From 12 to 24 million — that is how many e-commerce websites are recorded, and more and more are being created each day, (Gennaro, 2020). With this, it is quite easy to infer that not only do these numbers quantify the emergence of e-commerce on the internet but also prove the fact that the buying market is really present there. Along the e-commerce websites come the mushrooming of social media which later on also became another channel where big and small businesses flock to reach potential customers and maintain their relationships with them. Facebook is lauded to be the most popular social media cum e-commerce platform. This became a fit for product marketing and client prospecting since Facebook ads have features that can enable you to reach your target audience directly through the scope and audience controls. Next to Facebook are YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter which also became internet spaces where businesses sprawled, thrived, and made a living.
In a study by Herhold (2019), it was revealed that businesses owned by millennials are leaning more on promoting and advertising through different mediums, including the internet, than the older generations. This is not a surprise since according to Statista (2020), the millennials are also the same group that takes the biggest share of the buying market. Younger people prefer shopping online more than our older folks. In numbers, 38% percent of online shoppers in the United States fall below the age of 35 and only 14.4% are within the age group 65 years or older. The biggest percentage is taken by our trendy millennials who are within the 25 to 34 age group. Despite this variance, it is, however, safe to say that people of various age groups take advantage of online commerce.
It in this light why careful considerations need to be made to improve your digital marketing strategy. We are continuously being challenged by the COVID-19 and commerce is directly affected: from the mass layoffs, closures, financial fragility, and other pandemic-related disruptions. Social media, positively, play a vital role in being the bridge between consumers and businesses to keep the trade rolling. However, the competition in the new normal marketplace is getting tougher so businesses need to continuously come up with innovative ways to improve their strategies. Here are some ideas you can incorporate into yours:
1. Revisit your marketing strategy.
With the number of people all over the internet, it is quite impossible not to have a few sales enough to cover your overheads. If that is still the case, you might want to do a recalculation of your marketing strategy. There might be ineffective elements that you may have overlooked along the way. Say for example your promotional posts, reevaluate if they are readable, striking, and attract attention. Most businesses do not see the importance of shoppable posts or color psychology when it comes to arranging catalogs on social media. A few other questions you might consider should be: do your promotional materials tell all the necessary details? Did you release the material at a time when everyone can read it? Or you might have overlooked if your products are in demand or not. These small details make it big.
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2. Use an influencer
Yes, this is the trend in the social media e-commerce market. They usually hire a social media influencer who has an established credibility in a specific industry. This influencer should have an access to a large audience, a huge follower count, and can really persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and reach. Most influencers are not expensive, some also are willing to do an exchange deal in which instead of paying money, you can just offer to give them supplies, goods, or your services as compensation. It might appear economical but you still have to find the person that suits your brand image.
3. Personalize your packaging
Shoppers love items delivered to them. There is a feeling of fulfillment or satisfaction opening a package they receive. To bedazzle this experience for them, personalize your package and shipping labels. Slip in a short thank you card and ship it. Remember to partner with reliable and efficient shipping companies to ensure quality is being implemented even in the transit of your goods. Broken items that get to your customers’ doorsteps can ruin your brand reputation and might provoke a bad review.
4. Keep a sustainable angle
Nowadays, people are becoming more conscious about the products they buy and the brands’ advocacies. Sustainable businesses have become a crowdpleaser. You do not have to overhaul the totality of your concept and business approach although sliding a simple step can wow your target market. Presenting yourself as a modern store that supports sustainability does not need to be effortful. You can simply use eco-friendly bags instead of the traditional plastic shopping bag or try giving out a bamboo straw for free. Supporting the cause is all that matters.
These ideas are definitely worth investing your time and money in. Whatever you decide on, ensure that you carefully consider and identify what your customers need. A quick and simple market research or needs assessment can make your business go leaps and bounds. Remember that the financial success of your business greatly depends on your marketing ability and only when your products are discovered, needed, and bought can keep your business floating and your overheads covered.
Related: Tips for Secure Online Shipping
About the Author:
Bash Sarmiento is a writer and an educator from Manila. He writes laconic pieces in the education, lifestyle, and health realms. His academic background and extensive experience in teaching, textbook evaluation, business management, and traveling are translated into his works.
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A great and informative article ,i have learned a lot .Thanks
Hi, thanks for reading.