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The most successful E-commerce sites aren’t the ones that sell the best products or are at the top of the search results pages. True, both of these things can help you drive sales, but engaging with customers helps keep you top of mind to continue growing your business.
Engagement is a crucial component to every web store’s profitability. It gets customers actively involved in your brand rather than passively shopping your website, which can lead to better retention, bigger awareness, and ultimately higher sales. Take a look at our top 10 ideas to help you engage your customers to drive revenue:
#1 – Ask for Customer Feedback
Customer feedback is essential to every business, especially online stores who can’t rely on reading people’s expressions or receiving immediate verbal feedback during the shopping and buying process. Some people give feedback without you having to ask for it, but in many cases a slight nudge can get them to spill helpful details you can put to work. Consider sending out customer satisfaction surveys or asking for a review. In addition, you may consider adding a rating and review option to each product in your store so buyers can share their experiences with a product to help others make an educated decision.
#2 – Add Actionable Elements to Every Page
When shopping online, engaging the senses can be limited. You can’t rely on scents, lighting, and textures to help build the experience like brick and mortar stores, but you can add actionable elements to your pages that encourage additional behaviors.
For example, you might add interactive elements like scratch-and-reveal code. Or, you could use bright calls-to-action to show shoppers where to find more details or how to take advantage of an offer. Don’t overcomplicate it, though – adding a couple of unique elements can be fun, but too many can bog down the shopping experience. The key is to be clear and concise while earning their attention.
#3 – Include Social Sharing Buttons
This one is so simple it can often become overlooked. Adding social buttons to your main website is usually a given, but not all businesses think to add them to individual products. Shoppers who find a product they like but aren’t ready to buy can share it on their social channels to remind them about the product later or to ask their friends for feedback. It also puts your products in front of new audiences to further increase engagement.
In addition, you should also include social sharing buttons to other elements, such as your blog posts or special offers.
#4 – Allow for Email Opt-Ins
Email marketing is a huge revenue stream for e-commerce stores. Studies show that sales derived from email marketing alone can account for up to 23% of an e-commerce store’s sales.
You’re not limited to just using the emails of previous buyers, either. Consider offering an email opt-in on your website so potential buyers can sign up to receive your newsletters. You might even offer a percentage-off coupon in exchange for signing up to increase conversions.
If you go the email marketing route, be sure you can regularly send out campaigns. Email marketing is most effective when it’s consistent.
#5 – Hold a User Engagement Contest
If you want engagement from your buyers, just ask for it!
You can hold a user engagement contest that requires shoppers to share, comment, Like, or otherwise engage with your company. In exchange, you might offer a major prize like a gift card or shopping spree, or reward everyone that participates with a coupon.
Holding a user engagement contest serves two purposes: First, it helps to put your brand in front of new audiences while also creating top-of-mind awareness with current customers.
And second, it gives you an idea on your scope of reach and what type of promotions or offers your customers are interested in.
#6 – Add Rewards to Requests
Oftentimes, companies make the mistake of requesting information from users without offering any incentive in return. For example, you might ask for them to create an account to checkout or add their email address to your newsletter email list. But if you want to increase the conversions on your requests, you should be prepared to offer something in return.
For example, you might want to boost the number of customer accounts rather than having buyers check out as guests. To do this, give them a reason to create an account (eg send them a free gift or coupon on their birthday).
Adding rewards to your requests can make customers more likely to do what you want – it’s a win/win!
#7 – Create a Self Service Area
You might be surprised to learn that about 81% of consumers would rather help themselves than ask for help from someone else. With this in mind, consider adding a self-service area where people can find their own answers. This passive engagement might seem counterproductive, but in reality, it caters to their desires and can leave them with a good impression of your company.
#8 – Offer a Customer Loyalty Program
Engaged customers are loyal customers, and a strong loyalty program can help you create more of them. Colloquy Loyalty Census reports there are currently 3.8 billion active loyalty memberships, with 39% of members citing discounts as the reason they joined.
You’ll need to incentivize your program, but in the end your efforts can help you create sticky customers you can depend on.
#9 – Capitalize on Significant Days and Events
Birthdays, holidays, funky things like National Pancake Day – there’s never a bad time to celebrate. Using special days or events to tie into your promotions can help raise awareness and create retention.
#10 – Start a Blog on Your E-Commerce Website
Blogging is a great way to create shareable content. Rather than serve strictly as an e-commerce site, a blog helps you become an authority in your niche and provides helpful information to your buyers.
Which of these engagement methods have you tried? Drop us a line and let us know!