E-commerce Launch and Growth To Build A Profitable Venture

ecommerce development

Ecommerce has become one of the most significant and influential business model changes in recent years. It has affected and changed how consumers now interact with businesses and how they decide to purchase products and services. At the same time, with the rapid growth in the supply chain, it has brought a lot of opportunities for founders to get more customers with the help of digital marketing.

The global e-commerce industry is predicted to grow by 9.4% in 2024. It will slow down a bit to 8.6% in 2025. This growth rate is likely to remain the same in 2026, making the total e-commerce sales reach $7.5 trillion. In 2027, it's expected to grow by 7.6%, and the total e-commerce sales will go beyond $8 trillion for the first time.

Let’s understand how you could grow your ecommerce business with various digital marketing strategies and once we are able to showcase you the possibilities, we’ll let you know how to develop your ecommerce platform and then implement these strategies.

How to do SEO for your ecommerce website?

ecommerce seo

Google's search algorithms have become the go-to source for finding what we need online. When people search for products or services, they trust Google to provide the best and most relevant results. This "Google-first" mentality is now a global trend, and in marketing, it's all about following where your customers go. So, if you're not investing in SEO (Search Engine Optimization), you're missing out on a significant number of potential customers online.

Once you've set up your online store, it's crucial to take steps to improve your website's ranking on important keywords. To do this, you need to implement on-page, off-page, and technical SEO strategies. 

Start with keyword research

 - There are various keyword research tools available, some free and some paid. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs can help you discover new keyword ideas. Simply enter your initial keywords, and these tools will suggest related keywords and provide data on their search volume and competition.

- Check out your competitors' websites and see what keywords they're targeting. You can use tools to analyze their keywords. This can give you insights into what's working in your industry.

- Consider long-tail keywords. These are longer, more specific phrases that often have less competition. They can be valuable for targeting a specific audience. For example, if you sell running shoes, "best running shoes for flat feet" is a long-tail keyword.

- Think about the intent behind the keywords. Are people looking for information, products, or local services? Understanding user intent helps you match your content or products with what the searcher is looking for.

- Based on your research, create a list of keywords that are relevant to your business and have a good balance of search volume and competition. Organize these keywords into different groups or categories.

- Use your keyword list to plan your content. Create blog posts, product listings, or other content that incorporates these keywords naturally. This helps search engines understand the relevance of your content.

- You can keep an eye on the performance of your chosen keywords. Tools like Google Analytics can help you see which keywords are driving traffic and conversions. Adjust your strategy based on what's working.

On-page optimization

On-page SEO is about optimizing individual web pages to boost their authority and search engine visibility. The goal is to tell search algorithms why a specific page should rank well for certain keywords. When we talk about on-page optimization, here is what you should focus on:

- Creating valuable and original content.

- Structuring internal links effectively.

- Using appropriate headings to organize your content.

- Ensuring your images are optimized with descriptive alt tags, well-chosen filenames, and appropriate sizes.

To see real improvements, it's a good idea to conduct on-page SEO audits for each page on your website. These audits will help you identify areas for enhancement, ultimately boosting your SEO performance.

Focus on your website structure to ensure crawlers can easily find and index pages

The way you organize your e-commerce website is called "website architecture." It's all about how you arrange your menus, category pages, and product pages. The main goal is to show potential customers the most useful stuff quickly and reduce the number of clicks they need to find it.

Here are two important rules for a great website structure:

- Keep it Simple and Expandable: Make it easy to understand, and you should be able to add more stuff to it in the future without making it too complicated.

- No More than Three Clicks: People should find what they want within three clicks from any page.

Additionally, use keywords to make sure your page addresses and categories are very relevant to what people are looking for.

Why should an ecommerce store go with content marketing to guide their customers in the customer journey?

Most e-commerce websites have a simple focus to try to target for keywords that are directly related to the products they are selling. That’s a great approach, but about people who are yet to make a decision about their purchase, and are simply on the web to lookout for more information. There is also a possibility that some of your customers are not even aware that they want to buy something, but simply are looking for information that solves their problem. 

For example, one of our e-commerce clients Control.pt specializes in adult products, and it's quite likely that many first-time customers begin their journey without a clear idea of what they're looking for. They might be searching for answers to questions like "How to enhance intimacy" or "Exploring sexual well-being."

In such scenarios, a smart content marketing and SEO strategy can be a fantastic starting point. By creating content that addresses these initial queries, Control.pt doesn't just provide information; they also guide potential customers on their path to self-discovery and sexual well-being. This approach not only boosts brand awareness but also positions the brand as a trusted source in a personal and intimate niche.

As an e-commerce business, the lesson here is that by focusing on more than just product sales and becoming a source of guidance and information, you can create a deeper connection with your audience. It's about recognizing that customers come to you for more than just products; they seek knowledge, answers, and support on their personal journeys.

How to optimize your product listing on Amazon?

amazon product listing

Amazon's search engine relies on the A10 algorithm to provide users with the most pertinent search results. This algorithm evaluates several factors to determine the ranking of items, which encompass:

- The frequency of item purchases.

- Reviews an item has received.

- The relevance of keywords employed in the search query.

- The recency of the item.

Along with that, here are the points that you need to consider for having a better ranking on Amazon.

Keyword Research

Start your keyword research by focusing on short-term or direct keywords that describe your product. These could include the product's common name or closely related terms. Later, you can explore Amazon's bestsellers and use the reverse ASIN lookup method with tools like Sonar, Helium 10, or Keyword Inspector to discover the keywords they rank for.

Once you have identified these short-tail or seed keywords, move on to the next step and create a list of Amazon keywords using Amazon's suggested searches or other keyword research tools. When you search for a specific product on Amazon, you'll find various suggested keywords that are commonly searched in your niche. To gain a deeper understanding of the traffic and competition for these keywords, consider using Amazon keyword research tools such as Sonar, Helium 10, Scientific Seller, and Keywordtool.io.

These tools can help you generate a comprehensive list of keywords related to your seed keywords. They also provide insights into the difficulty of ranking for specific keywords based on search traffic and keyword volume. If you're not a niche expert, aim to target and track keywords with moderate difficulty and substantial search volume.

As an Amazon seller, it's essential to thoroughly examine backend keywords and identify keywords that your target audience is likely to use. Continuously monitor and update your keyword strategy to stay competitive.

Product Title:

When crafting your Amazon product title, you have around 200 characters to work with. Strive for a title that is user-friendly and memorable. Incorporate up to five keywords in the title while maintaining a descriptive and easily readable format.

Backend Keywords:

Backend keywords are not visible to users but are indexed by Amazon's search algorithm. You can include up to 249 bytes of generic keywords in the search terms. These backend keywords directly impact your product's search visibility, making it crucial to focus on them even though they are hidden from view.

Product Description Optimization:

Enhance your product description by adding keywords within bullet points. Bullet points are easier for customers to read, and the inclusion of keywords helps the algorithm assess your product's relevance. Potential customers often read the description before making a purchase decision, so ensure you provide all the specifications, benefits, and how your product can be of assistance. Strive for a balanced mix of keywords and specifications to cater to your consumers effectively.

Filter Terms and Search Term Fields

For certain products, Amazon offers the option to filter by attributes like gender or size. Make sure to select the appropriate filter terms that apply to your product to increase visibility among users who use these filters to find the right product.

After identifying your preferred keywords, incorporate them into the title and bullet points. Any remaining keywords can be entered into the backend Search Terms fields. Keep in mind that the standard Search Terms field allows for only 250 bytes of keywords, and these keywords should not be duplicated elsewhere in your listing. If you exceed the 250-byte limit, Amazon will disregard all keywords in that field.

You can also utilize the Intended Use, Target Audience, and Subject Matter fields for less crucial keywords that should be specific to their respective names. For example, the Target Audience field should contain terms related to the product's intended audience, while the Subject Matter field can include more general keywords related to the product's subject. It's advisable to at least fill out the Subject Matter field with relevant, high-volume keywords. Other fields may have varying degrees of usefulness for ranking purposes.

Optimize your product title

When you're coming up with a title for your product, it's important to include a variety of keywords that are relevant to your product. This helps your product to appear in search results, making it easier for shoppers to understand what your product is all about.

In addition to using keywords, don't forget to include the following in your product title:

- Your brand's name

- The name of your product

- Any special features or unique selling points

- The size of your product

- The color of your product

- Any other important information

It's a good idea to try out different titles and see which ones work best. Tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner can be really helpful in coming up with keyword ideas for your title.

Product Description

Search engines work like network indexes that trace millions of websites for a given quest term. Search algorithms evaluate uniqueness, originality, and relevance to help users find the most relevant websites in the SERPs. An SEO-friendly product description is necessary for every product page to get your business on the first page of search results. Also, focus on the digital marketing funnel while creating the content.

-Get your customer's attention by listing critical features in the description.

-Be aware of the purpose and uses of a product

-Add a Demo section to tell people how it works

-Check whether the critical benefits for intended users are discussed

-Identify your target audience

-Use simple vocabulary

-Be informative

How to ensure right e-commerce development for your brand?

CodeDesign Ecommerce Development Solutions

Codedesign is a specialized agency that creates customized e-commerce solutions for medium-sized and large businesses. Located in Lisbon, we specialize in Magento development and manage a variety of Magento websites with millions of annual visitors for our clients. Many of our clients credit their growth and success to our ongoing creative, digital, and marketing support.

We provide a comprehensive development team with expertise in various technologies. Our services range from building entire websites to developing mobile apps for both iOS and Android. We also handle business system integrations, advanced content management systems, e-commerce solutions, and digital assets for marketing campaigns.

Our experienced team uses an agile methodology to deliver exceptional digital solutions. When choosing an e-commerce development partner, it's important to understand their development process. We value your feedback and expect the project scope to be flexible without causing delays.

How we helped our client Control with their e-commerce platform development?

The challenge we faced at CodeDesign and Control was to create an e-commerce platform that could efficiently meet our clients' needs within a tight three-month deadline. We had to consider aspects like development, customer experience (CX), and logistics while ensuring the platform was secure, reliable, and effective.

To tackle this challenge, we chose to adopt an agile development methodology. This approach allowed us to rapidly build and deploy the platform, ensuring we could quickly develop the required features and remain flexible for any necessary adjustments or experimentation.

In this collaborative effort, we focused on platform development, while Control managed logistics and customer experience. To enhance the customer experience, Control also implemented its customer insights platform.

The project ultimately proved to be a great success, as the platform was launched within the stipulated three-month timeframe. It not only met the client's specific needs but also delivered on security, reliability, and efficiency. Furthermore, the customer experience was exceptional, thanks to the insights gained through the customer insights platform.

Strategies that you need to know to scale your e-commerce business

Put emphasis on your value proposition and understand your customer persona

To effectively communicate your value proposition, it's important that your prospects understand the clear, measurable, and tested benefits of your products. You can prominently feature your value proposition on various platforms such as home pages, product descriptions, and Facebook ads, addressing the prevalent issues within your target audience and how your product provides solutions. Additionally, it's important to highlight what sets you apart from competitors and the value customers will gain from purchasing your product.

But, everything would come into play if they are meaningful to the scalability and growth of your business. To measure how effective are your marketing efforts, you need clear goals and metrics. Set specific targets, like increasing your revenue by a certain percentage in a year, to give your team a roadmap for reaching those goals within a set timeframe.

It's really important to know exactly who your customers are. You need to be familiar with things like their age, demographics, spending power and so on. This information helps you make your ads better and choose the right online places to show them.

Now, when we talk about customer persona, being informed and having a  data-driven approach would help you go a long way. 

Perform a competitive analysis to see what right are the competitors doing

In competitive analysis, you create a thorough plan and study the products, sales, and marketing strategies of your main competitors. To excel in this, it's crucial to understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to your business.

Here's how you can go about it:

Recognize Your SEO and Product Competitors: Identify who you're up against in terms of search engine optimization and product sales.

Conduct a SWOT Analysis: Evaluate your competitors' strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to understand how your business stacks up.

Spot Market Gaps and Enhance Your Products: Look for areas in the market where your competitors might be missing something and adjust your products accordingly.

Analyze Their Content Marketing Approaches: Study how your competition is using content to reach customers and build brand awareness.

Find out Who Links to Them: Discover the websites and sources that are linking to your competitors, which can be valuable for your own outreach.

Check Their Pricing and Perks: Look at your competitors' pricing strategies and any extra benefits they offer to customers.

Research Their Sales Tactics and Results: Investigate how your competitors are selling their products and what results they're achieving.

By doing this competitive analysis, you gain insights that can help your business make smarter decisions and stay ahead in the marketplace.

Employ multichannel marketing strategies to improve sales

Multichannel marketing is all about using many different ways to reach your customers. Here's how to do it:

- First, figure out who your customers are and where they spend their time. Pick the best ways to reach them.

- Make sure your messages look and feel the same, no matter which way you use to talk to your customers.

- Use tools to see how your customers react to your messages. This helps you know if your plan is working.

- Before you start, make sure all your channels work well together. This way, your customers have a smooth experience, no matter how they choose to connect with you.

Here is how you could excel in this:

Consistent Branding: You need to adjust how you present your brand and message on each channel. But, it's important that your brand looks and sounds the same everywhere. 

Keeping Track of Products: You must make sure all your product information is up-to-date on all the places where you sell. It can be tricky, but tools like Google Sheets, Dropbox, and online catalogs can help with this.

Understanding the Customer Journey: You need to figure out how customers move from one place to another while buying your products. By understanding this, you can make things smoother for them and provide a better experience.

Focus on the sales and marketing funnel

A basic marketing funnel look like:

Awareness:

At this stage, people don't know about your business yet. To get noticed by the right people, you can use platforms like broadcast and social media.

Interest:

Customers are interested in your product but need more details. Content marketing comes into play here. It provides them with the information they're looking for.

Desire:

Now, customers know they want a product, but they're deciding who to buy it from. This is where digital marketing helps build trust. 

Decision:

Your target audience is ready to make a move. Make sure you're visible to them, and make the buying process easy.

Post-action:

After the sale, there's a big opportunity to show you care about your customers and build loyalty. You can use emails to confirm the transaction or provide more information about the product.

Focus on retargeting

Retargeting means reaching out to folks who've been to your website before. If someone checked out your site, they're probably at least a bit interested in what you're selling. Now, they could be treated as qualified leads who need to be nurtured well. Hence, you must retarget these people and send them discounts and offers to push them down the funnel.

Run A/B tests

The online world is full of competition. To stand out, your ad copy needs to be top-notch. This means having great images and videos, eye-catching headlines, and clear subtitles. These elements help your ad get noticed by potential customers. You can try different versions of your ad copy by changing the images, videos, or headlines to see which one attracts the most audience.

Try to improve cart abandonment

- Make sure your prices are clear and keep things simple for your customers.

- Make the online shopping process shorter so it's easier for users.

- Establish yourself as an expert in your field and add security to your online store.

- Use social media ads or emails to reach out to customers again.

- Allow customers to pay using all the common payment methods.

TL:DR

- E-commerce is experiencing significant global growth, projected at 9.4% in 2024 and reaching $7.5 trillion in sales, with further expansion in 2025 and 2026.

- To succeed in e-commerce, businesses must effectively communicate their value proposition, set clear goals, and understand their target customer demographics.

- SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is critical for online visibility, and businesses should optimize their websites to improve rankings for relevant keywords.

- A well-structured website with a clear and user-friendly architecture is essential to enhance the user experience and facilitate easy navigation.

- Conducting a competitive analysis is crucial to identify market strengths and weaknesses, helping businesses make informed decisions to stay competitive.

- Employing a multichannel marketing strategy involves reaching customers through various platforms and ensuring consistent branding and messaging.

- The sales and marketing funnel is an important concept, with stages including awareness, interest, desire, decision, and post-action, guiding customers through the buying process.

-Retargeting is an effective strategy to re-engage potential customers who have previously visited the website.

- A/B testing allows businesses to experiment with different ad copy versions, including images, headlines, and videos, to determine what attracts the most audience.

- Reducing cart abandonment is a key focus, achieved through clear pricing, simplifying the online shopping process, establishing expertise, enhancing security, and offering multiple payment methods.

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