An online personal brand presence allows a store to expand its services to customers who are unable to visit the store or want to order an item that is out of stock.
eCommerce has evolved from a personal brand curiosity to a luxury to a necessity. eCommerce has become a necessity for shoppers. They want to be able to order items from anywhere and get them delivered within 24 hours.
Many store websites feature products that aren’t available in stores and special offers that aren’t available in-store. POS systems from across the country have shown that foot traffic has been steadily declining.
The pandemic only exacerbated the problem. Black Friday was traditionally the busiest day of the holiday season, but foot traffic on Black Friday in 2020 was lower than 52%. eCommerce, however, has seen an explosion. In 2020, more than 2 billion consumers made online purchases. This contributed to an estimated $4.2 trillion in U.S. revenue.
Online shopping is a great option for small- to medium-sized retail businesses. However, they may not know how to get started or whether they have the financial means to make it happen.
Planning
To get into the lucrative online world of eCommerce, you must first create an online business plan. Determine what products you wish to offer online, then determine where to store inventory to allow for online orders.
Next, decide what payment methods you will accept. There are several payment options available: Apple Pay, PayPal, credit cards, and debit cards.
Secure payment methods should be used when setting up payment options. Customers’ personal information will be protected by choosing secure payment methods. This is crucial as hackers can easily access low-grade protection schemes. You’ll then have to deal with angry customers if your website is compromised. Many of them may never shop at your store or site again.
Personal Brand Shipping
Next, you need to make sure that shipping is secure and enough packaging is available to meet your customers’ needs. You’ll need to decide where and how you will fulfill orders.
No matter what you do, make sure you ship products promptly and get them expedited whenever you can. Online shoppers can be very impatient. Many online shoppers expect their items to arrive within a few days, if not a week. Make sure you label all your items with delivery estimates.
Establishing an Online Personal Brand Presence
There are many ways to build a website with a personal brand, even if you don’t have the necessary skills.
Pre-made eCommerce templates are available from many companies. These templates include everything you need to create your website and market it. A web designer can also be hired to create a site for you. Some point-of-sale businesses offer eCommerce features such as apps and websites.
Web search engine optimization (SEO), which helps your website rank high in search engines like Google, is another factor you should consider. If your store isn’t on pages one to five, it will be harder for people to find it. However, consumers will most likely choose websites that are on the first page of search results. To improve your website’s SEO, do your research.
Also, make sure you monitor your website traffic once your eCommerce platform is launched.
Research why your website isn’t receiving as many visitors as you expected. Is your website not being promoted as effectively as possible, online or in-store? Also, make sure to test your website for bugs. It’s not good to have a customer who is unable to access your site but wants it. They will likely move on to another site and never return.
Personal Brand Marketing
The final step is to create an eCommerce personal brand marketing budget. Your website won’t sell itself, even though it is useful to have an online presence.
You can target existing clients by handing out pamphlets at checkout counters. Advertise in periodicals that target your demographic. If your business is in a Spanish-speaking area, you might place ads in Spanish newspapers or other Spanish periodicals.
These steps can be followed carefully and accurately by Mom-and-Pop merchants. This will allow them to generate more revenue and impress customers. It can also help to build positive word of mouth, which can bring in new and existing customers.
