E-commerce is an important and effective way to reach consumers. If you have a brick and mortar store, e-commerce complements your store, and if your business is entirely online, you save the cost of the physical store. After your site is up and running, it’s important to be diligent on making it a success.
Follow Up With Consumers
Make sure you carry out tracking strategies to monitor your website and your customers. Encourage consumers to create an account on your site for better tracking capabilities. If customers leave something in their cart, send an email reminding them of what they left. You may even want to consider offering a small discount on that item to encourage the person to come back and buy. After a purchase, ask the consumer for a review or to follow your business on social media. The more you follow up with the consumer, without being annoying, the better retention you will have.
Incorporate Photos
Since your consumers can’t physically see and touch the products, you need to offer quality photos, so people know what they are buying. Don’t skimp in this department. If you can afford to hire a professional, spend the money to have your products taken professionally. If that’s not in your budget, then make sure you use a quality camera with good lighting to highlight your products well.
Maintain a User-Friendly Website
Your competitor’s site is only a click away, so you don’t want to give consumers any reason to get frustrated and leave. Make sure your website is intuitive and user friendly. The fonts should be large enough to read, and the pictures should be clear. Your website is your storefront, and you don’t want your users to come into a cluttered, unorganized store where they can’t find what they are looking for.
Keep It Simple
Nothing about the shopping experience should be complicated for the user. Your website should be easy to navigate and fast. Pricing and payment should be clear, and shipping costs should be easily available. Even if you’re considered a high-risk merchant, you can still add credit card payments through your e-commerce site that are straightforward and easy to use. Shoppers want a smooth experience, and the simpler it is for them, the more likely they will continue to shop and keep returning to your site.
Go Mobile
Many consumers use their phones and tablets to do their online shopping, so it’s imperative that your e-commerce site is compatible with mobile platforms. Make sure that your website functions well on different devices and test them regularly. If you can afford an app, then you have an even greater chance to reach your consumers. If an app isn’t in the business plan, then at least make sure your website is mobile-enabled.
Although it’s not relatively difficult to launch an e-commerce site, it takes a lot of work to make it a success. Make sure your website is easy to use and have flexible purchasing options for your consumers. Don’t let any sales get away, and you have many of the keys to making your business a success.