Businesses used to rely heavily on elaborate window displays and expensive advertisements in local publications in order to have their products sell. Salespeople used to travel door-to-door to spread awareness and showcase product testing in people’s homes in hopes to close a sale. Shopping from home used to mean waiting for a monthly catalog to come in the mail and flipping through the pages before calling to place an order. Today, shopping looks a bit different and involves a little more screen time. 

Customers are now shopping from the comfort of their homes with the power of the internet. With the click of a button, people can add items to their digital shopping carts and have their orders fulfilled in just a few minutes. This level of convenience has completely changed the way customers enjoy shopping. According to Statista, an estimated 2.14 billion people shop online. With almost one-third of the human population shopping online, e-commerce businesses have an advantage when it comes to having their products reach wider audiences. 

Your website is now your new storefront, whether you have a brick-and-mortar location or not. In fact, 63% of shopping occasions start online. This shift in consumer behavior has driven businesses to shift gears from traditional shopping experiences for their customers to rely on their e-commerce business models. However, the way your e-commerce business website and digital marketing strategy are set up can determine the long-term success of your business. 

As a company that works with e-commerce businesses every day, Laing Media knows the digital marketing tips and tricks to help e-commerce businesses grow, thrive, and increase their monthly online sales. Here are some of the key things to consider for your e-commerce digital marketing strategy. 

Visuals

Like the old-school window displays, the visuals used on your online store are critical to the customer experience. When shopping online, customers want to be able to see the product as if they are shopping in a store. Make sure that the product photos you use are of the highest quality with clear resolution. 3-D photos offer customers an opportunity to experience the product from all angles. 

Videos

Taking the product visual one step further is using videos on the product pages. This tactic is perfect to showcase the products “in action” or to give a quick audio overview of how the products can be used. Keep the videos short and succinct in order to keep customers engaged. 

Engagement

Customer service is something that should still remain in the shopping experience, even when shopping online with an e-commerce business. When browsing through product catalogs or searching for items, it is important to give customers the option to engage directly with the brand or a representative who can answer any questions or concerns they have. Consider utilizing a chatbox feature on your website where customers can easily input their questions. 

UGC

Third-party advocacy brings an added layer of legitimacy to your e-commerce business. Encourage customers to share photos or videos of their purchases along with reviews to give future customers a real sense of the product experience. User-generated content (UGC) can show customers other people that have purchased and used the product. 

Mobile-friendly website 

Nearly 50% of online shopping customers use mobile devices. When designing your e-commerce website, it is important to ensure that your website is mobile-friendly. Having a mobile-friendly online store from the beginning will increase customer retention and lead to higher sales. 

The Future of E-commerce Shopping 

As more businesses move towards an e-commerce model, staying relevant and ahead of the competition means having a strong online shopping site in tandem with a thoughtful digital marketing strategy. Laing Media offers digital marketing services for e-commerce businesses that create a positive customer experience that leads to bigger sales and business growth.