Now that we are in November, with only two months left until the end of the year, many people will start looking towards Christmas and think about making a start on their present lists.
But with many areas of the world once again going into various forms of lockdown, the weeks leading up to Christmas seem more uncertain than ever for many businesses.
What was once the busiest time of the year, as well as the most profitable, could very well be the opposite this year, (at least in the physical sense) forcing many business owners to change strategies and focus more on their eCommerce channels.
While Christmas this year will be very different from what we have known in the past, with the right strategy and plan, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still thrive. Here are three tips to help you get your business eCommerce ready for this upcoming Christmas season.
Reduce your delivery costs
Now that people might not have the same opportunities to go to the shops to pick up their gifts physically make their online experience so much more rewarding by offering free delivery if, and where, you can.
This mimics the customer’s brick and mortar shopping experience where consumers can make a purchase straight away without any extra costs, making them happier and more inclined to shop online at your eCommerce store.
If you cannot offer free delivery, look at providing reduced shipping and delivery costs instead.
While it may make a slight dent in your revenue at first, offering this reduced service will make you stand out from your competitors, and draw in more customers, driving profits up more than usual.
Invest in a retail support service
The holiday season is undoubtedly busy, so you want to ensure a smooth experience for all of your customers.
Just as you have help and customer service desks in stores, you should invest in a remote version for your eCommerce platform via an online support service and get a business answering service.
Not only does a service like this help to maximise your online conversions, but it also provides a safe space for your customers to answer their queries and remove any doubts or uncertainties.
Whether it is over an online chat or via the phone, professional and friendly customer service associates will show consumers that your brand is professional, helping to guide them to the checkout and supporting them throughout their online shopping experience.
Ensure you are using good quality images
eCommerce has many many upsides compared to brick and mortar businesses.
After all, there is a reason why more and more people have been turning towards online shopping, even before the pandemic struck. Unfortunately, one of the downsides is that you can’t touch, try-on, or feel the product online before purchasing.
That’s why using good quality images is so important when it comes to helping you make or break a sale online. One study even found that 67% of customers confirmed that their decision on whether or not to buy a product, was based on the quality of the product image.
Many people like the idea or look of something, but if the picture isn’t clear, they won’t want to take the risk just in case they don’t receive the product that they are expecting.
Drive online visitors to make purchases and boost their confidence by using a variety of high-quality images at different angles, ranging from close-ups as well as the option for a 360-degree rotation, displaying the product in its entirety.
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