It is now an established fact the E commerce websites and online stores are the present and future. Current active e-commerce penetration in India stands only 28 percent, with lots of room for improvement – India’s retail e-commerce CAGR is projected to reach 23 percent from 2016 to 2021.
Therefore, there is a high level of competition for e-commerce in the current market. Right from retail stores to service based businesses , everyone is competing to establish a strong foothold in the online business.
Ecommerce marketing is the practice of driving top-of-funnel traffic to convert into sales and customers. And if you are just starting out with it, Growing your online eCommerce store with digital marketing using proven methodology plays a key role.
Here is a list of easy yet impactful E commerce marketing strategies for beginners to start with-
Content marketing –
The Internet runs on content and e-commerce is no exception to it. Several big e commerce companies owe a huge part of their success to content marketing strategies. A survey revealed that 57% of respondents believed that content marketing has replaced social media marketing as India’s most popular strategy over 2017-18. And there is scope for more.
There are two reasons as to why content marketing a timeless marketing strategy-
- It helps your website to rank better in google.
Writing content rich in “high-demand” keywords fetches loads of traffic to your website. Informative and compelling blogs, titles, videos with in-depth insights of your product or service will boost your conversions extensively.
- It helps you build a relationship with your customers-
Making your prospects realise that you believe in your business is the best way to persuade them to buy your products or service. Making informative online material will not only help your customers to trust you , but will also provide you a chance to promote your own products.
Social Media Integration –
Integrating social media marketing into your e commerce website is the key to brand visibility.
While Your online store is the actual business point, social media networks are the ones that do the talking for your business. Posting high resolution pictures of your services or products will attract customers. Popularity is a very reliable trust driver and social media is the best platform for that.
There are two more things that you could do to level up for your social media marketing-
- Create shoppable content-
Enabling customers to directly buy your products without having to go back and search for your website , is a very compelling way for conversions.
- Use product reviews –
Sharing customer reviews on your social media is one way to establish transparency in your business. Nothing is more attractive than a business that is genuine and authentic.
E Mail Campaigns –
Email marketing is an evergreen strategy that appeals to people of all age groups. It holds a great volume in e commerce marketing because of its capability to persuade your buyers head on. You can send mails for Promotions, Follow Ups and post purchase Follow Ups to all your customers at a time. You also get to personalise them that helps your audience feel loved. The facility of automation of mails is what makes it the most easy yet effective strategy to interact with your prospects.
However, Here are two things to avoid in email marketing-
- Avoid unattractive mails-
Everyone’s inboxes are flooded with mails everyday. The open rate of your mail depends on how well you craft them. A neat and crisp mail with a compelling subject line is what helps you stand out from the lot.
- Stop spamming –
Email marketing can have a completely opposite effect on your sales if you overdo it. Sending out minimal and useful mails is the finest choice to maintain the frequency.
Local Marketing –
Local marketing is a micro-marketing strategy that is phenomenal for beginners and SMEs. It allows you to streamline your promotions and advertising to a particular location that is rich with prospects. India, being a largely diversified country, has different demographics for every state. Tracking cookies would help you identify these demographics. Once you make a list of such prospect-rich locations, you can level up your brand awareness in those specific areas.
It’s also feasible to offer special benefits to them. This has a direct and evident effect on your sales conversion.
Influencer Marketing –
Technology has made its way into influencer marketing in India. Influencers are reliable resources to market your products, especially for the e-commerce Startups. They do the job of establishing trust on behalf of you. Recommendations from influencers add immense value to your sales and are better than testimonials. However, it is very important to identify influencers that align to your niche. Approaching an influencer who has an organic fan base matching with your target audience would directly reflect in your sales graph.
There are a spectrum of ways to promote your e commerce website. But it is extremely essential to identify methods that are both feasible and effective. Your marketing strategies must be customised to your target audience and must vary from region to region. The above are tried and trusted marketing strategies that would help your e commerce to get the visibility that it deserves.
