Article

Nick Rojas
Nick Rojas 29 January 2018
Categories Ecommerce

How Can E-Commerce Boost Your Small Business Sales?

The internet has changed the world in almost every possible way, and e-commerce has revolutionized how business is done through shopping and selling. However, many small businesses, even knowing this, still haven’t realized just how large a growth spurt they can see by selling their goods and services online through e-commerce. Here’s three ways you can see growth in your small business today.

1. Reach New Customers and Sell More Products Online

Setting up a business website and selling your products online can make a difference in your volume of sales. Many businesses with traditional brick and mortar retail shops are discovering this.

According to research data provided by Square and Mercury Analytics, 51% of shoppers prefer doing so online. Also, 67% of millennials and 56% of Gen Xers prefer to forgo the shops and place online orders.

There’s also the advantages outside of merely extending your customer reach on your own. Through what is known as omni-channel selling, you can tap into online marketplaces like Amazon, Facebook and Etsy to reach a new consumer base.

2. Expand Further with Affiliate Sales

One advantage of having an online e-commerce setup is being able to track who and where orders come from. You can create an affiliate program for customers, retail partners and more to promote your products in exchange for a commission.

There are many e-commerce platforms have this already integrated, but if you’re working with your own there are 3rd party systems that can do this as well. Online marketplaces like Amazon also have an affiliate program built in, allowing numerous marketers and bloggers to promote your products once listed.

This method also works in perfect synergy with blogger outreach, which can grow your presence on social media as well. With many affiliate tracking tools you can adjust the rate depending on the users. For instance giving your customers 5% commission, but 10% for more influential affiliates.

3. Schedule Appointments and Sell Time Slots

The advantage of ecommerce and online selling doesn’t only apply to small businesses which provide products and goods. Businesses that provide services and consulting can also grow their business with a strong online presence.

You can sell and schedule appointments and bookings directly at the same time, saving you effort and headache. You and your customers also have a better idea of when you’ll be available and can work together on the best time for you both.

It’s also a good idea to sell supplementary goods through your website, such as books, training and videos. Writing an ebook and publishing it on Amazon Kindle can showcase your expertise and add an additional revenue stream to your business as well.

As more and more people come to expect the convenience of shopping online for everything they spend money on, the businesses that cater to this mindset will thrive and flourish. E-commerce is a direct gateway to expanding and creating a more stable and cost effective sales channel for your small business. You owe it to yourself and your business to explore which options can help take your small business to the next level.

 

Please login or register to add a comment.

Contribute Now!

Loving our articles? Do you have an insightful post that you want to shout about? Well, you've come to the right place! We are always looking for fresh Doughnuts to be a part of our community.

Popular Articles

See all
The Challenges of Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

The Challenges of Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

We all agree Customer Lifetime Value is important, but there’s not much agreement after that. This blog is about the challenges of Customer Lifetime Value (CLV). CLV is a fantastic concept but defining that value and...

Peter Rivett-Jones
Peter Rivett-Jones 24 May 2023
Read more
Artificial Intelligence in Content Creation

Artificial Intelligence in Content Creation

In this article, we will talk about AI in the field of content generation. We will look at what artificial intelligence is in terms of content, what AIs are on the market, and how we can interact with them.

Polina Kedis
Polina Kedis 12 May 2023
Read more
How These PIM Features can Create the Next Growth Opportunity

How These PIM Features can Create the Next Growth Opportunity

The increasing need for effective product information management solutions has become critical for businesses that sell products online. With the growing number of sales channels and the rising complexity of product...

Sudhanshu Singh
Sudhanshu Singh 31 May 2023
Read more
Exploring the Rapid Growth of Mobile App Development

Exploring the Rapid Growth of Mobile App Development

Smartphones have included mobile applications for more than ten years. The fastest-growing area of the mobile industry is the mobile app market. Only a few app developers were aware of the potential market opportunity...

Prashant Pujara
Prashant Pujara 24 May 2023
Read more
The Ins & Outs of Product Marketing

The Ins & Outs of Product Marketing

Product marketing is what drives products onto the market and keeps them there. Developing effective product marketing is the secret to your organization's development, expansion, and long-term success. It is a...

Pawanpreet Gill
Pawanpreet Gill 26 May 2023
Read more