The success of ecommerce is undeniable. However, the coronavirus pandemic and the new normal that it has brought in its wake has highlighted the importance of online retail like few other things could have. In fact, global retail ecommerce sales stood at $9.09 trillion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.7% between 2020 and 2027, according to a May 2020 report by Grand View Research.
So, if you are still not offering access to your products and services online, this is a good time to make the transition. What are the other reasons why you should consider an ecommerce store? Here’s a look.
Helps to Know Your Audience
Online stores offer a satisfying shopping experience with customizable features and intuitive navigation, while making multiple payment options available, according to experts at Inkwell Global Marketing. Having an online store also helps you gather customer information, such as demographics, location, buying pattern and general behavior on your website. You can tweak your marketing efforts accordingly to personalize their shopping experience and maximize conversion.
Round the Clock Service
Unlike brick and mortar store, e-commerce serves your customers day and night. In fact, as you attend the regular outlet at daily hours, your digital shop is automatically making business simultaneously. Your products might get exposed to millions of customers if the store has right marketing campaigns, call-to-action buttons, high quality images and clear descriptions and an active customer support portal.
Creates a Virtual Brand Identity
An ecommerce website could be a reliable avenue to create your brand identity online. As of the third quarter of 2019, there were 4.33 billion internet users across the globe, representing 56% of the total global population, according to figures released by DataReportal. Further, research shows that Americans tend to check their phones once every 10 minutes, which is 96 times a day. Therefore, creating a well-managed website, that is mobile friendly, is extremely crucial to expand your reach and build brand awareness.
Direct Marketing to Customers
Ecommerce websites require customers to feed contact information in the form of email addresses and phone numbers. This can help you run effective email campaigns, with personalized offers, discounts and product launches directly reaching your customers’ inbox. Email marketing has proven to be extremely effective, especially if the emails are personalized.
Ecommerce stores are versatile, offering customers the opportunity to browse at their own pace, without being hounded by sales reps. This is why millennials and Gen Zers prefer this mode of shopping. However, apart from setting up your online store, don’t forget to continue to explore the latest tech, like artificial intelligence or customer analytics, to fine tune your site for maximum user satisfaction.