The industry has taken a huge leap in its ecommerce development over the past 10 years. The total turnover in online commerce has been growing steadily, reaching $3.5 trillion. The new kind of shopping is seriously threatening traditional shops.
But that doesn’t mean that e-Commerce has reached its peak. Studies have shown that, on average, 2.86% of website visitors become shoppers. In this article, you’ll learn how to increase that number.
If you have an online shop or want to start one, you have to understand all aspects of such a business in order to maximize your profits. Let’s take a look at 5 basic principles of e-commerce.
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E-commerce is very similar to ordinary commerce
Yes, E-commerce involves a whole bunch of new features and strategies that you can use, but it is nevertheless very similar to traditional commerce. All the basics of offline selling apply to online as well, and following them will help you get ahead of competitors who only think in terms of technology.
- Storefronts and a website: they have the same function – making the first impression on the visitor and giving them the choice of what to do next.
- Market research: both rely on market research. It is important for every company to know everything about its customers, competitors, niche trends, and so on.
- Marketing channels: both offline and online sellers use the same marketing tools and promotion channels. Today everyone takes advantage of social media, paid advertising, or email marketing to attract new customers.
If a storefront or a counter can be compared to a website – a store can be compared to a mobile app. It works much faster the a website. Also it`s easier to operate. Here is one of the most popular E-commerce development company: https://dinarys.com/ecommerce-app-development-services . They create the best apps on the market.
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Always integrate social media into your website
If you haven’t already noticed, social media makes the biggest contribution to the e-commerce industry. Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, with more than 2 billion users, give you the opportunity to reach your target audience around the world.
There are many ways to use this channel to make your business even more productive and profitable. One option is to add the option to share the link of your products, so anyone can spread the word about your company on their profile.
Another option is to share your users’ content (UGC) on your website. UGC is a great tactic to show your appreciation and recognition while gaining more brand admirers. But there are many other options: you can offer login via social media, add the ability to comment based on social accounts and remind users to share after reading your posts.
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Don’t miss out on abandoned shopping carts
In general, a fair number of users abandon their shopping carts without making a purchase, but you shouldn’t just watch this happen. You can reduce the number of abandoned shopping carts:
- Immediately specify the cost of shipping. Many people don’t buy products because the shipping cost is hidden.
- Provide an easy checkout process so that purchases are made intuitively.
- Don’t force users to register, most people want to buy something without too much hassle.
- Provide site visitors with more than one payment option.
These ways will help you prevent abandoned shopping carts, but even if it happens, it’s no big deal. Just should take the step to get them back:
create and send emails to stay in touch with possible customers. You can invite them back and offer them a one-time discount. It doesn’t take much effort, and the result is worthwhile.
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Word of mouth works fast
You probably know the power of social proof, but don’t underestimate its potential. Word of mouth works fast, and it can boost your business or bring it down to the bottom. So it’s worth encouraging reviews and feedback.
Website reviews and case studies are the basic versions of social proof. However, there are ways to do more:
- Communicate the total number of purchases. For example, you can say that 231,645 users have already bought your products.
- Show the number of reviews next to the product.
- Add a “top-seller” tag to emphasize the popularity of a product.
- Show how many users have added a particular product to their shopping cart.
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Choosing the right e-commerce software
If you search for it online, you will see hundreds of different options. They all look attractive but don’t expect them to be the same.
You can use ready-made platforms, create your own pages on them, build your own website on a constructor or let the specialists create your own online shop. The choice depends on your needs and priorities.
You can find dozens of solutions and tips on the Internet, but it is worth doing a little research yourself and deciding which option suits you best.
Online sales are ahead of traditional retailing, especially in the current market. Yet there is a lot of room for development. To maintain a profitable online shop, you have to know the principles of E-commerce. The most important ones were revealed in this article.