Running an online store is difficult work. Not only are you competing against major global organisations such as eBay and Amazon, but also everyone else that operates within your niche.
Yet the level of competition is only the start of the challenges you face. There’s a wide range of tasks to cover before you can start thinking of success. You need to source the right products and services. You need to create a webstore that’s secure and easy to use. You need to do extensive marketing so customers can find your business.
The list goes on and on.
With so many different processes to consider, it’s easy to forget about certain areas that require your attention. For a quick refresher, here are four overlooked tips you need to remember when running an online store:
Keep Your IT Systems Online and Safe at All Times
It should go without saying, but a surprising number of business owners overlook the need to keep their IT systems secure and maintained. The reason for this is simple: it requires a lot of time and effort.
This is when it can be beneficial to enlist the services of a specialist. For instance, Zeta Sky is a specialist IT support company that supplies expert cybersecurity and IT management services.
Don’t Forget Your Local Customer Base
For most e-commerce retailers, their focus is on a national, or even worldwide, customer base. After all, why wouldn’t you want to target as big an audience as possible?
Well there’s one answer to this: competition.
When you spread out your store as far as possible, you are understandably going to tread onto the territory of other businesses. This means you will be up against a significant number of competitors, even if you’re operating in a specialist niche.
This is why it’s important to also focus on your local customers. This can be done by utilising local SEO to target search terms that locals will be entering into Google.
Develop a Social Media Persona
The importance of social media for businesses is well established at this point. Not only is it a fantastic way to promote your store, but it’s also an effective way to communicate with customers, and to analyse statistics.
Yet if you want to maximise your advertising efforts on social media, a strong plan needs to be devised. The strategy should focus on creating a persona. By utilising a social media persona, you can give your brand a distinct personality, one which customers can identify with and appreciate.
Invest in Current Customers
When marketing your business, your aim will typically be to acquire new customers. However, don’t underestimate the importance of turning previous customers into repeat ones. In fact, it can be five times as valuable to retain a client rather than attract a new customer.
Due to this, place a particular emphasis on current customers and invest in them. Offer them exclusive discounts, keep them up-to-date with newsletters, enlist them on a loyalty program — anything to get them buying again from your store.