For business owners, the constant question is how to generate more revenue through increased sales. In turbulent times, it can seem impossible to break into the market or improve your position. There are, however, plenty of simple ways for entrepreneurs to turn those poor sales figures around. Here are six helpful hits for growing your online sales.
Hit the Books
No, not your ledger. Training has long been proven to result in increased productivity. Many owners limit training regimens to their employees and neglect their own knowledge. This can be a costly mistake. Optimal online sales strategies evolve with changing times, so consider taking digital marketing course or reading about the latest tactics and opportunities. This means knowing the technology of e-commerce and the psychology of branding in the information age. Broaden your knowledge, and it will increase your opportunities.
Streamline Your Purchasing Funnel
A purchasing funnel, also called a “sales funnel,” is a common way to visualize each customer’s journey with your company. It starts with brand awareness and ends with the act of purchasing your offerings. e-commerce specific. Give yourself the best start by building your brand iconography in a way that will draw customers in. Build your websites and social media pages using the latest in science-backed layout design principles and color psychology.
Additionally, consider building a smartphone app. Mobile commerce is taking off, with 29% of U.S. consumers already preferring to pay via smartphone according to Statista research. In short, make buying from you as reflexive as possible.
Create the Best Customer Experience
Digital marketing offers another huge advantage over earlier methods: the potential to create a winning customer experience. Research shows the impact of poor customer service all too well. Microsoft’s “State of Global Customer Service Report” 2018 discovered that 48% of customers switched brands simply because of a bad customer service experience. Long wait times on the phone, not being able to contact an operator, and laughably bad music while on hold all contribute to the erosion of customer loyalty. So what do customers want? Shorter wait times, service via email, and the option of live chat. All of these channels can be offered via digital platforms like landing pages and social media. Meet customers in their preferred spaces, and you’ll earn repeat business.
Invest in Automation
These days, there is a wide selection of digital tools available to help automate labor-intensive business processes. Project management software, algorithms for business analytics, and customer relationship management systems all play a role in making business more productive. These programs are especially powerful in improving digital sales. Both email and SMS marketing campaigns have a high ROI, and automating these campaigns boosts their efficiency even more. Automation shouldn’t be overdone, but the right tools in the right places can make a big difference.
Partner With Influencers
Influencer marketing is rapidly gaining in popularity, with companies set to invest $15 billion in these partnerships by the end of 2022. It all comes down to trust. The Edelson Trust Barometer found that 63% of consumers value the words of influencers over those of the brands themselves. This effect doesn’t extend to traditional celebrity endorsements. Media influencers on channels like TikTok and YouTube work hard to make an organic connection with their audience. When they give a ringing endorsement, it means something.
Expand Your Offerings
Stagnation is never an effective path to growth. It’s critical to know your niche well and learn what products they’ve come to expect. It’s not good to let that become tunnel vision. Expand the boundaries of those expectations by getting feedback from customers regarding how their tastes are evolving and what improvements you could be making. Leverage that information by creating new products that they clearly want but can’t articulate. Success is built on that specific kind of innovation.
Boosting your sales game takes work, but thankfully there are a few key strategies that always seem to be good ideas. Keep these tips in mind if you’re looking to expand next quarter
