The volume of online trade, both in the world and in the US, is constantly growing. Global turnover reaches hundreds of millions of dollars. The network sells practically everything from modern gadgets and appliances to clothes and accessories. At the same time, you can’t start an online store and expect a huge number of customers to just come to the door. You need to have a well-developed online trading platform that attracts and retains consumers and turns them into customers. Here are some ways to achieve this.

1. Create a clear business plan and marketing strategy.

You cannot expect to build a profitable and popular online store if you do not have an accurate idea of what you are selling, how you will sell it and to whom you will sell it, as well as how you will win loyal customers. You don’t have to create a long document that includes the smallest details to have a good business plan. It simply needs to answer the following key questions:

– What are your main products?

– What is your unique offer that sets you apart from the rest?

– What are the main marketing techniques you will use?

The answers you give will determine the direction in which your online store will develop and will be the basis of your digital strategy.

2. Position the products you offer in the right way.

The positioning of the goods on the website has a great effect on sales. It is good to put the most popular and sought after products at the top of the page. They need to be central so that users can find them quickly and easily.

Don’t forget to offer goods that complement the main product, such as accessories, as well as its alternatives, with additional features and / or more features and a higher price. This tactic has been used successfully by online commerce leader Amazon for years. It contributes to a substantial part of the trader’s income.

3. How will you collect information about your customers?

The protection of users’ personal data is a major concern, but at the same time, you must collect a certain amount of information for marketing purposes. For starters, you need to know exactly what information you need and ask for the minimum. The more and more detailed information you want, the less likely the customer is to give it to you. You don’t want to drive away buyers by filling out long and detailed forms.

If you only ask for the user’s name and email, the chance that he will provide them increases many times over. One way to gather the information you want is to use a light box on your homepage. This is a small window that opens automatically, without clicking or other action by the user, while the page itself is dimmed. Whatever method you choose to use, it should grab users’ attention and encourage them to share information.

You need to use the data provided in the most effective way to develop your online marketing strategy. Promoting goods through special email offers, for example, is an easy way to reach interested users and turn them into customers.

4. Remove the entrance barriers.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is requiring all users to register their account in your online store before purchasing anything. This is a sure way to lose a lot of potential customers who are visiting your website for the first time or looking to grab a particular product as quickly as possible. Should any visitor to the online store can freely use shopping cart and buy goods.

There are a number of studies proving that the more steps lead to a purchase, the less likely it is to be made. For this reason, online commerce leaders gather everything they need within a page or two. In this business, simplifying every action a consumer wants to take is a sure key to success.

5. Create a social experience.

Social media is an important tool for increasing the number of visitors to your online store. To increase customer flow and sales, you need to create a social experience. This includes uploading attractive and interesting blog posts that contain links to your products.

It is good to have buttons for sharing content on social networks on every page of your online store . This is a free and easy way to attract customers. Incentive users to share pages as well as leave comments. Greater commitment leads to higher sales in the long run.

Here are some more useful ideas:

– Give a face to the brand – In addition to the logo, you can use photos of friendly employees.

– Use a quality mark and certificates from recognized industry and international organizations.

– Present product ratings given by previous customers.

It takes time to build trust with your customers, as well as loyalty. Since the competition is fierce, don’t waste time. If you lay the foundations now, you will undoubtedly achieve the desired results.

While a functional online store can be built in a relatively short time, turning it into a profitable project requires continuous work. A / B testing (alternative testing) should become an integral part of managing your online business. Test each new idea to make sure it works. Experiment as much as necessary to get the best result.

Remember that the best focus group is your customers. Seek and take into account their opinion.

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