The online shopping industry, eCommerce, has become wildly oversaturated. With so many competitors, how can your business stand out from the crowd? This ultimate marketing guide will break down the best marketing tactics for eCommerce businesses to grow.
The Rise of eCommerce
According to recent research, global eCommerce sales jumped to $26.7 trillion in 2020 alone. This huge spike in sales is in part fueled by COVID-19, as is continued to rise. With extraordinary amounts of demand for online shopping services, there has never been a better time to be in this industry.
However, as more businesses clamor to set up their online presence, it’s more important than ever to ensure your business stands out from the rest.
Ultimate Guide To Marketing For eCommerce Businesses
We’ve put together the highlights for bolstering your eCommerce marketing efforts. Take a look below.
Make Shopping Easy for the User
Appealing to your customer should be your number one priority. Your customer should not have to seek you out; your brand should come to them.
Have you ever been on a faulty website? One that won’t load isn’t easy to access, and frustrating to find what you want? You probably clicked off within seconds.
This is the response you want to avoid at all costs when designing your website. Every aspect should be crafted to fit your customers’ needs.
Here’s a quick checklist to ensure your site has a great user experience:
- Does your website load quickly?
- Is your website responsive (i.e., for mobile shopping)?
- Is your website scannable and easy to ready?
- Do your products have descriptions?
- Do you have a reviews/testimonial section on your site?
- Is it easy to navigate throughout the website?
- Is it simple and clear to checkout?
If you need some website design tips for eCommerce sites, check out this blog. It’s packed full of details on crafting a high-quality site that converts.
One easy way to simplify the online shopping experience is through chatbots. These tiny buttons in the corner of your website allow users to type in a message and ask a question. The chatbot can quickly answer the question and lead the user to the right page with countless programmed responses.
Chatbots gave users the ability to ask questions in an instance where one might simply click off. Your team can also get creative in the visual design of your chatbot, creating a cute and likable bot that fits within your brand identity.
How Are You Advertising?
When starting an online business, the most critical step is getting the word out there about what you sell. At the start, no one knows about you. You will have to come to them, first.
So, do you have a marketing plan put together? Luckily, there are many ways you can advertise your brand.
Here are a few of our top choices for marketing eCommerce shops:
- Build an email list. This will come in handy for advertising new products later on.
- Leverage social media. If you have a limited budget, you can simply post to your channels. Or, if you have some money to spend, you can run some ads.
- Optimize your website for SEO. Do you have a blog? This can be a great way to boost traffic to your site organically.
- Run some Google Ads. If you are not getting the traffic you desire, you might consider this option.
- Partner with complementary brands within your niche. Collaborations are a great way to be mutually beneficial and bring in new customers.
- Consider influencer marketing. Influencer marketing is one of the latest ways to get in front of more eyes. But, it can be pricey.
The Rise of Influencer Marketing
Because of how wildly popular influencer marketing has become, we thought it best to dedicate more detail on this marketing tactic. Did you know that 49 percent of consumers depend on influencer recommendations?
Gone are the days of billboards and Superbowl commercials. Now, the most valuable piece of marketing could be influencer endorsement.
Bang Energy is one of the most popular examples of how influencer marketing can push your eCommerce business to social media stardom. This energy drink company has been on the market since 2012 but saw a sharp rise in sales as TikTok came out.
In one of their most recent influencer campaigns, Bang partnered up with some of the most popular social media stars that have a younger male demographic.
With less than 200 posts, the campaign garnered a combined 58 million views, leading to 7 million dollars in sales. This business model has allowed Bang to skyrocket in sales and connect with their target demographic through this customer’s favorite influencers. If you’ve got the budget, think about how you can invest in influencers to expand your online presence.
Utilize Online Marketplaces
How many marketplaces are your products on?
One of the struggles many eCommerce business owners face is exposure. For brick and mortar stores, many customers will unknowingly find themselves at the store based on location.
However, virtually stumbling upon a business is much more complex with so many competitors.
Amazon, eBay, and Etsy are eCommerce businesses’ best friends, allowing small brands to sell their products on the most popular online marketplaces.
The pandemic shot Amazon sales through the roof, and the company will continue to rise even post-pandemic. With over 2.5 million sellers, Amazon allows businesses to utilize their countless customers for a mutual benefit.
If you are nervous about being lost in the pages of Amazon products, invest in Amazon ads to push your product to the top of every consumer’s search page. You can also organically raise your ranking through reviews which have become a fundamental way for customers to choose their products.
Marketing Automation
How can you ensure a connection with your customers after they have left your site?
Email marketing and SMS notifications allow businesses to remind customers of the brand’s relevance with the opportunity for special discounts and deals.
Automation can take place in two ways: single-channel or multi-channel automation.
Single-channel automation sends an automated message through one single form of communication, like an email.
Multi-channel automation sends a message through multiple communication channels, such as sending an automated email and text message simultaneously.
However, do not prioritize quantity over quality. Sending too much junk mail will result in an overall frustration on the consumer side, leading them to unsubscribe from all communication channels.
Offer value in your automated messages, no matter which channel they go through. Inform your customers about special deals, upcoming sales, and even wish them a happy birthday.
Want To Elevate Your eCommerce Marketing?
Marketing can be frustrating for many eCommerce businesses trying to get off the ground. Ultimately, we hope this guide alleviated some of your frustration.
With Elevare, we make marketing easy for our clients. With over a decade of experience, our team can assist you in optimizing your website and social media presence to increase sales.
Don’t wait for your customers to come to you.
Schedule your free consultation today!
