What’s Missing from Your Ecommerce Strategy

The ecommerce industry shows no signs of slowing down as more consumers choose to shop online instead of heading to the local mall or a brick-and-mortar store.

But cashing in on the ecommerce craze is easier said than done. Expect fierce competition from giants like Amazon and Walmart. In fact, 83% of US consumers have made a purchase on Amazon in the last 6 months.

To get ahead of the competition, you need to replicate the success of these companies by offering fast, reliable shipping, making your website easier to use, and adding detailed customer reviews and product descriptions that convey the value of your products.

Around 80% of all ecommerce websites fail. Don’t let your online store become part of that statistic. Use these tips to improve your ecommerce strategy.

 

Keyword Research Based on Your Target Audience

No one is going to spend money on your website if they can’t find it in the first place.

Even if you’re promoting your store on other marketing channels, don’t neglect your SEO strategy. Listing products online gives you plenty of opportunities to insert keywords throughout your website, including your home page, product pages and descriptions, category pages, landing pages and even customer reviews. Fill out your onsite content and use keywords that people would use to search for your products online.

35% of Google product searches turn into transactions within 5 days.

Use Google’s Keyword Planner to find out what search terms are ranking in your industry. Incorporate a mix of high and low-ranking keywords into your strategy.

 

Content Marketing to Show the Value of Your Products

Your shoppers need to understand the “why” behind your products if you want them to enter their payment information online.

When someone visits your website for the first time, they should be able to understand the value of your products in just a few seconds. Help make the case for your products by creating informative on-page content, such as listing the product’s benefits and why it’s better than your competitors’. Frame the conversation around what your products can help your customers achieve, whether it’s helping them look their best, keep their house clean, or save time throughout the day.

Use content marketing, including blog posts, social videos, demos, and Q&As to show your products in action. Show your audience what it’s like to use your products and how they can make a difference in a person’s life. You can also attend an influencer marketing summit to forge lasting relationships with influencers that have the attention of your target audience.

 

Hassle Free Shopping and Checkout

Fast, affordable shipping has become the name of the game in the ecommerce industry. 79% of US consumers said that free shipping would make them more likely to shop online.

Try to reduce the cost of shipping as much as possible or incorporate it into the MSRP of your products instead of charging your customers extra.

Your website also needs to be extremely easy to use or your customers will quickly get frustrated. They should be able to enter their payment and shipping information and get a confirmation email in just a few minutes. Add information about product returns and make this process as painless as possible.

 

Customer Reviews for More Transparency

If your brand is relatively unknown, you’ll need to do some legwork to convince shoppers your products are worth their money.

Try to get press in reputable publications to show your customers you’re a legitimate business with great products to sell. Incorporate customer reviews onto your product pages, so your customers can leave feedback. You can use all these reviews as fodder for your SEO strategy. This also shows your customers that you care about what they have to say. It also validates your products in the eyes of first-time shoppers.

Add your contact information, including a physical address, email and phone number, to show your customers you exist in the real-world. You can also include information about where and how your products are made to boost transparency.

Every ecommerce strategy should include these four tactics. Invest in fast shipping, customer reviews, and SEO today to reach new customers online.