Statistics show there are about 24 million stores online – and that’s a rough estimation. Even more shocking, only 700,000 of these generate over $1,000 annually. Do you know what this means? Well, it implies that you have to be above average to make a decent, consistent income with your site.
Still, there are things you can do to boost engagement and sales on your store. The best part? You don’t have to leave a hole in your wallet.
Page Contents
Create a Page for Every Product
Start by assigning a page for every item. That way, your visitors can view detailed info about the product. Of course, it will make a world of difference if your site has an excellent presentation, with all-inclusive pages, variations, multiple photos, and clear product description. On the other hand, you will struggle to make sales with a single image and a PayPal “Buy Now” button right below it.
source:wpbeginner.com
Use your Customer’s Voice in Reviews
Here’s the thing – a customer can hesitate to buy from your store if they’ve never done it before. Why? Well, because you’re a stranger. But guess what? The same shopper will find trust in other customers who left a review for your products! Repeated research shows that 85% of consumers have faith in online feedback from previous shoppers. More specifically, they view them as a personal recommendation.
source:idigmarketing.com
It is, therefore, essential that you provide a place where your customer can sound off and leave a review. After all, it is good for business!
Create Incentives with Sales and Coupons
Who doesn’t like a deal? Everyone does! So, be sure to run a sales campaign on your eCommerce site. Shoppers like receiving discounts, whether it is a “buy one get one free” promotion or a percentage off.
While you have the final say on how to distribute coupons, make sure that you place the code prominently on your site’s front page or header. You can also send the codes in a newsletter or create them manually upon request.
Offer a Smooth and Flexible Checkout Process
Picture this – you’re staring at a product on a website for a while, you add it to your cart, and then, abandon the purchase, for whatever reason. As an online store owner, this will happen to you as well. However, there’s one thing that you can do to minimize such scenarios – make the checkout process as streamlined as possible. For instance, you may consider asking only for the necessary information from your potential buyers. On top of that, ensure that the layout and design are straightforward and minimalist.
source:knowband.com
Hone your Selling Skills
Even with a beautiful, super attractive website, you need to know how to close a sale. It makes perfect sense to spend of your money in a course that teaches you some marketing and how to sell, as Invest Burundi explains. That way, you will understand how to target your ideal customers and most importantly how to select products that can convert quickly. Once you’ve honed your selling skills, take them to the Home Shopping Network. People will love that you sell on HSN.
Optimize your Product Pages
Sure, you want to make as many sales as possible with your eCommerce website. But, it is critical to take a step back to track your progress and see what tweaks can give you better results. At the very basic, your site, and by extension, your products have to be discoverable online. So, spend some time working on the SEO of your product pages.
source:ecomextension.com
Some of the things to do to make your products more discoverable include adding a page title and description as well as customizing your page URL.
Photos, Photos
Your product photos have to be on point – there’s no question about it. In these days of Instagram, no one will take a second look at sub-par product images, when all you need to do is to invest in a high-quality camera. So, take multiple shots to allow you to have more than one choice when uploading. The resolution has to be high. The long and short of it is that your product photos have to be super sharp (remember, some shoppers will want to zoom in).
The Bottom Line
It isn’t that easy to make money with an online store. It means, therefore, that you should up your game to stand out. Make sure that your site looks as trustworthy as possible. Don’t give your customers the slightest of reasons to be paranoid. Keep in mind that cybersecurity is a critical issue when it comes to online shopping. Oh and, don’t forget to include a detailed FAQ page on your website.
source:bottomline-sb.com
