Ecommerce has been one of the fastest-growing business domains in the past decade. It has grown from nothing to a multi-billion dollar business quickly.

One reason for this meteoric rise of this niche is that it enables easy buying of goods for the consumer.

Ecommerce marketing refers to how these businesses position themselves in the market. They use a variety of strategies to ensure they perform well against their competition. These strategies also help get them more leads and customers over time.

Ensure Your Website Is Mobile-Friendly

With mobile traffic rising way above other sources, catering to the mobile audience is something every business needs to do. People can and do click away from websites that are not mobile optimized.

Mobile-friendly websites also have a much higher conversion rate than other websites. This is critical for Ecommerce websites as it is a very competitive market.

Optimizing Your Website For Mobile

Mobile optimization is something that is pretty much mandatory for Ecommerce websites. The reason is that most customers buy something online using their mobile phones.

Another thing to consider is that search engines like Google rank mobile-friendly websites higher.

• You can easily test for mobile-friendliness online. Mobile-friendly Test by Google is free. The below screenshot shows a sample mobile test done on it.

• Another option that people also use is the W3C Mobile OK Checker. This is pretty simple to use as well.

• If you want to check how your website looks on mobile devices, check BrowserStack Responsive.

Improve Real-Time Customization

The business of Ecommerce is built on urgency and the ability to adapt. When customers want something immediately, they expect to find it.

Your website framework needs to be dynamic enough to make quick changes in response to a trend. If you don't adapt your business or strategy to the changing trends, it can be difficult to succeed in the niche.

See below screenshot of an e-store that began as normal e-store selling products but later included flight booking options to adapt to the trends.

Strategies To Improve Customization

Ecommerce brands need to adapt to new trends and customers. Customizing a website according to user tastes is critical to success.

Buyers are looking to buy things that are suited to their tastes. Customization of displayed products improves the chances of them buying them.

• Keeping an eye on Ecommerce trends when running a business is a great idea.

• Ensure that you consider customer behavior before making changes to your website.

• There are several options for Ecommerce builders that you should consider. Among the good ones are Shopify, Wix, and BigCommerce.

Leverage Discounts And Holidays

Holiday shopping is a huge event for Ecommerce websites.

People tend to buy more products during the start of the holiday season. This is when you should tune in to your audience and offer them discounts on products that sell well.

Setting the right discounts can mean quick sales and considerable revenue when done right. Look at the screenshot below showing a Black Friday offer from Forever21.

Tips To Improve Holiday Sales

Holiday discounts and flash sales can get people interested in your website. It can also help clear stocks off your inventory to make way for new ones.

Discounts, holiday-themed promotions, and specific product offer increase sales and revenue. It can also build anticipation and excitement for your website's next sale.

• Use time-limited discounts to create urgency. This works well during the holiday seasons.

• Advertise on your social media handles using Facebook and Instagram. You can direct a lot of traffic to your website through social media.

• Ensure that you offer discounts on things that are relevant during the holidays. An example would be winter clothes for Christmas.

Focus On Website UI/UX

User experience is not just another buzzword for marketing. Today, a potential customer has so many choices for any product.

People are keen to visit and buy from websites they like.

As an Ecommerce brand, you should entice them to your website and keep them there. This is only possible with excellent UI/UX characteristics. For instance, take a look at the below screenshot of Bliss.

Once the user lands here, they can freely navigate the site as it has well-organized sections, large images, and smooth buttons to raise an order.

Critical UI/UX Strategies

UI/UX is a critical part of the Ecommerce experience. This has been proven repeatedly by the success of huge Ecommerce stores like Amazon and Walmart.

The reason is that people are making purchase decisions when visiting the website. A good interface makes the user experience pleasant, and they feel compelled to buy from the website.

• Adobe XD is your platform for everything UI/UX. It has a clean vector-based design interface that you can use to sketch your website.

• Balsamiq is another prototyping tool that can help develop your user interface.

• InVision can help accelerate user interface development through collaboration. You don't need to code with this tool.

Offer Customers Free Shipping

One aspect that most Ecommerce companies miss offering their customers is convenient shipping. Free shipping options for products have a psychological edge during purchases.

They are more likely to choose products that have free shipping than others. You need to focus on including that cost in your product's price. Thus, most stores offer free shipping unless the value of an ordered product is too low.

Strategies For Different Shipping Options

When running an Ecommerce store, it is critical to offer different shipping options to customers. Customers are especially sensitive to shipping charges.

As a business, you need to mitigate them. Offering free shipping can considerably increase orders for a product.

• Besides offering free shipping, offer clients options. Add in quicker and slower shipping options for their choice.

• Opt for premier carriers for people who want faster deliveries. People pay for shipping when it is quicker.

• Add shipping options conveniently to your checkout so users can easily choose one.

Include Customer Reviews

Every high-profile Ecommerce store has a review system that people have access to. Adding in customer reviews for products helps people browse your online store.

It adds a layer of credibility to your website and helps users choose the right product. Rather than just helping them make effective purchase decisions, it also ensures a more positive outlook for your website.

The screenshot below shows how Amazon genuinely shows user reviews to the audience.

Tips To Include Customer Reviews

Reviews are an integral part of the Ecommerce shopping experience.

The more reviews a product has, the more chances are of people buying them. People trust other people more than they trust businesses. This is one reason why reviews have such a massive impact on sales.

Reviews enable word-of-mouth marketing for products. These can improve sales considerably.

Any Ecommerce website is expected to have a customer reviews section. Several businesses have failed when they don't have customer reviews.

• Adding user reviews is the easiest way to make your Ecommerce trustworthy and credible.

• Reviews help improve sales, and buyers make effective purchase decisions. Positive reviews can clear stocks quickly.

• Ensure you track and categorize user reviews. Stamped.io, Loox, and Wiremo are great options to consider.

Add High-Quality Content Marketing

At the core of every marketing campaign is a powerful content strategy. There is simply no way to improve marketing without focusing on content first.

Ecommerce content takes many forms - ads, videos, and banners. You need specialist teams to ensure you put your best foot forward for content marketing.

Improving Content Marketing

Content marketing is one of the most quality-dependent parts of the marketing funnel.

The content you send out into the world determines everything from your brand image to your customer base. It is important to ensure that your brand message isn't interpreted wrongly by your audience.

• Ensure that you've got powerful tools to validate text content. Grammarly and ProWritingAid are two of the best grammar checkers in the market today.

The below screenshot shows how Prowritingid helps draft content that all your users can grasp.

• If you have to use stock images, ensure they are of the highest quality possible.

• Audit videos and images with Adobe Creative Cloud. You can find a huge repository of tools in the package.

Create An Email Marketing Strategy

Email marketing has always played an important part in Ecommerce. It is how stores get in touch with their users and inform them about new products.

Research shows people are open to email marketing rather than push messages on their mobile devices. This means that an Ecommerce agency can get in touch without annoying them.

See the below screenshot of how a brand uses email marketing to sell their product.

Tips For A Competitive Email Campaign

Emails have a huge advantage over other forms of messaging your audience.

Email emails from Ecommerce brands are categorized as "Updates" or "Shopping." This means people can browse them at their leisure. There are several ways to ensure that you have a competitive email marketing strategy.

• MailChimp is the single most powerful email marketing tool today. It is cost-effective and easy to work with.

• HubSpot's Email Marketing module is another great choice if you already have its premium subscription.

• Sendinblue has several important options for email marketing, including A/B testing and segmented recipient lists.

Factor In Customer Loyalty

Customer loyalty is something that all businesses should aspire to accrue. But it is even more important for Ecommerce websites because the competition is intense in the market.

How loyal your customers are, depends on how well you market your brand. It is also important to ensure that you offer great deals and promotions regularly.

Tips To Get Loyal Customers

Brand loyalty means a huge deal for businesses. It can give them a huge edge in a competitive market. It also ensures adequate engagement for your businesses in the long run.

Most top brands have a loyal following of customers who opt for their products over others.

• Ensure that your brand messaging aligns with your audience's expectations. Find out their pain points and address them. For example, Amazon is trying to help its audience choose the right gift for their father.

• Tools like LoyaltyGator can help stores improve their customer outlook. It has several reward programs that can help you engage your customers.

• Zoho CRM is a full-fledged platform that includes relationship lifecycle management as well.

Use Upselling And Retargeting

In Ecommerce, marketing, upselling, and retargeting are good business drivers.

Both are important for improving sales.

Upselling is when brands convince customers to buy better products than they're searching for. Retargeting is getting in touch with your customers with related products to elicit a purchase from them.

Long-Term Strategies For Ecommerce Marketing

Ecommerce brands are always looking to improve their business. Opting for upselling and retargeting to improve margins are critical for margins.

You can execute it without too much complexity. Businesses can also get good returns on their investments.

• Upselling improves business revenue streams from sales. It offers a much more personalized shopping experience for your audience. Take a look at the below screenshot of an e-store showing a product with related products to make the users make a purchase.

• Retargeting opens up new products and experiences for users. This, too, improves sales metrics by educating people about new products in the market.

• Combining both these techniques can elevate your ROI and improve branding.

Include Social Media For Marketing

Social media has more than 4 billion people logging onto it daily. It has been a revelation for businesses that want more exposure to Ecommerce.

There are several ways you can get more reach for your business through social media. It can host ads, videos, and other types of marketing collateral. Many social platforms also have their proprietary analytics tools.

Social Media Strategies For Ecommerce

Ecommerce businesses need social media to improve reach and brand awareness. These platforms offer significant improvement for brands in terms of ad space.

Businesses can connect with customers worldwide and increase their revenue stream.

• Buffer is one of the most popular social media platforms. It can help with market automation and schedule your social media posts at the right time, as shown in the below screenshot.

• Sprout Social is an all-inclusive social media management platform. You can manage several aspects of your social media campaigns.

• Make use of social media analytics present on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. They are accurate and free to use.

Use AI-Assisted Chatbots

Chatbots are virtual assistants that can take up a part of communication responsibilities. While it was rudimentary and basic some years ago, today's chatbots are powerful tools for Ecommerce businesses.

You should implement the most powerful chatbot you can afford to get more out of your Ecommerce business. It can streamline several areas of customer interaction.

Benefits Of Using Chatbots

Contemporary chatbots have powerful AI that can help businesses connect with their customers. Chatbots have been replacing people at various levels in the industry. It started with basic automation but has now moved to more complex tasks.

• Chatbots can cut costs of hiring people for customer support and gathering feedback. Businesses can increase customer engagement with chatbots.

The below screenshot shows an example of a chatbot collecting demographic data.

• Botsify and Drift offer powerful chatbots that can be used for enterprises. They free up resources that you can use for other pipelines.

• Handling FAQs with chatbots can improve customer retention rates and help conversions.

Not Researching Competitors

Competitors are part and parcel of every business domain.

Ecommerce is even more competitive because platforms compete across millions of products. This is one good reason why this niche has so much competitor analysis.

Brands try to better each other at every opportunity, creating a turbulent marketplace.

The Solution

• Competitor analysis should be an important part of your Ecommerce marketing campaign. Take the time to sort out through different areas to find out how you can improve your business.

• Manual competitive analysis can become tedious and expensive in the long run. Always opt for smart tools that can do the legwork for your team.

• Some strong tools for competitor analysis are SpyFu, SEMrush, and BuzzSumo. All of these platforms are worth investing in for business intelligence.

Take a look at the below screenshot showing the competitors of Amazon.

Not Optimizing Website For Mobiles

With more than 50% of all internet traffic coming from mobile devices, websites must adapt quickly.

Most Ecommerce businesses already have mobile-friendly websites for their customers. Many others have apps on popular mobile platforms that users can download.

These aim to make their business more accessible to people with mobile phones.

The Solution

• • Ensure that you have a mobile-friendly version of your website up and running at all times. The below screenshot shows an example that product images are compatible and easily accessible on mobile devices.

This is the place that will get a lot more visits from your audience. It will also have better conversions for your business.

• Keep your website design responsive to create a mobile-friendly environment. The more easily your website can adapt to different screens, the more usable it is. You can test device compatibility with Adobe Device Central.

• There are many important tools for mobile optimization. Use Hotjar for getting accurate and informative heatmaps. Check out Screaming Frog for in-depth website analytics.

Not Implementing UI/UX

UI and UX are critical to the success of any website. This is especially true when discussing Ecommerce because it deals with how users experience your website. It dictates how your customers see you as a brand.

The better your UI is, the more people log on to your website. Ideally, you need to focus on website design before doing anything else.

The Solution

• Since Ecommerce is heavily invested in user behavior, design is an important part of Ecommerce. It has a powerful psychological effect on user buying tendency.

For example, see the below screenshot containing a toy car selling e-store with complicated UI/UX. Never make such a mistake on your site.

• An effective design reflects strong branding and operational simplicity. The better the design, the more people are interested in your website. It also helps attract people through word-of-mouth marketing.

• There are several tools that you can use for streamlining your website. Adobe XD is one of the most popular packages in the industry. You can also opt for crowd-sourced platforms like UsabilityHub.

Not Finding Out Target Demographics

Every domain needs to find its most responsive audience and cater its services to them. In the case of ecommerce, that is a huge section of people because they render services to all demographics.

Ensure you do your research for product-specific demographics rather than domain-specific. It can yield much better results in the long run. You can use free Google Analytics to find precise demographic data interested in your products.

The Solution

• Spend adequate time and resources when you analyze your demographics. There are hundreds of data points that require your attention. Categorizing these can help you improve your business.

• Using tools is the best way to learn more about your audience. AI-assisted tools can help you get accurate data from the market. Investing in tools like these can pay dividends.

• You can opt for several existing tool frameworks that exist today. Every social media network has its detailed analytics. Social media and CRM analytics are detailed and accurate. Consumer Barometer and Google Trends are tools that you should look into.

Not Showing Social Proof

Sharing social proof for your website has become mandatory for success. Most popular Ecommerce brands share their products and user reviews on social media handles.

User testimonials are also another aspect of getting more business for your website. The more positive testimonials you generate, your brand will have more traction.

The Solution

• Ensure your social media handles on different platforms have updated your information. When you post on social media, ensure that you are consistent across all platforms.

• Share user testimonials on a weekly or monthly basis. It can help generate interest in your services and get people talking about the product.

The below screenshot shows the best example of social proof.

• Video testimonials are a great idea to get more exposure for your Ecommerce platform. Survey monkey is an easy but powerful platform that can help improve collecting testimonials from your clients.

Not Using The Right CMS

Content management systems are the backbone of any website. Your choice of CMS determines how well your website aligns with its users.

Your CMS needs to accommodate your specific requirements for the Ecommerce domain.

The right CMS is important here because an Ecommerce website is complex, with many different systems working in tandem. The CMS needs to tie everything together.

The Solution

• Before choosing a CMS, brainstorm with heads of departments or team leads. They might have important insights to share about your choice. It is critical because they are the people who will be hands-on with the platform.

• The most popular CMS for Ecommerce is Shopify, and for a good reason. It has everything you need to start on an Ecommerce website. You can integrate it with other tools and scale it up as required. The below screenshot shows that Shopify is the most searched ecommerce solution in the world.

• WordPress is perhaps one of the most used CMS of all time. It is easy to work with and powerful. You can customize it as per your needs with endless add-ons from the market.

Not Having Enough Credibility

Every Ecommerce brand needs to protect its trustworthiness and credibility. The reason is that Ecommerce brands have high visibility regarding customer perception.

A small percentage of bad reviews online can stack the odds against your brand. This is one important reason why Ecommerce brands must consistently keep their online reputation ahead.

The Solution

• Online reputation management is something that all Ecommerce brands need to do. Ecommerce is a highly credibility-dependent market, so it needs to maximize this number as often as possible.

• Every Ecommerce competitor is looking to gain a foothold regarding market share. Loss of credibility can quickly take root in people's minds.

• Circulate good reviews and testimonials by your shoppers on your social media platforms. This can generate enough goodwill to keep your Ecommerce ahead even in turbulent times.

Not Having A Social Media Strategy

More than half the world's population is on at least one social media platform. Social media presence can amplify your reach and give ads the chance to go viral.

It can elevate your ability to communicate effectively with your customers as well.

For Ecommerce platforms, this is an aspect they need to invest time and effort into.

Look at the screenshot below showing the number of people who follow an e-store. So, there’s a chance that other e-commerce stores too can attract these audiences.

The Solution

• Developing a competent social media strategy for your business is a great idea. Collate your team's input and yours into a cohesive social media analysis document.

• Most social media platforms have a dedicated business side to their application. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram have corresponding business insights for their platforms.

• Leverage social media influencers also as part of your marketing strategy. Find the right influencers with Upfluence and HyperAuditor. Done right, they can deliver great results for Ecommerce.

Google Analytics

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About

This is one of the most used marketing platforms for businesses. It is rated highly because of its usefulness and ease of operation.

You can get many things done with this; it all comes free of cost. It is a great option for your business if it's just starting or an enterprise.

Features

• Accurate Analytics - People know and use Google Analytics because its metrics are highly accurate. You get real-time information on anything you want to know about your campaign.

• Integrated With Search - Google has been one of the premier internet search engines for a considerable time. They bring this expertise to their analytics package and completely integrate with it. You can also use your Analytics with other business platforms.

• High Performance And Reliability - Google Analytics runs off a browser, and you don't need specialized hardware. A huge team can use it to collaborate on a project with minimal issues and downtime.

SEMrush

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SEMrush is one of the de facto standards when choosing a SaaS platform for online visibility. It can handle all types of business, from SMBs to MNCs.

It has the advantage of integrating seamlessly with existing platforms and tools. It makes this package enticing for businesses looking to scale their operations from a global perspective.

Features

• Detailed Reporting - SEMrush has a detailed suite of reporting tools through which you can shed light on any aspect of your Ecommerce campaign. You can get more information on anything from content reach to ad campaigns for your website.

• Social Media Integration - As a platform, it is tightly integrated with different social media platforms. You can create tighter social media campaigns from this platform.

• Content Audit - SEMrush is not just about SEO and metrics; you can also improve content quality. Some tools check grammar, tone, and keyword density.

Ahrefs

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Ahrefs is one of the premier digital marketing platforms trusted by thousands of businesses worldwide. It is a flexible yet powerful marketing solution that a single person or a team can use.

The strength of the platform is not just limited to a single area. You can use it for anything from competitor analysis to social listening.

Features

• Advanced Keyword Research - Ahrefs offers detailed keyword research that beats other platforms easily. You can get powerful product-related keywords that can deliver quick results for your website.

• General Marketing Solution - Once subscribed to this, you have all the necessary tools. It has a solution for every marketing problem that you'll face. You can also integrate it into your existing framework easily.

• Competitor Analysis - Find what your competitors are up to easily with Ahrefs. You can get updated information and insights with just a button.

Hootsuite

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Unbox Social offers custom pricing based on your choice of products and business size.

About

Hootsuite offers businesses a marketing experience focused on their social media platform.

This platform delivers businesses a high ROI at a reasonable cost per lead. It allows people to collaborate from all over the world with minimal latency.

Your team gets access to high-level business intelligence that can improve their decision-making accuracy.

Key Features

• Schedule Messages - Your team can schedule messages for different demographics on social media. Your customers can be split into different lists, and messages can be sent to them at a specific date.

• Monitor Social Media Comments - Track social media comments on your page and respond to them quickly. This can help you troubleshoot or answer queries from your customers effectively.

• Campaign Optimization - With this, you can streamline your Ecommerce social media campaign. You can get accurate insights from the platform and improve overall performance.

Zendesk

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Customer support is an integral part of every Ecommerce ecosystem.

Zendesk is a platform that helps your team connect with customers easily and effectively. It supports multiple channels, including email, voice chat, messaging, and phone.

Customers can even connect with your team through social media.

Features

• Real-time Communication - Using Zendesk, customers can contact your team in real-time. This gives them a level of empowerment that was previously not available. It improves business perception and brand reach.

• Supports multiple platforms - It can be difficult to connect with your customers if you're a global Ecommerce brand. But Zendesk offers your team several ways to get in touch with your audience.

• Tailored Mass Emails - Ecommerce businesses must broadcast their messages en masse to their audience. This can be anything from promotional material to product launches. Zendesk can help you craft compelling messages that you can send to hundreds of recipients.

PayPal

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PayPal is the premier payment gateway used worldwide by people and businesses. It is widely used, reliable, and has a great track record for customer service. It offers several services that make transacting easy for people all over the globe. Their transactional fees are also among the lowest in the world.

Features

• Multiple Payment Methods - PayPal gives customers access to several payment options. Setting up an account for new users is quick and easy.

• Flexibility With PayPal Checkout - The PayPal Checkout option adds a single-click buy to your account. This can help them reduce the long process of placing an order for something they want.

• Scaling Options - This payment model can work for SMBs and huge corporations. There are several tiers of payment options, and they're effective as well.

Stripe

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About

Stripe is another option for a powerful payment gateway for businesses. Most popular Ecommerce brands have included Stripe as part of their payment process.

The USP of Stripe is that it is much easier to set up than competitors. Also, it does not have monthly fees like other payment gateways.

Features

• No Monthly Fees - Opting for Stripe can mean lesser overheads for businesses and people. No monthly fees mean that you can cut costs and improve your ROI.

• Real-time Reporting - Several reporting tools are available to access from the dashboard. These can paint an accurate picture of your current payment statistics.

• Easy To Use App - The Stripe mobile app is quite easy and intuitive, even for first-time users.