Every year, business owners face new and growing challenges. The customers are more fastidious than ever. Operational costs keep going up. And competition is lurking at every corner, ready to lure away your client base.
However, smart and savvy business owners are aware of these challenges and are ready to face them, and they are not alone in their work. We are here to support yours with actionable tips that will help you find new customers and optimize your marketing spend.
What Will the Ecommerce Landscape Look Like in 2019?
Online shopping has become the norm for some years now. But the way customers interact with e-commerce businesses keeps changing. Computers were replaced by smartphones as internet browsing devices. Websites are challenged by mobile apps. And online searches for products and services have moved from Google to social media platforms.
These changes have an impact on the way you prepare and deploy your marketing strategies. To keep up with the customers’ demands, you also need to rethink your sales funnel and the way you keep them engaged and loyal.
Here are a few effective tips to help your e-commerce business increase its conversion rate in 2019:
1. Turn the Shopping Process into a Friendly Conversation
Many customers are already too busy and distracted to be bothered by long and complex check-out forms. They want to be able to complete this process as quickly as possible and move on to other tasks.
Mobile apps are helpful, but you cannot be sure that all your potential clients are willing to install your app. Instead, you can meet the customer halfway with a helpful chatbot, installed either on your website or on Messenger. The chatbot acts like a sales assistant, helping the customer pick the products, indicate the delivery address and securely share their financial details. In a simple, friendly conversation, your sale is completed and the client felt no hassle at all.
2. Use Social Media as a Selling Platform
Facebook™, Instagram and Pinterest are the fastest-changing social media platforms in the sense of helping businesses sell products directly to users. Facebook™ Offers and Shop Now tags on Instagram are among the most popular new marketing and sales tools for businesses.
Adding these options to your marketing strategy does not involve significant new costs and extra effort for you. So, start using them now!
3. Redefine Your Analytics KPI
The first basic prerequisite for a higher conversion rate is an accurate measurement system showing you if your marketing campaigns are reaching their goals. As the rules of engagement, lead generation and lead nurturing evolve, so do the categories of data you should pay attention to.
In 2019, the key performance indicators you must constantly monitor are:
Revenue by traffic source
Percentage of returning customers
Landing page conversions
Net promoter score.
While the first three are self-explanatory, the net promoter score represents the level of your customers’ satisfaction. It can be measured by asking your client to base a single relevant question about your business.
5. Include Social Proofs in Your Marketing Materials
Whether we speak of Facebook™ ads or promoted Instagram posts, the messages you pay to share with potential leads must give them a good reason to click. And the best reason is that their friends and peers trust your business.
Whenever possible, include testimonials, user-generated content and client reviews in your ads and other marketing materials.
These are just a few tips that will help you find more clients and keep them loyal. As a general rule, you should increase your efforts of being truly social on your social media pages and monitor your clients’ satisfaction with your products and services.