More people than ever before are shopping online but that doesn’t mean you can set up an ecommerce store and expect people to automatically flock to it. Thousands of new ecommerce stores are popping up every day. There’s more competition than there ever has been, which means you need to work harder to attract customers and maximize the money you can make off each one.
Use these tips to keep customers happily making purchases on your site:
1. Make it Mobile Friendly
It is absolutely shocking how many businesses haven’t even bothered to make their online stores mobile-friendly, especially with the rise of tablets. Mobile internet use is growing at incredible speeds and many people now only access the internet using mobile devices. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly you are losing thousands of dollars every year it stays that way.
2. Optimize Website Structure
Customers should be able to navigate your menus easily when they want to browse through your products, but that shouldn’t be the only option. A search bar that allows them to find products on your site right away without clicking any menu buttons will help customers speed through your website and get straight to the purchase.
3. Simplify Checkout Process
The checkout process should be fast and straightforward. If possible implement a one-step checkout process. You should include an option for returning customers to create a profile with their shipping information, but you shouldn’t be making every first time customer register. If they’re never going to be back at your site, they don’t want to take the time to register.
4. Cross-sell your products
You know how there are shelves of chocolate bars lined up right beside the checkout counter at the grocery store? The “Customers who bought this item also bought…” section of Amazon? Those are examples of cross selling. Link your products to other, similar products or small impulse buys and you’re much more likely to sell multiple items at once.
5. Be upfront about shipping costs
We all know that shipping is a factor when we shop online, but nobody likes the feeling of shipping sticker shock. ALWAYS be upfront about your shipping costs. You should also do your best to keep shipping costs low. And if you sell high value items and earn enough profit margins, make shipping free. That will induce customers to buy from you as compared to your competitors.
6. Actively build your brand
Branding is everything. People are far more likely to buy from you if someone they know actively recommends you. They want to know how your company works and that they can rely on you for pleasant shopping and great products. Be transparent about your business processes when possible and make sure you’re active on social media so people can get to know you. And if you can afford it, spend some money on building your ecommerce brand. It may not bring in immediate sales, but in the long run, will bring in sales and customers.
Building a successful ecommerce business isn’t easy but it can be done – and there is always room for improvement on the business you already have. But you are far more likely to succeed if you stick to the ecommerce development and marketing best practices.
About the Author:
This article is contributed by Mack Lemmens, technology, internet marketing and Ultimate Frisbee nut from Missouri, United States. Mack regularly contributes to TheTechnologyReporter.com and ListTechnology.com, among many other online publications.
