The Covid-19 pandemic forced retailers to close their doors and start selling online. Recent surveys reveal that 59% of shoppers research online before they buy to ensure they are making the best possible choice and 47% of total global purchases are completed online.
Today without a ecommerce website, where customers can take a look at your products and choose whatever they need, it is impossible to survive the competition on the retailers market. In 2020 many small businesses which used to sell offline were forced to build their ecommerce websites from scratch and learn how to promote themselves online. The year 2021 will become the year of new experience. During this time it is important not only to keep loyal customers but also spread online presence and win the customers who seek new suppliers instead of those who failed to adjust to the pandemic rules.
Moreover, shoppers who once tried purchasing online will definitely like it as it saves time and allows them stay safely at home. In this blog post we will share 5 precious recommendations which will help you start selling online and become successful.
Choose the right ecommerce platform
The first step to building a successful online store is to choose the right ecommerce platform. In this post you will find a detailed comparison chart which describes 10 top ecommerce platforms on the market.
Ecommerce platform will provide you a convenient way to add your products, their description and images. It will help to deal with security vulnerabilities, transactions and getting the right shipping details from customers. While choosing a platform for your online store you need to consider the following things:
- Pricing and payment
- Available apps, plugins and integrations
- End user experience
- SEO benefits
- IT support
- Mobile friendliness
- Scalability
- Analytics and reporting
- Security compliance
Ensure your customers can easily get in touch with you
It is important to let your customers easily contact with their questions. Besides self service options you need to offer real time assistance via live chat where customers can contact your customer service team and ask questions. A great example is a Provide Support live chat which can be easily integrated with any ecommerce platform, e.g. Shopify.
Why live chat app is important for your new ecommerce store? Check the following advantages of having live chat when you start selling online:
- Increases credibility
- Allows cross-selling while communicating with customers
- Puts customers at ease
- Saves time as live chat allows multitasking
- Greets customers automatically
- Lets you provide personalized experience
Spread your presence on Instagram and Facebook
There is no secret that Instagram is the platform where you can promote your Gen Z and Millennial-focused e-commerce products. Almost all businesses that want to reach this audience, sell and advertise on Instagram, make posts and win followers. It’s quite easy to register a profile and start selling on Instagram reaching the right audience.
According to Search Engine Journal Facebook attracts 2.45 billion users every month. However, to sell on Facebook you need to know the target audience. Otherwise, you will lose time and money on unsuccessful advertising which will not reach your prospective customers.
Create excellent delivery experience
Timely delivery is important for any ecommerce business. It encourages happy customers to come back to your store to make repeat purchases. To achieve this you need to develop the right delivery strategy which covers everything from the time and cost of delivery to how the packaging looks. It is important to work over all details thoroughly in order to avoid unexpected issues.
Make online experience simple and pleasant
If your website is difficult to browse and understand, potential customers who come to it will quickly leave without even looking at your offers. To make shopping experience smooth and pleasant you need to ensure that all images of your products are nice and clear, descriptions contain all necessary details and shipment and delivery options and clear and transparent without any hidden costs.
Though it seems quite easy to start selling online, many stores quickly close without getting enough customers. To ensure this does not happen to you, develop the right strategy, think carefully about all details and choose the right vendors who will help make your online business successful and profitable.
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