We are living in unprecedented times. The COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on the whole business fraternity. In the wake of the epidemic, several restrictions were put in place to control the virus’s spread. These precautionary measures forced brick and mortar companies to look for ways of bridging the gap between offline and online business. and this is where online marketing business strategies can help.
Making the shift to online marketing business strategies can feel like a significant feat, mainly due to limited resources. From handling online orders, understanding supply chain mechanisms, digital marketing, or even answering customer questions and concerns, brick and mortar companies have to make several adjustments to fit in the e-marketing world.
This pandemic has proved why businesses have to be flexible. Or, in this case, why companies need to embrace online marketing. Rather than having customers leave brick-and-mortar stores empty-handed, companies need to turn to technology to reach their clients and keep the businesses running.
6 steps to increase online marketing business strategies
In this article we shall look at six steps that will help brick and mortar companies embrace online marketing business strategies.
Step 1: Choose The Right Platform
The first important step in transitioning to online marketing business strategies is setting up a website, a digital platform where you can sell your products. When choosing a platform, you have two options; your own website or a third-party marketplace.
When it comes to third party marketplaces, all you have to do to start selling is setting up an account, adding your profile information, and your products. After that, you can sit back and wait for orders to begin streaming in. If you are wondering where you can find a variety of these third-party marketplaces, Fortune Lords have options you can consider.
Step 2: Set Up Your Online Shop
After choosing a platform, proceed to set up your online store. You will need to consider some essential details concerning your new captivating shopfront, such as design, pricing, payment, and shipping.
- Design
The design of your online store is not just about your shopfront having an appealing outlook. It has more to do with organizing the products on your page. Knowing what to sell and arranging them in categories and sections makes it easier for clients to scroll, find, and purchase the product they want.
- Payment
You have to make sure your clients pay for your goods. It is best to ensure that your site accepts multiple modes of payments. A well-structured payment process and supplier account will make the entire process simpler. To limit your expenses and maximize your profits, always opt for a payment gateway offering low transaction rates.
- Pricing
Online pricing depends on several factors. When transitioning from a brick and mortar store to the online world, your product prices may slightly differ. Your new prices should consider shipping costs, sales tax, and discounts.
Step 3: Promoting The Product
At this point, your online store is already up and running. Your shopfront is well structured, organized, and easy to operate. Products are showcased perfectly; all pages are descriptive, the prices and discounts are well set. Instead of relaxing and waiting for clients to stream into your site, start looking for online marketing business strategies to get the word out about your online store.
You can achieve this through SEO (search engine optimization), marketing, or basic promotion. To achieve tangible results, you can do the following;
- Send newsletters to already existing customers.
- Showcase the products on social media for your followers.
- Give discounts to your customers, especially first time online clients.
- Pay for localized advertising, for instance, TikTok, Facebook.
- Put up a signboard on your brick and mortar location displaying links to your site.
Step 4: Work On Logistics
The next step is getting products to your clients. This process is not easy compared to when clients were walking into your store and picking the products. The products require packaging protectively and appealingly to prevent damages during transportation.
You will need to get a few things to make sure this process is smooth;
- A Computer to keep track of clients’ orders.
- A Printer to design shipping labels and packing slides
- Packaging; at first, you can use any boxes at your disposal.
Step 5: Maintain Good Customer Services
During online purchases, it is easy for a client to navigate to your competitor’s page just by a simple click. Therefore, you have to maintain good customer service interactions so that your clients keep coming back. Always be prepared for various questions and concerns from your clients and be ready to respond accordingly. For transparency concerns, come up with a refund, returns, and shipping policies and adhere to them to the latter. These policies should be appealing and enticing to your clients.
Maintain good pre-sale and post-sale relationships. Consumer interactions can either be pre-sale or post-sale. Pre-sale interactions are concerns on the product by the client before the client makes a purchase. They include product questions, sustainability questions, sizing, pricing, etc. On the other hand, post-sale interactions are questions after the buyer has already made a purchase. These interactions are on damages, returns, and defaults.
Step 6: Inject More Finances
On a short term basis, online sales can keep you in business. In the long run, however, it can gain momentum and become even more successful than a brick and mortar store.
However, the whole process takes time and requires financial injections, especially if you are planning on retaining your employees and paying for expenses like rent as you shift from a brick and mortar company to an online shop front. With these tough times, the global economy is in a downward spiral. Nevertheless, You can conduct research and get more information on available funding opportunities in your locality.
Bottom Line
While the initial shift from brick and mortar to online marketing business strategies can be quite overwhelming, it can also be highly beneficial for your company in the long run. It is a great chance to get innovative. Furthermore, you’ll be able to build and strengthen your brand, thus reaching new markets you never thought of.
