While anyone can start an eCommerce business in today’s digital world, not everyone makes a success of it. So how do you grow beyond your first sale and really scale up? How do you stand apart from the competition and build a loyal army of return customers? How do you growth-hack your way to the top?
We’ve pulled together some of our favorite and most reliable eCommerce growth hacks, just for you.
Build a subscriber base with your audience
Pouring money into Google and social media ads is all well and good, but these typically stop shortly after the conversion stage. Nurturing that buyer/seller relationship in the long term should be a top priority for any eCommerce retailer. When shoppers buy from your marketplace, encourage them to leave a review. If they purchase through your website, consider collecting their email address for the purpose of sending news, discounts, and other offers. If you’re dealing with customers in the EU, be sure to check out the GDPR legislation to ensure you’re storing and using data correctly. Don’t be afraid to engage your customers on social media, too. Giveaways and contests are a strong way to boost your channels and grow your contact database.
Publish guest posts on credible websites
While this one takes time, it’s a great way to not only educate customers and promote your products or services, but also to build inbound links and boost your SEO performance. Create a list of relevant media outlets and pitch the editors via the guidelines found on most websites. Be sure to go where your audience is and write from a thought leadership perspective, rather than a ‘salesy’ angle.
Use referral, affiliate and influencer marketing
Turning your customers into brand ambassadors is a really good way to notch up overall traffic and sales. It’s also a good way to reinforce social proof and show your brand to be credible and trustworthy.
In the age of online marketplaces and fierce competition, having a trusted, outside person validate your brand can make a whole lot of difference. Find influencers and individuals that have a similar audience to the one you are targeting and that reflect your own brand values.
Improve the buyer experience and make it personal
Artificial intelligence (AI) has helped greatly when it comes to personalizing the buyer experience, so make use of the technology that is readily available and make your customers feel special. Use things like recommended products, personalized homepages and individual coupon offers or discount codes to really delight your customer base.
Use retargeting
Just because a person shows interest in your products doesn’t mean that he or she will buy anything right now. In many instances, the consumer might want to carry out more research before making a purchase, giving rise to the risk that your products may be forgotten.
You can use retargeting to remind them of your shop. Retargeting drops a cookie into the shopper’s browser, so no matter where the person goes online, the cookie will display advertisements for your product.
Make product recommendations
Let’s face it, a person who has already bought from your store is an ideal candidate to make a repeat purchase. Take advantage of this by suggesting related products and making recommendations based on their purchase history. Many eCommerce platforms and AI plugins make this easier than ever. Here at HelpfulCrowd, we’ll help you suggest recommended products and even remind customers of items in their cart to reduce abandonment rates.
A/B test your product pages
When it comes to product pages, in general, you should aim for high-resolution product pictures and rich media. Video is becoming more significant as shoppers still crave the sensory experience of trying out a product. Be sure to continually experiment with product pages. Try subtle changes and try them out with your audience – then stick with what works!
Gather and share customer reviews
User-generated content is one of the most powerful tools in the toolbox of any eCommerce retailer, local business owner or digital marketer. A review is powerful. It reinforces your brand message, shows that your products or services are credible, and encourages more people to visit your store. An eCommerce marketing platform like HelpfulCrowd makes collecting reviews easier than ever, with automation and a host of advanced features that fit seamlessly into your eCommerce store. Sign up for a free HelpfulCrowd demo today to learn more.
