Image: Unsplash
As a marketer or a business owner, you would know first-hand eCommerce's vast and competitive landscape. As such, small businesses face unique challenges that demand innovative solutions.
Not only is cost-effectiveness a crucial factor, but scalability is also key in ensuring flexibility to grow as your business grows.
With the right tools and strategies, these challenges can be turned into opportunities for growth and success.
While we may be specialists in graphics design, Brandripe has a unique exposure in helping our clients grow their brands and businesses. If you are a marketer or a small business owner in eCommerce, this short guide can help give insight into the most effective tools and strategies to level up your business growth.
What are the challenges faced by small eCommerce businesses?
Before delving into the solutions, it's crucial to understand the challenges that small eCommerce businesses commonly encounter.
Limited resources are at the top of the list, hence it is important to research and consider the most cost-effective solutions with the biggest returns.
Regardless of your niche, fierce competition, having the right ecosystem and the need to establish a strong brand presence are just a few common obstacles that can hinder growth.
What you’ll notice, though, is that marketing your brand or business is really the key to accelerating your bottom line.
Fortunately, there are tools and strategies designed to address these issues head-on.
Top 4 tools for small business eCommerce growth
Here are some tools that will help small businesses win the eCommerce game:
1. eCommerce platform
Shopify is a famous eCommerce platform used by many business owners. Image: CleanPNG
Shopify stands out as one of the most user-friendly and comprehensive eCommerce platforms available. It caters specifically to small businesses, offering customisable templates, secure payment options and a range of third-party apps to enhance functionality.
With features like abandoned cart recovery and seamless integration with social media channels, Shopify empowers small businesses to create a professional and efficient online storefront.
2. Email marketing tool
Email marketing remains a powerful tool for eCommerce growth, and Mailchimp excels in making it accessible to small businesses. Its user-friendly interface allows for the creation of targeted email campaigns, automations and personalised product recommendations.
Small businesses can leverage Mailchimp's analytics to gain insights into customer behavior and refine their marketing strategies accordingly.
3. Social media management tool
Buffer is a reliable social media management tool to help you with your marketing efforts. Image: 1000 Logos
You’ve got the platform, you’ve got the email marketing tool to stay connected to your customers. What’s more crucial than that? Having a solid and consistently growing social media presence, of course.
Buffer is easily one of the cheapest options in the market, offering you a free plan and scalable options to add social media channels and pay-per-channel that you manage.
4. Content and graphics design
Leave the heavy lifting of designing content to the experts at Brandripe! Image: Brandripe
Content is at the heart of every single marketing strategy, and while you may be tempted to do it yourself, many small business owners find themselves unable to sustain wearing multiple hats at once – especially if you’re not a graphic designer, to begin with.
Partnering with an experienced outsourced graphics design provider like Brandripe eases the way, leave your content in our capable hands as you focus on the growth.
Top 4 strategies for small business’ eCommerce growth
Scaling your small business does need not to be too complicated. Image: Unsplash
Exploring avenues for small business eCommerce growth encompasses several pivotal strategies. Among these, four stand out as key pillars for success.
1. Social media engagement
In the era of digital connectivity, social media is a powerful tool for small businesses to engage with their audience. Developing a strong social media presence involves consistent posting, interacting with followers and utilising paid advertising options. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook offer targeted advertising, allowing businesses to reach their ideal audience and drive traffic to their eCommerce site.
2. Content marketing
Creating valuable and relevant content is a long-term strategy that pays dividends in terms of organic growth. Blog posts, product descriptions and how-to guides not only improve a website's SEO but also establish the business as an authority in its niche.
Small businesses can leverage content marketing to build trust with their audience and drive traffic through search engine optimisation.
3. Customer retention programs
Acquiring new customers is essential, but retaining existing ones is equally crucial for sustained growth. Implementing customer retention programs, such as loyalty programs and personalised discounts, can encourage repeat business.
Additionally, gathering customer feedback and addressing concerns proactively helps build a loyal customer base that advocates for the brand.
4. Mobile optimisation
As more consumers shift to mobile shopping, optimising the eCommerce site and your promotional materials for mobile devices is non-negotiable. A responsive design, fast-loading pages and a seamless checkout process on mobile devices contribute significantly to user satisfaction.
Small businesses can leverage mobile optimisation to tap into a broader audience and enhance the overall user experience.
So, ready to take your eCommerce business to the next level?
With the right tools, you can overcome the teething problems commonly faced by small businesses. Social media engagement, content marketing, customer retention programs and mobile optimisation form a comprehensive set of strategies that cater to the evolving landscape of eCommerce.
Aside from cost effectiveness, when choosing the right tools for you, consider the scalability and seamlessness of these options in your daily grind.
When it comes to content for marketing, Brandripe takes great pride in being a one-stop shop that offers a fuss-free subscription-based model that is super flexible for your fiscal health, all with a guaranteed fast turnaround time to ensure you’re always moving at pace with your marketing activations.
Find out more about how we can help, schedule a quick chat with us today!
