Let\u2019s take a look at 12 tactics you can use to build brand awareness and drive traffic and conversions.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/targeting-1.png\")
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1. Voice Commerce<\/h3>\n
Voice commerce is the act of using voice commands with a smart speaker like Google Home or Amazon<\/a> Alexa. You conduct shopping activities such as searching for product information, comparing products, purchasing, reordering, returning products, and more. While the technology is still in its infancy and consumer adoption isn\u2019t widespread, experts believe it will catch on<\/a>, recommending marketers begin thinking about how to adapt to facilitate its use.<\/p>\n The benefits of using voice commerce<\/a> are that it\u2019s faster to complete a purchase online, it\u2019s hands-free and multitasker-friendly, and it\u2019s easier to reorder frequently purchased products.<\/p>\n Because voice commerce hasn\u2019t quite reached maturity yet, marketers are still experimenting with how to make the tech truly successful. Here are a few keys to making it work for you.<\/p>\n Are your products conducive to online voice ordering? Buying a product for the first time, especially products that consumers typically want to see before purchasing, can be a bit of a leap for customers at this point. You should also be sure your target audience even wants to use voice to shop. A survey from 2018 showed that the greatest percentage of voice commerce users (34.5%) were between the ages of 18\u201329<\/a>; the percentages decreased across older age groups.<\/p>\n Source: Statista<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Customers will interface with your brand via voice in a completely different way, so you\u2019ll need to make sure that the experience is intuitive for them to use. Remember that it\u2019s still important to keep your brand identity consistent across all channels, including voice.<\/p>\n As mentioned above, customers will search differently using voice than when typing in keywords. Make sure to incorporate long-tail keywords in your product descriptions to better match customers\u2019 natural language patterns.<\/p>\n Checkout is where it all comes together \u2014\u00a0or falls apart. The checkout process refers to the ultimate moment of truth: when consumers confirm the products they want, then enter shipping and payment information.<\/p>\n Some of the biggest reasons for abandonment during the checkout process include:<\/p>\n All of the above factors introduce friction into the checkout process, but some of them can be addressed outside of the checkout process. For instance, take shipping times and fees: customers should have the chance to review related information and policies before they add goods to their cart.<\/p>\n Reducing friction in the checkout process is really about customers understanding what to expect, and you delivering on those expectations in a way that asks only as much of the customer as is truly required.<\/p>\n Multi-page checkouts can frustrate customers, but all the more so if they don\u2019t have an idea of when they might be finished. Let them know where they are in the process and how they\u2019re progressing through the checkout steps so they have a clear expectation of what\u2019s next.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Registration is an extra step that some customers won\u2019t be ready to complete. If you require registration, you may lose the shoppers who want a quick checkout and aren\u2019t ready to enter all the information required to make an account on a new website.<\/p>\n The sooner you have the buyer\u2019s email address, the better. If a customer abandons the checkout process at some point after entering an email address, you can follow up with abandoned cart email campaigns to try to convince them to return to purchase.<\/p>\n Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Product descriptions are one of the most important <\/strong>pieces of your ecommerce site<\/a> and can make or break your ability to make a sale.<\/p>\n First of all, product descriptions that are optimized for SEO<\/a> will get more high-intent traffic. Once shoppers are on your site, descriptions must give them all the information they need to know if the product will meet their needs.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Identify the most common search terms<\/a> used to find each of your products. Then, you can focus on ranking for them in Google search results. Stick to the common product terms used by your target audience to ensure findability.<\/p>\n Online, your product description has to replace the in-store experience \u2014\u00a0so you want it to be as complete and specific as possible. (This will also help you reduce returns based on products not being as expected.)<\/p>\n Source <\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n For each product, there are lots of things to think about. They include your target customer, basic product details, when and where a customer might use it, why yours is better than your competitors\u2019, and how the product works.<\/p>\n Once you understand those details, draft a paragraph or two about the product. You want this part to be a little bit creative and to showcase your brand voice. Below the paragraph, include short, scannable bullet points for specific product specs\/features and other concrete, factual information or relevant technical information.<\/p>\n Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Social media advertising is \u2014\u00a0you guessed it \u2014\u00a0advertising that happens on social media platforms. Social networks are a great place to meet your target audience and expand your reach.<\/p>\n There are a lot of different social networks out there. There are some, though, that are focused on niche audiences or communities, and others that haven\u2019t gained much widespread traction in the market. If you\u2019re just getting started in social media advertising, start with these major players.<\/p>\n Facebook is the most popular and widely used social networking platform, and that makes it a great place for most businesses to start advertising.<\/p>\n Instagram is another widespread social platform, and it utilizes Facebook\u2019s data for high-precision targeting. That\u00a0makes Instagram ads a great compliment to Facebook campaigns for some businesses.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Twitter has a more specific demographic than Facebook and Instagram but is still widely used. If you decide to try out Twitter, make sure you include an attention-grabbing photo or short video. Otherwise, users might skim right past your ad without even seeing it.<\/p>\n Pinterest serves ads based on what users have searched for or viewed in the past. It\u2019s more likely that your ads will be viewed by a high-intent audience.<\/p>\n LinkedIn, like Pinterest, has a narrower user demographic: 71% of LinkedIn users are between the ages of 36 and 55<\/a>.<\/p>\n Snapchat is one of the newest social media platforms to gain real traction. The biggest detractor from advertising on Snapchat is the high cost.<\/p>\n Videos can increase user engagement with your website, and hosting them on YouTube can also help to improve your Google search rankings. The most common use for videos by ecommerce<\/a> firms is product videos.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Videos can show so much more than still photos, whether it\u2019s finer product detail, functionality, or your brand story. They give customers a better sense of how they\u2019ll experience the product in person. In fact, 94% of video marketers believe that videos have increased user understanding<\/a> of their product or service.<\/p>\n In a recent survey, 87% of respondents said they would like to see brands create more video content<\/a>. Explainer videos and product videos make up some of the top video content types in which they expressed interest.<\/p>\n Helping customers understand more about a product or service will make them more comfortable in purchasing. In this way, good product videos will help increase your conversion rate \u2014\u00a0and hopefully decrease returns as well.<\/p>\n In reality, YouTube isn\u2019t just a social video platform \u2014\u00a0it\u2019s a search engine. And, since it\u2019s owned by Google, it\u2019s got the power of the most popular search engine behind it. A video strategy using targeted keywords can help increase your organic exposure.<\/p>\n Video is a big investment \u2014\u00a0it can be pricey to hire a videographer or agency, and there\u2019s the time it takes, too. But the return on that investment is worth it if you go in with a plan, clear goals, targeted keywords, and valuable content.<\/p>\n Video product tutorials<\/a> can help your customers understand how to use your product or service before or after they purchase. Some people will want to see how it works to determine if it\u2019s the right product for them. Others will want to reference the tutorials later.<\/p>\n Social proof is important to buyers and can be a deciding factor if customers are comparing two similar products from you and a competitor. Product reviews and testimonials on video provide that social proof in an engaging and authentic way.<\/p>\n Human beings are wired for stories. Story-driven videos can help increase brand affinity \u2014\u00a0but remember not to look inward all the time. Tales of customer success are a great way to tell your brand story through your customers\u2019 eyes. They\u2019ll be more interesting and more relatable to your target audience.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to engage with your customers and expand your brand reach, look no further than social media<\/a>. Social media has become ubiquitous among Americans and across the globe. As well as the social media advertising mentioned earlier, you must also build your overall social presence.<\/p>\n Being on social media isn\u2019t enough. You have to produce great content. Consumers are inundated with messages from brands. If yours doesn\u2019t stand out, it will be lost in the scroll.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not always easy to separate the signal from the noise on social media. If your content provides customers with unique value, it\u2019ll have a better chance of rising above the rest.<\/p>\n Use targeted, relevant keywords in your social posts, just as you would for pages on your website. If users are searching high-intent keywords, you want to make sure you\u2019re showing up in the results.<\/p>\n Social proof! When your customers say good things about you, it\u2019s okay to brag. Let consumers know that other people like your brand and your product. It\u2019ll also help to build your relationships with your biggest advocates.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Social media is a two-way street. If you\u2019re just using it as a megaphone to blare messages, you\u2019re using it wrong. Make sure you\u2019re interacting with followers and fans so they feel they have a reason to stick around.<\/p>\n Influencer marketing has grown significantly in the past few years, and it\u2019s a great way for some brands to extend their reach into new audiences. It\u2019s not right for everyone, but if it works for your business, use social media to your advantage and build those relationships.<\/p>\n Email marketing<\/a> is one of the highest converting marketing channels<\/strong> in ecommerce. That means it remains a critical strategy to incorporate in your marketing plan. Keep iterating on that strategy, because making constant improvements based on performance data can keep your brand growing steadily.<\/p>\n Getting your brand in front of customers and prospects is critical, but it\u2019s an opportunity you can easily lose in just one click. Make the most of having this captive audience to provide regular touchpoints and increase conversions.<\/p>\n Keep growing your email list by giving shoppers an incentive to provide their information. Use a field on the homepage or use a pop-up to provide shoppers with an offer in exchange for their email address.<\/p>\n If your customers aren\u2019t opening your emails just because they\u2019re from you, then the subject line is perhaps the most important thing they\u2019ll see. A\/B test your subject lines to find the ones customers respond to best. Then, apply your discoveries across your email programs to increase your open rate.<\/p>\n Emails prompting shoppers to return to the shopping carts that they abandoned can be incredibly effective in promoting conversion. You don\u2019t have to start by offering a discount \u2014\u00a0sometimes a reminder can be enough. \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Once you have a solid email strategy developed, use email automation to execute without the stress. While email may be easy enough to handle when your business is small, automation will be necessary to support significant scaling.<\/p>\n Personalization is big in ecommerce right now. It refers to anything that customizes certain content or paths of action to a specific customer or group of customers. Some examples across the spectrum include personalizing emails (e.g., \u201cDear [Name],\u201d instead of \u201cHi there\u201d) or delivering product recommendations based on past purchases.<\/p>\n Personalization creates better customer experiences by providing a touch of personal service. It also increases conversions by helping to guide shoppers to the products and services that are best for them.<\/p>\n Make your customers feel like their experience on your website was built just for them. Here are a few tactics to consider in incorporating personalization into your marketing strategy.<\/p>\n Personalized, or dynamic, content is material that is targeted to a specific customer or customer cohort based on some predetermined criteria. Those criteria may be around a unique customer\u2019s particular interests or the kinds of content that convert the best with a particular customer cohort.<\/p>\n If you know what products a customer is most interested in, serve up the navigation they need to get where they want to go fast. Reducing the number of steps to find desired products can be beneficial to user experience and conversion.<\/p>\n Responding in some way to a shopper\u2019s location can help create a tailored experience. One method is to use that information to provide estimated shipping costs before shoppers ever even get to the checkout page.<\/p>\n If your content strategy doesn\u2019t yet include a blog, consider if it would be right for your business. Let\u2019s look at some of the benefits and break down some best practices. \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Content can give your brand the chance to better showcase products, serve as a resource to your target audience, and tell your brand story.<\/p>\n Things needn\u2019t be complicated. Brilliant, distinctive use of colour that complements the product. So well organised, so easy to get what we want.<\/p>\n Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n If your blog adds value, customers will come back to visit, even if they\u2019re not buying at the moment. An engaging blog will increase return visits and time spent on site.<\/p>\n A successful blog gives you more opportunities to rank for specific keywords, and as you publish more content, your domain authority will improve. This naturally boosts your rankings in Google search results. \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n As we mentioned, a good content strategy focuses on adding value to your customers. If they see you as a trusted resource, this will improve their perception of you and increase the likelihood that they\u2019ll purchase from you in the future.<\/p>\n Content on your ecommerce site should be visually rich and customer-centric. This content is for<\/i> customers, so build it with your audience in mind.<\/p>\n While there are clear trends in which groups like which types of content, it\u2019s still a good idea to provide information across a couple of different formats. Some of the formats you can consider include blog posts, images, video, infographics, and user-generated content.<\/p>\n Visual content receives higher engagement than written content, and puts customers right in the middle of the action. This is where some of your strongest brand messages will come through.<\/p>\n Content should add value outside of your own brand, but use your calls to action to redirect shoppers into purchasing behaviors.<\/p>\n User-generated content (UGC) is a great way to source material, provide social proof, and build community all at once. Good relationships with your brand advocates will help the UGC start rolling in, and continued connection will expand your reach.<\/p>\n Marketing automation refers to tech that helps automate parts of your marketing strategy. The aim is to save time, improve use of data, and effectively connect with consumers.<\/p>\n The relationships you build with your customers is important to the success of your brand. Using marketing automation<\/a> can help you do that more effectively, in less time.<\/p>\n Marketing automation can help you better segment your customers and tailor your messages to them based on their needs and interests.<\/p>\n Relevant content can keep your business top-of-mind with customers, even if they haven\u2019t visited you in a while. Make sure to keep the lines of communication open. Automation can help you do that without a lot of extra time and energy on the frontend, once you have a set strategy.<\/p>\n Pair automation technology with social listening so you can hear what customers are saying about you across channels. Use that information to further tailor your messages and reach them in the right place, at the right time.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re just implementing marketing automation for the first time, you can start small and still have a big impact. Here are some tactics where you can focus your efforts for high ROI.<\/p>\n Your welcome email series <\/a>will be the first touchpoint with your shopper after they sign up to receive updates from you. Make sure it reinforces your brand story and the benefits you provide, and make it feel personal. You don\u2019t get a second chance to make a first impression.<\/p>\n Source<\/span><\/p>\n Segment your list of subscribers based on purchase behaviors so you can craft more tailored messages to each cohort. For example, you may want to give your VIP customers a special discount, or offer a new promotion to shoppers who haven\u2019t yet made a purchase.<\/p>\n Customers have a lot on their minds. If they disappear from your store for a little while, maybe it\u2019s time to give them a nudge. Sometimes a promotion to these customers will encourage them to shop again and put you top-of-mind.<\/p>\n Retargeting is a strategy for paid marketing that serves your ads to users who have already engaged with your brand. Using retargeting means that your ads are being seen by people with higher purchase intent because they have already interacted with your brand.<\/p>\n You can set up retargeting campaigns based on information and interactions on several different platforms. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n This refers to targeting people already in your customer relationship management (CRM) system. Retargeting systems can use the customer data you have to target display ads specifically to them as they browse the web.<\/p>\n For email, there is a code you can add to the HTML that gives you the opportunity to target anyone who has opened an email from your brand.<\/p>\n Using search retargeting, you can target users based on the keywords they use in their online searches.<\/p>\n SMS marketing is marketing through text messages. Consumers spend a lot of time on their phones, so open rates are typically very high for these types of messages. That said, be mindful of the interruption \u2014 are you sure your customers want to receive text messages from you?<\/p>\n One of the benefits of SMS marketing is that it\u2019s super fast. You can draft a quick text message and have it distributed to subscribers in minutes, with immediate delivery. And, as mentioned before, open rates are high<\/a> for SMS, as is response rate.<\/p>\n The first and most important thing to remember about SMS marketing is that customers must opt in to receiving text messages. Sending customers a surprise marketing message as a text could be jarring and unwelcome for some.<\/p>\n Use text messages to solicit reviews from customers who have purchased your products recently.<\/p>\n Got a flash sale? SMS marketing is a great way to let your customers know! The quick delivery enabled by text messages opens a lot of quick-sale opportunities that you can let your shoppers in on in a flash.<\/p>\nBenefits of using voice commerce.<\/h3>\n
Be successful at voice commerce.<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n
Understand your customers.<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ecommerce-marketing-graph.png\")
<\/p>\nConsider the entire customer experience.<\/em><\/h4>\n
Optimize your online store for voice search.<\/em><\/h4>\n
2. Optimize Checkout Process<\/h3>\n
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Optimize your checkout to reduce abandonment<\/h3>\n
Create a hassle free checkout process<\/em><\/h3>\n
Show progress<\/em><\/h4>\n
Don\u2019t require customers to register<\/em><\/h4>\n
Capture buyer\u2019s email address early in process<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Hyphen-for-BP-1.png\")
<\/p>\n3. Optimize product descriptions<\/h3>\n
Why optimize a product description?<\/h3>\n
Descriptions affect search impressions<\/em><\/h4>\n
Descriptions set expectations<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/KAP7-for-BP-1-1.png\")
<\/p>\nMake your descriptions the best<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Training-Mask-for-BP-.png\")
<\/p>\n4. Social Media Advertising<\/h3>\n
Best social networks for ecommerce advertising<\/span><\/h3>\n
Facebook<\/em><\/h4>\n
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Instagram\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
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Twitter<\/em><\/h4>\n
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Pinterest<\/em><\/h4>\n
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LinkedIn<\/em><\/h4>\n
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Snapchat\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
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5. Video Marketing<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Blade-for-BP.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBenefits of video marketing.<\/h3>\n
People love videos<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n
Videos bring conversions<\/em><\/h4>\n
Google prefers videos<\/em><\/h4>\n
Adding video marketing into the mix.\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n
Product tutorials<\/em><\/h4>\n
Product reviews and testimonials<\/em><\/h4>\n
Story-based videos\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
6. Social Media Marketing<\/h2>\n
Make the most out of your social media.<\/h3>\n
Provide customers with value<\/em><\/h4>\n
Optimize your posts\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
Share reviews\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
Interact with followers\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
Build relationships with influencers<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/social-media-1.png\")
<\/p>\n7. Email Marketing<\/h2>\n
Tactics for having a successful email marketing strategy.<\/h3>\n
Build a well-rounded email list<\/em><\/h4>\n
Use A\/B subject line testing<\/em><\/h4>\n
Send abandoned cart emails\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
Utilize email automation\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/email-marketing-1-1.png\")
<\/p>\n8. Personalization<\/h2>\n
Why integrate personalization?<\/h3>\n
Personalization tactics.\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n
Personalized content<\/em><\/h4>\n
Adjust navigation to visitors\u2019 interests<\/em><\/h4>\n
Use geo-location tagging\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/personalised-marketing.png\")
<\/p>\n9. Generate blog content<\/h2>\n
What are the benefits of content for ecommerce?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Kelty-Blog-for-BP-1-1-1.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nImproves engagement rate<\/em><\/h4>\n
Improves SEO<\/em><\/h4>\n
Builds a better relationship with customers\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
Best practices for creating ecommerce content.<\/h3>\n
Vary your content types<\/em><\/h4>\n
Leverage visual content<\/em><\/h4>\n
CTAs should be centered on shopping\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
Use user-generated content<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/blog-content.png\")
<\/p>\n10. Integrate Marketing Automation<\/h2>\n
Why marketing automation makes sense<\/h3>\n
Better customer insights<\/em><\/h4>\n
Lead nurturing<\/em><\/h4>\n
Omnichannel monitoring\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
Best practices for marketing automation<\/h3>\n
Welcome email series<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CamelBak.png\")
<\/p>\nEmail list segmentation based on purchase behaviors<\/em><\/h4>\n
Reach out to less engaged customers<\/em><\/h4>\n
11. Retargeting<\/h2>\n
Types of retargeting for your ecommerce store.<\/h3>\n
CRM retargeting<\/em><\/h4>\n
Email retargeting<\/em><\/h4>\n
Search retargeting<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/retargeting-1.png\")
<\/p>\n12. Implement an SMS Marketing Campaign<\/h2>\n
Benefits of using SMS for your online store.<\/i><\/h3>\n
Tactics for implementing SMS.<\/h3>\n
Drive post-purchase reviews.<\/em><\/h4>\n
Promote sales and special offers.\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
Another form of customer service.\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brightpearl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sms-marketing.png\")
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