With the rise of online shopping, many consumers find shopping in person to be a waste of time and gas. According to Internet Retailer, up to half of U.S. shoppers shop exclusively online, while a greater number choose to research a product on an E-commerce site before buying it at the physical store. That said, supplementing your brick-and-mortar presence with an E-commerce site is invaluable. Here are some of the top benefits:
- The World Is Your Oyster. With E-commerce, you are no longer limited to the customers who enter your shop door. E-commerce overcomes geographical boundaries, making your product accessible to customers across the country, and even across the globe.
- Higher Traffic Potential. According to Mashable, 45 percent of shoppers buy items online that they wouldn’t in person. Consumers scour the Internet on a daily basis to find goods like yours. Growing mobile market only supports online shopping, as consumers use smartphones and tablets to research products.
- Cost Savings. An E-commerce website requires no greeters, checkers, operational clerks, or other personnel to run. The cost of hosting a website wins hands down over rent, utility, and maintenance costs of a physical space. These savings can trickle down to the customer in the form of discounts and other pricing incentives, potentially leading to higher sales.
- Easy Advertising. Likely, your company already has a social media following. Avenues such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and email are great tools for promoting your E-commerce platform. Additional forms of marketing, such as search engine optimization for higher organic search results, and pay-per-click options, are convenient and affordable.
- Customer Satisfaction. While consumers appreciate individual service during in-person shopping, an E-commerce website gives customers a convenient, much-sought alternative. Create a memorable user experience through details like personalized check-out, high-quality images, service-oriented emails and blogs, and excellent customer support in the form of video tutorials and in-depth FAQs.
Are you ready to broaden your reach with an open source, E-commerce platform? Revel Systems offers an E-Commerce Platform that can be customized with your brand’s specific image and needs. Use open API to tailor your business features and watch your customer base grow.