Do you sell products or services but not yet online? That’s a missed opportunity because online shopping is on the rise. More and more people are turning to e-commerce, and sales figures are growing exponentially. An online store is a powerful tool to boost your sales. The fact that an online store has many benefits is obvious. Otherwise, the e-commerce sector wouldn’t be experiencing such exponential growth. Below are some of the advantages:
Limited costs
Starting a physical store requires a significant budget. You need to buy or rent a premises, set up the store, pay for electricity, and so on. An online store, on the other hand, can be launched with a limited budget. Developing an online store is relatively cheap compared to buying or renting a physical premises. Registering and maintaining the online store are negligible costs. You can choose to hire a digital marketing agency to develop the store. You can also start the store yourself, which would make the startup costs almost negligible. However, we always recommend working with professionals. Imagine if there’s a problem with the online store during the most important time of the year.
The power of online marketing
Online marketing can give your online store a huge boost. Moreover, it is inexpensive compared to offline marketing. With online marketing tools like Facebook Business Manager, you can quickly, easily, and effectively reach consumers. Once a customer makes an online purchase, they can be retargeted through online marketing, encouraging repeat purchases.
An online store offers a bigger market
A physical store is limited by its geographic location, attracting customers from nearby areas. Exceptionally, customers from further afield may visit. An online store, however, is not restricted by geographic location or national borders. This means you can even go global! With an online store, your market expands, allowing you to generate more revenue.
An online store is smarter than a shop assistant
This is a bold statement, but an online store can make suggestions based on products the consumer has already added to their cart or previous purchases. Smart, efficient, and quick! It has been proven that this generates additional revenue compared to a physical store. Moreover, there are many other ways to influence the decision-making process. Want to know more? Check out the blog “10 tips to increase conversion on your webshop” from our partner Digital Natives.
An online store is always accessible
An online store has no opening hours and is therefore always available to consumers. Consumers can place orders 24/7, which offers more opportunities than a physical store. For example, you can take advantage of lazy Sundays to allow customers to make purchases from their couch.
An online store also provides solutions for exceptional situations like the coronavirus
Many countries are in lockdown, forcing independent businesses to close their stores by government order. The financial losses for these businesses are huge. Meanwhile, the e-commerce sector is running full speed. People are strongly advised not to leave their homes, which makes online shopping even more attractive.
No queues
Everyone enjoys a nice afternoon of shopping, but not everyone is a fan of the crowds in the shopping streets. Not to mention the crowds during peak times like holidays or sales. It happens that you don’t even enter a store because of the crowds. An online store never faces this problem! When you buy from an online store, you don’t have to wait in line at the checkout.
Optimization opportunities
Since everything can be measured, statistics can reveal why people hesitate to make a purchase. This provides incredibly valuable information for optimizing the online store and generating more conversions. A few small changes can have a big impact on the conversion rate. You can analyze the website using reporting tools like Google Analytics and Hotjar.
Every merchant can benefit from an online store
Do you have a physical store and see no way to benefit from e-commerce? Wrong! Every merchant can ride the wave of e-commerce success. Online and offline commerce should complement each other. Don’t know how to translate your activities online? Here are a few examples:
- Restaurant owners can offer rare beers that are hard to find in supermarkets.
- Pharmacists can sell over-the-counter products.
- Retail stores can easily put their range of products online.
- Mechanics can create an online store for car parts and gadgets.
Fulfillment
Running a physical store takes time and energy. Creating an online store is simple, but once orders start coming in, they need to be shipped. Chances are, you’re not an expert in logistics, and packing and shipping orders can cause frustration, pressure, and stress. A fulfillment partner like Webship can solve these problems. A fulfillment partner specializes in picking, packing, and shipping orders, allowing you to outsource these tasks. You’ll also benefit from bulk savings on packaging materials and shipping fees.
Looking for a fulfillment partner? Contact Webship or use our online cost calculator.
Want to create an online store?
We can conclude that an online store offers many benefits. Are you convinced by the power of an online store? Contact our partner Digital Natives. Digital Natives creates custom online stores at affordable prices. The agency won’t just create a store that meets your needs. They will also conduct in-depth research into the type of online store you want to run, your unique selling points, your design, how to implement it, your target audience, and how competitors are doing it. That way, Digital Natives will strive to create an online store that stands out!
