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Just because you can no longer get people into your store doesn’t mean you can’t keep on taking orders. By taking your store online, you’ll be able to reach your current clients and expand into new markets in a way that is both convenient and accessible. 

Here are a few tips on how you can make your shop go online.

Choose A Platform

There are a number of platforms available to you, but the main two are Shopify and WooCommerce.

Shopify is a complete commerce platform that allows you to customize and build an online shopping platform for your business that a bit more DIY. For more information about Shopify, click here.

WooCommerce is a plugin that can help turn a Wordpress site into an eCommerce platform. I highly recommend consulting a Wordpress expert if this is the route you want to take.  

Give Your Customers A Full Picture

When a customer is browsing in a store, they have everything at their disposal; they can see the product for themselves, read displays, ask questions to find out more. And you should be trying to replicate this level of immersion with your online store.

This means you need to: 

• Make sure key information is easily visible including: 

• Prices

• Shipping costs

• Delivery Policies

• Ensure you have a clear and fixed refund policy place

• Post high-quality images of all of your products 

Extend Your Reach With Email Marketing 

One of the biggest advantages of having an eCommerce platform is the ability to integrate it with an email marketing campaign—giving you a simple and effective method for targeting customers and broadcasting your products to a wider audience.

If you’re working with a Shopify model, MachineLabs is an excellent choice. It integrates effectively and allows for a number of useful automated features for example: 

• Once a customer purchases a product, they will be asked to submit their email and given the option (In compliance with GDPR regulations) to be added to your email marketing list as both a general subscriber as a buyer of that particular product

• Based on group differentiation you’ve already set up they will receive email marketing designed to target specific products related to their purchases. If you were looking at a customer who’d recently bought a specific shampoo, you may then send them an email advertising a paired conditioner, with a coupon code for 10% off. 

• Alternatively, you could choose to target them using different products in the same group. For example, if they’d purchased a bar of soap, you could send them a delayed email around about the time they’d be likely to buy more, advertising your broader range of soap products. 

MailerLite is also an excellent option for general email marketing and automation features. 

As that example demonstrates, moving your shop online isn’t just an opportunity to extend your reach, it’s a chance to put in place a sales funnel that can lead to increased return customers, as well as making your business more streamlined and more efficient.

For help facilitating this move, you need someone who can handle the setup and logistics for you, explaining any areas of confusion, and getting you ready to go. To find out more about how I can make that happen, get in touch today.