The challenges associated with running an eCommerce business are manyfold.

Operating a commercial venture in such a fast-moving and ultra-competitive digital landscape involves not just having some great products to sell.

Ultimately, success comes down to deploying some smart strategies, having efficient systems for every step in the customer journey, and delivering a seamless buying experience.

Regardless of whether you’re just starting out or scaling your business to take it to the next level, having the right growth strategies can make all the difference. Let’s take a look at some tried-and-true tactics, such as taking advantage of eCommerce order fulfillment services, that you can rely on to boost sales, build brand loyalty, and drive long-term success.

1. Be sure to optimize your website for conversions

Remember, your website is your digital storefront. That means first impressions count for a lot.

You can be sure that a slow, clunky, or confusing website will rapidly drive potential buyers away, and they will be unlikely to return too. That’s why you have to be sure your site is mobile-friendly, and loads quickly. It should also have a clear and intuitive layout that is user-friendly.

To achieve that aim, use high-quality product photos, create some persuasive copy, and deploy easy navigation. A good tactic would be to implement A/B testing on things like product pages, buttons, and checkout flows to see what drives more conversions.

2. Use data analytics to guide your decisions

Arguably, one of the biggest advantages of running an eCommerce business is the access you get to real-time data. When you use tools like Google Analytics, or Shopify analytics, you get some valuable insights on who your customers are, where they’re coming from.

Key data such as being able to track conversion rates, and view cart abandonment statistics, allows you to make better informed data-driven decisions.

3. Email remains a strong marketing strategy

Despite being around for so long, email remains one of the most effective channels for eCommerce growth. Start with building your list using tactics such as pop-ups, discount offers, and checkout opt-ins.

The next step is to segment your audience based on behavioral trends. Sorting into categories like first-time buyers, repeat customers, or cart abandoners, allows you to tailor your emails accordingly.

4. It’s important to leverage social proof and user-generated content

Customer reviews, testimonials, and real-life photos, all go a long way in building trust. A good way to harness the power of social proof, you can showcase user-generated content on product pages and across social media.

Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and tag your brand. Bottom line, the more proof you show that others love your product, the easier it is to convert new buyers.

5. Offering flexible payment options is a winner

Consumers today demand convenience, and that includes when it comes to paying. Offering as many payment methods as possible, including buy-now-pay-later services like Afterpay or Klarna, can greatly reduce cart abandonment and even increase average order value

6. Partner with an Order Fulfillment Service

One of the biggest challenges associated with business growth is that fulfilling orders in-house can become time-consuming. It can also be very expensive, and prone to error.

That’s where partnering with an order fulfillment service can be a game-changer. Fulfillment centers handle warehousing, picking, packing, and shipping, allowing you to focus on marketing and scaling your business.

Using an order fulfillment service can help you to offer fast, reliable shipping, and can also reduce your operating costs. Plus, faster shipping improves customer satisfaction and reduces support requests.

7. Invest in SEO and Content Marketing

Organic traffic is one of the most sustainable growth sources for eCommerce stores. Creating blog posts, guides, and product-related content helps improve your search engine rankings, especially for long-tail keywords that match your target customer’s intent. The more search-engine-friendly your site is, the more visibility you’ll have without paying for every click.

8. Make the most of influencer and affiliate marketing

There is little doubt that the power of word-of-mouth still matters, even in a digital age. Partnering with a variety of  influencers, big or small, can drive traffic and lend social credibility to your brand.

It can also be the case that micro-influencers, in particular, often deliver high engagement and more authentic recommendations. Another good strategy is to set up affiliate programs to reward creators, bloggers, or brand ambassadors for sending traffic and driving conversions.

9. Retarget Lost Visitors

It’s incredible to think that the average cart abandonment rate is around 70%. That’s a lot of missed opportunities. Thankfully, retargeting ads through Facebook, Instagram, or Google can help bring those shoppers back.

Use dynamic retargeting to show specific products users viewed or left in their cart. You might want to sweeten the deal with limited-time discounts or free shipping to encourage them to complete the purchase.

Email retargeting also plays a crucial role in this scenario. If you’ve collected an email address before the cart was abandoned, send a timely reminder, sequenced with product links, and reviews.

10. Provide outstanding customer support

Having a great product is a great starting point, but you need to consistently deliver excellent customer service to keep everyone coming back. Your aim should be to offer multiple support channels like live chat, email, and social messaging. It’s also key to respond quickly to inquiries, resolve issues professionally, and go the extra mile when possible.

You might also want to consider adding a comprehensive FAQ section and chatbot to handle common questions automatically. You can also use customer feedback to improve products, shipping processes, and post-purchase experience.

At the end of the day, all of these tactics and initiatives all contribute to the ultimate goal of creating happy customers, and ensuring they stay loyal.

Scaling an eCommerce business is never going to be about quick hacks or luck, it’s about building solid systems, staying intensely customer-focused, and constantly improving.

If you apply these suggested tactics and use the tools available to you, there’s every chance that you will be able to grow your eCommerce business at an attractive rate.