The ecommerce industry has experienced exponential growth in recent years, with global sales projected to reach $5.545 trillion in 2022 and $7.385 trillion by 2025 (eMarketer).
As an ecommerce store owner, you can tap into this lucrative market. However, with increasing competition and the need for effective marketing strategies, it can take time to stand out from the crowd and achieve sustainable growth.
This is where ecommerce strategy consultants help you stand out. These professionals specialize in analyzing, evaluating, and optimizing ecommerce stores to help owners achieve their goals. They offer a range of services, from identifying areas for improvement to developing tailored strategies for increasing sales and generating more traffic. In this article, we will explore the benefits of hiring ecommerce strategy consultants and provide tips from top consultants on how to grow your online store.
What is an Ecommerce Strategy Consultant and Why Should You Hire One?
Ecommerce strategy consultants play a crucial role in the modern business landscape. They bring their expertise to the table by thoroughly analyzing ecommerce stores, evaluating their position in the market, and providing guidance on achieving growth and success. These professionals comprehensively understand fundamental digital marketing tenets, including search engine optimization (SEO), blogging, social media marketing, and online branding.
The primary role of an ecommerce strategy development consultant is to help you boost sales and generate more traffic to your online store. They do this by offering recommendations on improving your website, optimizing the store’s hierarchy, and tracking growth objectives. Additionally, they can assist with cost-reduction strategies and help you identify growth opportunities.
Here are a few reasons why hiring an ecommerce strategy development consultant is beneficial for your business:
1. Boost Sales
One of the biggest challenges for ecommerce store owners is the high shopping cart abandonment rate. An ecommerce strategy consultant can help you identify the reasons behind cart abandonment and provide solutions to make your website more welcoming and shopper-friendly. Implementing their recommendations can significantly reduce cart abandonment and increase sales.
2. Unbiased Feedback
When evaluating your online store, it’s essential to get unbiased feedback. While friends and family may offer their opinions, they may need more experience or a deep understanding of the online shopping landscape. An ecommerce strategy consultant can thoroughly audit your website and provide unbiased feedback on what you’re doing right and wrong. They can suggest minor tweaks that can lead to significant increases in sales.
3. Targeted Audience Focus
Effective marketing requires targeting the right audience. If you’re reaching the right people, you’re saving valuable resources. An ecommerce growth consultant can help you identify your most profitable target groups and develop strategies to get them. By focusing your marketing efforts on the right audience, you can maximize your return on investment (ROI) and increase sales.
4. Roadmap Development
With a clear roadmap, it’s easier to maintain sight of your objectives and track your progress. An ecommerce growth strategy consultant can create a customizable roadmap tailored to your business needs. This roadmap will help you track your goals, quantify them, and measure your business growth in the short and long terms.
Now that we understand the benefits of hiring ecommerce strategy consultants let’s dive into some actionable tips from top consultants on how to grow your online store.
Tips from Top Ecommerce Strategy Consultants to Grow Your Online Store
1. Integrate SMS Communication
One of the emerging trends in ecommerce is SMS integration. Integrating SMS communication lets you directly communicate with your customers during the purchase process. Sending messages such as payment confirmation and delivery updates can improve customer engagement and increase sales.
2. Utilize Videos
Videos play a vital role in capturing the attention of online shoppers. Different online marketers and ecommerce experts suggest using videos on your website to showcase your products and tell a compelling story. Adding a well-produced video to your homepage can increase conversions and engage customers deeper.
3. Grow Your Newsletter List
Ecommerce experts advise online store owners to focus on growing their newsletter list. Building a base of loyal customers through newsletters can drive long-term revenue from various channels, including SEO, PPC, and social media. You can build trust and encourage repeat purchases by consistently providing valuable content to your subscribers.
4. Focus on Email Captures
I’d like you to focus on building a community via email to keep a healthy flow of recurring customers coming to your online store. Email captures, such as pop-ups or tabs, allow you to collect email addresses and establish direct communication with potential customers. Implementing a welcome flow for new subscribers and creating engaging email campaigns can drive higher open and click-through rates, leading to increased conversions.
5. Establish a Major Differentiator
Experts emphasize the importance of having a significant differentiator or niche for your ecommerce store. Instead of competing directly with giants like Amazon, focus on a specific target market. For example, if you sell ladies’ apparel, consider marketing office and casual wear for stylish plus-size professional women. A unique selling proposition sets you apart and attracts a specific customer base.
6. Tell a Compelling Story
Having a story behind your brand can significantly
7. Optimize the Bottom of the Conversion Funnel
You can focus on optimizing the bottom of the conversion funnel, precisely the checkout flow. A slight improvement in the checkout process can significantly
8. Invest in SEO
SEO is the backbone of any business online. Invest in SEO to drive organic traffic to your ecommerce store. SEO is a cost-effective strategy that, when done right, can lead to a steady stream of targeted visitors. By optimizing your website and creating valuable content, you can improve your search engine rankings and drive more qualified traffic to your store.
9. Automate Your Email Flows
Automated email flows in many costumes lead to massive growth in driving sales. Implementing email sequences for cart abandonment, welcome messages, browse abandonment, VIP offers, and win-back campaigns can significantly increase revenue. By capturing customer’s attention at different stages of their journey, you can nurture leads and turn them into loyal customers.
10. Invest in High Intent Online Advertising
You can invest in high-intent online advertising to drive targeted traffic to your ecommerce store. Platforms like Google Ads, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram allow you to reach potential customers actively searching for products or have shown interest in your niche. Combining high-intent advertising with remarketing campaigns can help you stay top of mind and maximize conversions.
11. Use Discounts Strategically
Ecommerce store owners should use discounts strategically as they can bring in a lot of sales. While discounts attract customers, relying too heavily on them erodes profit margins. Instead, focus on other factors that improve customer engagement, such as high-quality product photos, videos, after-purchase tips, and customer feedback. Creating a compelling shopping experience can drive sales without relying solely on discounts.
By implementing these tips from top ecommerce development consultants, you can optimize your online store, increase sales, and achieve sustainable growth. However, finding the right ecommerce strategy consultant for your business is crucial. Let’s look at how you can choose the best consultant for your ecommerce store.
Conclusion
In today’s competitive ecommerce landscape, having a well-defined strategy is crucial to stand out from the crowd and achieve sustainable growth. Hiring an ecommerce strategy development consultant can provide you with the expertise and guidance necessary to navigate the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities in the market.
By implementing the tips shared by top ecommerce development consultants, such as integrating SMS communication, utilizing videos, and optimizing the bottom of the conversion funnel, you can drive more traffic to your online store and increase sales. Choosing the right ecommerce strategy consultant is essential, so consider factors such as shared goals, shared values, experience, consultancy fee, client testimonials, and work portfolio.
Remember, success in ecommerce doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a combination of practical strategies, continuous optimization, and expert guidance. With the help of an ecommerce development consultant, you can maximize your resources, overcome challenges, and achieve sustainable growth for your online store.
