2018 saw global e-commerce sales reach $2.8 trillion, with the trend of year-on-year growth expected to continue. Shopify has become one of the most popular platforms for running an e-commerce store, making the process of setting up a site straightforward. The rise of global online retail and the simplicity of store creation, though, has led to a great deal of competition. In order to stay ahead of the crowd, it is important you go beyond what most store owners are doing. Assuming you have chosen desirable products and set up your store correctly, the following tactics can be used to take your results to the next level.
Start A Loyalty Program
It is common to see loyalty programs in major retail outlets, but smaller businesses use them less frequently. However, a loyalty program can encourage repeat purchases and help develop brand ambassadors. Shopify have various tools, such as the Smile app, that can set up a loyalty program offering loyalty points, a referral program, and a VIP group.
Create Scheduled Events
Many stores have regular updates, but don’t make the most of them. Rather than simply listing new items, you could try to build an event based on their release. You could have a weekly release of a new product, so customers know to always check back at a certain time. This method will help build anticipation among buyers, ensuring they pay regular attention to your store.
Promote User-Generated Content
Some of the most effective content will be created by your customers. Depending on the type of products you sell, you could find users create eye-catching images, video demonstrations, product hauls, and more. Promoting this content across your social media network or blog will encourage others to contribute, leading to greater engagement levels for your brand.
Encourage Reviews And Testimonials
Many stores have regular updates, but don’t make the most of them. Rather than simply listing new items, you could try to build an event based on their release. You could have a weekly release of a new product, so customers know to always check back at a certain time. This method will help build anticipation among buyers, ensuring they pay regular attention to your store.
Build A Referral Program
A referral from an existing customer is a powerful endorsement. You can gain referrals by setting up a program, offering people commissions or discounts on existing products. Shopify apps like Referral Candy or Rewards and Referrals by Swell will simplify the process. An effective approach is to email customers after a purchase, giving a link users can send to friends who will appreciate the store. Providing people with promotional resources is an additional way of increasing response rates.
Find Relevant Influencers
Influencer marketing can often be a good match for e-commerce stores looking to build their brand quickly. Traditional paid advertising can drive traffic to your site, but users aren’t usually warmed up to your products. Targeted influencers, though, can add an amount of social proof that provides a high conversion rate. You don’t necessarily need to focus on the most popular influencers, with many micro-influencers having a stronger bond with their followers.
Shopify have made the process of setting up an e-commerce extremely easy. You can have a sophisticated store online in no time, with drop shipping reducing the need for expensive product development. If you go down the route of creating products from scratch, there will be more time and expense required. However, you can start marketing and promoting them with minimal difficulty. When you start to include these tactics into your approach, you can make the difference between a good store and one that really stands out from the crowd.
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