Reap Benefits of Online Business Boom
While many industries struggled through the pandemic, e-commerce accelerated. Online shopping saw a highly successful 2020 as consumers spent $861.12 billion with American retailers. Jumping 44% over the previous year, it is the highest annual U.S. e-commerce growth in at least two decades. The boost can be attributed to COVID-19-related purchases, but even if customers abandon their masks and social distancing practices, they still cling to the convenience of online shopping.
As small and mid-sized businesses shift to consumer demands and establish e-commerce websites, they want return on their investment. Here are some ways to generate income online:
1. Create a blog
2. Grow your organic ranking
3. Automate marketing emails
4. Leverage social media platforms
5. Utilize Google Merchant Center
1. Create a blog
There are a number of reasons business owners should consider posting a blog regularly. Using it in conjunction with an e-commerce web site is one of the most effective ways to draw in visitors via inbound marketing. As you increase website traffic, you increase the opportunity to convert visitors into customers.
2. Grow your organic ranking
To get in front of the eyes of more online shoppers, it’s important to optimize your e-commerce website so that it ranks high in search engine results. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) improves visibility and improved rankings often translate to increases in website traffic, brand awareness and conversion. You’ll want to be sure pages have header tags, keywords and outbound links. Optimizing pages so they load quickly for customers is also vital because the average shopper will leave if a page isn’t available within three seconds.
3. Automate marketing emails
Email marketing is a great way to build relationships with customers. While it’s wonderful to pull in new customers, in order to quickly grow your business, figure out how to continually engage existing customers and get them to make repeat purchases. One of the best ways to do this is by automating the e-mail marketing process. When you do, you keep communication going even while you’re busy focusing on other parts of your business. Additionally, automation allows you to align messages appropriately within the buyer’s journey so you’re always communicating the right thing at the right time, essentially striking while the iron is hot instead of delivering a one-size-fits-all mass mailing that may not be relevant.
4. Leverage social media platforms
If you’ve never set up a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account for your business, you should. Note that some platforms are better suited than others depending on your brand, but once you have accounts established, use them as marketing tools to point to your e-commerce website. Your messaging should be engaging and informative to pull in potential customers. Also, consider running ads, boosting posts and engaging with influencers who will promote your products or services.
5. Utilize Google Merchant Center
Small business owners should take advantage of every tool available to them and Google Merchant Center is a great one. It not only helps you manage in-store and online product inventory, but also helps businesses reach hundreds of millions of people looking to buy the products you have in stock. When you create a product feed and connect with the right customers via search engines, you drive sales and collect data to keep you informed about the impact of every sale.
Ready to make money?
Don’t answer that question, we know that you are! But if you need some help developing or redesigning your e-commerce website, just contact us and have a conversation with the T.E. Digital team. Let us know your goals. Businesses that invest in an e-commerce website deserve to reap the benefits of the current online business boom. Customers are looking for products and services you provide. Let us help you get found by them.
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