Nothing can replace that feeling of those first sales on your new e-commerce website. This is true whether you’re a startup or a seasoned business just getting started with online sales. But this is often when you discover whether or not all the pieces of your website are running at full speed.
You might see that initial burst of sales peter out and the excitement of checking your numbers becoming dread. You may soon find yourself scratching your head and trying to figure out where it all went wrong. E-commerce sales and marketing can’t be all that different, right?
That’s the very belief that could be keeping your business at the bottom rung instead of the top. Some things are indeed tried-and-true marketing techniques that have stood the test of time. The digital landscape is always changing, though. If you want to succeed, you’ll need to know your way around both.
So here are a few of Klaviyo Email Marketing Agency’s top tips to make sure that you’re getting as much out of your e-commerce website as you’ve been putting into it!
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An Irresistible Product
Without the right product, you might as well be pouring money down the drain. Learn all you can about your target market… Their pain points especially. Offer them the solution that makes their lives easier. If they’re already looking for the kind of product or service you’re offering, that’s half the battle!
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It’s All About Your Brand
Odds are, you have competitors. If their product or service is similar to yours, you need to stand out. Do you have an eye-catching logo? Clever business or product names? A relatable value-driven mission? Think of it like a welcome mat that instantly tells your customers that they’re in the right place for the solution they’re looking for.
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A Customer-Centric Website
Nothing will chase customers away like a website that’s confusing to navigate. If it takes more than a couple of clicks to find what they’re looking for, you’re already in trouble. Clear, unique pictures and accurate, vivid product descriptions are a must. What kinds of questions would you have as a customer? Think of them and provide the answers your competitors left out.
- An Easy Checkout Experience
Collect only the minimum information needed so customers can pay you as quickly and easily as possible. Consider integrating sign-in options like Google or Facebook, and payment options like PayPal and Venmo. Ensure an easy way to securely save their credit card information for repeat visits. Don’t make it a hassle to buy from you!
- Get Found
Unless you’re a huge, well-known brand name, don’t count on name recognition alone to get customers to your e-commerce site. Make sure your website is using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) best practices, as that’s one of the best ways to get free traffic. You can also use paid ad campaigns to push the competition aside.
- Show Up in Their Inbox
Use a comprehensive email marketing campaign to build brand awareness, highlight your blog, and offer special deals or perks for being a subscriber. Make sure the content is useful and relevant to your reader, feels personalized to their experience, and isn’t poorly timed. Turn your email list into brand loyalists who will champion your business!
- Easy Shipping and Returns
Customers might think twice about hitting that “buy now” button if your shipping and return policies aren’t on par with your competitors. If they can get something comparable from Amazon in less than a week with free shipping and returns, the strength of your brand might not be enough to carry you.
- Excellent Customer Service
Make sure you offer a great customer service experience. There’s almost no faster way to lose a customer than to make it a battle for them to do business with you… And twice as many people will tell their friends if they’re dissatisfied. Whether it was a great experience for them or not, ask for reviews. Great reviews will show potential customers what they can expect and bad ones are opportunities for improvement.
- Show Up!
This doesn’t just mean getting found online, shipping a customer’s item with a smile on your face, or providing an unforgettably good customer service experience. It means demonstrating that your business is there for the long haul and that you’ll be here today, tomorrow, and the next day. Nobody wants to buy from a business that looks like they’ll be gone in a week or flakes on orders or customer service.
Close the Sale
If you come from a traditional retail background, it can be surprising to discover all the things which need to happen behind the scenes on an e-commerce website. Without them, no product or service can compete in today’s busy online marketplace. Follow these tips and your competitors will be shaking in their boots!