For any eCommerce store owner who has recently set up shop, it’s understandably hard to know what the right moves are when you’ve already got thousands of new things to learn.
However, the good news is that thousands of eCommerce entrepreneurs have taken the same steps as you. Sure, they would have made numerous mistakes along the way, but these are errors you can avoid by learning from others.
Separate your tastes when buying stock
As a store owner, one of the most important things to keep in mind is what consumers will buy and not always consider your preferences. Would a vintage fashion shop owner wear every single item in their inventory? Definitely not.
When you think like a customer and remember that everyone has their tastes and will be following certain trends, then you’re on your way to becoming a contemporary and relevant eCommerce store. For example, you might think that tiny sunglasses perched on your nose will look ridiculous, but this style became one of the most significant trends for 2018. Sell what’s popular. Otherwise, you’ll be left out in the cold.
Get mobile optimised
With so many of today’s shoppers preferring their phones and tablets for browsing online, it would be remiss of any eCommerce store owner not to have their site mobile optimised.
Content management systems will usually come with the ability to automatically change the layout depending on what device the user is viewing the site on, so it’s worth at least making a CMS comparison of all the best platforms if you happen to be in the stage of creating your website. These days, mobile optimisation is virtually essential for any site, so be sure to consult a web designer if you’re still a little unsure on the topic.
Test before and after the site goes online
When a site goes live and doesn’t work properly, anyone viewing the pages will rarely give it a second try in the future. Reducing your bounce rate, avoiding cart abandonment, and increasing sales should be at the forefront of any online shop owner’s head – this means that your site should be rigorously tested before goes live. All these A/B testing tools can be used to significant effect, as being able to identify potential issues before an online shopper will help keep your reputation squeaky clean.
Of course, your job isn’t done once your site is online. Google Analytics has plenty of useful tools to understand better your customers’ browsing habits, such as which countries your viewers are coming from, what people are searching for the most, and what sections of the site are being clicked more often than others. Heatmap tools can also show you where visitors are spending the most time on your site.
Work hard to keep your customers coming back for more
Gaining a first-time customer is a hard fought battle in the age of Amazon and eBay, which means all online stores should do their best to ensure you’ll get future sales from this person. As you’ll have much competition from the shops mentioned above and other smaller businesses, it’s important to entice customers to buy again at your store. When you send a confirmation email after the sale, you could offer a percentage off their next sale with a unique discount code for a second purchase. You could even give a discount if someone recommends the store to a friend and they purchase something. Make the shopper feel like they are a valued and important customer to your business.
Making use of video ads on Facebook
Right now more than ever, small businesses are harnessing the power of targeted Facebook video ads as a way to promote their brand and drive traffic to the homepage. When we consider that Facebook has more than 2 billion daily active users and it’s said that the average person accesses the social media network roughly eight times a day, running targeted video ads is a surefire way of being seen in a sea of advertising.
These are just a few eCcommerce tips that every e-store owner should be thinking about, but in the end, the main thing to keep in mind is to learn by doing and experiment with new ideas.
