In the year 2019, we are officially in the time of ecommerce. Every since 2015, ecommerce has become increasingly popular both for consumers and online businesses. The main reason for its rapid growth is the fact that shopping online is convenient, easy, and it can even be fun.
But now that ecommerce businesses are being introduced to the internet on a daily basis, it can be difficult to stay ahead of the game. With so many online shopping experiences to choose from, yours has to stand out from the rest for consumers to buy your product instead of a competitor’s.
Starting an online store or already have one that isn’t doing so hot? Read these 4 helpful tips for running a successful ecommerce business.
Focus on the consumer experience
First and foremost, you should always focus on the customer. Put yourself in their shoes and think about what you appreciate when you shop for products online. Obviously you want to simplify the shopping experience as much as possible and make your website user friendly.
You can do this by choosing a reputable ecommerce platform to help you along the way. One of the most popular and user-friendly is Shopify. You’ll be required to pay a monthly fee to use any ecommerce platform, but it is well worth it. The Shopify fee for a basic account is just $29 per month, but it might be more than this if you include some available add-ons.
Don’t underestimate social media
If you don’t have a social media presence, now is the time to change that. You should have a business account on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and make frequent posts to keep your customers interested.
Not only is social media a great way to get your brand’s name out there, it also allows you to look into the lives of your customers. This will give you an idea of who is purchasing your product and your target audience.
Focus on quality quality product pictures and thorough descriptions
Ecommerce stores have one major force working against them; the customer can’t actually see, touch, smell, hear, or taste your product before the purchase. Unlike in a brick-and-mortar retail store, the consumer must purchase the product without seeing it in person. This is why it is extremely important to post only high-quality product photos to your online store.
Also provide a detailed product description ideally in the form of bullet points. It has been found that consumers take well to reading small bits of information at a time, but still need a thorough description.
Apply the STAR interviewing method to your business
The STAR Method for proper interviewing can also be applied to running your business. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Think of a situation within your business that could use improvement. Your next step is to establish the tasks necessary for improving that aspect of your business.
After that action is required, and finally you’ll come to the end result (hopefully a positive one)
Basically what we mean here is that your company should always continue to evolve. If things are stagnant and business seems slow, just apply the STAR method.
