Online shopping is surging in popularity. The likes of the eCommerce giant Amazon have transformed the retail ecosystem. Nothing comes close to the convenience of shopping on the internet and receiving the items on the doorstep.
The trend is growing at a tremendous pace, especially according to Statista’s survey on retail e-commerce sales worldwide. It states that by 2025, eCommerce sales will reach around 7.4 trillion dollars.
Consumers have a myriad of choices in terms of eCommerce businesses. That said, they repeatedly interact and purchase only from specific e-retailers. A critical reason for that is the shopping experience. In brick and mortar stores, the in-store experience dictates the likelihood of customers purchasing goods. Similarly, in eCommerce, retailers need to optimize a number of factors to convert visiting individuals to buying customers. Implementing digital merchandising strategies helps.
In this article, we take a look at what digital merchandising is and how you can implement it. Let’s get started.
What is digital merchandising?
Offering customers an excellent online shopping experience is more than just putting your inventory and business on the web. High customer satisfaction results in higher sales. Achieving that requires you to implement effective eCommerce marketing practices. That includes how you showcase product images, display products, and convey your brand’s message. The coordination of those elements is known as digital merchandising.
In brick and mortar stores, you can train assistants to persuade customers to purchase products. Whereas in online stores, customers are fully independent. The only way to convert visitors to buying customers at that time is through digital merchandising.
How to implement digital merchandising?
Make a good first impression
The first thing customers notice in a physical store is the storefront. Just like that, customers observe how welcoming your online store is. Telling your brand’s story, displaying your business logo, and explaining why customers should purchase products gives off a fantastic first impression. Furthermore, you can offer assistance using chatbots and provide a peek into what your website contains.
Leverage customer data
The information you showcase on your eCommerce website must be relevant to your niche audience. Narrowing down what you display according to your customers’ interests improves conversion rates. For that use a tool such as Google Analytics to study customer demographics. Then, use A/B testing and heat maps to optimize website elements. If you’re using a POS system, you can apply customer analytics to improve eCommerce prospects.
Offer personalized recommendations
Capturing customer attention is key to driving sales and earning their loyalty. You can align the products customers view with their preferences using Artificial Intelligence. The technology studies customer behavior and suggests relevant products, significantly improving conversion rates. Integrating your eCommerce website with a Point of Sale software application helps you tap into upselling opportunities.
Optimize the visuals of your eCommerce website
Modifying the visual elements of your website goes a long way in boosting eCommerce sales. Uploading high-res images of your products isn’t enough. Beyond that, ensure your color scheme resonates with your customers. Then, position product images in prominent areas that customers click. Use dynamic visuals and videos in addition to static images. And make sure that your CTAs are clear and easy to reach.
Simplify the search process
Minimizing the time it takes for customers to find products in your eCommerce store increases sales potential. There are many ways to simplify the process:
- Add products to category pools such as clothes, electronics, and books
- Arrange top sellers, trending products, and discount products for swift purchase
- Provide search filters such as low price to high price, newly added, size, etc
Conclusion
Customers online have a myriad of choices when it comes to eCommerce stores. Any difficulties in purchasing products from your business will turn them towards your competitors. Implementing a digital merchandising strategy and managing it with a powerful cloud-based POS software solution like SmartPOS helps retain customers and boost profits. Reach out to us to know more about SmartPOS today.