When you own an online store, your business is only as successful as your customers are satisfied. If they aren’t happy with your service, they won’t return or tell others how great you are. If you want to keep customers coming back and spreading positive word-of-mouth about your store, consider taking the following steps:
1. Be Upfront About Shipping and Delivery Times
One of the most dissatisfying things about shopping online is not receiving a package on time. So be upfront about shipping and delivery times to keep your customers happy and coming back. If you ship internationally, work with the best fulfillment center in Australia, Asia, Europe, and any other relevant markets. This will help your shipping and delivery happen quickly and efficiently.
Note: If shipping to a region is delayed for some reason, be sure to display this prominently on your website so customers know not to expect their packages as fast as they usually would.
2. Make Sure Your Online Store Is Easy to Use
User experience is a huge factor in whether a customer returns to your eCommerce store or not. If your site doesn’t respond well or products are difficult to find, they likely won’t buy anything, nor will they bother returning.
For this reason, you must ensure your store is easy to navigate and even easier to use. Ensure navigation is intuitive, all the buttons, links, and drop-down menus work correctly, and your store is accessible and responsive on any device. This last point is critical since most consumers use their phones or other mobile devices to shop online.
3. Provide Outstanding Customer Service
Providing outstanding customer service is central to creating a positive experience for your customers. Treat your customers right, and they will return again and again and tell anyone who will listen how great your online store is.
You must be proactive in responding to your customers. Provide a direct email address and phone number for customer support, and include a live chat feature on your website. A dedicated customer support team will ensure your customers receive quick and accurate support. In addition, an FAQ page and knowledge base will allow customers to find answers to common questions without having to contact support.
4. Embrace Search Engine Optimization
Without Search Engine Optimization (SEO), consumers won’t be able to find your online store easily. SEO tells the search engines what your site is about, which lets them rank it accordingly. It involves tactics like adding appropriate keywords, image alt tags, sitemaps, robots .txt files, and more to optimize your site for the highest ranking in the search engines.
If you don’t know about SEO or don’t have the time to implement it properly, you should consider hiring an SEO expert. Every business, regardless of size, should optimize its website to make it easier for shoppers to find online.
5. Offer Coupons and Discounts
Everyone likes saving money, so offer coupons and discounts regularly. Customers who know they’ll save money when shopping via your online store are more likely to return. This tactic works whether you’re selling ceramic cookware, high-end beauty products, car accessories, or anything else in the eCommerce world. So, ask them to supply their email address to receive even more savings in their inboxes.
To keep customers returning to your online store, you must meet their needs and make them happy. It’s not enough to just have great products – you must also provide a great overall experience, and you can do that by following the tips above.
