eCommerce – what an interesting word, that didn’t even exist 30 years ago. Internet and technology have infiltrated our lives so much, that we tend to shift more and more aspects of our lives into the virtual world. First, it was communication through social media sites, then started shopping online and now we even work from home.
At first, earning money online seems like a dream come true. What can be easier? You decide what you want to sell, build your website (there are a lot of great tools for that too, you don’t need to build it from scratch) and ta-da. You have an online shop.
What many people tend to forget, is that it takes a lot of thought and strategy planning, since the number of online shops is endless, and if you don’t build your marketing strategy the right way, you will be virtually non-existent for your potential customers. They simply won’t know you are there.
So how do I put myself on the map you say? Well, there are many options available for you. You can invest money in doing paid advertising, that is if you have any, to begin with. But, if like the rest of us who set up shop to earn because you need some, here are a few tips for you to get the ball rolling.
- Be mobile-friendly
- Be SEO friendly
- Awesome content will sell itself
- Customer care a fingertip away
- Use Instagram to sell
Be Mobile-Friendly
Today, mobile use is incredibly high, and it’s only going to grow. Our life pace is increasing, and more and more people are finding it convenient to get things done on the go. Whether it’s your grocery shopping, communicating with friends, working or checking-off items on your gift list. Thus, when your online store is not optimized for mobile or the optimization is executed poorly, prospective customers are more likely to leave you. Mobile optimization is one of the key factors today to a successful online shop.
Be SEO Friendly
SEO is a whole different world on its own. Search Engine Optimization is a great tool to get organic traffic, which is just another word for FREE. Yes, if you do your SEO well and optimize your website correctly, you won’t need to spend a dime to get potential clients. It requires an initial investment to set yourself on the right track, but rest assured, it will pay off in full and even more.
First and foremost you will need to do an SEO Audit, to see what situation you are in to understand what your future steps will be.
Awesome Content Will Sell Itself
Content, content and again content. And not just any, AMAZING content. Many marketing professionals and leaders in the niche have spoken about this for over 2 years now, but somehow people are still not getting the hang of it.
You need to know your clients very well, speak to them about their problems and the solutions you are offering them with your product. Your potential customer needs to feel that he/she is important to you, that you are talking to them directly and that their life will get much easier once they purchase your product. Plus use plenty of visuals, since as important as the copy is, most people will merely skim it but will go through all the images. As they say, 1 image is worth 1000 words.
Customer Care a Fingertip Away
Having easily accessible customer care service is key to building trust. Not everything is very clear to the potential customer, and sometimes asking questions is easier than investing time in finding the answer yourself on the website. Having multiple means of contact with your customers will help you keep in touch with your existing and potential customers and build brand loyalty, trust and drive sales, all at the same time.
Communication means include but are not limited to:
- Live chat
- Phone number
- Social media pages and chats
Use Instagram to Sell
We all know and love this social media platform, don’t we? Before it was only limited to showcasing yourself, your brand, your store and driving potential customers to your actual website in order to make a purchase. However, last year Instagram added a shopping possibility for its clients. So now you can present your product in the best possible way, add a well-written description and your followers will be able to order directly from your page. It’s a great way of reaching your audience with new products, sales, promotions and so on. Place your product pictures, content and buttons carefully, to ensure the best possible user experience for your customers and think which item on your bucket list you will cross first.
Hopefully, these tips were helpful, and you can integrate them into your marketing strategy to drive sales and reach the positions in your niche that you are aiming at. Good Luck!
Author
Tigran is a marketing and creative content specialist at Smarketa.com with a primary focus on SEO, PPC and customer satisfaction for eCommerce business. Being a true humanist he draws inspiration from the simple thing as everyday life and the matters one come across on a daily basis doing his best and above to help everyone around.