It is a known fact that physical shops arrange products in a certain way to influence the way customers browse and manipulate their purchasing habits. This tactic is also useful for online retailers.
A static website can be a turn-off for your customers and will affect how much repeat business you receive. Aside from well-known practices like updating your front page, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your customers engaged and keep them coming back for more.
Be on all channels
In the past the retail channel and the online shopping channel were always kept separate. However, in 2024 this practice is starting to become a thing of the past.
The Omni-channel is something that has helped many companies with both physical and online presence increase sales. It basically means that your online store and your physical stores interact and talk to each other.
A customer may be more inclined to buy an item if he can just pick it up from the shop instead of paying for shipping. If the shirt a client wants is not available in the shop but they can get it online, then the store should have the option of making the order themselves for a later pick up.
It’s all about customer experience. The easier you make it for your customer to buy your products, the more likely they are to actually buy them. This means giving them plenty of options for all possible user cases across all commercial channels.
A word on mobile sites
The internet is everywhere, and your shop should be as well. Mobile is not a “nice to have” anymore, it is a must. As tablets, smart phones and even smart watches become more widespread people are actually browsing more from mobile devices than from desktop or laptop computers.
So, if you do not have an app or a mobile compatible website, then it’s time to start thinking of one. You could be missing out on a huge piece of the e-commerce pie.
The customer comes first
The customer centric culture is becoming more and more popular, mostly because it encourages sales. You have to make your customer feel special and well served.
Websites are trying to replicate the retail experience by giving clients as much information as they can on a product; pictures from as many angles as possible, tours of a virtual store, anything they can do to make the customer experience better.
It has been proven time and time again that good customer service can increase sales, and online sales can come at any point of the day. So, if you don’t have 24/7 customer service, it’s time to start implementing it.
Why shop online?
The reason most people prefer shopping online than offline is because it is seen as more convenien, meaning you have to make sure your website is as convenient as possible. It must be fast and responsive and everything needs to be easy to find.
A good way to make your site friendlier for your clients is to include personalised recommendations based on past purchases. This way you can anticipate your clients’ needs and create an experience that is fun and unique to each particular user.
The bigger online retailers are starting to implement same day delivery in select markets and this builds an expectation that you need to be prepared to fill. 3-5 day delivery is becoming unacceptable, so you will eventually need to find a reliable and faster way to get your product in the hands of your clients.
Hiring a fulfilment company can be a big investment in the short term, but in the long term it will be beneficial for your business. People will start to see you as a fast and reliable company, which is great for promoting repeat business.
2024 is the year that clients become the driving force behind business decisions. They are the ones making your business successful. Build your website with them in mind; optimise, streamline and you’ll start to see your business move on to the next level.
