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Beginner’s Guide to eCommerce for Retailers

November 30, 2023 / 6 minute read / By Zoya Naeem

Retail sales are making a comeback, and here’s the twist: they’re largely happening online rather than in traditional brick-and-mortar stores. This shift in shopping habits is becoming a permanent trend, and experts predict that this holiday season will break all previous records for online sales.

In fact, these days most sales are starting online, even if they end in your physical store!

In response to this surge, many retailers are getting on board by either launching eCommerce websites or if they already have a website, they are considering an online face-lift, to ensure they are ready for the holiday rush. To help newcomers and those aiming to boost their eCommerce ventures, we’ve compiled a few tips in our beginner’s guide to eCommerce below.

Set Clear Return Policies for your Retail eCommerce Store

When customers shop online, there’s always a bit of uncertainty until they actually receive their orders. That’s why it’s crucial to have clear and customer-friendly return policies in place.

Limited or no return options can deter potential buyers, as they might worry that the items won’t meet their expectations. In fact, many retailers have discovered that offering a generous and extended return policy not only boosts sales in the long term but also encourages repeat customers.

Besides offering a flexible returns policy, it’s wise to have a strategy for tracking your customers’ return habits. Some individuals might develop a habit of returning almost everything they purchase. By keeping a close eye on these patterns, you can address such cases while still providing excellent service to genuine and innocent customers.

Offer Convenient Online Order Fulfillment Options

More and more shoppers are leaning toward retailers that offer alternative ways to get their purchases. Throughout the pandemic, retailers have been offering many more flexible ways to fill cutomers’ orders, and shoppers are now expecting to have these options.

Giving customers options like same day curbside and in-store pickup is a great way to build a loyal local customer base. These choices bring the benefits of online shopping while providing the immediate satisfaction of getting products on the same day.

Watch Video: Streamline Delivery with Curbside Pickup Apps

Another newer option is for same-day delivery. This option is different from standard shipping since these orders might be delivered within the next couple of hours, by a delivery service.

It’s like bringing the store experience right to their doorstep!

It’s important to choose a retail software or eCommerce provider who supports these options since the website you use has to offer this in order for you to facilitate. As the retail industry continues to evolve and shoppers expect instant gratification, these options can make a big difference to your
eCommerce success.

Send Personalized Email Marketing to your Customers

Email marketing might not be the shiny new thing, but when it’s done right, it still reigns supreme in delivering the best ROI among all marketing channels.

However, if you are simply sending out generic, one-size-fits-all email blasts, you are wasting your time and efforts.

The secret to effective email marketing today lies in having an email marketing automation solution that seamlessly integrates with your eCommerce and point-of-sale system

This integration allows you to send targeted, personalized emails based on valuable customer data such as past purchases, birthdays, brand preferences, and more.

Believe it or not, using this data to personalize your emails can result in a whopping 6 times higher transaction rate compared to traditional mass emails. It’s all about making your customers feel seen and appreciated.

Download eBook: Email Marketing 101

Effectively Use Email Marketing for Your Retail Business

Keep Customers Informed: Use email to notify customers about crucial updates or changes in your business operations.
Promotions that Upsell: Encourage customers to explore and purchase more, based on prior purchases.
Product Review Invitations: Invite satisfied customers to leave online product reviews, building trust and credibility among potential buyers.
Abandoned Cart Reminders: Send friendly reminders to shoppers about items left in their carts, increasing the chances of completing the purchase.
Re-engage Lost Customers: Use email campaigns to re-engage with customers who haven’t interacted with your store recently, bringing them back into the fold.

Custom email marketing can improve eCommerce performance

Watch Video: How to Personalize Email Campaigns Based on Past Purchases

Make It Easy to Find Products with Dynamic Search

The way you arrange your eCommerce website can either make shopping a breeze or a frustrating experience for your customers. So, it’s important to carefully plan how you categorize and display your products. Instead of just sorting items as ‘men’ or ‘women’ think about adding more user-friendly filters like brand, season (summer or winter), or clothing type (shirts, trousers, dresses). Think of ways to classify your products better.

Pro Tip:

Depending on the eCommerce platform you use, you can have the option to allow your customers to easily search for products based on multiple search options. For example, if I wanted to do a fast search for the following options- black shoes, low heel height, size 9 and formal style. Your customers can click as many variables as they would like and they can very quickly sort through thousands of your products to find exactly what they are looking for- and fast!

The objective is to make it as easy as possible for customers to find what they are looking for with just a few clicks. A well-organized website not only looks appealing but also provides a convenient and enjoyable shopping experience. And when customers enjoy their visit, they are more likely to return for more.

Revamp your Retail Business by Moving into the Online World

Ready to leap into eCommerce or maybe give your existing website a face-lift?

The transition to eCommerce can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right technology partner and vendors, you can create and launch a successful online store quickly and efficiently.

Tips for a Successful eCommerce:

Choose a technology partner that specializes in eCommerce. They can help you select the right platform for your business and provide support throughout the development and launch process.
Make sure your eCommerce platform is integrated with your POS system. This will ensure that your product data, inventory levels, and customer information are always in sync.
Migrate your existing product data and images to your new eCommerce site. This will help you get up and running quickly and avoid losing any sales during the transition.
Use an email marketing platform to send personalized emails to your customers. This is a great way to promote new products, offer discounts, and stay in touch with your customers.
Invest in SEO to improve your website’s ranking in search results. This will help you attract more visitors to your online store.

If you’re not sure where to start, Celerant can help! We can help guide you through the entire process and make sure your eCommerce venture is a success.

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