The e-commerce industry in the Philippines—and indeed, all over the world—is bigger and better than ever. Thanks to technology, anyone can buy practically anything, anytime, anywhere. In addition, with a bit of investment and some knack for entrepreneurship, anyone can also become a successful online seller! If you’ve recently tried your hand at this humble business, here are some tips you can apply to boost growth and stand out among your competitors:
Start Small, Think Big
There’s nothing wrong with starting small. In fact, there are plenty of online sellers who start small, using social media and online marketplaces as their storefronts. However, in order to truly establish your brand, you need to set your sights on creating your own space in the future.
This means having your own website, where you have full control of every aspect of your business, and you have more tools at your disposal. For example, you can create a blog, upload more high-quality photos of your products, and create an efficient feedback system.
Unless you have the experience and skills, the best way to approach this facet of online selling is to hire a web designer and developer. There are plenty of free website makers online, but working with a professional will afford you more freedom especially with regard to creativity and features.
Study Digital Marketing Strategies
Because most aspects of e-commerce exist in the digital space, you need to master digital marketing. It’s not enough that you have your own website and social media pages; you also have to ensure that these are optimized so that search engines can better index your content. Speaking of indexing content, you have to create high-quality content that’s relevant and useful to your market.
It can seem a little overwhelming, but these are all part of your journey towards greater online selling success. A good idea here is to start with one or two aspects first, especially if you’re doing things by yourself at the moment. For example, you can focus on creating better social media video content using an online video editor and writing a blog on your website; running digital ads can come a little later.
Don’t Be Afraid of Loans
If you need additional funding, say for testing out a new product or for paying for accounting software, don’t be afraid to get a loan. It’s part of doing business! Even big corporations take out loans, so why shouldn’t you do it as well to improve?
Of course, you have to take stock of your financial situation first. Remember: if you aren’t able to pay off the loan, your reputation and credit score will take a big dip. The next step is to find cash loans Philippines’s reliable lenders offer. Look for trusted fintech companies or digital lenders to borrow from, so you’ll have more peace of mind. Finally, use the loan proceeds strictly for their purpose. If you borrowed money to pay for a new printer, then get a new printer; don’t divert the funds or you’ll have trouble sorting out your finances.
Ensure a Seamless Cross-Device Experience
While most consumers use their smartphones to make online purchases nowadays, there are still those who prefer using their tablets, desktops, or laptops. This means that you should provide a hassle-free experience, no matter what device your customers use to shop.
If you’re selling on a social media platform or online marketplace, there’s nothing you can do about the user interface (UI) of their websites and apps. However, you should follow their recommended specifications for photos, captions, and the like. On the other hand, if you have your own website, make sure that the UI adapts based on the device.
Find a Good Courier
Nothing can be more frustrating to an online shopper than being told that their purchase will be delivered late or, worse, not going to be delivered at all. This can affect your reputation, even if you have top-notch products. Worse is that you don’t have control over this, as the actual delivery relies on the courier you choose. In short, you have to find a reliable company to handle your deliveries. This is particularly important if you’re selling food products or fragile items.
Provide Good Customer Service
Last but certainly not least, don’t forget about good customer service. Yes, developing new products and forging new partnerships are exciting but providing a great overall experience to your buyers is also important. One way to do this is to be open to comments and suggestions. Have a “contact us” page and include a form where people can submit their feedback. More than this, make sure to take such messages seriously. If people keep on complaining about one thing, then it’s likely that you need to change it.
Innovation is also your best friend as an online seller. There’s always something happening that can affect the way you do business; case in point: the COVID pandemic. You should always be ready to make adjustments in order to provide the best products and experiences to your customers.
Good luck and more power to your online selling business!
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