eCommerce is becoming a bigger industry every year, and that’s not surprising. People are opting to shop online because it offers 24/7 access, better price comparison options, and time savings, which are just a few of its unique advantages.

But even though they are clear, not every eCommerce business is destined for success. With so many opportunities, many companies are trying to get in on the e-shopping boom and enjoy rapid growth. 

To stand out, you need to have a comprehensive marketing strategy, utilizing a variety of approaches that ensure you’re getting a steady stream of new leads.

Let’s explore some of the most effective strategies you can employ to drive sales both in the short and the long term. 

Focus on SEO

eCommerce SEO has been a staple of any comprehensive marketing strategy for a long time. If executed correctly, an SEO strategy can deliver consistent and reliable results month after month, sending targeted and high-intent traffic to your website for free.

But with Google becoming better at evaluating SEO efforts, old strategies such as keyword-stuffing or using low-quality backlinks are slowly going extinct. 

Today, a good SEO strategy is not about how many backlinks you have but about how well you can cater to your audience’s needs. 

And that includes not only relevant content and products but also how convenient your website is to use, whether it’s fast, and how well it is designed to be viewed on a mobile device.

With so many considerations, it’s not surprising that many eCommerce stores struggle to rank their site. But really, you just have to go through a few essential steps to outcompete the majority of stores in your niche.

First, you must take the time to perform in-depth research, looking into your audience and their online habits. By identifying the keywords that your best buyers are likely to use, you’ll already be well on your way to attaining rankings that will actually translate to purchases. 

Then, you will need to make sure that those keywords are clearly reflected on your site. Using them not only in the content but also in the Meta Title and Meta Description is essential. 

Having plenty of images and internal links will also help improve your score in the eyes of Google, as will having clear product names that make them easier to recognize.

Finally, even though low-quality backlinks are virtually worthless, you can still use high-quality and relevant backlinks from high-authority sites. A few well-placed backlinks might be all that’s necessary to quickly grow your rankings for a specific keyword. 

Send More Emails

Email marketing can bring back as much as $42 for every dollar you spend on it. That’s a statistic that can be hard to believe at first, but it’s also quite understandable once you consider how many opportunities you have to engage the people on your list.

What’s more, the subscribers also become more familiar with your brand and your products, showing more trust in what you have to offer and making your job of selling to them easier. 

But how can you make the most out of your email list? Well, there are a few steps you can take. 

First, you must make sure that you’re always growing your list. Old subscribers will eventually become inactive, so you need new ones to replace them and keep the momentum going. 

Set up multiple landing pages to capture various segments of your audience, and make sure to segment the email lists themselves based on different types of people and their actions. 

Don’t overcomplicate the technology part of the equation, either. You can even use a mail merge for Gmail tool to send out relevant messages to your audience, engaging them and following up until you get a response. 

Finally, make sure that you continue testing and optimizing your email funnel based on the responses that you get. As your list becomes more segmented, you will have an easier time sending out personalized messages that speak to each subscriber individually. 

That way, once you direct your subscribers to your offers, you can enjoy better conversion rates, as they will be shown products that they genuinely want and need. 

Optimize Conversions

One of the fastest ways to grow your eCommerce business is to improve conversions. Sure, you can direct more traffic to your site, but that usually takes time and money. 

Meanwhile, if you can optimize your pages for the traffic you’re receiving right now, you can enjoy an immediate boost in sales without having to do anything else.

But how can you optimize conversions on your store? Let’s explore a few eCommerce conversion optimization tactics. 

First off, make sure that the checkout process is as simple as possible. Any friction that your visitors have to overcome will inevitably result in lower conversion rates, so make the checkout intuitive, simple, and easy to fill out. 

That also means clearly showcasing what your product is about. Having consistent and immersive images, as well as persuasive and informative descriptions, will help your audience feel more confident about making a purchase.

Finally, you can’t underestimate the power of social proof. By having well-placed testimonials and reviews speak for your products, you can increase trust and help convert people who aren’t sure if they will get the outcome that they want. 

Use Google Shopping Ads

Using paid ads can be expensive. So if you are going to use them, it’s good to at least target prospects who are already ready to buy. 

And that’s precisely what Google Shopping Ads can help you accomplish. These ads appear at the top of the results page and target high purchase intent shoppers who are already looking for solutions. 

The people that see these ads are aware that they want your product and just need the right offer to take action. If you make a compelling ad, offer a reasonable price, and show that you’re a reliable seller, you can enjoy a solid conversion rate and an immediate boost to your revenue. 

The important thing to remember that, just as with any paid ads, you need to test and tweak your approach. Even if you’re not profitable initially, you should stay persistent until you find the keywords and the ads that work. 

Conclusions

eCommerce is projected to become a $5 billion industry in 2021, which means there will be an abundance of opportunities for those that know how to grab them.

By using the strategies and tactics listed above, you will be well on your way to separating yourself from the competition and realizing your full business potential online.