Thanks to the ever-changing economy, your sales will slump now and then – it is inevitable. COVID-19 was also a huge setback to the retail landscape. According to BBC, retail sales suffered one of the worst losses in 25 years in 2020. Forrester also predicted a loss of $2.1 Trillion in global retail. Now, as things are finally getting back to normal, it is a tough time for retailers to make up for the losses. Today, we will reveal some efficient and practical tips to help you increase your sales.
Image Credits: The Data Scientist
The following tips will help you maximize your sales in the retail world.
1. Your Store Should Show Up in Google Search Results
Google takes up 90% of the search engine market share (Source: Statista). Over a billion users use Google to find stores and products. If you want to gain more visitors and customers, optimize your website for Google search. You have to make sure your brand shows up every time someone searches for your niche or product/service.
To appear in google searches, you have to implement effective SEO strategies. Here are a few SEO tactics you should use:
Local Search – If you have a physical store, optimize for local search. Set up a business profile on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other platforms. Add all the relevant information accurately, such as Name, Address, Phone Number, Business Hours, Reviews, etc.
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Off-Page SEO – Invest in off-page SEO tactics such as influencer reach, link building, content marketing, and forums.
On-Page SEO – On-page SEO tactics are implemented on your own website and include keyword research and designing keyword-rich content. Some on-page SEO tactics are backlinking, URL optimization, enhancing UX and UI, etc.
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Voice Search – In 2021, voice search users are expected to grow to 122.7 million (Source: Oberlo). Optimize your content for voice search by using conversational keywords in compelling persona-based content. Some other tools to optimize for voice search include schema mark-up, FAQs, and a mobile-friendly website.
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2. Optimize Your Email Campaign
Emails play a significant role in effective digital marketing. Emails contribute to 24% of the total revenue. Every $1 spent on email marketing generates $42 of ROI. Thus, being an effective strategy to increase sales and get new customers.
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Emails save time, generate leads, increase revenue and ensure customer retention. As emails are a great way to communicate with prospects and customers, use them to promote new launches, newsletters, blogs, and promotions. A highly effective way to boost retail sales through email is coupon codes and promo codes.
Remember, building a subscriber list is not enough – provide value. Here are a few ways to improve your email marketing strategies:
- Send a thank you message to the customer as soon as they purchase
- Send exclusive promo codes and vouchers
- Offer gifts on special occasions like birthdays, Christmas, valentines, etc.
- Send regular newsletters to inform and update about new products, offers, discounts, etc.
3. Build A Connection with Your Customers
Your customers are your biggest asset – without them, you have no sales, no revenue, no business. The best way to increase your retail sales is a solid customer base. Nurturing your customers should be your top priority, so make sure you implement a customer-centric approach.
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According to Microsoft’s State of Global Customer Service Report, 56% of consumers worldwide stopped shopping from a business because of poor customer experience. Therefore, you should engage your customers, communicate with them, offer help, provide impeccable customer service and make them feel special. In short, give your customers an experience they will not forget.
Here are a few ways how you can enhance the customer experience:
- Talk to your customers and listen to their needs. Understand what they want and what motivates them to buy.
- Show genuine interest and concern to foster and retain brand loyalty
- Appreciate your customers with simple gestures such as a thank you note, free voucher, birthday gift, etc.
- Offer value-added products and services
- Personalize their customer journey
4. Use Mobile SEO
According to GSMA real-time intelligence data, 5.27 billion people have a mobile device in Jun 2021 – thus, almost 62% of the world’s population is using a mobile device today.
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As most of the world is using mobile devices, mobile SEO has become more critical than ever. So, make browsing your website simple and easy on a mobile device. You should optimize your online retail store for mobile because mobile SEO:
- Improves user experience
- Increases website speed
- Costs less than an app
- Gives a competitive advantage over other
- Improves Google ranking and SEO
5. Invest in Marketing and Promotion
Marketing and sales go hand in hand. Every successful business invests in good marketing. Did you know, coke spends an average of $4 million on marketing annually. Why is a well-established billion-dollar company like Coke spending nearly 20% of the overall cost on marketing? Well, the answer is simple, marketing is the lifeline of sales.
Effective marketing spreads brand awareness, generates leads, builds brand image, ensures customer loyalty, increases conversion rates and gives higher ROI. So, create an effective marketing strategy that covers all the essential areas such as digital marketing, outbound marketing and affiliate marketing.
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Conclusion
The primary goal of any retainer is to get new customers and boost sales. However, increasing sales can be a challenging task. If you want to increase sales, implement the strategies mentioned above. These five tips are the best way to optimize your online performance and maximize retail sales.