Table Of Content
Introduction
Running an online store can be tough, right? With so many shops out there, standing out and getting those sales can feel like a constant challenge. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. Whether you’re just starting or looking to boost your existing business, there are plenty of strategies that can help you attract more customers and increase ecommerce sales of your online store.
From building a strong brand to making your website user-friendly and leveraging social media, there are tried-and-true tactics that can make a big difference. And guess what? We’ve got some solid data and practical tips to guide you every step of the way. So, grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s dive into some awesome strategies to help you increase ecommerce sales!
Factors that Influence ecommerce sales
When it comes to boosting eCommerce sales, several factors come into play. Market trends, competitor activities, marketing efforts, and seasonal buying patterns can all cause sales to fluctuate. But the main drivers of eCommerce sales are pretty straightforward: how many people visit your online store, how many of them make a purchase, and how much they spend.
If you want to increase your sales, focus on these key areas:
- Traffic to Your Store: The more people visit your online store, the more potential customers you have. Simply put, more visitors usually mean more sales.
- Conversion Rate: This is the percentage of visitors who actually make a purchase. Improving your conversion rate means getting more sales from the same amount of traffic. Even if you don’t get more visitors, you can still increase sales by converting more of the ones you already have.
- Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): This is the total amount of money a customer spends with you over their entire relationship with your business. You can increase CLV by encouraging repeat purchases, improving customer retention, and increasing the average value of each sale.
- Average Order Value (AOV): This is the average amount spent each time a customer places an order. By encouraging customers to add more items to their cart or offering upsells and bundles, you can increase the AOV and boost your overall sales.
List Of 29 Best Strategies to Increase ecommerce sales
- Build Your Brand
- Develop an Engaging ‘About’ Page
- Make Your Site Easy to Use
- Optimize for Mobile
- Display Customer Reviews
- Use Social Media
- Shop Inside the App
- Send Marketing Emails
- Work with Influencers
- Start Paid Ads
- Implement Retargeting Ads
- Create a Loyalty Program
- Offer Deals and Discounts
- Show Off Top Sellers in Videos
- Focus on Great Service
- Add Live Chat
- Provide Many Payment Options
- Simplify the Checkout Process
- Speed Up Delivery
- Boost Your Conversion Rate
- Enhance Product Descriptions
- Understand Your Customers
- Analyze to Improve
- Try New Marketing Ideas
- Customize Messages
- Cut Down on Cart Abandonment
- Sell More to Current Customers
- Test Different Approaches
- Improve Your SEO
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Build Your Brand
why It Matters:
Building a strong brand helps differentiate your business from competitors and creates a lasting impression on customers. For example, consistent branding can increase revenue by up to 23%. A familiar and trusted brand can also make consumers more likely to purchase from you; Nielsen found that 59% of consumers prefer to buy new products from brands familiar to them. This kind of recognition and trust is crucial for attracting and retaining customers.
How to Do It:
- Define Identity: Use consistent logos, colors, and messages across all platforms.
- Engage on Social Media: Post regularly and interact with followers to build a community.
- Create Content: Share valuable content like blogs and videos that reflect your brand’s values.
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Develop an Engaging ‘About’ Page
why It Matters:
An engaging ‘About Us’ page can significantly enhance user engagement and trust. For instance, 52% of consumers visit a brand’s ‘About Us’ page when they first land on the site.This page is your opportunity to tell your story, highlight your values, and connect with customers on a personal level, which can help build trust and differentiate your brand.
How to Do It:
- Tell Your Story: Share your journey, mission, and what makes your company unique.
- Highlight Your Team: Introduce key members with photos and brief bios.
- Showcase Achievements: Display awards, recognitions, and significant milestones to build credibility.
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Make Your Site Easy to Use
why It Matters:
A user-friendly website is crucial for converting visitors into customers. Research by Forrester indicates that a good user interface can boost conversion rates by up to 200%. Moreover, websites with better UX design can see conversion rates up to 400% higher. Simplifying navigation and ensuring fast load times can significantly reduce bounce rates, making it easier for customers to find what they need and complete their purchases.
How to Do It:
- Simplify Navigation: Use clear menus and logical categories.
- Speed Up Loading: 47% of consumers expect pages to load in 2 seconds or less, according to Akamai. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to optimize performance.
- Clear CTAs: Use strong calls to action that guide users towards desired actions.
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Optimize for Mobile
why It Matters:
With mobile commerce expected to account for 72.9% of total e-commerce sales according to Statista, optimizing your site for mobile is essential. Google’s mobile-first indexing also means that the mobile version of your site is considered the primary version, affecting your search engine rankings. A mobile-optimized site ensures that users have a seamless experience regardless of the device they use, which is crucial for capturing and retaining mobile shoppers.
How to Do It:
- Responsive Design: Ensure your website adjusts seamlessly to different screen sizes.
- Simplify Checkout: Reduce steps and forms for mobile users to make the checkout process smooth.
- Optimize Media: Use compressed images and videos to ensure quick load times without compromising quality.
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Display Customer Reviews
why It Matters:
Customer reviews provide social proof and can significantly influence purchasing decisions. For example, 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, and 79% trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Displaying positive reviews builds trust and credibility, showing potential customers that others have had a good experience with your products or services.
How to Do It:
- Feature Reviews: Display customer reviews prominently on product pages and a dedicated review section.
- Encourage Feedback: Ask for reviews after purchases and offer incentives like discounts.
- Respond: Engage with both positive and negative reviews to show that you value customer feedback.
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Use Social Media
why It Matters:
Social media platforms offer a powerful way to reach and engage with your target audience. In fact, 54% of social browsers use social media to research products. Regular activity on social media can increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, and boost sales. Social media also provides opportunities for direct interaction with customers, allowing you to build relationships and foster loyalty.
How to Do It:
- Post Regularly: Share updates, offers, and engaging content to keep your audience interested.
- Engage: Respond to comments and messages to build relationships with your followers.
- Use Ads: Target your audience with social media ads to boost visibility and conversions.
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Shop Inside the App
why It Matters:
Mobile apps offer a more personalized and convenient shopping experience, which can increase user engagement and sales.Mobile app users are twice as likely to return within 30 days. Apps provide opportunities for push notifications, in-app promotions, and a streamlined checkout process, making it easier for users to browse and purchase.
How to Do It:
- App Development: Create a user-friendly app that offers a seamless shopping experience.
- In-App Shopping: Make it easy to browse products, add items to the cart, and checkout.
- Push Notifications: Use notifications to remind users about deals, abandoned carts, and new products.
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Send Marketing Emails
why It Matters:
Email marketing is a cost-effective way to reach customers directly with personalized messages. It has a high ROI, with the DMA reporting an average return of $42 for every $1 spent. Email allows you to nurture relationships, promote products, and drive traffic to your website. With the ability to segment your audience and tailor content, email marketing can deliver high engagement and improve customer retention.
How to Do It:
- Build a List: Collect emails through sign-ups, pop-ups, and checkout processes.
- Personalize: Use customer data to tailor messages based on behavior and preferences.
- Automation: Set up automated campaigns for cart abandonment, promotions, and follow-ups.
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Work with Influencers
why It Matters:
Influencers have established trust and credibility with their followers. Partnering with influencers can expand your reach, enhance brand credibility, and drive sales. Twitter reports that 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations. Influencer endorsements act as social proof, making potential customers more likely to trust and buy your products.
How to Do It:
- Find Influencers: Look for influencers who align with your brand and have a genuine following.
- Collaborate: Partner with influencers for product reviews, sponsored posts, and promotions.
- Track Results: Measure the impact of influencer campaigns on traffic and sales.
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Start Paid Ads
why It Matters:
Paid ads provide a quick and effective way to increase visibility and drive targeted traffic to your website. Google reports that its ads have an average ROI of $2 for every $1 spent. With precise targeting options, you can reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, ensuring your ads are seen by potential customers most likely to convert.
How to Do It:
- Choose Platforms: Use Google, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms where your audience is active.
- Target Audience: Use demographics, interests, and behavior to reach your ideal customers.
- Monitor and Adjust: Track performance and optimize your ads for better results.
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Implement Retargeting Ads
why It Matters:
Retargeting ads remind visitors of products they viewed but didn’t purchase, encouraging them to complete the transaction. These ads can be highly effective in bringing back potential customers who showed interest but didn’t convert.Retargeting can increase conversion rates by up to 150%.
How to Do It:
- Set Up Pixels: Use tracking pixels to monitor visitors to your site.
- Create Ads: Show ads featuring products that users viewed.
- Adjust Frequency: Ensure ads are seen often enough to remind users but not too frequently to annoy them.
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Create a Loyalty Program
why It Matters:
Loyalty programs encourage repeat purchases and foster long-term customer relationships. Accenture found that loyalty program members spend 12-18% more. By rewarding customers for their loyalty, you can increase customer retention, lifetime value, and overall satisfaction.
How to Do It:
- Rewards System: Offer points, discounts, or exclusive offers to reward repeat purchases.
- Easy Enrollment: Make it simple for customers to join your loyalty program.
- Exclusive Benefits: Provide special perks for members, such as early access to sales or exclusive products.
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Offer Deals and Discounts
why It Matters:
Deals and discounts can attract new customers, encourage repeat purchases, and move excess inventory. 93% of shoppers use a discount code at least once a year. Offering special promotions creates a sense of urgency, motivating customers to take advantage of limited-time offers.
How to Do It:
- Seasonal Sales: Align discounts with holidays and events.
- Flash Sales: Create urgency with limited-time offers.
- Coupons: Distribute discount codes through email and social media.
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Show Off Top Sellers in Videos
why It Matters:
Videos engage customers and can significantly influence purchasing decisions. Animoto reports that viewers are 1.8 times more likely to purchase after watching a video. By showcasing top-selling products in videos, you can demonstrate their features and benefits, build trust, and provide social proof through testimonials.
How to Do It:
- Product Demos: Create videos that demonstrate product features and benefits.
- Customer Testimonials: Share real user experiences to build trust.
- Behind the Scenes: Provide a look into your business operations to humanize your brand.
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Focus on Great Service
why It Matters:
Excellent customer service can turn shoppers into loyal customers and advocates for your brand. Salesforce found that 89% of consumers are more likely to make another purchase after a positive customer service experience. Providing responsive and helpful support can improve customer satisfaction and retention.
How to Do It:
- Responsive Support: Offer timely help through multiple channels.
- Multichannel: Provide support via chat, email, and phone.
- Train Staff: Ensure your team is knowledgeable and friendly.
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Add Live Chat
why It Matters:
Live chat provides immediate assistance, helping customers make purchasing decisions and resolve issues quickly.Live chat can increase conversions by 20%. It also offers a convenient way for customers to get answers without leaving your site, enhancing their overall shopping experience.
How to Do It:
- Integrate Chat: Add a live chat feature to your website.
- Quick Responses: Aim for fast reply times to keep customers engaged.
- Use Bots: Handle common queries automatically, freeing up staff for more complex issues.
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Provide Many Payment Options
why It Matters:
Offering a variety of payment methods ensures that customers can choose their preferred way to pay, reducing friction and cart abandonment. 6% of customers abandon carts due to a lack of payment options. Providing multiple payment options makes it easier for customers to complete their purchases.
How to Do It:
- Variety: Accept credit/debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, etc.
- Security: Ensure secure transactions to build trust.
- Global Methods: Cater to international customers by offering region-specific payment options.
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Simplify the Checkout Process
why It Matters:
A complicated checkout process can lead to cart abandonment. Baymard Institute found that 28% of carts are abandoned due to a complicated checkout process. Simplifying the checkout process reduces friction and encourages customers to complete their purchases.
How to Do It:
- Guest Checkout: Allow purchases without requiring account creation.
- Fewer Steps: Simplify the process to reduce the number of steps required.
- Auto-Fill: Use address and payment auto-fill options to speed up checkout.
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Speed Up Delivery
why It Matters:
Fast delivery times can be a significant competitive advantage, improving customer satisfaction and loyalty.56% of consumers expect same-day delivery. Ensuring quick and reliable delivery can make your customers more likely to purchase from you again.
How to Do It:
- Efficient Logistics: Partner with reliable carriers to ensure timely delivery.
- Inventory Management: Keep stock levels accurate to avoid delays.
- Offer Choices: Provide standard and expedited shipping options.
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Boost Your Conversion Rate
why It Matters:
Improving your conversion rate directly impacts your bottom line by turning more visitors into paying customers. Akamai found that a 1-second delay in page response can result in a 7% reduction in conversions. By optimizing your site and marketing efforts, you can significantly increase sales and revenue.
How to Do It:
- A/B Testing: Test different site elements to see what works best.
- User Feedback: Gather insights from users to identify pain points.
- Improve UX: Continuously refine the user experience to make it more intuitive and enjoyable.
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Enhance Product Descriptions
why It Matters:
Detailed product descriptions help customers make informed purchasing decisions and reduce returns. Salsify reports that detailed descriptions can increase conversions by 78%. Clear and informative descriptions highlight the key features and benefits of your products, making them more appealing to customers.
How to Do It:
- Key Features: Highlight the benefits and specifications of your products.
- Engaging Language: Use persuasive and clear language to attract customers.
- SEO Keywords: Include relevant search terms to improve visibility in search engines.
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Understand Your Customers
why It Matters:
Understanding your customers’ preferences and behavior helps you tailor your marketing efforts and improve customer satisfaction. McKinsey found that companies using customer data are 23 times more likely to acquire customers. Personalizing the shopping experience based on customer insights can lead to higher engagement and sales.
How to Do It:
- Surveys and Feedback: Regularly ask for customer opinions to gather insights.
- Analyze Behavior: Use analytics to track user actions and preferences.
- Personalization: Tailor experiences based on customer data to meet their needs better.
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Analyze to Improve
why It Matters:
Regular analysis helps you understand what’s working and what’s not, allowing you to make informed adjustments. McKinsey found that data-driven decisions can improve marketing ROI by 15-20%. By continuously assessing and refining your strategies, you can optimize your marketing efforts and drive better results.
How to Do It:
- Track Metrics: Monitor key performance indicators like traffic, conversions, and sales.
- Use Tools: Employ analytics tools like Google Analytics to gather data.
- Regular Reviews: Continuously assess and refine your strategies based on the data.
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Try New Marketing Ideas
why It Matters:
Innovative marketing can set you apart from competitors and attract attention. HubSpot reports that trying new ideas helps you discover effective strategies and stay ahead in the market. Experimenting with different approaches can reveal new opportunities for growth and engagement.
How to Do It:
- Brainstorm Sessions: Encourage creative thinking within your team.
- Pilot Programs: Test new ideas on a small scale before a full rollout.
- Monitor Results: Track the success of new initiatives and adjust accordingly.
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Customize Messages
why It Matters:
Personalized emails deliver 6 times higher transaction rates. Customized messages resonate more with customers, leading to higher engagement and conversions. Tailoring your communication to individual preferences and behaviors can significantly improve your marketing effectiveness.
How to Do It:
- Segmentation: Divide your audience into groups based on behavior and preferences.
- Tailored Content: Customize emails and ads for each segment to make them more relevant.
- Dynamic Content: Use variables to personalize messages with the recipient’s name, past purchases, and more.
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Cut Down on Cart Abandonment
why It Matters:
The average cart abandonment rate is around 70%. Reducing cart abandonment can significantly increase your sales by converting potential customers who were close to making a purchase. By addressing the common reasons for cart abandonment, you can improve the checkout experience and encourage more customers to complete their purchases.
How to Do It:
- Reminder Emails: Send follow-up emails to remind customers about their abandoned carts.
- Exit-Intent Popups: Offer discounts or incentives before they leave the site.
- Simplify Checkout: Reduce steps and forms to make the process as smooth as possible.
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Sell More to Current Customers
why It Matters:
Existing customers are 50% more likely to try new products and spend 31% more compared to new customers. Focusing on current customers can lead to higher sales and better customer retention. By offering relevant upsells and cross-sells, you can increase the average order value and maximize revenue from your existing customer base.
How to Do It:
- Upselling: Suggest higher-end products that complement their purchase.
- Cross-Selling: Recommend related products that enhance their purchase.
- Loyalty Programs: Encourage repeat purchases with rewards and discounts.
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Test Different Approaches
why It Matters:
A/B testing and experimenting with different strategies help identify what works best for your audience, leading to better performance and higher conversions. Regular testing allows you to optimize your marketing efforts and improve your overall results.
How to Do It:
- A/B Testing: Test different versions of web pages, emails, and ads.
- Gather Data: Analyze the results to see which approach performs better.
- Iterate: Continuously test and refine your strategies based on the findings.
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Improve Your SEO
why It Matters:
SEO is crucial for driving organic traffic to your website. Higher search rankings can lead to more visibility, increased traffic, and ultimately more sales. By optimizing your site for search engines, you can attract more potential customers and improve your online presence.
How to Do It:
- Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords that your audience is searching for.
- On-Page Optimization: Optimize titles, headers, and content with target keywords.
- Quality Content: Create valuable and informative content that addresses your audience’s needs.
Conclusion
After understanding the strategies to increase eCommerce sales, focus on making your website user-friendly and fast. Offer a variety of high-quality products at competitive prices, and provide excellent customer service. Effective marketing through SEO, social media, and email campaigns is crucial.
Ensure multiple secure payment options and efficient shipping methods are available. Encourage customer reviews and personalize the shopping experience. Implement loyalty programs and leverage advanced technologies like AI and AR to enhance the experience. Regularly track your performance and stay updated with market trends to ensure continuous growth.