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If you're running an e-commerce business, you're probably already using social media to promote your products or services. However, while social media is a great avenue to reach potential customers, it's only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to growing your business and increasing product sales.
In fact, although social media continues to be the top choice for Australian exporters engaged in online marketing, the use of most channels, including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, has decreased since 2021. This is according to the latest DHL Export Barometer 2022 conducted on 948 businesses in Australia.
To really get the most out of your online presence, you need to take a comprehensive approach that addresses every stage of the buying journey. Here's a closer look at some of the other ways that are critical for boosting your e-commerce sales:
If you're thinking about expanding your e-commerce business into new markets, then website localisation should be at the top of your list. That is, creating separate versions of your website for different countries or regions. Besides translating your content into the local language, localising your website will require changing things like currency, payment methods, shipping options, and return policies to suit the preferences of your target market.
Let's say, for example, that you're an Australian retailer who sells swimwear. If someone from the United Kingdom (UK) visits your website and notices that everything is in dollars, they may be less inclined to make a purchase. However, if your website is localised for the UK market, they'll see prices in pounds sterling and be more interested in viewing your products.
By tailoring your content, it will show that you're invested in reaching out to them and that you understand their needs. As a result, you'll be more likely to gain their trust – and their business.
That being said, one of the main benefits of creating a localised website is that it can help you achieve better Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) rankings. When you create separate websites for your overseas markets, you can ensure that all of your content is relevant to the user's location. This includes using targeted keywords and phrases throughout your site. To complement your online digital marketing efforts, be sure to create engaging and insightful content that will signal to Google and other search engines that your site is a relevant result for users in that market. This will, in turn, increase your online visibility and play a part in growing your e-commerce sales as a whole.
According to DataReportal, there are 92.1% of internet users accessing the internet through their mobile phones. This means that you may be losing out on a significant pool of potential customers if your website is not optimised for mobile.
By ensuring that your site is accessible and easy to use on a small screen, you can provide the best possible experience for your visitors. For instance, opt for a responsive design that automatically adjusts the layout of your website to fit the size of the user's screen. Regardless of the device they are using, a responsive design guarantees that your website is ready to impress. You can also adjust your call-to-action buttons to be prominent enough to be clicked on easily – especially if you're relying on mobile customers to make purchases on your site.
Mobile-friendly websites also tend to rank higher in search results, which means more people are likely to see and visit your site. In fact, Google now uses what is called ‘mobile-first indexing’, which means that they will look at the mobile version of your site before the desktop version when determining your rank. If your site is not optimised for mobile, you will likely be penalised with a lower ranking.
To attract and retain customers effectively, consider improving your promotional strategies. Some common types of promotions include discounts, bundle deals, buy one get one (BOGO) offers and product giveaways. To further increase your e-commerce sales, you can also have limited-time offers to create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to take advantage of a promotion before it expires. This type of promotion can be especially effective during holiday shopping seasons when shoppers are looking for ways to save money on their purchases.
If your potential customers see that your business is offering a great deal on their products, they may be more keen to try out your site. This is especially true if the promotion is for something that they have been wanting to buy. Once they make their first purchase, they are more likely to become regular customers.
That being said, if the promotion is not competitive, they may leave the site and go to another one where they can get a better deal. As such, when deciding on the types of promotions to offer at your e-commerce store, it is always a good idea to look at what your competitors are doing. This will give you an idea of what is working well for them and what might be appealing to your target market.
Remember, your e-commerce website is like a virtual storefront; it is the first point of contact between your business and potential customers. First impressions matter, and if your payment process is slow, confusing, or inefficient, you run the risk of losing customers before they even complete a purchase.
One of the best ways to improve your payment process is to offer your customers multiple payment options. They can then choose the payment method that best suits their needs. Some common payment options include credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Alipay and WeChat Pay.
You can also speed up the checkout process for your customers using payment tokenisation. Tokenisation is a process whereby sensitive payment data is replaced with a unique token. When customers enter their credit card information on your website, that information is securely sent to the payment gateway where it is converted into a token. The token is then stored by the gateway so that it can be used for future purchases. This means that customers don't have to re-enter their credit card details every time they make a purchase from your website.
Not only does this make checkout quicker for your customers, but it also reduces shopping cart abandonment rates and helps with improving your e-commerce sales.
Finally, free shipping is one of the easiest ways to increase customer satisfaction and boost e-commerce sales in the long run. You can either offer free shipping only for orders over a certain amount or for loyalty program members. By incorporating this perk into your website, customers are more likely to add additional products to their cart in order to reach the free shipping threshold. This means that you can expect to see a higher average order value from customers who take advantage of your free shipping option. To do so, consider working with countries that have Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to enjoy reduced or zero tariffs. That way, you can take advantage of lower costs while enabling free shipping for your customers.
Apart from free shipping, you can also consider improving your order fulfilment with expedited international shipping. By using a trusted delivery service like DHL Express that offers on-demand delivery and even same-day delivery, you can guarantee that your orders will arrive on time, every time. Whether you are shipping to Canada or exporting to Taiwan, your customers can count on your e-commerce store to deliver their purchases quickly and without hassle.
To get started, open a DHL Express business account today.
By employing the above strategies, your e-commerce business can reach a wider audience and increase your chances of making a sale. Furthermore, it's important to regularly review and adjust your strategy to ensure that it is achieving the desired results. With time and effort, you can find the perfect formula to improve your e-commerce sales and help your business grow.
Learn more tips by exploring our guides and articles on e-commerce.
