At MediaBranch we are well aware that the digital age has transformed the way businesses operate and consumers shop. The electronic store (e-shop), as an integral part of a company's digital strategy, offers a number of benefits both at the business and consumer level.
In our consulting meetings with prospective clients, in addition to answering every question and concern of the client about the online store, we always develop the reasons why the entrepreneur should seriously consider developing an excellent online store. We will see some of these reasons below.
Why should a business have an online store?
The creation of an online store is now a necessity for any business that wishes to increase its presence in the market and reach a wider audience. The benefits are multiple:
Increase sales and profitability: An online store allows businesses to sell their products or services 24/7, increasing the chances of making sales.
Expanding the customer base: Thanks to the internet, a business can reach customers from all over the world, transcending geographical boundaries.
Strengthening the image of the company: A well-designed online store creates a professional image for the business and boosts customer confidence.
Collection of valuable data: Online stores enable businesses to collect valuable data about consumer behavior that can be leveraged to improve their marketing strategies.
Reduction of operating costs: Compared to a physical store, an online store requires lower operating costs such as rent, staff and storage.
At this point we should emphasize that the entrepreneur's decision to finally entrust the development of the online store to a digital agency like MediaBranch is also reinforced by additional important factors such as consumers. Our online store should offer consumers an easy way to purchase the products or services as well as an overall pleasant user experience, which will strengthen the consumer's intention to buy from our online store again. But let's see below some more benefits for consumers who will visit your online store.
What are the benefits for consumers?
Ease and comfort: Consumers can make their purchases from anywhere and anytime, without having to move.
Greater variety of products: Online stores offer a much larger variety of products compared to physical stores.
Price comparison: Consumers can easily compare the prices of different products and choose the best deal.
Personalized shopping experience: Many online stores offer personalized product recommendations based on consumer preferences.
Transaction Security: Modern online stores have strong security measures to protect consumers' personal data and payments.
When the entrepreneur finally decides to proceed with the development of the new online store, there comes that phase in which the digital agency will help him understand what important features and functions the online store will provide to his visitors so that it is pleasant and immediate for them and by extension profitable for the business. Some such features will be presented to you below.
Important Features of a Successful Online Store.
An online store to succeed must combine excellent functionality, aesthetics and ease of use. Below we will mention the most important features it should incorporate:
Friendly User Environment
- Easy navigation: Clean structure with clear categories and subcategories, simple product search and easy access to information.
- Attractive design: Beautiful aesthetics, professional product photos and consistency in design style with clear alignment with the brand style and its corporate identity (brand identity).
- Responsive design: Customization of appearance on all devices (desktop, tablet, mobile).
Clear Product Descriptions
- Full information: Detailed descriptions, technical characteristics, dimensions, materials, etc.
- Quality photos: Professional photos from multiple angles, showing the product in real conditions.
- Presentation video: For more complex products, short videos showing how they work.
Secure Transactions
- Integration of secure payment methods: Stripe, PayPal, credit cards, bank transfers, cash on delivery.
- Terms of Use and personal data security: Legal texts with detailed and comprehensible terms of use of the e-shop, certainly with legal guidance and diligence specialized lawyer in e-commerce and the digital transformation of the business.
- Data Security: SSL/TLS encryption and security certificate integration.
Easy Ordering Process
- Shopping Cart: Easy to add and remove products, possibility to preview the order before completion.
- Shipping and Payment Details: Simple and quick filling in of the details, with the possibility of saving for future orders.
- Shipping Options: Different shipping options with clear costs and delivery times.
Excellent Customer Service
- Easy communication: Communication options available (phone, email, live chat, AI chatbot).
- Frequently Asked Questions: Detailed section with answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQ).
- Easy order management: Ability to track the order by the customer with a tracking number.
Integration with Management Systems
- ERP: Link to ERP to automate warehouse and production processes.
- LMS: For businesses that offer training, connect to an LMS to manage courses and certificates.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Content Optimization: Use of keywords, meta tags, product descriptions and categories.
- Links: Creation of internal and external links (backlinks).
- Loading Speed: Image and code optimization for really fast page loading.
Marketing and Promotion
- Newsletter: Collection of emails to inform customers and promote new products, articles, offers, discounts, etc.
- Social networks: Integration with social networks for easy product sharing.
- Discount coupons and offers: Attractive offers to attract new customers and increase sales.
- Abandoned Cart Tracking: When the visitor abandons the cart with the selected products, they will receive a repeated update to their email to complete the purchase.
Ratings and Reviews
- Ability to rate products: Encourage customers to share their experiences.
- Show average ratings: To help customers make purchasing decisions.
Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Personalized product recommendations: TN can analyze customers' purchase history, preferences and behavior to recommend products that suit their tastes.
- Content: Can customize store content (eg banners, offers) according to each customer's preferences.
- Shopping Assistant:
- Chatbots: AI-powered chatbots can answer customer questions about products, orders and returns, providing instant service.
- Personal advisor: They can help customers find the right products, taking into account their needs and preferences.
- Search Optimization
- Natural language understanding: AI can understand more complex and natural searches, allowing customers to find the products they are looking for more easily.
- Synonyms and Related Terms Recommendations: If a customer does not know the exact term for a product, TN can suggest alternative options.
- Customer Behavior Analysis
- Predictions: AI can predict customer behavior such as what products they are likely to buy, when they are most likely to visit the store and what offers they will be interested in.
- Target customers: These predictions can be used to create more targeted marketing campaigns.
Data Analysis
- Google Analytics: Monitoring of traffic, user behavior and effectiveness of advertising campaigns.
From all the above features, it is easy to understand that a successful online store must offer a smooth and pleasant shopping experience to customers while supporting business needs. By properly implementing these features, you can create an online store that will stand out from the competition and help you achieve your goals.
In conclusion, we should understand that the creation of an online store is a strategic move for any business that wishes to grow and remain competitive in the digital age. At the same time, consumers enjoy a more convenient and flexible shopping experience.
We at MediaBranch, can develop one complete online store for every business sector of the market.
Everything starts with the planning of the strategy, the friendly user environment of the visitor and of course the aesthetic design of the online store.
We will make sure in every possible way that your customers trust yours brand and always return to your online store for new purchases.
