E-commerce boasts 23% year-over-year growth. According to eMarketer, the leading research firm for marketing in a digital world, online sales are projected to account for more than $4 trillion by 2020. Global online retail sales are estimated to make up 8.8% of total retail spending in 2018; this number was 7.4% in 2016.
With this in mind, it’s critical to find a reputable payment processing company like emerchantbroker.com to enjoy the best merchant services for small businesses. EMB is voted the #1 high risk processor in the US that boasts an A+ rating with the BBB. EMB is also a respectable business funding provider. eMerchantbroker.com is rated A by Card Payment Options and is one of Inc. 500’s Fastest Growing Companies of 2016.
If you want to make your own customer base continually grow and improve your bottom line, you should do your best to avoid the following 4 common mistakes in the early stages of your e-commerce business. So, what can you do?
- Create Content for the Right Audience
Today, there is no e-commerce without content marketing. All you need is to deliver the right message to the right audience so that your branded content can turn into your most valuable asset. Don’t fail to plan your messages in a proper way by including the main concerns and issues involved with your industry. You can use tools to track keywords across social media platforms and major news outlets, carry out thorough research to find hot topics and create content that addresses different levels of interest.
- Get a Good Sense of Your Customer Demand
E-commerce and big data go hand in hand. Today, it’s already possible to conduct predictive analytics so to get a better idea of your customer demand and don’t waste money on wrong inventory management. For this, you should use analytics tools that can help you predict future sales and inventory issues. Remember that each important decision must be based on proper data.
- Invest in Cyber Security
Cybersecurity is of utmost importance in the modern world of e-commerce. You should focus on providing the highest level of security for the customers of your e-commerce website. Your customers’ sensitive data must be secured, otherwise, your marketing and sales efforts will be in vain. Start with PCI Security Standards. The PCI Security Standards Council is an organization created by the major credit card companies, aimed at better protecting credit cardholder data. Also, make sure to keep up with the latest changes and requirements in the field. Finally, get your SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. SSL is basically a technology that encrypts and decrypt messages transmitted between a browser and server. This will make all the information sent to your site encrypted and secured.
- Focus on the Value of Customer Service
Never underestimate the value of customer service. Make sure to deliver fast, easy, and meaningful customer interactions so that not to lose your customers. The need for speed is everything these days. Don’t forget about a live-chat feature on your platform.
To reach success in 2017 and in the years to come, you can’t just get it out there and see how it performs. The most successful retailers are strategic and targeted in their efforts, both in the offline and online worlds.