Monday, August 28th, 2017
However, although technology has made it easier to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction, it has also led to higher expectations among shoppers. For merchants, therefore, staying ahead of the competition means going the extra mile to meet these expectations.
If you want your new e-commerce website to be a success, these effective tips will make it stand out from the rest.
Personalization
Whether they’re shopping at ASOS or your newly opened online fashion store, customers always expect a personalised experience. To maintain that competitive edge, therefore, always strive to make clients feel important and appreciated.
Take time to study the interests, preferences and shopping habits of your website visitors, and create targeted digital programs based on their behaviours. If a shopper’s profile says it’s their birthday, greet them and send a special offer. And when a buyer fails to complete a sale, follow up with a personalised email.
Personalization makes a customer feel special and reduces their likelihood of shifting to your competitors.
Social interaction
Thanks to the new age of social media, interaction among buyers and sellers is now a huge part of e-commerce. In fact, a study by Deloitte claims that social reviews are now more influential than TV advertising. Having a presence on major social avenues is, therefore, an essential part of your online marketing.
Social branding is entirely about consistent two-way communication, which makes it a demanding endeavour. If you’re too busy to engage your customers regularly, see if you can find room in your budget to hire or outsource a social media manager. When done right, social interaction can be a powerful way to gather feedback and build trust.
A fast and seamless service
Customers are an impatient and indecisive species. They will not be willing to wait because they know you’re just one of many merchants out there. Having an e-commerce platform that is fast, robust and flawless on both desktop and mobile is therefore critical.
The path from your landing page to checking out needs to be short and error free. Ensure your products are easy to find and use services like live chat to swiftly answer any questions a customer may have that would hinder the sale. Also, keep the payment process short and straightforward by incorporating a gateway directly into your website, instead of redirecting the client to another site to make payment.
The takeaway here is not to give your customers too much time to think, else they may end up changing their mind.
Summary
Looking to get your online store to the next level? Start offering your customers a frictionless shopping experience today, by signing up for an e-commerce merchant account.
Topics discussed in this article:
- E-commerce Merchant Account