Jennifer Eager

7 Timeless Tips to Make Your eCommerce Store a Success With the eCommerce industry growing and expanding every year, online business owners have more competition than ever. It would be easy to get lost in the ocean of choices, but there are ways to keep your business current and thriving. Follow these tips to make sure you are one of the success stories. 1. Endless Customer Support When customers shop in brick and mortar stores, there is a sales staff available to answer questions. They can see and touch items, try them on if needed, and sometimes even test them out. Online shoppers don't get these benefits, so it is of the utmost importance that your customers feel supported and valued. Remember: the sale doesn't end at checkout. The successful online business will provide tracking, easy returns and personalized queries about likes and dislikes. Doing so will produce happy customers who will refer their friends to you, and who will return to your store in the future. Negative reviews can also influence potential customers, so stay on top of complaints. 2. Incorporate Feedback Along these same lines, a successful online business follows what customers like, dislike or want more of very closely. If something isn't working, you can work on fixing it, but only if you're paying attention to the feedback customers give you. If several customers complain that they don't like the material you used for that dress, you should assume more people could feel the same way. You must be flexible enough to change to meet your customers' needs. Don't be afraid to evolve and seek new ways of doing things. 3. Take Advantage of Social Media Everyone uses social media these days. If your store doesn't have a strong social media presence, you will soon be left behind. It will bring awareness about your brand, certainly, but it can also create excitement and buzz about your products. Customers can ask questions--be sure to answer them promptly. If you can't have a strong presence across all social media platforms, try to focus on one that fits your demographics. For instance, Facebook has a huge customer base and good ad mechanics, while if you are marketing to teenagers, Instagram is a better choice. If you can, post videos demonstrating your products, tutorials on how to use them, promotions or giveaways, photos and testimonials from customers, tips and hints--all of these will make your social media pop. 4. Customer Photos and Testimonials Along with the social media tip above, when you encourage customer reviews, you will often receive photos along with them. Use these! If a potential customer can see someone using or wearing your product, it makes it easier to visualize using that product themselves. When a customer feels good about your product, he feels like he is part of the brand and will share with friends via social media or in everyday conversation, bringing new customers to you. 5. Gather an Email List It is important to have a way to contact customers on a more individual basis as well as through social media. That way, if they are on vacation or simply too busy to get on Facebook, they will have a tangible reminder of your business in their inbox. If you have them register for an account, it can simplify the checkout process for them while providing you with data for marketing purposes. Using email for sales and promotions will also encourage traffic to your site, reminding them to shop with you. 6. Offer Free Shipping You might be surprised how many people are deterred by added shipping costs on the checkout page. Offering free shipping could be the difference between a customer and an abandoned cart. It is also worth mentioning that many consumers will buy more than they planned in order to get free shipping, even if the shipping cost plus their original planned purchase would have been under the free ship amount! 7. Outsource if Needed When your business is getting started, you are doing everything yourself, or possibly with a partner. When you start growing, however, you might not be able to get everything finished in a day. Decide what you need help with, and find someone to do the job. Maybe you don't know much about web design, or don't have a clue about the best ways to use social media, but someone else could fill that role perfectly. It doesn't mean hiring a full time employee, either. You can find freelancers or consultants who can do a one time job, or work a few hours a week for you. The investment will be worth freeing up your time to focus on what you're best at. By following these tips, you'll be able to keep up with the ever changing eCommerce market and grow your business.