New Articles

5 Practical Ways to Increase E-commerce Profitability

e-commerce customer-obsessed

5 Practical Ways to Increase E-commerce Profitability

E-commerce businesses continue to be an indispensable part of the retail industry. As more and more people continue to shop online, setting up an e-commerce store is relatively easy, especially when you have platforms like Amazon or Shopify. However, growing your e-commerce business, expanding your operations, and generating more revenue proves to be a challenge in a cutthroat industry.

It becomes harder to foster customer loyalty when there are hundreds of thousands of e-commerce stores, and it doesn’t help that customers are pickier than ever.

According to the US Census Bureau, e-commerce sales will continue to grow in the United States by a whopping 20% between 2018 and 2022 and it’s expected to reach 380 million by 2022. This is exciting news for e-commerce businesses but knowing which e-commerce stores will generate the maximum revenue during this period is unpredictable.

We’ve listed five practical ways to increase e-commerce profitability to increase your chances of generating maximum income and revenue.

1. Design a Great Website

It only takes less than a second for visitors to decide if they want to continue browsing your website or not. So, if your website does not have a clear value proposition that can hold your visitor’s attention longer, your bounce rate will be sky-high.

Effective visual communication is crucial to the performance of your e-commerce store. 80% of your visitors remember what they see on your website, while 10% never forget what they read. Pay attention to how your visitors navigate your website and use this information to improve your site navigation.

Another important factor you want to remember is the presentation of your products and services. You want to present them in a way that catches their attention and piques their interest. This could be in the form of images, videos, and website design.

Your About Us page should also catch your audience’s attention. According to Marketing Sherpa, around 7% of visitors on the Home Page click on the About Us next. And among those who click on the About Us, 33% are more likely to convert into potential customers.

2. Establish Customer Loyalty

Did you know that your existing customers are more receptive to your marketing efforts? Aside from that, they are likely to spend more money, order more frequently, and recommend your store to friends and family.

Customer churn – or losing your old customers to competitors – is a major problem among e-commerce businesses, so it’s crucial to prioritize customer loyalty when creating strategies for your marketing plan.

Focus on keeping your existing customers happy by offering discounts, loyalty cards, provide exceptional customer service, ask for feedback, and strive to continually improve. Before you may significant changes to your e-commerce website, be sure to consider your existing customers first. These strategies can help establish customer loyalty and ultimately improve your bottom line.

3. Consider Offering Subscription Products

The subscription business model has gained a lot of traction over the years. We’ve seen companies like Dollar Shave Club (razors), Blue Apron (meal kits), and Birchbox (beauty) connect with influencers to market their products.

If you’re not familiar with subscription products, here’s how it works: You offer a product or a curated set of products each month and encourage people to subscribe for a fee and receive the items.

Many people love subscription products because they love being surprised by deliveries, curating “random” or “assorted” boxes allows you to offload unsold items in your inventory, and the monthly revenue stream makes it easier for you to improve your e-commerce business.

4. Stay on Top of Your Finances

Regardless of the size of your e-commerce store, it’s important to adopt proper bookkeeping strategies. Keep records of all financial transactions and receipts and keep them organized. You can also use the best debt payoff app and bookkeeping software like QuickBooks to keep your finances in order.

5. Enhance Your Website Security Measures

Keeping your website secure should be one of your priorities. A complicated checkout process can likely expose your customers’ financial information. As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to keep your customers’ information safe. Plus, a security breach scandal is something a small business cannot afford.

Invest in professional security for your website and servers. This might cost you a significant amount upfront, but consider this purchase as a long-term investment that can help you and your customers in the long run.

Professional security services are effective in preventing data losses and hacks. A security company can also help your site in case of a malfunction.

What’s Next?

The key to running a profitable e-commerce store is to keep your customers top of mind. Structure your website in a way that’s easy to navigate. If your customers need to click 300 times to purchase something, they will likely shop with your competitor.

auto shipping

Top 8 Auto Shipping Tips for A Positive Experience

There are various reasons why you may want to move your car with an auto shipping company. Auto-shipping companies are highly reliable and convenient to use. The main challenge for people looking for auto shipping solutions is finding a company that will give them a positive shipping experience.

A car is a significant investment that needs careful handling. It helps to take your time in picking the best shipping company from the wide variety of available options. We have compiled some essential tips that will help you ensure everything goes as planned during your next move.

Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Do your Research

The first and most vital thing to do when planning a move is research. As mentioned earlier, there are so many auto-shipping companies available today. The only challenge is that the market has many rogue movers who may not deliver the kind of service genuine auto shippers provide.

It is possible to find genuine companies if you do your research well. Such companies are reliable and will deliver your car to your home at a reasonable cost. They also must be holders of valid auto shipping licenses. Choosing a company with these features will help you avoid inconveniences.

Consider the Location

The picking and dropping points are essential to consider before choosing an auto shipping company. It would help if you thought about how accessible it is, primarily because auto movers use large trucks. Check how far the two points are from the main highway and the condition of the access roads.

Most auto shipping companies provide their services on a door-to-door delivery basis. This service mainly adds convenience to the move, but it sometimes may be daunting if the locations aren’t accessible. You can organize alternative picking and dropping points with the auto mover in case of such issues. 

Talk to a Representative

You must be sure about the terms of a move before committing yourself. Head on to the company’s website, then read and understand its terms and conditions. Do not shy off from seeking clarification on things that don’t seem clear on the website.

On sites like Karrycar, there is a live chat system. This feature helps you get clarification on whatever queries you have instantly. This minimizes the time you spend on sending an email and waiting for them to respond. You can also request tracking information from them directly.

Every genuine company provides a call center number on its website. Ask them to clarify their terms and also ask any questions about their quote if you have already received it. Do not proceed if the representative that picks your calls doesn’t answer your questions satisfactorily, as that may cost you in case of any issues during the move. 

Be Wary of Low Quotes

Moving a car from one place to another can be costly. You may feel excited if a company quotes a lower price than others, especially if you are working with a strict budget. The reality is that cheap can sometimes become expensive. Take your time to decide if a surprisingly low quote is genuine or not.

You should first know the standard rates of auto shipping in your area. Quotes that are too low to be genuine could reflect the shoddy service you are about to pay for. It is better to pay a higher cost than have your car arrive at the destination in an unpleasant condition.

Never Pay the Entire Price Upfront

As mentioned earlier, not every auto moving company is genuine out there. There are fake auto shipping companies that collect money upfront before vanishing into thin air. Most genuine companies collect deposits before offering their services, but then unreasonably high sums should worry you.

To be precise, the deposit should not exceed 50% of the total shipping cost. It is also vital to ask what happens with the deposit if you decide to cancel the move. Being sure about these conditions will help you have a great experience when moving your car.

Check Insurance Coverage

Insurance is another vital thing to check before working with an auto shipping company. You should check a company’s insurance policy whether you think it is genuine or not. Accidents occur whether you are moving your car with a genuine company or not.

It would be best if you were sure of the insurance coverage of the company you choose. Do not hesitate to launch a claim if you notice any defects. This way, the auto shipping company will cover part if not all of the repair costs.

Inspect the Car Before Pick-Up

An auto shipping company can only be liable for damages that happen during the move. That is why you need to start by inspecting your car before handing it over to the mover. Both you and the mover need to thoroughly inspect it to be sure of its condition before starting the move.

You also need to inspect the car on arrival at its destination. You should check its condition against what you recorded before starting the move. One tip you can use when inspecting the car is to take pictures that show its initial condition.

Book in Advance

It is vital to book your move with an auto shipping company early enough. This is because these companies have to drop several cars along the way before reaching their last destination. They may assign your car to a truck that will take a longer route if you book late.

This means that you will have to wait longer before receiving your car. It also exposes the car to various risks such as getting damaged. Therefore, you should talk to the shipping company early enough and pay the required amount of money in time.

Conclusion

Finding the right auto shipping company isn’t easy. Many factors can determine how successful it turns out, including how well you prepare for the move. The amount of preparation you put into preparing for the move can determine the kind of experience you get from it.

You need to research deeply and consider different auto shippers before picking one. It is also vital to check for insurance to ensure your investment will be safe if anything happens. Above all, inspect the car before and after the move to be sure that everything is intact.