Think for a moment about the first thing that catches your attention when you enter a store. Can you do that?
Most consumers have habits that are as consistent as a clock, but they are unaware of most of them. They could include the direction in which they look first or even the ease with which they are distracted.
Even if it’s not something you think about as a consumer, it’s of paramount importance when you own a store. This is true when it is a physical location and even more so when you have an online store. If you understand your visitors’ behavior before they even arrive, it helps you to make your online store a success.
An important question to ask yourself is: why do people prefer to shop online? Perhaps an even more important question is how you can use it to your advantage.
The Growth of Online Shopping
The Internet has changed the way many of us act and react daily. It seems that everyone is shopping online these days, from the youngest to the oldest. Just look at the success of many online stores, such as eBay, Amazon, AliExpress, and Lazada. They have built their success online and continue to grow as they are now people’s favorites for all their shopping needs.
Some people would not even think about shopping at a local store, even if they are available. It becomes incredibly inconvenient, and they just hop online and buy it from wherever they happen to be.
Online shopping is more than a popular pastime, and it is growing like wildfire. Some stores that were titans at local malls are now going online and doing so successfully. Even shopping for clothing, which is best done by trying it on at the store, is now seeing a surge in online orders. This trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down one bit.
All those fashion consumers have to do is to point, click, and press to get their shirts or shoes delivered right to their door. A drive to the local mall is just out of the question for those consumers.
Using This Information to Your Advantage
If you have been itching to open an online store, you might be wondering how you could use this information to carve out your niche. One important factor to consider is that people are people.
Yes, the method they use to shop has changed, but that doesn’t mean that consumers have changed all of their habits. Many of those old habits are so ingrained; they aren’t about to go away.
If you are wondering how to use this information practically, consider the following:
eCommerce is an important part of your business plan, so build your online store now. Striking while the irons hot will help you to see success.
Imagine if you had a shoe store in a crowded mall, but there were many other shoe stores nearby.
If you had an unlimited number of potential customers, it’s obvious that not all of them are going to come into your store. Some will walk by on their way to the store they had selected before they came to the mall. Others may look at your store, but they soon continue to move along.
Something similar happens with online shopping. In some cases, your possible customers are all over the world, and the numbers are staggering. If you know how to work those potential customers properly, you can see early success.
Take Thing Beyond Window Shopping
It’s nice that some people will look at your store, but you want them to do much more than look. You want them to become a customer, and this may take some work on your part. Essentially, you need them to get beyond the headline and down to the ‘buy now’ button.
That is why it is so important that your store is both attractive and up-to-date. The fact that it is a virtual store does not matter. It is the visitors to your store and what they do that makes a difference in your success.
Use the following tips to create a high level of success:
- The design of the website needs to be appealing to the consumer. It should have a style and message that gets your point across naturally
Website design is more than having a site that is pleasing to the eye. It also adds to the overall experience of the user and makes it easier for them to stick around long enough to make a purchasing decision. The longer you keep them on your website, the less likely it is that they will end up on a competitors’ website.
Everything needs to match properly, from the font to the graphics and the overall layout. You need to speak to the eyes, mind, and heart of the audience you are targeting. As an example, a teenage fashion website might have a particular style, but if you try to use that style for a luxury brand targeting wealthy seniors, it is not going to fly.
- Allow your website to provide an experience that will make them want to avoid the physical store
People shop online because of the convenience. If you put a high priority on making it easy for the consumer to find what they are looking for, it can make a world of difference.
Make the drop-dead site simple to navigate. Put the right buttons in the right position and use the best pictures and descriptions to make it easy for them to mash the buy now button. Make them feel safe and comfortable when shopping on your website, and they will avoid the local mall like the plague.
Adding additional virtual services may also help the consumer to consider your website to be the place to be. It could be an online chat, question and answer bots or even pointing them in the right direction to contact someone if desired.
Don’t neglect site conversion rate optimization. Learn about it and apply what you learn.
- Make your online store accessible
People with disabilities will often shop online rather than running down to the physical store. It is a convenience not to be ignored.
Rather than turning them away, build a website that welcomes them with open arms. It can open your business to a whole new audience. Not only will those who are a vision or hearing impaired love what you have done, but they will also share it in their circle of friends.
4. eCommerce SEO and Online Marketing of the online store
Building an online store for your business is hard work, but it isn’t the end of the work. Once your online store is set up, that is when the hard work gets started. You now need to get busy getting people to your store and figuring out how to get them back again and again.
The initial focus should be on Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising for a quick boost in traffic and eCommerce SEO Services for long term traffic. Hiring someone to provide professional content and to promote the site should be a priority.
- Good customer service is a must
Your customers deserve the best from you. Make sure you keep in contact with them and help them when needed.
You can also use social media marketing to connect with your audience and to attract even more paying customers. It also helps you to build and maintain a reputation that will get the needle moving in the right direction. Remember that quality service can be guaranteed even if you are not working as a salesperson and are standing upright – and that’s because a warm and personal attitude can also be given through the keyboard.
If you need help with your online marketing strategy, feel free to contact us, we will be happy to help you improve your sales.
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