How to Take Your E-Commerce Business to the Next Level

There’s never been a better time to run an e-commerce store. Platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce make it easy to get up and running quickly, but starting an e-commerce store and growing it are two very different things. WP Forms estimates there are up to 24 million e-commerce sites around the world; however, only one million of those sites earn more than $1,000 a year.

Here are a few tips on how to take your e-commerce business to the next level.

Invest in a CRM system

You may be able to keep up with customers, spreadsheets and your e-mail sign-up forms, but you’re missing out on valuable data and insights. That’s where a customer relationship management (CRM) system comes in. A CRM system is a valuable tool that combines sales analytics with a database management system. You can see what your customers are doing on your e-commerce site, what they’re looking for and categorize them by behavior and demographics.

A CRM system also allows you to set up e-mail campaigns based on your customers’ sales cycles. You can trigger promotions based on activities like whether or not your customers have used a coupon or signed up for your e-mail list.

Niche down

Narrowing your focus and niching down on your products and offerings could be the best business decision you’ve ever made. Instead of selling a little of everything, focusing on one specific area makes your e-commerce shop more memorable and establishes your expertise. Dare to be as specific as possible; instead of selling barware, sell antique or vintage barware. Your niche will elevate your brand and make it easier to spread the word about your specific product line.

Focus on UX

You may have a stunning e-commerce site, but is it user-friendly? Your site should focus on the user experience (UX) to cater to your customers. The point of UX is to provide a positive experience by making your site easy to navigate. Your customers are likely to go elsewhere if your site is challenging to navigate, hard to find products and takes too long to checkout.

Step up your advertising and marketing

Your e-commerce business can’t go without a sound marketing strategy. Whether you run Facebook or Google ads, marketing can elevate your e-commerce store and snag a share of your sales. Facebook’s business tools and analytics can also help you track your conversions, so you know roughly how much you need to spend on ads before making a sale.

Selling your products on different platforms is also a way to market your e-commerce store and gain more exposure. Selling on Amazon, eBay, Etsy and Instagram are just a few places to start.

Outsource

Running an e-commerce store takes some serious dedication and work to keep everything running. Outsourcing tasks can help take your business to the next level. Start with a virtual assistant who can take busy work off your plate, like responding to customer service e-mails. You can also use drop shippers and print-on-demand services to produce and ship your products for you.

Taking your e-commerce business to the next level is ultimately about taking action. Posting on social media can help but is mainly ineffective without a strategy in place. Instead, focus on activities that organize and scale your business. Start with getting your customer relationship management tools in place and work your way through growth-centered action to forward your e-commerce store.