CHECKLIST TO GROW YOUR ECOMMERCE BUSINESS INTO A SUCCESS

If youve read any of our previous blog posts youre probably starting to pick up on a theme; being successful online takes effort. As a matter of fact, building a thriving ecommerce business takes the same amount of hard work and discipline as building any other business, if not more so.

The following tips will help you to grow your ecommerce business into a success if you apply them on a constant basis.

• Plan ahead for everything - It isnt uncommon for a lot of ecommerce companies to miss significant selling opportunities due to not being ready ahead of time. This being the case, everything should be planned at least three months in advance. This includes seasonal promotions, product offerings, PPC and SEO campaigns, site design elements, etc.
• Make continuous improvements to your site - Many online businesses start with an incredible amount of enthusiasm only to fizzle out due to unrealistic expectations. Once your online store is up and running this isnt the time to sit back and see what happens. This approach is guaranteed for failure. In order to be successful online, you need to apply the same mentality of the major players of constantly improving and growing your website. Keep in mind that search engines as rule like larger sites and they thrive on quality content. With this said, make getting big fast and continually growing your content resources a top priority.
• Keep it real - Some business people still view the internet as something different from their physical business locations. In other words, they think its OK to do things online that they wouldnt do in the real world such as questionable marketing tactics to generate sales. Contrary to the old school way of thinking, your web presence is just as important, if not more important, than your physical business location. In todays wired world, most potential customers will find you via the internet opposed to driving by your business or finding you in the yellow pages. If your online presence is not coming across as the most reputable and professional in your field, your competitors are only a click away.
• Promote, promote, and promote some more - If you are not actively working on marketing your online business every day, the odds of success are not in your favor. Like any business, you dont set up a store, load it with products, and wait for something to happen This methodology does not work in the traditional retail world and it will not work online either. Any successful online business is constantly marketing their site 24 hours a day 365 days a year. In addition to online marketing methods such as SEO and PPC marketing, think about other things you can do such as sending out flyers and bumper stickers with your orders. Having strong email signatures that promote your business. Using signage on your physical locations and vehicles. The options are endless, and the more you market your business - the more successful it will be.
• Dont scare customers away - Have you ever visited a website, found their offers interesting, and then they got too nosy? Youve seen these sites that want your zip code, your email address, etc. before providing any of the information you want. If youre like most people you simply leave. With this said, if you apply such tactics, your potential customers will do the same. Dont ask your customers to provide more information than necessary and by all means do not force them to set up an account to shop with you. This may have worked in the past, but todays online shoppers arent going to do this as easily, which will result in lost sales for your business.
• Be the expert in your industry - The quickest way to gain ground on your competition, online or off, is by being an expert. However, this is even more so the case online where people are seeking information on products and services before making a purchase. Now, if you were a consumer and a site attracted you with the informational content you were looking for, and they also offered the product for sale, this would be a double win since these folks know what theyre talking about and they sell exactly what you want or need. This comes back to what was said earlier about making continuous improvements and maximizing your content opportunities. Simply showing a little picture with a blurb of text about your offering is not going to put you in a competitive position with leaders in your industry that offer online instruction manuals, lists of complementing products and accessories, additional product views, detailed product specs, etc.
• If you dont know ask - If you feel your website isnt living up to its potential, your marketing isnt effective, or you arent applying strategic site development that works - by all means ask a professional for help. Sometimes all it takes is a minor change to make a website more successful and in other cases it may require setting up a new site that is up-to-date to compete in todays online savvy world. Remember theres no shame in asking for help, especially if doing so saves your business money and increases your online sales.

The above principles should be a major part of your core thought processes and actions on a daily basis. Again, you cant win in ecommerce without commitment, planning and continuous effort. If youre not sure where to begin let us know. We can help you get started in the right direction.

Article Source