As per recent report, 80% of the online population has purchased something using the internet, 52% of the online population have purchased more than once, which gives the importance of online shopping among current business activity.
Ways to Online Business Can Gain More Online Sales
Online sales are quickly taking over the normal sales, due to inherent advantage of overcoming distance hurdle, saving time and even global brand can be purchased without leaving country. Also, 71% of shoppers believe they will get a better deal online than in stores, which adds up the spice for online sales.
Following are few ways, applying which may increase the online sales.
1. Impeccable customer support
The customer support team should systematically focus on the three strong parameters- solve, settle and sell.
Many companies are now adding the live chat software to their website, which is one of the factors pull the customers back to the website.
Online buyers who had used live chat were more likely to make online purchases at least once a week (40%) than buyers who had never chatted (22%) -Econsultancy.
Live chat offers the on-time and real-time support to the customers who are stuck somewhere and need the help immediately. Less wait time and better response is what drives customers to use the live chat.
2. Delivery (shipping)
Deliveries are always ‘urgent’ if you ask any customer. So, it becomes necessary for you to keep it that way. Promise the date you are going to ship and make sure it is delivered at their doorsteps at right time. You not only need to update the address in the CRM software but also be consistent with the method you are using to deliver.
Your own fleet of vehicle or outsource, just be sure that the shipping is standardized and tracked. Use the email to communicate about the date and approx time of the delivery status. Poor delivery system can cost you more than you can think!
83% of shoppers would shop online more, knowing they could have free shipping.
3. Make the most of CRM
“64% of people think that customer experience is more important than price in their choice of a brand”. Do we need to say more?
The customer service is the point of differentiation between the businesses today and when it comes to online selling, this gets widen. It is said that by 2016, 89% of companies plan to compete on the basis of customer experience and if you are one of the businesses which takes CRM lightly then it’s the time. The CRM software not only help you in keeping the customer data up to date but also strengthen the ground to offer the best customer care service.
4. Keeping up with inventory
For any business, it is very imperative to maintain the list of the stock. You need to keep a check on the items (especially the perishables) and keep up with the inventory tracking precisely so that you can do all your calculations accurately.
Forecasting the demand, price and restocking the items depends on a good inventory tracking system. You need to do it smartly to serve the demand but make sure to not to tie up all your cash in the inventory.
5. Impressive data analytics
The data not only helps in acquiring the new customers but also a chance to improvise and tailor-make the offerings accordingly. It is methods that familiarize you about their browsing habits and thus, choice of the products. It lets you make your offering more precise & assists them to a fruitful purchase.
Now that you know what a particular customer’s likings are, you can therefore prioritize the display likewise and present them with a discount, reward or attractive deals they are looking for. This also helps your representatives to offer better services and be competitive in the crowd.
6. Watch out the seasonal trends
With the season changes the customer’s need. An online business should intensely monitor the flavor of the season and then go on to stock the products. Analyzing the data (for past 2-3 years) properly will give you the insight of what will sell and what not, this season.
Adapt your sales plan and inventory accordingly and plan for the offerings on your website in such manner. Check for the trends and the fashion that is in demand, so that you don’t fall low in your business.
7. Monitor source of traffic
Most of the companies now use the cookies or surfing history of their customers to understand the interest as well as requirement of the customers or prospective buyers. After collation of the data points through cookies/online surfing history.
The companies are empowered with targeted pitch to the customer, which will enthuse the customer for the purchase; this monitoring of traffic and providing specific sale options through analyzing data points after monitoring traffic will assist in increasing online sales.
With the importance of online sales known, no corporate can ignore the online sales arm now, else it will dent up the total sales of the company. Also, online sales activity has to be maintained properly and also at convenience for the customers. Being informative, engaging customers are few basic requirements, which not only sustain online sales activity but also increase the same. ๐
This Article Is Contributed Byย Sam Makad. He is Journalist and marketing consultant at Skyward Techno, Inc. that provides customised CRM and ERP software for the small and medium businesses.
1 Comment
Article is perfect & useful for me. We are price comparison website gives you the access to the best products and services available online. We are also experimenting with various bundles having a goal to streamline choices for our audience. It will be interesting to see the analytical in next month. Thanks for the insight.