5 Ways Brick-and-mortar stores can have their own eCommerce store The increasing popularity of online shopping is a real concern for most of the brick-and-mortar shops. However, the omnipresence of the virtual shops is definitely a competitive edge that may affect the physical stores in the long run. The ease of shopping is what adds to the popularity of the eCommerce sites. Even though, the customers don't get the touch and feel of the products, they prefer shopping online owing to the convenience and easy return/refund policies. This is a wake-up call for the local retailer. This is one aspect that is inevitable for every trader. The prominence of online shopping urges them to go from real to virtual. Are you an owner of a brick-and-mortar store? Do you want to have your own online shop? Here are some of the tips that can help you find a solution. Check them out.
Focus on web designing
The eCommerce giants like Amazon and others may be considered a threat to the brick-and-mortar store, but at the same they have opened up a lot of opportunities for them. You can always learn from the mistakes that they have committed and the things they do differently while trading online. The very first thing these biggies do is to focus on the UI of their site. The open-source CMS platforms is an effortless means to get your online store. You can create your online
store without getting into any sort of coding. The eCommerce site is created at just a few button clicks. You can even hire OpenCart development services, Prestashop development services or services for other platforms. With easy management and effortless usage, the physical store can effortlessly sell their products online. Additionally, make your site mobile responsive as most of the web searches are done via mobile devices. The next confusion that might arise is how to find the target audience. With so many sites, grabbing the attention of the customers to a new store is difficult. You can tap a larger audience by selling your products in the marketplace. There are plugins available that can connect your site with the Amazon, Etsy and other marketplaces.
Indulge in local SEO
While the eCommerce sites might be crippling some of the conversions of the physical store, but these stores have an edge over online shopping. The fact that location-based services are on a rise cannot be denied. This is where the brick-and-mortar stores can kick-start their venture online. Start by making a local market. Other than this, the website will only reap results if it ranks higher in Google’s SERP. Proper SEO can help you find a position amongst the competitors. Indulge into local SEO and you’ll be able to tap the target audience. Moreover, having an application can help you personalize your marketing campaign. The mobile app builder can convert your mobile store into a mobile. The app creator is compatible with most of the common eCommerce platforms.
Personalize customer interaction Nothing can beat the effect of personalized marketing that a physical store can offer. Use this USP of your store even on the virtual platform. Make sure that your e-marketer is not ignoring this aspect. Along with this, for the new entrants building the customer trust is a must. So, incorporate live chat option in your site. Cater to all the issues and problems that the customers are facing. Once the issues are resolved, ask them to drop their feedback. When it comes to trying something, the customers tend to rely on the ratings and customer testimonial. Provide a personalized touch to your online shopping site and the conversions shall follow eventually.
Emphasize convenience
The whole idea of shopping online instead of visiting a physical store is avoid the unwanted hassle and effort. So, make online transaction as seamless as possible for your potential customers. The clutter-free category and landing pages can help them find their desired product. The product pages should be optimized enough to facilitate the decision-making process of the visitors. Include high-definition images and if possible product videos. The better clarity the customer gets, the easier it’ll be for him to shop online. Once the product is added to the cart do not make them fumble into the lengthy checkout process. Provide the option of social login and one page checkout, so that, the customers can effortlessly complete their transaction.
Beef up social media marketing
Nothing can enhance the visibility of your as quickly as social networking. SEO is a time-consuming process, but the social media marketing can help you promote your site in minimal time. All you need to do is to find the right audience base on the social media platform and keep them engaged. F-commerce even offers an easy medium to sell the products on Facebook. You can now stay ahead of competitor by helping you tap a larger audience. Share relevant information in a timely manner and keep your target customers engaged. Invite them in discussion and answer their queries. Keeping up with the interaction is the best way to motivate the customers to buy from you.
Final words With the technological advanced, going online is just a matter of moment. So, make sensible use of the same and grab a larger customer base at a button click.