Attracting Customers, Then Keeping Them: Tips For E-Commerce Sales

Attracting customers to your internet-based business can take a lot of time and effort, and many entrepreneurs aren’t sure where to go from there. How do you find the right clients for your company and keep them coming back? It’s not just about customer satisfaction, it’s also about making sure your product and the individual are a good fit for one another. After all, if you’re selling homemade soap to someone who is Earth-conscious and lives an eco-friendly lifestyle, they will be much more likely to enjoy your product and talk it up to their like-minded friends than someone who simply stumbled across your website one day.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to attract customers to your e-commerce business and keep them coming back. The key is to always think a step ahead. A company that remains the same over a period of years won’t enjoy the same success as one that is always looking for ways to improve, so it’s crucial to consider all you can do to help your business change and grow. Advances in technology have made this easier than ever; we now have access to just about anything we need on a device that fits into a pocket, so utilize all the online tools at your disposal, such as social media.

Here are a few things you’ll want to consider when it comes to bringing in fresh business and building customer loyalty.

Rotate Your Inventory

No matter what your business is, it’s essential to offer your customers some variety without becoming overwhelming if you want them to keep coming back. For instance, if you sell wholesale clothing online, you have an opportunity for change with every season. This means you can create an entirely new look for the theme of your site to reflect the time of year, something customers appreciate because it shows that you’re up on the latest trends and aren’t allowing your wares to grow stagnant. By utilizing dropshipping, you can fulfill orders for your customers without keeping your total inventory on-hand.

Engage

Social media is a great way to attract new customers, but you have to actively engage with them in order to keep them coming back. Just because they “like” something on your page doesn’t necessarily secure a sale, so it’s a good idea to reach out when you spot a new name and welcome them to your page, group, or shop. Let them know of any sales you have going on, offer a coupon, or create a forum where new customers can ask questions and get to know you and your products. This way, they’ll see the person behind the business and will be more likely to engage.

Don’t Ignore the Haters

While no entrepreneur wants to think of a customer having a bad experience with their business, it’s bound to happen at some point. The key is to go with the flow and actively listen to their complaints, no matter how small. Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away; in fact, it could actually work against you as the power of the internet works its magic and customer shares their negative experience with everyone they know. Take the time to engage and try to see the issue from their point of view. Even if all you can offer is a heartfelt apology, they will likely appreciate that you took the time to pay attention to their needs.

Take a Leap

In many cases, while the will is there, the capital isn’t always available. If you need an extra push to help grow your business, whether it’s through marketing, advertising, or trying something new with your inventory, it might be time to take out a small business loan. A little bit of funding can go a long way toward expanding sales and bringing in more customers. If you do opt to look into financing, go in with a clear picture of what you need to borrow, the types of funding available, and what will be expected of you to repay any debts.

Pay Attention to the Details

It’s often the little things that will help you attract new customers, so pay attention to the details. Do some research to find out more about your competition, for instance, and if they don’t offer free shipping, make it a point to advertise that you do. Many people are on a tight budget and appreciate not having to pay for little extras like that.

Bringing in new customers and keeping them coming back is a big job, and it will take some organization to make it work. Once you are prepared, however, it’ll be easy to find your flow and to keep coming up with creative ideas so that your business will shine.

Photo via Pixabay by SnapwireSnaps.

Lucy Reed

Works at gigmine.co, Lucy loves to write about ecommerce businesses for anyone who wants to test the entrepreneurial waters or set up a potential passive income stream. In her articles, she will offer tips for ecommerce entrepreneurs or wannabe entrepreneurs on how they can attract first-time customers and turn them into loyal shoppers.