Success doesn't happen by accident. Sure, there are people who get lucky now and then, but sustained progress won’t happen without some sort of planning. This directly applies to your eCommerce strategy. Without a solid plan in place, you’re barely going to tread water. In order to rise to the top, and continue to advance, you need to take the time to put a program together. Your eCommerce strategy should be one that clearly defines your business, your goals, and your path. Here are 7 tips that will help you implement a successful eCommerce strategy.
DEFINE YOUR eCOMMERCE STRATEGY
First and foremost, you need to determine your goals. How can you plan for something if you don’t know what that something is? Figuring out what you want to accomplish will enable you to take the next step. You can’t have an eCommerce strategy if you don’t have a desired result to work towards. Without an objective, you'll have no idea if what you're doing needs to be improved or changed altogether.
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
The shopping experience needs to fit your customers' personality. They should feel at home and even excited when they visit your site. Your eCommerce strategy should cater to your buyer persona and make them feel as comfortable as possible. Determine what it is about your customers that you want to appeal to, and make sure it's well-represented. Treat you customers like friends, not ATMs.
GET MOBILE
With the rise of mobile shopping, it's time to take advantage of new opportunities to generate customers. If your site can’t be navigated on a smartphone you've already got one foot in the grave. Think about it this way, how many people do you know who don't own a tablet or smartphone? A successful eCommerce strategy is one that is on top of the industry’s latest trends. Responsive web design is an absolute must, without it you might as well tell people to buy from one of your competitors. In fact, Google Mobile has announced it will start telling users when a website may not work on their device.
BE EXCLUSIVE
People love to be the only one of their friends to have something. In all likelihood, there are products or offers out there that are similar to yours. This is why your eCommerce strategy should make it seem like you’re the only place offering the solution a customer needs. Highlight what it is that sets you apart from the rest of the industry. This will help you find your niche as well as give your customers a feeling of being part of something new and different.
USE THE RIGHT DATA
Don’t waste your time running page after page of reports if you never use them. Streamlining your data is an often overlooked aspect of a successful eCommerce strategy. Wasted time is wasted money. You need to figure out which metrics are important to you and how to use them. Remember, you can always dive deeper into your reporting should you find it to be necessary. Over-reporting gives everyone extra work when they could be using that time on something that actually benefits the business, so don't become carried away.
SOCIALIZE
Social media isn't going anywhere, it’s time to embrace it. Interact with people to showcase your company isn't run by robots. An eCommerce strategy that hides your company from the public eye isn't going to be helpful. As with figuring out which data you need and which you can do without, figure out which social media websites work best for you. For example, if there’s a large Instagram community based around the industry you’re in, learn the relevant hashtags and start posting. Similarly, if there is little to no traffic on Twitter about what you're involved in, your efforts are better spent elsewhere.
BE PATIENT
Patience is a virtue. If you think you're going to develop a successful eCommerce strategy overnight, you're sadly mistaken. This is something that takes time, effort, and endurance. If you're not sure what direction you should be headed, contact a reputable eCommerce agency. There is no shame in asking for an expert's help.
A successful eCommerce strategy will not only increase your conversion rate, it will also make your job less stressful. Laying out a clearly defined plan makes it easier to see what’s working and what isn't. If something isn't working as well as you expected, it’s easier to identify and change. Without a specified eCommerce strategy, you’re basically going in blind. Click the button below to receive a free consultation with an industry-leading eCommerce agency.
