E-commerce has dominated the world of business over the last decade. While this has made transactions easier for both customers and companies, it has also made the market exceedingly difficult to traverse. If you are looking to participate in the world of e-commerce, here are four ways to make your online business stand out.
- Stay On Top of Your Programming
When it comes to standing out as an online business, few things are more important than programming. After all, programs are the backbone of your business. If your site is, for instance, temporarily buffering, you may lose customers due to annoyance and/or confusion.
If possible, you might want to hire a programmer to focus on the technical aspects of your business. This frees you up to focus on your product, customer service, and marketing. If you can’t hire a programmer, or your systems need extra attention, you can try using an automated program. Options like Prometheus metrics can troubleshoot and provide data independently.
- Get On TikTok
When you think of TikTok, you probably imagine short dances and oddly-paced instructional videos. However, TikTok has become a juggernaut in the world of business marketing. Many small businesses have experienced overnight success after posting one viral video.
In order to succeed on TikTok, you’ll need to do some strategizing. First, figure out how to theme your videos. Generally, companies find the most success when using fourth-wall breaks and absurdist humor. A great example of this is the Duolingo TikTok account. Most of the account’s videos consist of the company’s mascot wreaking havoc in the workplace. If you want your videos to be recognizable, you’ll need to find a similar theme to follow.
Next, and possibly most importantly, post regularly. The more times you post, the more often your videos may show up in someone’s feed. Always be sure to add hashtags that relate to your business, video style, and current trends on the app.
- Make Communication a Priority
One of the most pressing issues with online businesses is the lack of face-to-face communication. While this is less of an issue with younger customers, older demographics tend to enjoy doing business in person. Without this option, many customers may experience a lack of trust in your company. Therefore, constant and transparent communication is key.
Your customer should know what’s happening at every point in the transaction. Some companies achieve this by sending automated e-mails. However, this can become annoying for the customer, especially if you send more than two or three. Instead, you can try using real-time progress reports. Ride-share and food delivery apps like Uber often use this option, usually to great success.
Another way to ensure trust through communication is being readily available. This information should be easy to find whenever someone looks your company up:
- Phone number
- E-mail address
- Physical address (if you have one available for customers)
- Social media accounts
Whenever a customer attempts to get in contact, you or someone else should be able and willing to start a discussion. The moment you become difficult to reach, you risk coming off as a scam.
- Create a Unique Signature
In this day and age, online companies have become the new normal. Therefore, having a water-tight business model may not be enough to stand out. This is where branding comes in handy.
Your business needs to have an x-factor that makes you unique. Since you can’t rely on a fun atmosphere or personable employees (to an extent), this factor should be part of your product or service. For example, some businesses on Etsy include personalized stickers or notes in each package. Many retail companies provide coupons at regular intervals.
What makes your company different? This could be anything from a fun aesthetic to an impossible-to-forget catchphrase. Once you pinpoint this unique signature, make it a standout factor in your marketing campaign.
No matter what difficulties you come across, you can always rely on your strengths as a company. If you provide excellent products and services, amazing customer service, and a unique marketing strategy, you have a great chance of finding success.
