For many, operating an e-commerce website is easier than in-person sales as it removes the personal element from the interactions. It is easy to ship a product and then forget the individual on the other end. However, this practice could hurt future sales in ways you haven’t realized. Keeping connected to your customers could greatly influence your monthly sales. Thanks to the innovations of the Internet, keeping connected has become easier than ever through more efficient methods.
Word-of-mouth is as influential on the Internet as it is in real life. Although you may practice excellent payment and shipping methods, there may be nothing that sets you apart from the other sellers. You need your buyers to praise your business to friends and family and be excited about being your customer. What are some methods that can help you keep this relationship alive?
1. Facebook
While some may see it as overrated, Facebook business pages can have a positive impact in your customer relations and keeping connected to them. It is a free and easy way to promote sales, specials and other events that your customers may not be aware of. However, you don’t want to simply set up the page and forget that it is there. Post regular content to the page that customers may be interested in knowing. It is a method that can keep them feeling like they’re connected to your business.
2. Newsletters
Some e-commerce solutions are able to support newsletters for your customers. Even if your site has made only a single sale, you should practice developing a new post at regular intervals. These should discuss promotional events and offer information that your buyers may be interested in. If you sell garden supplies, why not put in a short “gardening tips” section in the post? Offering valuable information regarding your e-commerce store’s niche could help keep them subscribed to your business.
3. Blogging
Nearly every business has a type of blog these days. Depending on your hosting provider for your e-commerce site, you could set up a sub-domain for your blog for free and expand on offering additional information to your customers. Whether these are reviews of products you sell or information regarding the niche you belong to, it gives something for your customers to enjoy. In fact, your blog could reach additional potential customers that could be referred to your e-commerce location, possibly enticing a future sale.
4. Twitter
Like Facebook, nearly every business has a Twitter account. As this is free, it could be another method you could employ that can keep your customers and fans connected to your content. Depending on the e-commerce solution and blog management system you utilize, a single post can automatically be shared on Twitter and Facebook alleviating the time you need to update your social media presence. People in today’s society feel more connected to the businesses they frequent when using social media and this could encourage future sales.
5. YouTube
Video can have a profound impact on virtually any business as long as the content is niche related. If you sell garden supplies, you could produce a quick video on the best ways to plant certain flowers. As these can be linked using embedded coding, you could add these videos to your e-commerce page and/or blog to engage customers while providing a method to encourage new buyers from YouTube. Adding the links to your e-commerce pages and blogs provides an easy method for new viewers to see what you have to offer.
YouTube videos are also able to be shared on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter giving you yet another method to create content for three accounts by updating one. Since you are developing videos of your own design, you can also monetize these videos in order to increase the income for your e-commerce business directly from YouTube as well.
6. Thank You Cards
Inserting small “thank you” cards in your packages could lead to additional business. On these cards, you should put in all of your social media contact information in order to encourage the buyer to stay connected. These small cards don’t have to be extremely elaborate and can be added as part of your shipping expenses. They should cost literally pennies to produce and have your information readily available. Some sellers will go so far as to add in coupons and discounts for future purchases as an added method to encourage additional sales. However, other sellers discourage the use of promotional aspects of the e-commerce website. This aspect should be completely left up to your discretion and personal preference.
Customer service doesn’t stop as soon as the sale is complete. Although you don’t have to beg a customer to buy from your e-commerce store in the future, keeping connected to them will encourage repeat business. Your customers are who pays your bills and feeds your family. You should treat them well and provide them with a reason to continue buying from your business.
About the Author
Ken Myers is a father, husband, and entrepreneur. He has combined his passion for helping families find in-home care with his experience to build a business. Learn more about him by visiting @KenneyMyers on Twitter.