Getting an eCommerce store off the ground can be seriously challenging. It takes more than luck and a little business acumen, so eCommerce store owners that have already gotten to the point where they’re doing steady business should stop patting themselves on the back. After that, though, it’s time to start thinking about how to expand audiences and continue to foster growth. Read on to find some tips that could help.
Make Things Easy for Customers
The major reason that people like shopping online so much is that it simplifies the purchasing experience. Customers know what they want, find a product that looks like a good fit, and read through the product description. A well-designed online storefront and user-friendly photos, text, and layouts will only get eCommerce business owners so far, though.
One of the most common pain points for online shoppers is checking out. If they get to the checkout stage only to find that the store doesn’t accept any of their preferred forms of payment, they’ll abandon their carts immediately and move on to a competitor’s site. Using a payment orchestration platform like BlueSnap eliminates that issue by allowing eCommerce businesses to accept just about any form of payment.
Offer More Product Recommendations
Increasing sales isn’t just about attracting new customers. It’s also about maximizing customer lifetime value, and product recommendations make that a more attainable goal. One of the great things about selling goods online is that it offers savvy eCommerce store owners the chance to both upsell and cross-sell strategies to boost sales.
Anyone who has worked in sales knows what upselling is, but cross-selling works a little differently. Instead of adding a selection of items the customer might like to the bottom of a product page or making recommendations from within the cart, it involves bundling items to entice customers to make larger purchases. Cross-selling gives the impression that customers are getting a deal even when they’re paying full price.
Build a Following of Brand Loyalists
Once an eCommerce store is up and running, there will be repeat shoppers, Focus on keeping those customers as happy as possible, whether that means sending personalized emails as part of broader campaigns or starting a customer loyalty program. Taking excellent care of the store’s best customers will help to build a following of brand loyalists who will share posts on social media, tell friends about the products or store, and keep coming back to make repeat purchases.
It can also help to connect with frequent shoppers online. Give people incentives to follow the business’s social media pages, then stay engaged. Try hosting contests, sharing customers’ or partners’ posts, and otherwise humanizing the brand.
Keep At It
If there’s one factor that will make or break an eCommerce business’s long-term success, it’s commitment. It takes time and effort to grow an online store, but keep at it. Brands don’t just create themselves, and the business owners that commit themselves to putting in the work are the ones that are most likely to see a good long-term return on investment.
