Managing an online store involves many tasks. As a fulfillment partner, we handle numerous topics related to your logistics and warehouse. However, other essential aspects of your online store should not be overlooked. One of these aspects is digital marketing. For an online store, this may be the most important factor. To sell products or services, you must be visible. You may offer the best products or services, have an exceptional pricing strategy, or provide the best return process. But if you are not seen, selling will be difficult. Here are some key pillars of digital marketing.
Why is digital marketing so important?
Digital marketing has become an essential part of today’s marketing landscape. The number of online purchases increases every year. Entrepreneurs who capitalize on this trend benefit greatly. For an online store, digital marketing is indispensable because you need to drive consumers to your website. With a single click, they should be able to land on your shop and complete a purchase.
Moreover, more and more purchases are being made via smartphones. Everyone has their smartphone within reach at all times, making it easy to place orders instantly. This trend allows businesses to reach consumers through ads tailored to mobile use. If you are not utilizing digital marketing, you are missing out on enormous potential.
What are the different forms of digital marketing?
The possibilities offered by digital marketing are almost endless. If you want to stay ahead of the competition, you must use the latest trends. This requires ongoing monitoring and training, but the results are worth it. Below are some key forms of digital marketing. Of course, there are many more, but applying these strategies will put you on the right track.
Social Media
Social media is booming! The amount of time consumers spend on these platforms is enormous. This makes it the perfect way to reach them. Various channels allow you to target different audiences. What are these channels? The most commonly used ones are Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Pinterest. There are many more, but you don’t need to be on all of them. Choose your channels strategically based on your target audience. Analyze where your customers are active and focus on those platforms.
Social media requires continuous effort. Don’t start enthusiastically only to run out of inspiration after a few weeks. Develop a clear content plan and post updates regularly. Additionally, social media allows you to interact quickly with customers, answer their questions, and build trust.
Platforms like Facebook have powerful advertising tools. Ads on these platforms can significantly boost sales, revenue, followers, website visits, and more. Influencers also play a major role in the social media world—an opportunity that smart entrepreneurs should not miss!
Google is crucial for any business. Why? When consumers want to buy a product, they often search for it online. Suppose you and a competitor sell the same product. If your competitor’s website is optimized for Google and appears on the first page, while yours is not and is listed on the second page, the customer will likely buy from your competitor. This situation must be avoided. Therefore, invest in SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
Want to go even further? Use SEA (Search Engine Advertising). This technique involves paying to appear at the top of Google’s search results. SEA operates on a pay-per-click (PPC) model, meaning you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. The advantage? You can target specific keywords, ensuring that visitors who land on your site already have an intent to buy—greatly increasing your chances of conversion.
Email Marketing
Email marketing has evolved from mass mailing to hyper-personalized messages and targeted campaigns. These emails can be automated, meaning that once set up, they run on their own. Why should you use email marketing? Think about sending an automatic birthday gift email to a customer who has purchased from your store before. This increases the chances of them returning to your site and keeps your brand top of mind.
Online Store Optimization
Once a consumer is active on your site, there are various techniques to influence their purchase decision, such as:
- Offering discounts
- Using upselling and cross-selling
- Creating a sense of urgency by displaying limited stock
Want to learn more about optimizing your online store? Read our blog “10 Tips to Increase Your Webshop Conversion”, in collaboration with Digital Natives.
Digital Natives, Your Digital Marketing Partner
The online world can be complex to navigate. Seeking help from experts is often the best solution. Webship Online collaborates with Digital Natives, a young and dynamic digital marketing agency. Contact them at hallo@digitalnatives.be and discover how they can boost your online store.
