The digital era has changed how we shop and pay for things, and businesses have had to pivot to keep up with the technology. While the brick-and-mortar storefront isn’t going anywhere, e-commerce is gaining ground.
E-commerce, in a nutshell, is the trading of goods and services on the internet, and if a business puts its head in the sand and does not keep up with the times, it will be left behind. So all you need to do is set up a payment gateway on your site, and you are good to go? Unfortunately, that is only the start. You need a method for enticing people to find your website and stick around long enough to make a purchase.
How do you compete when there is so much competition? Here are some great e-commerce marketing strategies to implement in your business.
E-Commerce Marketing Strategy #1: Have a Great Website
Before the internet, people used the phonebook to look for needed products and services. Some companies distributed flyers in the mail to market their wares, and others attracted people with an eye-catching storefronts. All this now happens online.
Today, most businesses have a digital presence with a website for people to visit, and this is where they do the bulk of their business. You need to capture your customers’ attention and keep them moving around your site so you can show off what you sell to make a sale. Building a dynamic site is the key and should have the following:
- Product pages
- Informative articles
- High-quality pictures of all that you sell
- Video
- Blog
Have a site that people will enjoy, and they are less likely to click away before finding something to purchase.
E-Commerce Marketing Strategy #2: Live Shopping
To be on top in the digital retail space, you must take advantage of cutting-edge technology for your e-commerce site. One of the most exciting ways to merchandise online today is through a live video shopping platform.
Live shopping entails replicating the in-store experience through a virtual portal that connects online shoppers with a live sales associate who guides them through the process. Consumers can ask questions, be given recommendations, and receive personalized attention through face-to-face video chat. They can easily add items to their basket and proceed to checkout.
This type of video commerce is a much more humanized experience. It can replace typical interaction methods like chatbots, texting and even phone support. The best part about this platform is that it can seamlessly stack on top of your existing website using banners and widgets to toggle live shopping from anywhere on your site. It provides a dynamic, live, co-shopping experience with less hesitation in purchasing, so your conversion rate goes up.
E-Commerce Marketing Strategy #3: Optimize Your Website
An e-commerce site is there to facilitate the sale of physical goods, services and digital products, and it must be designed for that purpose. You need to lay out your site with the right placement of conversion elements, so it is simple to find what consumers are looking for and then proceed to the checkout.
Optimizing it entails:
- Have great product pages
- Getting your pricing right
- Personalizing the experience
- Make a seamless mobile experience
- Include multiple payment options
These are just a few methods for optimizing your website to convert visitors into sales. The idea is to make the experience of using your site enjoyable and easy with quick systems response, fast page-to-page connectivity and simple checkout.
E-Commerce Marketing Strategy #4: Build Your Brand
You can have the best website with all the right content, but if nobody knows who you are, you are just treading in the digital deep end. You need to create awareness about your company and market yourself by harnessing the power of social media.
Social media marketing should be a big part of your brand focus because that is where people communicate. On these platforms, you can interact in real-time, in a personal but public way, to generate engagement and increase traffic to your site.
The most effective social media platforms you should be active on include:
- YouTube
- TikTok
Reach out to people and join the conversation, so you become the authority in your sector or niche area. Make content to inform and entertain, and always work to lead them to your site because this is where they will make a purchase. If you can build a community around your brand, shoppers will go to you first because you are their trusted e-commerce company.
Implementing strategic e-commerce marketing strategies is crucial to your success in the digital space. Use this as a guide to rise above your competitors and drive traffic to your site to give your customers a great experience and increase sales.
