Last Updated on Mar 30, 2020 by James W
The Internet is getting crowded, and running an online business is more competitive than ever before. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of five tips to help you optimize yours. These are things you should do whether your online business is brand new or you’ve been in the game for a few years.
Spend Time on Search Engine Optimization
Image via Flickr by Paloma Gomez
Search engine optimization (SEO) is still an important part of running an online business, especially for those which operate solely online. Amway’s members know this better than anyone. You need to choose keywords that will help people find your business. Then, spend time optimizing your product descriptions with those keywords.
Once you have the time and resources, you can branch out with a content marketing strategy to increase your online presence even more around your business keywords. Make sure to optimize your photo descriptions, too, because this can give you an edge over your competitors in SEO.
Use a Clean Design That’s Easy to Navigate
The design of your online store makes a big impact on your revenue. Your products must be easy to find and compare. That means you should optimize your online business with a simple navigation system that is easy to use.
Most successful online businesses use a grid style to display products, especially when there is a huge product base. Then, customers like to be able to sort products based on price and similarities. White background with black text is still most preferable, but a unique and interactive site can be effective in generating sales.
Along with a clean design, your product prices should be clearly displayed, as well as your shipping costs. Customers don’t like to search for this information, and they may leave your online store prematurely if it is not shown. Big Commerce Blog states that people tend to abandon carts more often when shipping costs are added on during the checkout process.
Expand Your Brand to Social Media
If your online business does not have a social media presence, you’re missing out on a lot of potential revenue. According to Digital Trends, people in the U.S. check social media 17 times per day on average. It’s not just teenagers, either. This study includes people between the ages of 25 and 54. You can optimize your online business by choosing one or two social networks and creating a following on each one. Facebook is a must because of the sheer number of daily users, but don’t overlook Pinterest, Twitter, and other social networks that cater to your potential customers.
Invest in Reviews and Testimonials
One way to make your online business stand out is with product reviews and customer testimonials. When potential customers are looking for information about your products, they like to know what others have to say. Therefore, you can optimize your online business by making it easy for customers to leave reviews. Even a simple star rating system will make potential customers happy. Keep in mind that customers can tell when product reviews and customer testimonials are fake, and this will hurt your business more than getting an occasional bad review.
Run Frequent Promotions
Another way to optimize your online business is to run promotions all the time. You can cycle out products that are on sale and pay for Facebook and Google Ads to spread the word to potential customers. Promotions are one of the best ways to get new customers to your online store.
Make sure to take full advantage of your home page by boldly displaying product promotions. This will entice customers to make a purchase because they think they are getting a good deal. Plus, promotions create a sense of urgency, which really helps to optimize sells.
These are just a few ideas to help you optimize your online business. Just remember that every business has unique needs, which means you need to take a careful look at your online business to see what distinctive improvements you can make. Then, create a strategy that will work the best for your business.
