booming business. It has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade, with an estimated value of trillions of dollars in global sales. The advantages are many: you don’t have to worry about inventory or shipping, you can reach customers all over the world, and it’s relatively easy to set up your storefront. There are disadvantages too – but how do you build on the strengths without succumbing to the weaknesses? If you’re looking for advice on how to improve and expand your own eCommerce business, keep reading!
Identify your target audience and know what they want
One of the first things that you need to do to improve and expand your eCommerce business is to identify your target audience and know what they want. Who are you selling to? What do they expect from your brand? How can you meet their needs better than the competition? This is where you can consider partnering with a Shopify Plus agency to help electrify your brand and ensure that your products are meeting your customer needs. They will also be able to assist you in reaching out to your target audience.
Not everybody has to be your customer
One of the biggest mistakes that stores make is trying to please every single person who comes through their door, whether or not it’s realistic. A better idea may be to focus on your target audience – which may also include subgroups – and cater to their needs. This is not only more realistic but also opens up the possibility of greater income if you can reach your target audience without spending too much time on others who may not be as likely to buy from you anyway.
Know where you need to improve – and set goals!
Once you have an idea of what your customers are looking for, then it’s time to determine how you can meet their needs better than the competition. Where do they feel that there is room for improvement? What features would make them more likely to purchase from your store? Make a list and set goals for how you can achieve those improvements.
Build a website that is easy to navigate around
Make sure that your website is easy to navigate around. A simple way of doing this is by using a grid layout on the homepage, which allows users to see all your products at once – they can then click through if there’s something in particular that they are looking for. Another thing you could do is include filters so that customers can narrow down their search within certain parameters. This is a particularly good idea if your store carries items from multiple brands, or in the case of clothing and accessories. Also, think about how you can make it easy for users to find what they’re looking for – such as through tags at the bottom of each product page.
Alert customers when something goes on sale
Another thing to consider is your sales strategy. Make it a point to let customers know when something goes on sale, for example by sending out emails or including the information in their order confirmation messages. You can also take advantage of social media marketing tools that are available – Facebook’s Product Catalog and Shopify’s Sales Channel apps are both great ways to get the word out.
You may also want to consider a loyalty program for your customers, which can encourage them to purchase from you again and give them an incentive to spread the word about your business. You’ll find that many modern eCommerce businesses are doing this now – Instagram is one example of a platform where users have been able to take advantage of such programs.
Don’t lose sight of what made your business popular in the first place!
It is easy to get so caught up in what you need to do to improve and expand the eCommerce business that you lose sight of what made it popular in the first place. Don’t let this happen! Instead, figure out a way to incorporate those elements into whatever improvements or expansions that you’re planning – whether through new product lines or marketing strategies.
The key to successful eCommerce is understanding how your customers think and what they want. You can then use that knowledge to build a website that meets their needs, create a list of the products you sell, so they are easy for them to find, have customer testimonials on your site or in-person to build trust with potential buyers, offer free shipping for orders over $50 or an incentive program where customers get discounts when they refer friends. By implementing these strategies into your marketing plan, you will be able to convert more visitors into paying customers!
