Selling Online
The internet has revolutionized the way we do business. With a few clicks of a button, you can set up your online store and start selling to customers worldwide. But with great opportunities come great challenges
The digital space is cluttered with online sellers. As a result, you must keep up with a lot of competition in your industry.
In this blog, we will share some insider tips and tricks to help you become a successful online seller:
1. Use High-Quality Product Images
When customers shop online, they cannot physically touch or examine products like in a brick-and-mortar store. This makes product images incredibly important, especially when 62% of customers admit that product images have a huge say in their purchasing decisions.
However, it is worth mentioning that low-quality images won’t cut it. You must ensure your product images allow multiple perspectives of the product, giving buyers a clear idea of what they will be receiving. The next step is making your product stand out.
How? Well, first and foremost, your images should be visually stunning and accurately represent your products. You must also use a high-quality camera or hire a professional photographer to ensure your images are sharp, well-lit, and free of blurs or distortions.
Beyond technicalities, your product images should also align with your brand’s identity. Use your brand’s aesthetic to create a cohesive look and feel throughout your product images.
For instance, if you retail or wholesale non-woven bags, you can use earthy tones and natural backdrops to reflect your brand’s commitment to sustainability.
Do not forget to showcase your product from different angles. Zoom in on details that make your product unique, such as stitching, texture, or pattern.
2. Choose The Right E-commerce Platform
An e-commerce platform serves as the cornerstone of your online store, providing the foundation upon which your business operates. An exceptional platform allows you to optimize and refine your sales process, broaden your market reach, and cultivate a loyal customer base. In contrast, an inferior platform can shackle your business’s growth, giving customers a bad experience.
With so many e-commerce platforms out there, it could be overwhelming to choose the right one. To make the right choice, consider the following few key factors:
- User-friendliness: A lackluster interface can scare away clients faster than you can say “add to cart.” Both you and your clients should be able to quickly and effortlessly navigate your platform. Look for a mobile-friendly interface with a streamlined checkout process.
- Business needs: Take the time to assess your requirements, identify must-have features, and consider future growth plans. It will help you narrow your options and find a platform that ticks all the right boxes.
- Security: Your customers’ data is precious, and you need to make sure that it is protected at all times. Opt for a platform that complies with industry standards and offers SSL certificates, two-factor authentication, and secure payment gateways. That way, you can rest easy knowing that your platform has your back.
3. Provide Excellent Customer Service
The importance of customer service cannot be overstated. When customers have a positive experience with a company, they are more likely to return and make additional purchases. In fact, according to a study by PwC, 86% of consumers are willing to pay more for a better customer experience.
Giving prompt responses is hands down one of the best ways to take your customer service to the next level. You can do that by implementing a ticketing system. It ensures that no query falls through the cracks.
Customers can receive automatic confirmation emails with a ticket number, giving them the peace of mind that their inquiry is being addressed.
Personalization is also a key component of extraordinary customer service. Unlike the common assumption, personalization goes beyond mentioning customer names in the email.
You can add a personal touch by using conversational language with your customers. For example: instead of saying, “We apologize for the inconvenience,” you can say, “Sorry about that; we will make it right for you.” If you are targeting a young audience, you may also inject some humor.
4. Leverage Customer Testimonials
Customer reviews are like a treasure trove of valuable feedback for your brand. They offer an authentic and unbiased look at the experiences of your customers. It can help build trust and establish your brand as a go-to choice for potential buyers.
Apart from boosting trust, reviews also make up for higher visibility. Every search engine loves fresh and user-generated content. By featuring reviews on your product pages, search engines can index that content and rank your product higher in search results. This means more people will see your product, leading to increased sales.
If you have just stepped into the e-commerce world, you may not have good customer testimonials to display on your website in the first place. In that case, you try to get more testimonials.
After a purchase or successful interaction with your brand, send a follow-up email asking for feedback. Make it easy for them to leave a review by providing links to your review platforms.
Another tried-and-tested way to acquire customer testimonials is to offer a small incentive. It could be anything from a discount to a free trial.
5. Offer Money-Back Guarantee
A money-back guarantee alleviates the risk associated with making a purchase. By offering a guarantee, you are telling your customers that you stand behind the quality of your products and are willing to take on the risk associated with a purchase.
This can go a long way in building trust with your customers and making them feel more comfortable buying from you.
When crafting your money-back guarantee policy, make it as bulletproof as possible. It entails removing potential obstacles or loopholes that could dissuade customers from purchasing. For example, you could offer a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee within a certain timeframe or offer to cover the cost of return shipping.
ConclusionÂ
Selling online is not just about making a quick buck but building a sustainable business that can withstand the test of time.
It requires sellers to be proactive, adaptive, and creative. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mark an uptick in your sales, the rules covered in this blog can lay a strong foundation for success.
