Your B2C Business Should Have an eCommerce Website in 2018. Here’s Why.
In today’s competitive and convenience-focused society, no longer are consumers looking to venture to the streets to buy items. Instead, consumers want to shop from their own homes when they want, and how they want. From startups to small businesses to huge brands, companies that are in high-growth mode benefit from having an eCommerce website to reach the next generation of consumers.
If you’re still on the fence about launching an eCommerce store, here are 5 reasons eCommerce is important for your business and how you can benefit from moving online this year.
1. Reach a (much) larger audience and drive sales
An eCommerce website has no geographical limits. Meaning, you can reach anyone from anywhere if you offer to ship to their location. By reaching your target market worldwide without having to open a physical branch of your store, you save money on physical placement, so you can focus on what really matters: product quality and business service. A business run on the web offers you limitless possibilities to grow – making the world simply your oyster.
2. Make it convenient for consumers to shop your products and enhance customer satisfaction
An online store is available all day, every day – meaning your customers can visit your store at all times, no matter what their schedule might be. As online shopping becomes more of a normal habit for consumers, people are choosing to shop online to find the items they want or need without having to take time out of their day to travel. A flexible experience for consumers to shop how they want when they want offers the most comfort possible for your customers with the least amount of effort on your part, making the experience a win-win for both you and the customer.
3. Scale your business for the long term and enhance growth opportunities
As your business grows, it’s very likely you’ll want to grow your product range and your target audience, as well as develop your business for consumer demand. An eCommerce site lets you scale your business accordingly, allowing you to add more products, add more payment options, and even grow who you choose to ship to, without having to worry about changing your location or moving to a larger premise.
4. Collect consumer data to re-target and reach prospective customers
An eCommerce website gives you the ability to gather customer information, so you can continue to promote marketing efforts to them (and further grow their brand experience). Consumers provide their information by signing up for an account, opting into email promotions, or purchasing a product – and by gathering these email addresses, you are then able to stay in front of the customer through email marketing or other digital marketing strategies.
5. Personalize your user experience and keep consumers coming back for more
There are many ways in which eCommerce can be used to forge a more personal connection with customers. For example, an eCommerce site could include personal recommendations, order tracking, quick customer service, or personalized rewards, allowing your business to offer the same kind of personal service online that you would offer face-to-face.
