The eCommerce ecosystem is growing at an astonishing pace.
Since the Coronavirus outbreak, its role in the retail world has become even more critical.
According to statistics, U.S. consumers spent $861.12 billion online in 2020, up 44.0% from $598.02 billion in 2019.
If you are still unsure whether eCommerce can benefit your retail business, here are five facts to consider.
1. Being Available 24/7
When running a brick-and-mortar store, you are limited to the geographical area you can service.
With the rise of online retail, businesses are available 24/7.
From a merchant’s viewpoint, that is an opportunity to boost the number of orders, encourage sales, and maximize customer satisfaction.
2. Providing Convenient Shopping Experiences
With the rise of eCommerce, customers can purchase from companies worldwide when it is convenient.
That is why eCommerce websites need to be user-friendly. For example, if you visit CPR Savers’ website, you will notice how simple and navigable it is. No matter if you are looking for an infant CPR manikin or first-aid kit, you can find the right product in seconds.
In addition to your website, consider building an eCommerce app for your business and running shoppable social media ads.
3. Personalizing User Experiences
Ecommerce delivers personalized and highly relevant user experiences.
Online retailers can take advantage of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence to analyze customer behaviors on their websites.
Let’s take the example of Amazon. Based on customer previous product views, items added to the shopping cart, and purchases, it recommends related products on its website. It also sends out targeted emails to each customer. That is how Amazon cross-sells and upsells orders faster. But, above all, it maximizes conversion rates and customer loyalty.
You can also personalize your email list by using segmentation. For example, instead of sending out a generic email to everyone on your list, you can break your audiences down based on the demographic and psychographic data you collect. That way, you will boost open email rates, enhance user engagement, and inspire purchases.
4. Boosting Brand Visibility
In today’s hypercompetitive retail landscape, the goal is to get customers to choose you over your competitors.
That is where building an eCommerce website helps. During the website development process, hire SEO professionals to help you optimize your website for search engines. The goal is to keep ranking in the organic search for relevant keywords. In addition, by aligning your keyword optimization strategy with user intent, you will generate more qualified leads and convert them into paying customers.
Creating high-quality content on your website is another way to capture the right people’s attention. That could be articles, comprehensive guides, eBooks, lists, webinars – any content type that resonates with your customers. Once people start sharing and linking to your content, your brand exposure will grow.
Social networks are another effective way to put yourself in front of wider audiences. You can also inspire satisfied customers to publish your products’ photos, apart from optimizing your pages and creating engaging social media content. By tagging your brand and using on-brand hashtags, they will spread the word about it and increase social media and website traffic.
5. Building Trust with Customers
In the sea of brands, customers often feel overwhelmed. That is why they turn to reviews from peers. According to statistics, consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
Building your brand’s online presence helps you build customer trust in multiple ways.
For example, you can add reviews and ratings for all products on your website. That is what big brands like Amazon do.
Additionally, encourage customer testimonials. That is particularly important to B2B eCommerce websites, where gaining client trust is essential. When publishing testimonials, add a customer’s name, photo, and job title to make them more relatable.
The abovementioned UGC can also help. Apart from customer-created photos and videos of your products, you can also take advantage of influencer marketing. In other words, connect with reputable bloggers and social media celebs in your industry and get them to promote your products. They will introduce you to a broader customer base and increase your brand’s credibility.
eCommerce is the Future of the Retail Industry
Ecommerce goes hand in hand with digital marketing, customer service, and UX design. It helps you increase the visibility of your brand and deliver omnichannel customer experiences. Above all, it makes your brand available 24/7 and allows it to reach global audiences.
How does eCommerce benefit your retail business? Tell us in the comments below.
