3 Helpful Truths for E-Commerce Success
Does your organization or church sell products and resources? Sales models have changed drastically in the past couple of decades, and continue to change with each technological advancement.
Are you aware of digital sales trends and how easy it can be to keep up? Read ahead and find 3 helpful truths for e-commerce success.
Get More Social
If your organization sells goods, you’ve likely been offering the product on your website for years. Though you would be wise to continue this practice, you also need to incorporate social media commerce.
Social media sites, which include networks like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, are not just for sharing photos of your company picnic or volunteer recognition profiles anymore. We highly recommend and appreciate that kind of personal interaction, but your social media channels can also be an avenue for your product.
Whether it’s a church-branded hoodie or a set of books you’re recommending, your audience is also looking for your merchandise on social media (and will buy it!). Here’s how we know:
- 74% of consumers rely on their social networks to make purchasing decisions, reported by Kinsta.
- Ragtrader found that 67% of users claim they window shop for fun on their smartphones.
There are several options in this area, from direct sales through your social media channels, to showcasing your products on social media and then sending them to a link in the bio that connects them to your site product page.
A clear benefit of social media commerce is the element of social proof, where customers instantly see you as a trusted provider of the product, whether they see reviews from a satisfied customer or they simply gain comfort from the amount of “likes” you have gained.
Social media is a viable e-commerce platform, and you should plan accordingly.
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Be Accessible
Have you noticed the feature on your business Facebook page that reports how long it generally takes your organization to respond to inquiries? That image speaks volumes about our expectations in regards to responsiveness.
Though some of your audience already know how to contact you, many will expect a fast and simple avenue through which to get your attention. Here are some ideas:
- Encourage your audience to direct message you on any social media channel.
- Allow push notifications for your channels so you can quickly address any questions.
- Set up the FAQ feature on your Facebook page.
- Program your Facebook Messenger autoresponder to answer common questions.
- Create a chatbot widget for your organization’s website.
Whether you create a team that shares the responsibility of being available, or you go it solo, don’t overlook this crucial and expected element in e-commerce.
Are you designing a church website? Check out the Best 5 Website Designs for Churches.
Embrace Personalization
Years ago I was talking to a local tech guru. Recognizing his acumen, I asked him how I could get Facebook to stop showing me advertisements. His response?
“Interesting. I’m more concerned with them showing me the right advertisements, connecting me with more of the products I’ll actually want to purchase.”
It had never occurred to me to view Facebook and its sophisticated algorithms as my ally, graciously bringing me the products most suited to my taste and price point. But this is the kind of personalized e-commerce experience we’ve now come to expect and appreciate.
Whether it’s the option of a monogrammed Bible cover for your latest Bible purchase or access to personalized pricing based on promo codes or history, it’s become expected by your audience. According to Business 2 Community:
“Consumers have come to expect personalized messages, offers, and product recommendations…[and] want to be able to purchase products that are completely unique to them.”
If you have the resources to personalize, it’s a solid investment.
Are you ready to incorporate these e-commerce solutions into your organization’s digital marketing strategy? Leave us a comment and share with us your e-commerce best practices. We’d love to hear from you!