In this in-depth look at the best Facebook Ads campaign structure for 2024, we break down the key strategies that successful businesses are using to stay competitive. From audience consolidation to Advantage+ targeting, we explore the tactics that will help marketers navigate the ever-changing landscape of paid social.

The Shift in Campaign Structure: Consolidation Is Key

One of the most significant shifts for Facebook advertisers in 2024 is the move toward consolidation. Meta has been advocating for fewer ad sets and a more streamlined approach to targeting, and the data backs up the benefits of this strategy.

“Meta has long been concerned with audience fragmentation,” explains Ben Heath, founder of Heath Media. “For years, advertisers were advised to create multiple ad sets with distinct targeting options, allowing them to test which segments performed best. But in 2024, this approach has become outdated. The rise of open targeting and tools like Advantage+ means that the traditional method of segmenting audiences across multiple ad sets is no longer necessary.”

With Meta’s algorithms becoming increasingly sophisticated, the manual effort of fine-tuning targeting is largely being replaced by machine learning. “Open targeting and Advantage+ allow Facebook to do the heavy lifting when it comes to finding the right people,” Heath notes. “You’re now better off consolidating your audience into one or two ad sets per campaign, letting the AI optimize delivery based on real-time data.”

This shift offers several advantages:

• Faster Learning: “When you split your budget across multiple ad sets, each set takes longer to exit the learning phase,” says Heath. “By consolidating your ad spend into fewer ad sets, Meta’s machine learning can gather data more quickly, which improves performance faster.”
• Reduced Auction Overlap: Audience overlap between ad sets can negatively impact performance. “If multiple ad sets are competing in the same auction, it drives up costs,” Heath explains. “Consolidating your ad sets minimizes this overlap, ensuring that your budget is used more efficiently.”
• Better Budget Utilization: “A $100 daily budget split across four ad sets gives each set only $25 to work with, which can dilute your results. By focusing that $100 on a single ad set, you’ll see better performance across the board,” Heath adds.

Cold vs. Warm Audiences: Structuring Campaigns for Direct Offers

While the trend is toward fewer ad sets, that doesn’t mean you should only have one campaign. Heath’s recommended structure for most advertisers is to split their efforts into two distinct campaigns: one for cold audiences and one for warm audiences.

Cold Audience Campaign:
For cold audiences—those who have not interacted with your brand—Heath recommends using open or hybrid targeting options. “We’re seeing the most success with either completely open targeting or using tools like Advantage+ Audience, which combine broad targeting with machine learning to find new potential customers,” Heath says.

This cold audience campaign typically consists of a single ad set, with Facebook’s algorithm handling the task of optimizing delivery. “By consolidating the targeting, you avoid audience fragmentation and let Facebook’s AI determine the best segments to target,” Heath advises.

Warm Audience Campaign:
For warm audiences—those who have previously engaged with your brand, such as past website visitors, email subscribers, or social media followers—Heath suggests a single ad set that encompasses all warm audiences. “You don’t need multiple ad sets to target different segments of your warm audience anymore. One well-structured ad set will suffice, and the algorithm will work to show your ads to the most relevant users,” Heath explains.

These two campaigns—cold and warm—provide the foundation for a simple yet highly effective Facebook Ads structure in 2024.

The Power of Omnipresent Content: Long-Term Relationship Building

While the two-campaign structure works for direct offers, Heath points out that there are other strategies that require a more complex setup. One such strategy is his Omnipresent Content Strategy, which is focused on building relationships with potential customers over an extended period of time.

“With the Omnipresent Content Strategy, you’re not just trying to get a single conversion,” Heath says. “You’re delivering multiple touchpoints, demonstrating value, sharing testimonials, and slowly moving prospects closer to making a purchase.”

This type of campaign structure may include eight to twelve ad sets, with each ad set targeting a slightly different group or using different content variations to keep the audience engaged. “You’ll get warnings from Meta about audience fragmentation, but in this case, it’s a strategic choice. You’re not trying to optimize for immediate conversions; you’re nurturing relationships over time,” Heath explains.

Testing New Creatives: Using Separate Campaigns for Better Results

A common frustration among Facebook advertisers is testing new creatives within a campaign that already has a winning ad. “Many advertisers add new ads to their existing campaigns, only to find that Meta won’t allocate any budget to the new ads,” Heath notes. “The algorithm prioritizes the winning ad and ignores the new creative.”

The solution? Set up a separate testing campaign. “By creating a new campaign specifically for testing new creative assets, you ensure that they get the budget and attention they deserve,” Heath says. “Once you’ve identified a new winner, you can move it into your main campaign.”

This approach allows advertisers to iterate more effectively and avoid the frustration of new ads being overlooked. “Testing is critical to long-term success on Facebook, but you have to structure your campaigns in a way that gives new creative room to breathe,” Heath adds.

How Many Ads Should Be in Each Ad Set?

In addition to streamlining ad sets, Meta has also updated its recommendations around the number of ads per ad set. “Meta now advises using six or fewer creatives per ad set,” Heath explains. “The goal is to avoid spreading your budget too thin across too many ads. By focusing on fewer ads, you give each one more data to optimize against.”

Heath agrees with Meta’s recommendation but adds a caveat: “The six-ad rule is budget-dependent. If you’re working with a smaller budget—say $20 per day—then even six ads might be too many. In those cases, I recommend starting with two or three ads and gradually testing more once you’ve identified top performers.”

For larger budgets, Heath suggests following Meta’s guidelines more closely. “If you’re spending thousands per day, six ads are perfectly fine. But for smaller advertisers, start small and focus on giving each ad enough data to succeed.”

Dynamic Creative and Advantage+ Shopping

Dynamic Creative ads, where you upload multiple creative assets and let Facebook dynamically serve different combinations, offer another layer of flexibility. “Dynamic Creative allows you to test up to 10 creative variations in a single ad, and the algorithm will automatically find the best-performing combination,” Heath explains.

Heath also emphasizes that the six-ad recommendation does not apply to Advantage+ Shopping campaigns, which often have far more variations due to the sheer number of products being advertised. “With Advantage+ Shopping, you may be advertising dozens or hundreds of products, so don’t feel constrained by the six-ad rule in that case,” Heath advises.

Optimizing for Success in 2024

The Facebook Ads space is evolving, and in 2024, the winning strategy is all about consolidation, smarter targeting, and efficient use of budget. “The days of splitting your budget across dozens of ad sets are over,” Heath concludes. “With Meta’s algorithm becoming more sophisticated, advertisers who embrace audience consolidation, optimize for faster learning, and use strategic testing campaigns will see the best results.”

By following these structural guidelines, retail executives and digital marketers can stay ahead of the competition, maximize their ROI, and ensure their ad spend is working as effectively as possible in 2024.

The Basics of Marketing Funnels

A marketing funnel is more than a strategy; it’s necessary to help e-commerce stores convert visitors into loyal customers in the digital age. From the initial awareness stage to the final purchase, each funnel step is designed to guide potential customers through a seamless journey that enhances their shopping experience and increases the likelihood of a sale.

Emma and Nealey begin by breaking the funnel into clear, actionable steps. They explain how to attract visitors to your site and the importance of first impressions. “Once a potential customer lands on your e-commerce site, the real challenge begins,” says Emma. “It’s about making them feel welcomed, informed, and ready to purchase.”

From Awareness to Conversion

The series highlights critical stages of the marketing funnel, starting with creating impactful customer awareness. This involves understanding what draws customers to your site and ensuring the landing pages are attractive, informative, and optimized for conversions.

As customers move through the funnel, the focus shifts to education and engagement. Nealey discusses strategies for educating customers about products and guiding them toward making informed purchasing decisions. “Educating your potential customers is crucial,” Nealey notes. “It builds trust and helps them feel confident in their purchases.”

Addressing Abandoned Carts

A significant challenge in e-commerce is dealing with abandoned shopping carts. Emma and Nealey delve into strategies for re-engaging customers who have left items in their carts. This includes automated email reminders, offering special discounts, and streamlining the checkout process to make completing a purchase as easy as possible.

Technical Aspects and Building a Funnel

The technical setup of a marketing funnel is also covered in depth. The hosts explain the essential tools and software needed to build an effective funnel on your website. This includes recommendations for e-commerce platforms, email marketing software, and analytics tools that help track customer behavior and funnel performance.

Impact on E-Commerce Businesses

This article and video provide a blueprint for setting up a marketing funnel and emphasize its importance in today’s competitive market. By implementing the strategies discussed, e-commerce business owners can significantly improve their lead conversion rates and take their business to new heights.

“Having a robust marketing funnel means your sales process operates efficiently without your constant involvement,” Emma concludes. “It’s about creating a repeatable process that ensures every visitor has the potential to become a satisfied customer.”

As the e-commerce landscape evolves, GoDaddy’s “Transforming Your Sales: Marketing Funnels 2024” offers invaluable insights and tools for small business owners looking to optimize their online sales strategies and achieve sustainable growth.

Getting Down and Dirty with Marketing Funnels

In an era where digital commerce is not just an option but a necessity, strategically implementing marketing funnels is critical for success. For small business owners, understanding and deploying these funnels effectively can transform a stagnant online store into a dynamic sales powerhouse. Professionals can refine their approach by dissecting the journey from visitor to customer, ensuring every step is optimized for maximum conversion.

Understanding the Marketing Funnel Framework

At its core, a marketing funnel maps out the customer’s journey from initial awareness to the final purchase decision. This structured pathway is crucial for systematically converting browsers into buyers by guiding them through several key stages: awareness, consideration, decision, and retention.

Awareness Stage

The top of the funnel is where potential customers first contact your brand. At this initial point, the focus should be on capturing your audience’s attention through targeted marketing strategies that highlight the unique value proposition of your products. Effective tactics include SEO-driven content that ranks for key terms, engaging social media posts that resonate with your target demographic, and paid advertising that reaches a broader audience.

Consideration Stage

Once awareness is established, the funnel narrows to the consideration stage, where potential buyers evaluate your products against their needs and other market offerings. Here, educational content such as tutorials, reviews, and product comparisons can play a pivotal role. This content should not only inform but also showcase the products’ benefits and applications to sway the prospects closer to making a purchase.

Decision Stage

The decision stage is where shoppers are on the brink of purchase. Streamlining the process is vital, making it as straightforward as possible. Simplifying the checkout process, offering clear pricing and shipping information, and providing timely promotions or discounts can effectively nudge the shopper toward conversion. Additionally, addressing common barriers, such as potential security concerns, with robust reassurances and certifications ensures that customers feel confident in their decisions.

Tackling Cart Abandonment

A common hurdle at the decision stage is shopping cart abandonment. Proactive strategies to combat this include exit-intent popups offering discounts, cart-saving features that allow customers to retain their selections even after leaving the site, and follow-up emails reminding customers about their abandoned carts with a call to action to complete the purchase.

Leveraging Technology to Build and Optimize Funnels

The technology that supports any effective marketing funnel is the backbone of it. Choosing the right e-commerce platform that allows for the integration of various marketing tools is crucial. Tools for A/B testing landing pages, analytics software to track user behavior, and CRM systems to manage customer interactions are essential for optimizing the funnel stages.

Data-Driven Decision Making

In the age of big data, marketers can leverage analytics to refine their marketing strategies continually. By analyzing the data gathered at each stage of the funnel, marketers can identify drop-off points and customer hesitations. This insight allows for targeted improvements, such as adjusting email marketing campaigns to better meet potential customers’ needs or tweaking the user interface for improved usability.

The Role of AI and Automation

Advancements in AI and automation have introduced profound efficiencies in managing marketing funnels. AI-driven analytics can predict customer behaviors, personalize product recommendations, and automate customer communication through chatbots and personalized emails. This enhances the customer experience and frees marketers to focus on strategy and creative aspects of campaign management.

The Future of Marketing Funnels

As e-commerce continues to evolve, so will the marketing funnel strategies. Emerging technologies and platforms will offer new ways to connect with customers and streamline the sales process. For professional marketers, staying ahead means continuously learning and adapting to these changes, ensuring their marketing funnels are as effective and efficient as possible.

By mastering the art and science of marketing funnels, marketers can ensure their e-commerce operations participate in and thrive in the competitive digital marketplace. The journey from a casual website visitor to a loyal customer can be complex. Still, with the right strategies, it is a repeatable and scalable process that drives growth and sustains business success.

Meet Norm Farrar: Trailblazer in Digital Marketing

Norm Farrar, co-founder of Dragonfish Marketing and host of the acclaimed podcast “Lunch with Norm,” is a leading authority in digital marketing. Drawing from years of experience and expertise, Farrar unveils groundbreaking insights into leveraging video content to unlock untapped revenue streams.

The Untapped Potential of Video Content

In a recent episode of “Lunch with Norm,” Farrar revealed a little-known secret that could revolutionize sellers’ approach to product listings. He revealed that many sellers overlook the importance of incorporating simple video content into their listings, missing out on a wealth of opportunities to drive external traffic and boost sales.

Farrar emphasizes that with today’s technology, creating compelling video content doesn’t have to break the bank. Platforms like Canva offer user-friendly tools for crafting engaging visuals, while AI-powered apps can transform still images into dynamic video formats without spending a dime.

The Power of Storytelling: Elevating Your Product Listings

Beyond its affordability, video marketing offers sellers a unique opportunity to tell their brand story and connect with customers on a deeper level. Farrar highlights the versatility of video content, from product demonstrations to behind-the-scenes glimpses, allowing sellers to showcase their products in a compelling and informative manner.

By incorporating videos into their listings, sellers can provide valuable product information, such as how-to guides, key ingredients, or unique selling points. This storytelling approach engages customers and builds trust and credibility, ultimately driving conversions and increasing sales.

Harnessing the Influence of Influencers: Driving External Traffic

The most game-changing aspect of video marketing is its potential to attract external influencer traffic. Farrar explains that by featuring your product in a shoppable video created by an influencer, sellers can leverage the influencer’s audience to drive traffic directly to their listings.

This symbiotic relationship between sellers and influencers can significantly boost sales. When an influencer creates a video featuring your product, their followers are likelier to trust and engage with the content, leading to increased visibility and conversions.

A Case Study in Action: $58,000 in New Orders

Farrar shares a compelling case study from his own experience, showcasing the immense impact of video marketing on sales. Farrar’s team generated an astonishing $58,000 in new orders through a single video featuring a product.

The video, which the algorithm picked up and featured on the product listing, attracted customers who had never visited the site. This demonstrates the tangible benefits of incorporating video content into product listings, as it not only drives sales but also expands your brand’s reach to new audiences.

Looking Ahead: Maximizing Sales Potential

As sellers navigate the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce, embracing innovative marketing strategies is essential for success. Video marketing presents a powerful avenue for sellers to differentiate their products, attract new customers, and drive sales to unprecedented heights.

With Farrar’s expert guidance and actionable insights, sellers can harness the full potential of video content to optimize their product listings and achieve unparalleled success in the competitive e-commerce marketplace. By leveraging video’s storytelling capabilities, collaborating with influencers, and analyzing the data to refine their strategies, sellers can stay ahead of the curve and unlock new levels of growth and profitability.

Seizing the Opportunity:

The dialogue started by exploring social media’s immense opportunities for e-commerce brands. Vaynerchuk underscored the unparalleled reach and engagement potential of platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, highlighting them as indispensable tools for connecting with consumers and driving sales.

Moving Beyond Press and Publicity:

Drawing from real-world experiences, Vaynerchuk delved into the limitations of relying solely on press and media coverage for sustained growth. While initial publicity may generate buzz and excitement, he emphasized the need for ecommerce marketers to shift their focus toward building a robust digital presence through organic social media channels.

Crafting a Social Media Strategy:

Central to the conversation was the importance of crafting a comprehensive social media strategy tailored to the unique needs and preferences of e-commerce audiences. Vaynerchuk stressed the significance of producing engaging and shareable content that resonates with target demographics, driving traffic to e-commerce platforms, and converting leads into loyal customers.

The Power of Consistency:

One of the recurring themes of the dialogue was the paramount importance of consistency in social media marketing efforts. Vaynerchuk urged ecommerce marketers to adopt a proactive approach, consistently delivering value-driven content and actively engaging with their audience to foster meaningful relationships and build brand loyalty.

Embracing Authenticity and Transparency:

In an era dominated by authenticity and transparency, Vaynerchuk emphasized the need for ecommerce brands to cultivate genuine connections with their audience. By sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses, user-generated content, and authentic stories, marketers can humanize their brand and foster trust among consumers.

Key Strategies for Ecommerce Success:

• Develop a robust social media strategy tailored to the unique needs and preferences of ecommerce audiences.
• Prioritize content creation and engagement consistency to maintain a robust digital presence and drive sustained growth.
• Embrace authenticity and transparency to foster genuine connections with consumers and build brand loyalty in a competitive marketplace.

In conclusion, Gary Vaynerchuk’s dialogue with up-and-coming e-commerce marketers serves as a beacon of inspiration and guidance for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of online retail. By harnessing the power of organic social media marketing and adopting a proactive and authentic approach, e-commerce brands can unlock new opportunities for growth, success, and lasting impact in the digital age.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ap7yl4X8Zo&t=11s

Content Marketing:

In the realm of content marketing, providing valuable information is vital to building relationships with potential customers. While videos have been a popular choice, podcasting is emerging as a highly effective tool for deepening connections. However, discoverability has always been a challenge for podcasts – until now. Enter YouTube, the new player in podcasting. By uploading video podcasts, businesses can tap into YouTube’s vast audience and significantly enhance their reach. AI can assist in generating podcast topics, streamlining the content creation process, and saving valuable time.

Social Media Marketing:

Short-form vertical videos continue to dominate social media platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. Interestingly, these videos often stem from repurposed content, such as clips from video podcasts. AI tools can efficiently chop up long-form videos into short, engaging clips optimized for various platforms. By maintaining a presence on short and long-form video platforms, businesses can achieve omnipresence, strengthening their brand presence and fostering deeper connections with audiences.

Search Engine Marketing:

With search engines evolving, businesses must adapt their content strategies accordingly. Rather than focusing on easily answerable questions, companies should aim to provide in-depth, experience-based content that only humans can offer. Alternatively, prioritizing video content on platforms like YouTube can yield excellent results, as AI-generated channels often fail to resonate with audiences. By incorporating personal experiences and opinions into their content, businesses can differentiate themselves and attract more engaged viewers.

Email Marketing:

Email marketing remains a highly effective tool for converting prospects into customers. However, the traditional approach of offering free ebooks or PDFs as lead magnets is evolving. Quizzes now boast significantly higher conversion rates, thanks to AI-powered quiz builders that simplify creation. By enticing visitors with interactive quizzes, businesses can capture more email addresses and nurture leads more effectively.

Paid Marketing:

When it comes to allocating advertising budgets, prioritizing efforts to grow the email list yields the best results. Meta (formerly Facebook and Instagram) ads are still a top choice for driving traffic and generating leads. Leveraging AI to craft compelling ad copy can maximize the effectiveness of these campaigns, ensuring that businesses get the most out of their advertising spend.

In conclusion, 2024 marks a significant leap forward in digital marketing, fueled by advancements in AI technology. By embracing innovative strategies and leveraging AI tools effectively, businesses can achieve remarkable results, reaching more customers and driving growth in the digital age. So, are you ready to take your marketing to the next level in 2024? With the right approach, the possibilities are endless.

In a riveting new video, one savvy entrepreneur reveals the most lucrative e-commerce growth strategy of 2024. And no, it’s not about throwing more cash at TikTok or Facebook ads or tweaking your website for a measly 0.1% increase in conversions. This is the real deal, folks!

Forget everything you’ve heard from the YouTube gurus about optimizing ad creatives or tweaking your marketing strategy. The problem isn’t just getting people to click your ads—it’s keeping them coming back for more. But fear not—this groundbreaking strategy is about to change the game!

Now, fair warning – this isn’t your average YouTube video. If you’re unwilling to invest 20 to 30 minutes into transforming your e-commerce brand, you might as well click away now. But for those who are ready to take their business to new heights, keep reading.

Gone are the days of relying solely on paid advertising to drive sales. In 2024, it’s all about building quality conversion and retention systems that keep customers coming back for more. We’re talking pop-up forms, email marketing, SMS – the whole shebang!

Imagine converting 6 to 12% of your website visitors into loyal subscribers who hang on to your every word and eagerly await your next promotion. With the right strategy, this is not just a pipe dream—it’s a reality.

But where do you start? Fear not, my friend, for we’ve got you covered. From setting up your email service provider to crafting irresistible pop-up forms, we’ll walk you through every step of the process. And trust me, it’s easier than you think!

Once you’ve built your email list, it’s time to unleash the power of email campaigns and flows. We’ll show you how to keep your audience engaged and primed for purchase, from flash sales to customer testimonials.

But wait, there’s more! We’ll also dive into the world of SMS marketing, where concise messages pack a powerful punch. Learn how to craft compelling SMS campaigns that drive results without breaking the bank.

So, are you ready to revolutionize your e-commerce brand in 2024? Don’t miss out on this exclusive insider’s guide to skyrocketing your sales and leaving the competition in the dust. Watch the video above, and let’s make this your best year yet!

Our lives are affected today by digital platforms and content taking over today. The demand for digital content keeps rising. For instance, the global digital content creation market size is expected to touch over $16 billion by 2025. This means a business that invests in digital products has a chance to thrive.

There is a lot involved in making a hustle out of a digital product like eBooks, tickets, podcasts, manuals, or tutorials. It all begins by having the basic knowledge to run a successful online business. Here is a guide on starting an online business selling digital products.

Register your Business

The first step to starting an online business is registering it with the relevant authorities. You want to ensure your business is legitimate and recognized. You can register your business as an LLC and get the proper certification and copyright for your digital products.

The cost of registering an LLC may vary depending on your state. For instance, in Delaware, it costs about $415. This cost includes a state filing fee, name reservation, and adding a registered agent. When you register your business as an LLC, you can reap the benefits of a partnership and a sole proprietorship.

An LLC allows you to reduce personal liability to your business while gaining flexibility in operation and taxation. The process of registering an LLC is not that long compared to other types of business. You should also learn more about the benefits of an LLC for different types of business before deciding the best type of business to register.

Define Your Image and Brand

If you are selling digital products online, you will need a brand image that can sell your products and battle the stiff competition in the online market. Your brand is like an overall vibe of the business. It will need to be iconic enough in case you do expand enough to have more products or even a business delivery fleet.

You want to ensure everything in your business, right from the business name to the design, conveys a consistent idea and visual image of your business.

When working on your brand, you should focus on the logo, color scheme, page layout, typography, photos and graphics. These elements should work together in portraying your brand image out there.

Build a Responsive Website

A website is a must-have if you want to sell digital products. As soon as you’ve validated your business idea, you should proceed to build your website. A website is like your storefront for selling digital products.

It is not that difficult to build a website nowadays. You can create your website in just hours without coding skills using any of the best website builders. You can also hire a website designer to design your website who will also help you choose the best host server that will keep you online round the clock.

When designing a website to sell digital products like courses, written content, and podcasts, you should ensure it has all the required functionalities. Here is what you should do:

• Incorporate forms so visitors can subscribe and join your list.
• Build customized landing pages that can educate your audience to learn more about your products and services.
• Design your website to accept payments so it is easy to sell online.
• Optimize your website for mobile and make it responsive to most visitors who access your services using their smartphones and tablets.

Build an Audience to Sell to

For a physical store, this will sound like building a customer base. If you are selling digital products like a coding course, you want to first build an audience that needs your product. At this point, you want to make use of your greatest asset, the email list.

Everyone on your email list is interested in your brand, which means they trust you. There is a high probability that they will buy from you if only you market your products and services. Add people to your email list and begin marketing your brand to them. Send emails with information on your products and services. This is called list building.

You can give people freebies in exchange for their contact information. For instance, if you are selling a course, you can give a short coaching session to everyone that subscribes to your email list. Freebies can act as your lead magnet. It can attract leads to your business and help you grow your business.

Optimize Your Website for Conversions

You are already selling your digital products to your customers at this stage of the business. What remains is finding ways to increase your sales. If you want to increase your sales, you should optimize your site leveraging SEO to convert most visitors to customers.

To optimize your website, you should look at the data on your site. What do the numbers say about your most trafficked pages? You should also identify the pages on your website that most people rarely visit, and once they do, they leave the page fast.

You want to ensure you can hold your visitors for long so you can get the chance to convince them into buying your products and services. Focus on removing the things that don’t work on your site and improve those that work to optimize your website sales funnel.

You should focus more on how you can sell your digital products on the website. Therefore, make it clear that your website aims to attract people willing and able to buy your products and services.

Make sure you can send every visitor to your landing page, and you persuade them to buy. To achieve this, ensure you have a call to action on one very single page of your website. Go straight to the point and tell your visitors what you want them to do.

You can then reward them accordingly for taking action you asked for.

Final Thoughts                                     

Suppose you are out to start a business selling digital products, now is the right time to start. Register your business and get a copyright for your products. Build a website, brand, and audience for your products and services.

Start your business today by following the five steps listed here and turning your fantastic idea into an income-generating business.

One of the biggest issues online shoppers face is finding the products they’re interested in. This can especially be apparent when comparing retail platform search capabilities with the Google Search features customers have become accustomed to.

Google Cloud is now bringing the power of its search to retail clients, with Retail Search, which the company unveiled in a blog.

This fully managed service is easily customizable, enabling organizations to craft shopper-focused search experiences. Our site search solution builds upon decades of Google’s experience and innovation in search indexing, retrieval, and ranking. Retailers can make product discovery even easier for shoppers, while optimizing for their business goals with advanced capabilities

Retail Search gives clients the ability to offer advanced query understanding, meaning customers will have better success finding what they’re looking for even with the broadest of search terms. The service also includes semantic search, which matches product attributes with relevant products.

Customers are already seeing the benefit of Retail Search.

“With limited customer signals and no historical data, descriptive long-tail searches are some of the most challenging queries to understand,” said Neelima Sharma, senior vice president, technology, e-commerce, marketing and merchandising at Lowe’s. “We have been partnering with Google Cloud to give our customers relevant results for long-tail searches and have seen an increase in click-through and search conversion and a drop in our ‘No Results Found’ rate since we launched.”

Google Cloud customers interested in learning more can visit Discovery Solutions for Retail or contact their Google Cloud field sales representative.

Amazon Prime may be a popular subscription service that offers better deals, faster shipping, and a video subscription service, but the FTC says many customers were tricked into subscriptions they didn’t want. To make matters worse, Amazon allegedly made it difficult for customers to cancel once subscribed.

In a complaint filed today, the FTC charges that Amazon has knowingly duped millions of consumers into unknowingly enrolling in Amazon Prime. Specifically, Amazon used manipulative, coercive, or deceptive user-interface designs known as “dark patterns” to trick consumers into enrolling in automatically-renewing Prime subscriptions.

Amazon also knowingly complicated the cancellation process for Prime subscribers who sought to end their membership. The primary purpose of its Prime cancellation process was not to enable subscribers to cancel, but to stop them. Amazon leadership slowed or rejected changes that would’ve made it easier for users to cancel Prime because those changes adversely affected Amazon’s bottom line.

“Amazon tricked and trapped people into recurring subscriptions without their consent, not only frustrating users but also costing them significant money,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “These manipulative tactics harm consumers and law-abiding businesses alike. The FTC will continue to vigorously protect Americans from “dark patterns” and other unfair or deceptive practices in digital markets.”

This isn’t the first time the FTC has gone after a high-profile company for using dark patterns to trick users. The agency recently fined Epic Games $520 million for such practices. The fine included $245 million in refunds for dark pattern purchases.

Global ecommerce revenue is projected to reach 5.4 trillion US dollars by 2022. Therefore, more and more retailers have jumped into the ecommerce space to make more money. With increasing competition, however, it has become crucial for ecommerce businesses to deliver the best brand experience for improved customer retention and brand loyalty.

The choice of your website’s ecommerce theme plays a vital role in preparing an UX-friendly digital destination that helps to acquire more customers.

What is an ecommerce theme?

An ecommerce theme is a pre-built design that you can select for your online store. It helps to deliver the best user experience to your customers.

Why is the choice of your ecommerce theme significant?

Around 40% of site visitors will stop interacting with your site if the layout is unattractive. Selecting the right ecommerce theme for your online store helps your customers to do business with you with ease.

What features should you look for in your ecommerce theme?

The features that you should have in your site depends on the kind of website that you are looking to build.

That having been said, here are the top features you should look for in every ecommerce theme:

Responsive Design

A responsive website is mobile-friendly. Having a responsive site design ensures that your website’s look and functionality stays the same irrespective of the browsing device. It doesn’t matter whether the visitor is visiting your store using a mobile device or a desktop, they will be able to complete the purchase easily.

A responsive design also has a positive impact on Google rankings, because Google and other search engines consider site design, user experience, and mobile browsing experience before ranking a website.

Hence, a responsive website has more chances of ranking higher in the search results as compared to a non-responsive site. Besides, a responsive site is easy to maintain and cost-effective.

Speed

Faster loading websites naturally offer a more smooth user experience. Google and other search engines now consider site speed in their ranking algorithm.

The recent Page Experience update from Google takes into account Core Web Vitals as a key ranking algorithm factor. Core Web Vitals comprises metrics such as LCP (Largest Contentful Paint), FCP (First Contentful Paint), and FID (First Input Delay), which collectively measure the real world user experience. Sites that pass the Core Web Vitals test have the best chances of being placed higher in the search results.

You can use the Page Speed Insights tool to check the page speed score of a website. The higher the score, the better would be the UX and organic rankings.

Therefore, before selecting a theme, you should conduct some research on the theme loading speed. Sometimes, fancy elements and design don’t matter much when compared to simple site design with a high speed.

Ease of Use

You should always select an ecommerce theme with a simple and easy to use navigation.

For example, your theme should have a search bar, because often visitors are looking to search for a particular product to complete the purchase. If your site doesn’t have a visible search bar, then it might lead to poor conversions and a high bounce rate.

Opt for a theme that has nicely designed “breadcrumb navigation” and prominent category and subcategory links. Besides, the CTAs should be large and clear. There are maximum chances of conversions when the CTAs are placed higher in the page leading to more clicks.

Security

Website security is crucial for a good user experience. Google takes website security very seriously. Make sure your ecommerce site offers good security.

Opt for an SSL certificate and pick a trustworthy web host. Ensure, your ecommerce theme does not have any vulnerabilities that makes it easier for hackers to steal customer data.

Support for integrations and widgets

Most of the time, you will realize that it is much easier to install a widget or an app to add an additional feature to your online shop.

You can find essential apps and plugins in the respective directories of your ecommerce platform. Plugins are powerful because they let you add beneficial functionalities to your store without the need to hire a developer. You can easily search and install a plugin of your choice to add different functionalities to improve UX and SEO.

Hence, you should see whether your chosen theme is compatible with the plugins you plan to use. You should select an ecommerce theme that offers the support for maximum plugins, apps, and widgets.

Final thoughts

Building and managing your ecommerce business is challenging nowadays. The choice of your ecommerce theme decides the future of your online business.

An SEO friendly store layout helps to acquire relevant organic traffic to your site. Besides, an UX-friendly theme keeps customers happy as it improves conversion and retention, which are significant to boost your online revenue.

You should have a brilliant online marketing strategy, powered by a robust ecommerce theme to drive more qualified traffic to your site.

Rob Locascio, CEO of LivePerson, predicts that the AI-driven conversational space will ultimately have as much impact and be as big an industry as ecommerce, search, or social. Locascio was interviewed by Jim Cramer on CNBC:

Ecommerce, Search, Social… and Conversational Space?

When I look at the conversational space I think it’s going to have as much impact as ecommerce or search or social. The ability to talk to a machine and have a natural conversation, it’s in the collective consciousness of people. We all believe the Alexa type situation should happen with every company. 

We do that with Delta and T-Mobile and all these big brands. What we’re looking at now is how do we take that to the world? LiveIntent is proprietary technology to look at the intent that a consumer is having with the brand. In terms of I want to buy something, we have a way to analyze that and then use machine learning algorithms to then scale those conversations. That’s what this is about. 

Healthcare Companies Defending Themselves From Amazon Via AI

In Q4 we signed a couple healthcare companies. They want to talk about defending themselves from Amazon because Amazon said they want to go into healthcare. The way they think they can do that is scaling the conversations they are having with their customers and creating a totally different experience. You go to a doctor, you have an experience with them, you capture that on a messaging platform and an AI will help you with whatever is wrong with you. You want to process a bill instead of calling and being put on hold, you do that through a conversational experience. 

They want to game change it. The only way they’re going to defend themselves is to get into the conversational space. That’s what they see and we’re the company they’re trusting to scale their operations with the conversational platform.

Conversational Space Is Going To Be As Big As Search and Social

The conversational space is going to be as big as search and social. I think you’ll see one day that there will be a trillion dollar company in this space and I want it to be us. The things we’re investing in right now and setting up for will allow us to do that. That’s what’s important. The Amazon’s and the Facebook’s and Apple’s, they’re in the space. Jeff Bezos made a big bet obviously in Alexa to say this is the way it’s going to be. 

It can’t just be Amazon and Alexa. It has to be other companies getting access to that technology and that’s what we are providing. Who else is providing it? We’re one of the largest companies in the world to do this. Even though we’re not big tech, we are large enough to go ahead and go after them. We are large enough to go ahead and define a space and win it.

As a result, the popularity of eCommerce apps has also grown. According to the latest statistics, more than 90% of the time mobile users spend on mobile software. And almost 80% of people have an experience with online shopping. So developing an app does really make sense. This is your opportunity to increase traffic, sales, and revenue in the end. 

If you haven’t launched a mobile app for your project yet then hurry up to do it. While you doubt your rivals attract customers, sell their goods, and get insane profits. And if you have already developed mobile software for your company then take care of its promotion. Make people want to install and use your app. Try these tips to make your eCommerce mobile apps truly popular and efficient.  

Follow the Requirements of ASO

The basic principles of App Store Optimization are called to promote your application in the App Store and Google Play. By using proper keywords, adding informative descriptions, placing relevant screenshots, and so on you will allow users to find your software among thousands of other apps.  By increasing your recognition, you’ll notice a higher amount of downloads.

In general, ASO is powerful enough to guarantee the following benefits:

– increase retention rate. It demonstrates that the number of active users installing your app is much higher than the number of those customers who have uninstalled it;

– scale the loyalty of users. Paid ads also boost your mobile app traffic but organic search forms a loyal community of people truly interested in using your software for a long time;

– further app improvement. By getting feedback from your users you will be able to detect bugs and get rid of them efficiently. 

Take Advantage of Email Marketing

Newsletters and promotional emails aren’t dead in marketing meaning, as you may think. No matter new and original advertising tools, email marketing is still known as one of the most efficient and low-cost tools to reach desired goals. By sending regular emails and newsletters you are able to share with subscribers new information about your sales, promote special offers, gift them with personal discounts, and so on.

Many companies use email marketing to announce the launch of their apps. You can propose users download the app and get special benefits, for instance, a coupon or early access to a new collection of your products. 

Use a Landing Page

A customized landing page is a great mobile eCommerce platform to promote your shopping offers. It helps in brand recognition so potential buyers can find out more about your company. In addition, powerful CTA elements will intrigue users and motivate them to try your software for a better shopping experience. 

All you need is to create a one-page website with a detailed description of your app’s features and advantages. Don’t forget to add downloading links so the visitors of your landing page can easily reach your software. 

Promote Your Apps on Social Media

Depending on the type of your business, you may be interested in investing more funds in SMM marketing. It means you need to grow the number of subscribers and share with them viral content. Such an approach is powerful because an average user spends approximately 2 hours and 27 minutes on social media every day. 

If you have a successful account on social media platforms you should definitely promote your app. There are many ideas on how to encourage your subscribers to do it. For instance, you can explain the beneficial eCommerce app features and customers’ benefits. Launch a relevant hashtag and let people share their opinions about your offer. Thanks to using the power of your social media accounts, you can make your app popular too.

Launch Referral Marketing

Have your friends ever shared with you any link, product, or app? This is an example of referral marketing. It means the recommendation of something to other people for a bonus. Person A only needs to have a unique affiliate link or code to share it with user B. After user B installs your app, user A will receive a reward. 

As you can see, the mechanism of referral marketing is very simple. No need to invest funds in software ads – your users will be your ambassadors for free. As a result, you can reach your planned goals: increase the number of app installs, save money on advertising campaigns, scale your loyal community, etc. 

Try to Work with Influencers 

Influencer marketing isn’t a new thing. You can contact social media personalities with great bases of subscribers for cooperation. Such influencers may advertise your mobile eCommerce app without noticeable signs of traditional advertisement. That’s the point of native marketing: by working with influencers you’ll make your ads look like friendly recommendations. 

As a result, online buyers will be much more excited to purchase your products using your mobile software. Once the social media personality shares a recommendation with them, they may rely on it and give your offer a chance. 

Develop Your Business with a Mobile App

A mobile app is a key to massive sales nowadays. It allows you to reach new target audiences, motivate your loyal customers to make orders, improve conversation rate, increase brand recognition, build better relationships with customers and, finally, reach your business goals. 

It seems you can generate mobile app sales. It’s possible that your app isn’t good enough to bring you desired results. Then you must improve it to make its features and interface user-friendly. But if your software is great but traffic and sales leave much to be desired then rely on the listed above tips. Make a step forward in your eCommerce success now and your business will demonstrate better results soon.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading a suit against Amazon, accusing the company of continuing to punish sellers that offer lower prices on competing online stores — such as eBay and Walmart — despite ending its Price Parity Provision in 2019.

In newly redacted documents, Bonta makes the case that Amazon ended the policy in name only, but continued its modus operandi. In fact, the company even planned to expand the penalties.

Here are some of the pertinent examples of Amazon’s behavior, as revealed in the documents the AG released (emphasis theirs):

5. But despite removing that language, Amazon continued to interpret and apply other provisions of its BSA to mandate the same price parity agreement from third-party sellers. As an internal Amazon document put it, despite “the recent removal of the price parity clause in our BSA . . . our expectations and policies have not changed.”

14. [I]nternal Amazon documents confirm that just months after Amazon eliminated the Price Parity Provision from its BSA, Amazon planned an expansion of the penalties for lower prices off Amazon. An Amazon Director observed that these expanded penalties “may generate pushback given recent positive press about our change to remove the previous price parity clause which required 3P [third-party] Sellers to price their products on Amazon lower than they price them anywhere else.” In other words, Amazon claimed to antitrust enforcers that it was no longer enforcing price parity, but it continued to do just that. Amazon even anticipated that “media and selling partners may claim the removal of the clause was not only trivial but a trick and an attempt to garner goodwill with policymakers amid increasing competition concerns.”

According to the AG’s documents, Amazon’s measures appear to have had the desired effect on sellers, with many of them living in fear of doing anything that could negatively impact their standing with the company:

68. One seller reported to Amazon, “I still wake up in fear every day that my account or a key ASIN [Amazon Standard Identification Number] could be suspended.” Amazon admits in internal documents that “Sellers live in constant fear that their accounts will be suspended, or that top selling products will be removed, putting their businesses and livelihoods at risk.”

The documents also show the policy had widespread support within Amazon, with the company’s VP of Pricing encouraging veiled threats:

163. [I]n January 2019, a Marketplace seller complained to Amazon, “the problem is that we’re being asked to take our prices down [on Amazon] to match our own [website] store.” Amazon’s VP of Pricing reminded the seller’s account manager that it could be unsuppressed if the price on the other website changed, and the seller should “control prices across all his channels. . . . [Y]ou might want to ask him to check if his sales on other sites directly or through distributors is putting him and us at a relative competitive disadvantage. . . . He might get the hint. :)”. The hint was straightforward: raise your prices elsewhere if you want to make sales on Amazon.

Despite a similar lawsuit from the Washington D.C. District Attorney being dismissed in 2021, the California AG may just have the goods to force Amazon to stop price-fixing.

“As California families struggle to make ends meet, we’re in court to stop Amazon from engaging in anticompetitive practices that keep prices artificially high and stifle competition,” said Attorney General Bonta. “There is no shortage of evidence showing that the ‘Everything store’ is costing consumers more for just about everything. Amazon coerces merchants into agreements that keep prices artificially high, knowing full well that they can’t afford to say no. With other e-commerce platforms unable to compete on price, consumers turn to Amazon as a one-stop shop for all their purchases. This perpetuates Amazon’s market dominance, allowing the company to make increasingly untenable demands on its merchants and costing consumers more at checkout across California. We won’t stand by while Amazon uses coercive contracting practices to dominate the market at the expense of California consumers, small business owners, and the economy.”

Bountiful Company abused a feature on Amazon’s website that is designed to let companies showcase small variations of the same product, such as when a company makes a product in several different colors.

The supplement-maker abused the feature, using it to promote newer products by piggybacking them on older, established, and well-reviewed ones. This essentially gave newer products more credit than they may have deserved, tricking consumers into buying them.

“Boosting your products by hijacking another product’s ratings or reviews is a relatively new tactic, but is still plain old false advertising,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The Bountiful Company is paying back $600,000 for manipulating product pages and deceiving consumers.”

The final consent order was approved 4-0, marking the first time the FTC has tackled “review hijacking.”

In addition to requiring that Bountiful pay $600,000 as monetary relief for consumers, the final order prohibits Bountiful from making similar types of misrepresentations and bars the company from using deceptive review tactics that distort what consumers think about its products or services.

Ephraim “Ed” Rosenberg is a well-known seller consultant for companies doing business on Amazon’s platform. According to CNBC, Rosenberg was one of six people accused of illegally trying to give sellers an unfair advantage.

Rosenberg has admitted his role, saying he bribed Amazon employees in the furtherance of his goals:

“For a time, some years ago, I began to obtain and use Amazon’s internal annotations — Amazon’s private property — to learn the reasons for sellers’ suspensions, in order to assist them in getting reinstated, if possible,” wrote Rosenberg on LinkedIn. “On some occasions, I paid bribes, directly and indirectly, to Amazon employees to obtain annotations and reinstate suspended accounts. These actions were against the law.”

“In the course of this case, I have made some public statements about this prosecution and the indictment,” Rosenberg said. “Those statements are not accurate and I disavow those statements. This statement I am making now is accurate and truthful and I will continue to stand by it.”

“No one should pay bribes to Amazon employees to provide private Amazon information,” Rosenberg added on Monday. “If it is apparent that internal information has been illegally leaked, no one should use it. Nor should anyone pay any Amazon employees for any other special favors regarding a seller’s account.”

Rosenberg could face up to five years and $250,000 in fines, although prosecutors are recommending two years probation and $100,000 in fines, according to Bloomberg’s Spencer Soper. In contrast, it’s estimated that Rosenberg and the other perpetrators netted $100,000 in benefits.

One of the biggest issues online shoppers face is finding the products they’re interested in. This can especially be apparent when comparing retail platform search capabilities with the Google Search features customers have become accustomed to.

Google Cloud is now bringing the power of its search to retail clients, with Retail Search, which the company unveiled in a blog.

This fully managed service is easily customizable, enabling organizations to craft shopper-focused search experiences. Our site search solution builds upon decades of Google’s experience and innovation in search indexing, retrieval, and ranking. Retailers can make product discovery even easier for shoppers, while optimizing for their business goals with advanced capabilities

Retail Search gives clients the ability to offer advanced query understanding, meaning customers will have better success finding what they’re looking for even with the broadest of search terms. The service also includes semantic search, which matches product attributes with relevant products.

Customers are already seeing the benefit of Retail Search.

“With limited customer signals and no historical data, descriptive long-tail searches are some of the most challenging queries to understand,” said Neelima Sharma, senior vice president, technology, e-commerce, marketing and merchandising at Lowe’s. “We have been partnering with Google Cloud to give our customers relevant results for long-tail searches and have seen an increase in click-through and search conversion and a drop in our ‘No Results Found’ rate since we launched.”

Google Cloud customers interested in learning more can visit Discovery Solutions for Retail or contact their Google Cloud field sales representative.

Partially due to the increasing scams and oversaturation of ads on social media, eCommerce email marketing is many consumers’ preferred form of advertising. While you do want to use marketing mediums that fit your team members’ expertise, your consumers are the ones who are ultimately exposed to the finished product. Moreover, if you or your team members are struggling considerably with writing creative email copy, it may be worthwhile to invest in an eCommerce email marketing agency. But why is email marketing such a preferred advertising method by employees and consumers alike? What makes it superior?

What is the Difference Between eCommerce Email Marketing and E-Marketing?

Before exploring the ways in which eCommerce email marketing can improve your business, it’s essential to understand what eCommerce email marketing does. Any company can use email marketing—that is, sending product information or ads for new products via email. It’s becoming increasingly rarer for a store to have a physical shop without an online shop, but those stores that do can still make sure of email marketing. If you have a business, you can send out marketing emails. Similarly, if you have an online store, you can send out eCommerce marketing emails. This means that a non-profit can use email marketing but not eCommerce email marketing. E-Marketing, on the other hand, refers to any online marketing medium, including social media platforms and email. eCommerce email marketing can include general emails about upcoming sales in an online shop or emails that are tailored to a shopper and the items in their cart.

Consumer Control

Unlike social media marketing, email marketing allows consumers more control over the advertisements, coupons, and deals that they receive. Because consumers are required to subscribe to your company’s mailing list or newsletter in order to receive emails from you, consumers are less likely to receive emails from brands that they don’t know and trust. Any scam emails are directed to spam, and consumers have the freedom to unsubscribe from a mailing list in order to stop receiving product information.

More Trustworthy

While it may seem counterintuitive to allow consumers to stop receiving product information from your company, it is imperative to win their trust. In fact, 77% of consumers prefer to receive marketing information via email. It makes sense that emails are the most trustworthy. We’re already using our email addresses for work and networking so it feels professional whereas social media ads are fun, but a little too casual to be legitimate. Email marketing feels trustworthy and professional, but how can it work for your business? How do you ensure that your emails are being opened and your content consumed?

High Open Rates and ROI

It’s more likely than you think that consumers will open your marketing emails. According to Forbes, 65% of small businesses report that between 11 and 50% of their marketing emails are opened. It’s easy to track open rates using tools like Cirrus Insight. Even if a customer doesn’t open your email as soon as they receive it, there is a potential that they may do so later. Social media posts, on the other hand, disappear as soon as someone refreshes their feed—meaning they might never even see it. It’s also hard to beat the price and return on investment of marketing emails.

Forbes tells us that you earn $42 for every dollar you spend, and most email marketing campaigns cost very little. You might find that your open and click-through rates become even higher when you put effort into the design and layout of your emails. As long as you don’t flood your consumers’ inboxes (40% of small businesses send marketing emails weekly while 30% send them at least once a month), your clients are sure to appreciate a thoughtfully made email with memorable colors and graphics. Cleverly worded subject lines that include slang and emojis are especially popular with more “hip” brands like skincare lines and fashion companies.

Conclusion

Even with the rise of social media, eCommerce email marketing is still a trustworthy form of marketing—and, in fact, one that is usually preferred by consumers. The return on investment and ease of content creation makes email marketing a no-brainer for your next campaign.

With eCommerce growth continuing at an exponential rate, supply chain visibility has become increasingly important for companies looking to remain competitive in today’s digital marketplace. Not only do businesses need to meet customer demands for fast delivery times, but they also need to manage costs, minimize losses, and ensure security. 

Be that as it may, only 65% of companies are able to report full visibility across their supply chains, and 43% of small businesses are not tracking inventory levels at all. With economic uncertainty on the horizon and customer expectations at an all-time high, now is the time to invest in supply chain visibility so you don’t find yourself falling behind while your competition sails away with their loyal customers.

Benefits of Supply Chain Visibility for Ecommerce Businesses

There are a multitude of benefits to be realized through the implementation of supply chain visibility in eCommerce. These include:

Improved customer satisfaction and loyalty

The more visibility you have into your own supply chain, the better equipped you are to anticipate customer needs and deliver products in a timely manner. With improved visibility, eCommerce businesses can increase customer satisfaction by reducing their response times, improving delivery accuracy, and providing customers with real-time updates about the status of their orders. This helps foster greater loyalty from customers, which in turn increases the likelihood of repeat business.

Reduced costs associated with inventory management

“Knowing inventory costs is extremely important because they affect the majority of decisions one makes as a retailer,” explains Abir Syed, co-founder of UpCounting, an eCommerce accounting firm.

Unsurprisingly, inventory management is the single largest expense for eCommerce businesses. For every dollar a US retailer generates through revenue, they have $1.35 tied up in inventory. As such, being able to accurately track and monitor inventory levels is essential for minimizing losses and maximizing efficiency.

By leveraging supply chain visibility technology, businesses can reduce the amount of inventory they need to keep in stock and their associated costs. This can be achieved through better forecasting and planning, more precise order fulfillment processes, and improved inventory accuracy.

Increased efficiency and speed of delivery

Knowing where products are throughout their journey allows businesses to better plan and adjust for delays, ensuring customers get their items as quickly as possible. Supply chain visibility also facilitates increased collaboration between all parties involved in the delivery process, allowing for a transparent and overall more efficient supply chain.

Enhanced flexibility and scalability in supply chains

As the demands of customers and markets shift, businesses need to be able to quickly adjust their supply chains accordingly. With supply chain visibility, businesses can quickly adapt to changing conditions, such as unexpected spikes in demand or supply disruptions. This increased flexibility and scalability of the supply chain is essential for businesses to remain competitive and responsive. This scalability also benefits businesses as they grow and expand into new markets. 

Increased control over returns management 

Returns are an unavoidable part of eCommerce and managing them can be difficult. Supply chain visibility gives businesses the ability to track a returned item as it moves through the supply chain and make adjustments to minimize losses. This includes tracking returned items on their journey back to the supplier, identifying potential issues and quickly resolving any discrepancies.

Challenges of Implementing Supply Chain Visibility

While the benefits of supply chain visibility are clear, there are still some challenges associated with its implementation. These include:

Establishing and maintaining relationships with suppliers

Before any supply chain visibility technology can be deployed, businesses need to build relationships with their suppliers. This requires open communication and collaboration between all parties involved, as well as a certain level of trust.

“When it comes to choosing partners, it’s wise to do some research to ensure the best deal possible while emphasizing transparency and flexibility. This is invaluable during times of frequent supply chain disruption,” explains Roei Yellin, Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer of 8fig, a planning and funding platform for eCommerce companies. 

“Sellers shouldn’t be afraid to negotiate for a better deal and they should make sure that communication is open and honest. This is true of suppliers, 3PLs (third-party logistics providers) and any other partners brought in to help manage the supply chain,” concludes Yellin.

Complexity of the supply chain and data formats

Securing buy-in from all parties and managing the data exchange between different organizations is challenging. Not only do various supply chain participants have differing needs and processes, they also use different systems. Unifying these systems and ensuring harmonious data exchange can be difficult.

To overcome this, businesses need to create a single source of truth that all supply chain participants can work from. This means creating common protocols and standards that all parties are comfortable with and can adhere to, and potentially leveraging a third-party solution to manage the data exchange.

Costs associated with technology and infrastructure

The technology and infrastructure required for supply chain visibility can be costly. Businesses need to invest in the right hardware, software, and people to ensure that the system is secure and effective.

Fortunately, there are solutions to this issue. RFID and code-based tracking solutions, in particular, are relatively inexpensive and easy to implement. Companies such as Scurri allow you to easily create a single bar code for all carriers, as well as a reporting dashboard that gives you full control over your operations with actionable insights. 

Cybersecurity concerns

Data is the lifeblood of supply chain visibility and ensuring its security is paramount. However, supply chains are coming under increasing attack from hackers and malicious actors, making them vulnerable to data theft and manipulation.

In fact, 97% of organizations say they have experienced the negative consequences of a supply chain cyber breach within their operations, demonstrating just how prevalent these attacks have become.

As such, businesses need to ensure that they have the appropriate protocols in place to protect their data from cyber-attacks. This includes using secure networks and encryption, as well as regularly auditing system access and usage. Multichannel cyber security solutions, such as VMware, can also be of great help in mitigating cyber risks.

Conclusion

Supply chain visibility is becoming increasingly important in today’s volatile and highly competitive marketplace. However, if businesses are to reap the full benefits of a visible supply chain, they must first overcome the various challenges associated with implementation.

Ultimately, with careful planning, a comprehensive approach to risk management, and the right technology in place, businesses can ensure that their supply chain visibility efforts are successful and that they remain agile and competitive in the long run. 

Around two billion people purchase goods or services online. In fact, by 2025, world eCommerce sales are likely to exceed $7.3 trillion.

Moreover, there are around 12-24 million online stores globally. However, only 6,50,000 generate annual sales over $1000.

This shows that the market is huge, competition is high, and the number of eCommerce sites is increasing, but only a few are able to generate sales.

Therefore, the best way to gain customer attention and drive sales is by improving user experience.

Here are the reasons, why a seamless user experience is important to the success of your eCommerce business:

●  51% of customers switch to competitor brands if they have one negative experience.

●  68% of customers are ready to pay more for products and services from a brand that offers a good customer experience.

●  89% of consumers are more likely to make another purchase if they receive a positive customer experience.

●  Businesses can improve their revenue to 4% to 8% above their market by prioritizing better customer experience.

But how will you improve the eCommerce user experience?

Well, this guide explains the top five ways that you can use to offer a great customer experience.

Let’s start!

1- Provide Personalized Customer Experience   

Around 80% of shoppers are more likely to purchase from an eCommerce business that offers a personalized experience.

Here are the best personalization strategies that you can try:

●  Build personalized homepages: If you are collecting cookies on your eCommerce website, then you can use that information to understand your customers better. Use this information to remember your customer’s interests and preferences and create personalized homepages for them.

●  Offer personalized guide: Provide on-site assistance to your visitors with quizzes and size, style, and budget guides. This will help you to offer personalized product recommendations. 

●  Display recently viewed product: Create a recently viewed section that allows customers to see what products they checked the last time. Add strong call-to-action, such as ‘Pick up where you left off’ to remind your customers about the products from their last session.

●  Personalize product pages based on location: Customize your product page based on location. Provide options to your customers to choose their country. You can also use geo-targeting to display relevant campaigns based on the customer’s location.

●  Make more personal recommendations: 31% of eCommerce revenue is generated from personalized product recommendations. Suggest similar or complementary items on the product page to your customers. One of the best tactics is by using product recommendations on abandoned cart emails.

You can also think of using third-party tools, such as Barilliance, Monetate, and Evergage to personalize your visitors’ shopping experience.

2- Choose Faster Hosting Service Provider

No doubts, slow websites kill conversions.

Around 47% of customers expect websites to load in two seconds. In fact, 40% leave a website if it takes three or more seconds to load.

A one-second delay in page load time can result into:

●  Decrease of 11% in page views

●  25% decrease in conversions rates

One of the major factors that affect your site speed is hosting service and infrastructure. 

Therefore, when you choose a hosting plan, check:

●  Memory or bandwidth limits for scaling and seasonal promotion.

●  Expected traffic and peak user load to avoid crashes from a sudden spike in visitors

●  Compare the top hosting providers based on starting cost, money back, load time, uptime, and customer support services. For instance, BlueHost offers an uptime of 99.96% while Siteground has an uptime of greater than 99.99%.

3- Utilize Third-Party Online Ecommerce Platforms

It is better to go for third-party online eCommerce platforms if you do not have the time or resources to build your own websites. They help you in setting up a website, offering pre-made templates, ensuring necessary security features, and scalability potential.

The top three most popular hosting solutions are:

●  Shopify: It is quite easy to set up a store and start selling products on Shopify. Also, it is inexpensive to build your shop on Shopify. You can sell unlimited products and have unlimited bandwidth. However, you have to pay for features such as abandoned shopping cart recovery. Brands such as GE, Tesla, and Red Bull use Shopify as their online shop. The starting price at which Shopify offers its services is $14/month.

●  BigCommerce: It is another great option for small to midsize businesses. It offers inventory management tools, boosts SEO strategies with customizable URLs and robot.txt access, provides plug-in POS integrations to leading providers like Square and Clover, and sells more with channel integrations like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook. You can create your own store on BigCommerce at $29.95/month.

●  Magento: Magento is an open-source platform, which is great for those who want to develop a long-term professional eCommerce site. The basic features provided by Magento are product, category, and inventory management, client account, customer service, order management, different payment options, and promotional and marketing tools.

4- Hire Skilled Customer Management Team

Focus on improving your customer support service. One of the best ways is by hiring the right members. Select candidates with a master’s degree in business administration.

Look for candidates who can grow customer loyalty, build a competitive edge in the market with their communication skills, and develop real brand ambassadors for your organization.

To fast track the hiring process and get the skilled customer support team faster, you can use the following ways:

●  Tap into your professional networks, such as network referrals or staff referrals.

●  Search LinkedIn and LinkedIn groups.

●  Search in specialist customer support job boards, such as Support Driven Jobs, Slack at Work, Remote OK, We Work Remotely, and AngelList Jobs.

5- Create an Omnichannel Experience for Your Users

Customers are present across all channels on the internet. Therefore, it is crucial that you deliver an omnichannel customer experience.

Using three or more channels in an automated and linked way leads to an engagement rate of 18.96%.

Here are the ways to create an omnichannel experience for your users:

●  Develop your mobile capabilities. Create a website which is mobile-friendly. Consider having a mobile app

●  Incorporate live chat

●  Integrate social content into your website

●  Add your product listings into social media posts

For example, Starbucks uses an effective omnichannel strategy. Customers can use their app for information and ordering. They also provide a newsletter to engage across touchpoints.

Final Thoughts

As the number of customers interacting with online businesses is increasing, eCommerce sites need to prioritize the customer experience to stay ahead in the competition. Ensure that your website is simple, responsive, user-friendly with clear images, videos, engaging content, and a smooth checkout process.

Therefore, designing your eCommerce stores that match customers’ expectations makes it way easier for you to increase conversions and stand out.

As a result, the popularity of eCommerce apps has also grown. According to the latest statistics, more than 90% of the time mobile users spend on mobile software. And almost 80% of people have an experience with online shopping. So developing an app does really make sense. This is your opportunity to increase traffic, sales, and revenue in the end. 

If you haven’t launched a mobile app for your project yet then hurry up to do it. While you doubt your rivals attract customers, sell their goods, and get insane profits. And if you have already developed mobile software for your company then take care of its promotion. Make people want to install and use your app. Try these tips to make your eCommerce mobile apps truly popular and efficient.  

Follow the Requirements of ASO

The basic principles of App Store Optimization are called to promote your application in the App Store and Google Play. By using proper keywords, adding informative descriptions, placing relevant screenshots, and so on you will allow users to find your software among thousands of other apps.  By increasing your recognition, you’ll notice a higher amount of downloads.

In general, ASO is powerful enough to guarantee the following benefits:

– increase retention rate. It demonstrates that the number of active users installing your app is much higher than the number of those customers who have uninstalled it;

– scale the loyalty of users. Paid ads also boost your mobile app traffic but organic search forms a loyal community of people truly interested in using your software for a long time;

– further app improvement. By getting feedback from your users you will be able to detect bugs and get rid of them efficiently. 

Take Advantage of Email Marketing

Newsletters and promotional emails aren’t dead in marketing meaning, as you may think. No matter new and original advertising tools, email marketing is still known as one of the most efficient and low-cost tools to reach desired goals. By sending regular emails and newsletters you are able to share with subscribers new information about your sales, promote special offers, gift them with personal discounts, and so on.

Many companies use email marketing to announce the launch of their apps. You can propose users download the app and get special benefits, for instance, a coupon or early access to a new collection of your products. 

Use a Landing Page

A customized landing page is a great mobile eCommerce platform to promote your shopping offers. It helps in brand recognition so potential buyers can find out more about your company. In addition, powerful CTA elements will intrigue users and motivate them to try your software for a better shopping experience. 

All you need is to create a one-page website with a detailed description of your app’s features and advantages. Don’t forget to add downloading links so the visitors of your landing page can easily reach your software. 

Promote Your Apps on Social Media

Depending on the type of your business, you may be interested in investing more funds in SMM marketing. It means you need to grow the number of subscribers and share with them viral content. Such an approach is powerful because an average user spends approximately 2 hours and 27 minutes on social media every day. 

If you have a successful account on social media platforms you should definitely promote your app. There are many ideas on how to encourage your subscribers to do it. For instance, you can explain the beneficial eCommerce app features and customers’ benefits. Launch a relevant hashtag and let people share their opinions about your offer. Thanks to using the power of your social media accounts, you can make your app popular too.

Launch Referral Marketing

Have your friends ever shared with you any link, product, or app? This is an example of referral marketing. It means the recommendation of something to other people for a bonus. Person A only needs to have a unique affiliate link or code to share it with user B. After user B installs your app, user A will receive a reward. 

As you can see, the mechanism of referral marketing is very simple. No need to invest funds in software ads – your users will be your ambassadors for free. As a result, you can reach your planned goals: increase the number of app installs, save money on advertising campaigns, scale your loyal community, etc. 

Try to Work with Influencers 

Influencer marketing isn’t a new thing. You can contact social media personalities with great bases of subscribers for cooperation. Such influencers may advertise your mobile eCommerce app without noticeable signs of traditional advertisement. That’s the point of native marketing: by working with influencers you’ll make your ads look like friendly recommendations. 

As a result, online buyers will be much more excited to purchase your products using your mobile software. Once the social media personality shares a recommendation with them, they may rely on it and give your offer a chance. 

Develop Your Business with a Mobile App

A mobile app is a key to massive sales nowadays. It allows you to reach new target audiences, motivate your loyal customers to make orders, improve conversation rate, increase brand recognition, build better relationships with customers and, finally, reach your business goals. 

It seems you can generate mobile app sales. It’s possible that your app isn’t good enough to bring you desired results. Then you must improve it to make its features and interface user-friendly. But if your software is great but traffic and sales leave much to be desired then rely on the listed above tips. Make a step forward in your eCommerce success now and your business will demonstrate better results soon.