Ten Strategies to Grow Your E-Commerce Business

When it comes to e-commerce, change is constant. From technological advancements and pricing strategies to customer engagement trends and product offerings, the e-commerce landscape is always evolving. And as consumers search for the latest and greatest products and pricing, it is imperative that e-commerce businesses are agile, and laser-focused on the strategies necessary to adapt to new trends.

Here are ten strategies to help your e-commerce business thrive:

1. Optimize Mobile Search

As of July 2022, 71% of traffic to online retailers came from phones, and 61% of online orders were completed on mobile! Optimizing your customer experience for mobile, with both mobile-friendly websites and mobile-focused marketing strategies, is a must. Not only should your website be responsive to the user’s screen size and orientation and have large font sizes and buttons, but also be quick to load and feature a streamlined layout (e.g., single-column product pages). Also use marketing channels that are optimal for the mobile experience, such as SMS marketing and social media (including organic, influencer, and social ads).

2. Enhance User Experience

Online consumers are not only price-conscious but also willing to conduct extensive research to ensure they’re buying the right product. Help prospective customers streamline their research and nudge them toward choosing your products by making sure your e-commerce website is easy to navigate and optimized for search. Your menu should offer clear categories so customers can find what they’re looking for and images should be available for each product you sell. Also be sure to provide detailed product descriptions on your product pages, including details like materials, size, and features.

3. Go Multi-Channel

According to Harvard Business Review, 73% of shoppers browse several channels before buying. And SAP reported that selling on multiple channels increases sales and customer loyalty for brands. Consider expanding beyond your ecommerce website to sell on marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, or Etsy, social media platforms, and even physical stores.

4. Implement a Social Commerce Strategy

Social commerce is one of the biggest trends in e-commerce. Connect your e-commerce store to your social media profiles and tag products in your posts so social media users can browse your store without leaving the platform. Also consider creating live-stream shopping experiences, working with influencers, or even offering exclusive deals on social media platforms.

5. Prioritize Customer Service

The customer experience is more important than ever and how customers are treated during the buying process can make or break brand loyalty. According to one study, 87% of shoppers will spend less with a brand or stop shopping with a retailer altogether if they skimp on customer service. Create a great customer service experience by:

• Offering several ways to contact customer service, including email, phone, live chat, social media, and SMS
• Providing self-service options, including FAQs and the ability to initiate basic processes like returns
• Responding to negative feedback in reviews or on social media
• Maintaining a quick response rate

6. Adopt Customer-First Policies

Customer-first policies not only increase customer satisfaction but also reduce the customer’s perceived risk of trying your products. Consider offering free shipping and returns and returns windows of 30 days or more so customers feel at ease in making purchase decisions.

7. Amplify Your Retention Strategy

Consider offering loyalty or rewards programs, where customers can earn points for engaging with your brand — like making a purchase, referring a friend, or signing up for texts. Then let customers redeem those points for discounts or free products.

8. Boost Average Sales

Encourage customers to buy more by offering discounts on bulk purchases. Also consider cross-selling techniques or product bundling to incentivize customers to add more products to their cart.

9. Invest Online

Invest in improving your ecommerce website by making it visually appealing, user-friendly, and optimized for conversions. Also continue building your lists of email and SMS subscribers to send personalized campaigns, special offers, and build customer loyalty.

10. Operate Sustainably Today’s consumers are focused on sustainability and supporting brands with a positive social impact. According to a study by GFK, sustainability has grown to be more important to 52% of shoppers compared to before the pandemic and customers care about their impact on the world via the brands they purchase from. That includes things like switching to local products, buying from brands that care about animal welfare, the environment, and social equality, and stopping buying products that use too much packaging. Capitalize on opportunities to change your supply chain, packaging, or brand message to align with sustainability and social impact, consider doing so.