The internet is an overwhelming place in 2018. There are products and services for just about everything, and e-commerce businesses are struggling to make an impact in this new world of online marketing. Luckily, with this rise in competition come a rise in resources. If business owners are willing to search for the best tools, they can streamline their success in a matter of clicks. Keep reading for a guide to the top e-commerce business essentials for 2018!
Selling Platform
You no longer need a long list of computer skills to get started with your online ecommerce business. There are now commerce tools you can install directly to your website to create a great shopping experience with a few clicks. According to ExpertSure CEO Ollie Smith, “Payment processing is a core component and determinant of your company’s success.” Your selling platform will make your payment process easier to navigate, but it’s important to choose the perfect platform for your needs. The most popular selling platforms available in 2018 are WooCommerce and Shopify.
Email Marketing
While a lot of marketers will try to tell you that email marketing is dead in 2018, don’t believe everything you hear. Your email list is something you can rely on wholeheartedly as a business owner. While you can have as many social media followers as you want, these are not yours to own. The social platform might disappear at any moment’s notice, leaving you empty handed. That’s why it’s so essential to have a great email marketing software!
Sharon Hurley Hall of the well-known conversion boosting blog OptinMonster claims that in 2017 “people will send and receive 269 billion emails per day.” Email marketing is clearly here to stay! For a great basic email builder that’s easy to use, try Mailchimp which is free for your first 2000 subscribers.
Analyze Data
You can spend as much time and money marketing your business that you want, but if you don’t have a way to analyze the results you won’t get very far. Google Analytics is a free and easy to use tool for analyzing your website metrics. You can learn more about the demographics you reach, your bounce rate, and your average users. Web analytics is helpful for two big things: maximising your online marketing leads and boosting the user experience, says WordPress blog WPDevShed.com.
User-Friendly Design
Designing a great website is about more than aesthetics. Yes, it needs to look good, but it also needs to be easy to use. When new users find your website, you don’t have more than a few seconds to make an impact. Think about your favorite websites to shop on. Why is it you enjoy shopping there? Most likely it’s because these websites are easy to use and make shopping easy! When finding a user-friendly design, you want it to be easy to navigate, straightforward, with mobile-optimization.
Customer Service
Finally, customer service is an essential many e-commerce businesses are forgetting in 2018. According to HelpScout, 78% of online customers have abandoned a transaction because of poor service. When shopping online, customers don’t have anyone to ask if they have any questions. That means your website needs to optimized with easy to use features like 24/7 help chat or a contact email that allow customers to get the help they need quickly. FreshDesk is one of the best-known customer support softwares that’s easy to use for any industry.
Launch Your E-Commerce Business
Now is the best time to launch the e-commerce business of your dreams. If you’re planning on starting a business online, don’t forget these essentials above. They might seem small, but they can mean a world of a difference between success and failure! Stop waiting for the right moment and start your business today!
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Hrvoje Horvat
text me: +385/9193-55474
email: hrvojeh75@gmail.com