How to Grow Your E-commerce Store Faster

Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.

Even small businesses with no real plans to move to online selling have been forced to start moving to an e-commerce model. While that's great news for consumers, it means that there is now more competition in the e-commerce sector than ever. With established names and fresh new online stores continuing to fight for visibility, those smaller brands must know the key ways to encourage growth. Growing an e-commerce store shares parallels with growing any kind of real-world business, but the unique nature of online selling means taking a somewhat different approach. If you're looking for more rapid growth, here's where you need to be looking.

The m-Commerce Focus

Lots of experts have been pushing the notion of making sure that your e-commerce store is just as usable on a smartphone as it is on a laptop. This kind of outdated thinking is one of the mistakes that will slow down any growth potential that your business might have. It's no longer enough to be good for mobile users, but fully optimized and designed with those users in mind. Every year, more people browse and buy online using nothing more than their phones. That means you need to make navigating your pages and buying your products as convenient and as straightforward as possible (don't forget to add guest checkout options). Reapproach your online store so that it's as responsive on the phone as possible.

Prioritize Order Fulfillment

The modern consumer doesn't want to wait two weeks to get whatever they've ordered online. That might have been acceptable five years ago, but you now need to be able to offer the shortest possible delivery times. You can find out more about the importance of order fulfillment here, but the key thing to remember is that faster delivery means more satisfied customers. Those satisfied customers are far more likely to return to buy from you again. Never forget that the sales process continues well after the customer has paid for the product. It extends to the customer service, the packaging that their goods arrive in, and the after-service care you provide. When repeat customers are more cost-effective assets than seeking out new customers, order fulfillment needs to be a priority if you want to grow more quickly.

Automated Discounts

The email newsletter is one of the most important weapons in the e-commerce store's arsenal, and there are plenty of ways to use it to benefit your profits and longevity. One of the most important options to look at is automating emails sent out on special occasions, such as birthdays or anniversaries. This isn't just a good way to boost brand loyalty; it's a proven way to boost your sales. Use dollar-off coupons as part of those celebratory emails, and you could benefit from up to five times as many transactions. While automation in general is something that you should be utilizing more and more, those special events are one of the most effective ways to give yourself a revenue boost that will help to drive growth.

These will be the quickest ways to encourage your business to grow. Other, more long-term strategies, such as using long-form content, will take time to design and create. They can also take a while to start having an effect. Your growth will be significantly faster by adopting the above practices, and that's only good news for your bottom line.

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