COVID-19 has impacted a number of industries, including retail. Brick and mortar stores that had been bustling with customers had to temporarily close their doors or introduce social distancing protocols to curb the spread of the virus. As the footfall in the stores decreased, online traffic picked up.
As businesses and consumers adjust to the ‘new normal,’ eCommerce platforms seem to be where the retail industry is headed. Today, multiple retailers are offering curbside pickup or delivery options.
According to the research published in Forbes, as of April 21, there has been a 129% year-over-year growth in the United States and Canadian eCommerce orders and a remarkable 146% growth in all online retail orders.
If you’re running a business and are looking into selling your products and solutions online, there are a few things you need to keep into consideration. Here’s how you can set-up an eCommerce website that checks all the boxes and can help boost sales as well as help you stay connected to your target audience.
Displaying your inventory
A good starting point is to ensure that you have the required images, product descriptions, and other assets. As the entire shopping experience is based on what the customer sees on your website, it is essential to have this content ready before you create an eCommerce website. For instance, if you have an apparel brand, it is recommended to do a photoshoot to showcase different pieces from the collection.
Additionally, product descriptions are equally important because they provide your customer with additional details about your offerings. They are also a great SEO tool. You can add relevant keywords in the product descriptions to enhance the searchability of your website and ultimately increase conversions.
Be search-engine-optimized
With online retail growing at such a fast pace, businesses need to focus on improving organic search marketing for their offerings. This is where SEO comes in. By using the right keywords, you can improve the ranking of your website so that when a potential customer uses a search engine, like Google, your website appears on the first page of results.
The key is to select relevant, high-volume, low-competition keywords, and weave them in your website copy, generate backlinks, and keep a check on your website speed. It is also important to ensure you design a mobile-friendly website because more and more consumers are making purchases through their mobile devices.
Secure payment transactions
Once you’ve added the inventory and optimized the content, you would need to add payment options. It’s always smart to offer a wide variety of payment options so that the customers can choose their preferred means of payment.
Additionally, it is helpful to allow your customers to create an account on your website so that they can save their information for future purchases, avail offers, and receive information about ongoing promotions.
Other considerations for your website
Before you launch your eCommerce website, ensure that you’ve done the required testing and your website will be able to handle any potential surge in traffic without crashing. Review the code, check your plugins, and monitor the load times for different pages.
Additionally, also look into offering support to your customers to enhance their shopping experience. This could be through a live chat, an FAQ page, or contact information such as a landline number. These features can not only help the customer but also support your web marketing efforts.
Create a robust digital marketing strategyÂ
Once your site is ready, you need a robust digital marketing strategy to promote it. Using your social media channels, web marketing, email marketing, and influencer marketing can help in creating awareness about your online retail presence and encourage sales.
You can also use your website to obtain email addresses of your customers through a pop-up window and request their permission to share information about promotions and new product launches with them. This is a great way to keep your customers updated and build long-term relationships.
Now that you’ve equipped yourself with the knowledge of what you need to do to create your eCommerce website, it’s time to move your business online and set up the eCommerce platform!
While there are DIY site builders that can be helpful, it is always recommended to work with an experienced website team for hassle-free website development and help with troubleshooting in the future.
We at Pulsion Marketing can help. Call 1-888-701-4441 or visit https://www.digiforcemarketing.ca/contact/ to get expert advice on web development and content optimization.