Three Secrets to Success That Every E-Commerce Store Should Know

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

Setting up your own e-commerce store is now easier than ever. Each year the figures from global online retail sales increase substantially and this trend only seems to be snowballing. With the advent of technology, social media, and copious amounts of creativity, anyone can become an entrepreneur.

If you too have decided to take a leap into this world, congratulations, you are in for the journey of a lifetime. Being your own boss is one of the most rewarding jobs that you will ever have. Running your own business will teach you many things about yourself and the market you are immersed in. However, it is not as easy as it seems. Not all e-commerce stores are equally successful, so here are a few industry secrets to running a profitable online business.

Customer is King

This old-age mantra of ‘the customer is king’ is a well-known saying for a reason. You can’t expect to run a successful e-commerce store without a loyal target audience. You should really think about who your product is designed for, and how you can capture your audience’s attention.

There are several ways that you can determine who your ideal target market is. The first, most obvious way, is by looking at your current customer base. Who is buying your products? Are they mostly male or female? Do they live in your country or is your website receiving international visitors? Other aspects to look at are their age, interests, and hobbies. If you are looking to expand your target audience, a great way of doing so is by checking out your competitors.

Nowadays, with a simple google search, your customer has hundreds of options to choose from, so make sure that your business stands out. It doesn’t end there, once your customer has successfully made a purchase, you should ensure that any customer service needs are attended to in the best possible manner.

Keep Track of Your Analytics
The best way to keep track of who is visiting your store, where they come from, and how they interact with your product is by setting up analytics. There are so many different tools at your disposition that it would be foolish to not take advantage of them. You don’t have to be a digital marketing genius to make rational and informed decisions when it comes to managing your e-commerce store. Google offers an array of free courses and training certificates for you to get to grips with the basics.

For example, you can look at your customer’s behavior flow. This is their step by step journey on your website, from the minute they search and find the store, to when they complete a purchase. Another useful tool is the demographic and interest reports, found in Google Analytics, which gives insight into your target audience’s interests. Try to make conscious decisions based on these interests when developing your marketing, product, and content.

Streamline Your Procedures

There is nothing quite as jarring as seeing your customer bail with an item left in their shopping cart. One of the easiest ways to entice your customers to make the purchase is by creating an easy to use checkout system. This includes tactics such as eliminating the need to create an account or reducing the number of screens that a customer must go through.

You have to think of every step that your customer goes through before they click the buy button. Having several payment options to choose from is also a vital way to guarantee a purchase. Your customer may not have their credit card to hand but if you have an option to pay with PayPal, all they have to do is enter their login details.

Once you have secured an order, you should make your life easier by streamlining your shipping procedures. This will save you valuable time that can be better spent elsewhere. Easy ways to optimize the mailing process include buying your mailing bags in bulk, investing in a label printer and aigner label holder, as well as organizing your workspace in an efficient manner.

Don’t rush to the post office every time that you get an order, set yourself a deadline instead. You could specify that all orders placed before 4:00 p.m. will be sent the following business day. You then have the rest of the day to package and take note of your orders. Take these tips into consideration and watch your e-commerce business skyrocket into success.

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