Optimize your product sheet descriptions
Define your shipping strategy
Build your email list
Develop a promotion strategy
Use social media
Launching an online store may seem like a daunting task, but when you break down the process, it becomes simple and manageable. There are many factors to consider, but by taking the time to develop your launch plan, you will gain in efficiency and speed. To successfully launch your e-commerce site, here is the list of actions to take.
Optimize your product sheet descriptions
The website is the foundation of your brand in e-commerce. And as with a house, weak foundations can lead to problems later on. This is why it is essential to optimize your sales site from the beginning. This process includes everything from web hosting to branding and optimizing your e-commerce site for search engines.
There is a lot to be considered. You need to think about how easy it is for a potential customer to access your navigation bar, or about the key phrases in your records that will help you appear on Google’s first results pages.
With the growing number of mobile consumers, you will also need to ensure that your website is compatible with smartphones and tablets. A few small adjustments can improve the shopping experience. Product sheets are often overlooked when launching online stores, whereas this content must provide all the details of the product, preferably illustrated with an image.
Define your shipping strategy
As with most e-commerce stores that sell physical products, delivery times are an essential element of your company’s success. If this concerns you, you must anticipate your delivery process to guarantee a first-class service to your customers.
You need to establish an efficient supply chain to ensure that all your customers receive their deliveries as quickly as possible. To do this, you must answer the following questions:
- Which courier service would you choose to ship your products?
- What are the rates you plan for the selected courier?
- How will you manage shipping costs?
- Will you process international orders?
- Are you going to take out transport insurance?
- What will be your strategy for returns and refunds?
Build your email list
Email marketing remains one of the best ways to communicate with potential buyers and your loyal customers.
Communication is essential in customer relationships. E-mail gives you the opportunity to inform consumers about your latest products, promotions, confirm the recording of their orders and track delivery. Similarly, mobile consumers will use their smartphones to access this information in real time. These online communication channels, such as emails and SMS, will help you create a close relationship with your customers and consolidate their loyalty.
But before you delve into the complexities of email marketing, such as user segmentation and profiling, your brand must open customer relationships with basic content, the welcome email. This e-mail is the first personalized contact inviting the consumer to subscribe to your newsletter. This is a friendly introduction to your brand.
Develop a promotion strategy
Brand new e-commerce stores face a major challenge when it comes to promoting incredible products and their companies when they are not yet visible on search engine results.
Promotion begins with getting to know your audience. By knowing who your customers are, you can learn where and how they consume information. For example, if you sell puppy accessories, you may find that they read animal magazines. Then, it will be possible to buy advertising space on the website of these magazines to connect you to this particular audience.
Use social media
It’s time to socialize! Social media is one of the most cost-effective ways to develop your brand’s visibility and meet your current or potential audience in its own territory. First, you need to identify the platforms that your target markets are most likely to use and appreciate. For many e-commerce merchants, this means Facebook, Twitter, etc.
You also need to understand the basics of SEO in order to properly structure your e-commerce site and pages for Google and other search engines. It is also essential to define key performance indicators to monitor, once you have started, the effectiveness of your site and refine your strategy.
Having a good launch plan for your online store is essential to avoid the many problems that often affect companies today. By implementing a successful strategy, your online business will enjoy the success it deserves. So take the time to read our tips above and prepare for an unforgetable launch.