Atlantic Online Digital Marketing Blog

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Shelley Bellefontaine • Feb 03, 2020

10 Steps to Build a Successful eCommerce Site

Ecommerce sites are likely to see immense growth in the near future and are likely to be the fastest-growing and valuable across industries. With Ecommerce sites, people can shop easily online and also order customized products and get these products directly on the doorstep. Various brands are also focusing on establishing Ecommerce site to increase sales and earn better returns. This is also encouraging enterprise web development services to develop an Ecommerce site for various brands and help them to launch an online store.

To develop the best Ecommerce website, a software development company should plan the development of an Ecommerce site. There are various steps that companies can follow and develop a better site. These steps can also ensure fast and professional site development. The planned site development steps can also help SEO and marketing of the site that can help in increasing the popularity of the site.

In developing the Ecommerce site, the developer has to prepare the content and load the photos of all the products along with the description of each product. The site developer also has to negotiate with manufacturers to list various products online. Apart from all this work, it is important to ensure that the site is functioning properly and also develop a business model and plan in generating organic traffic. Below are some of the steps that can be followed to develop successful enterprise web development services.

Buy a Domain Name
The first step is to select the domain name and buy a domain name that identifies the brand and perfectly suits the brand. Many sites offer a chance to buy a domain name at a cheap rate.

Finding a Web Developer
Finding a perfect web developer is an important component to launch the Ecommerce website. Companies are also looking for the best organizations providing enterprise web development services and developers who can provide these services at the best rate. Hiring a developer can ensure that the company can launch the Ecommerce site in a very short time and in a professional way.  The company can also get a reference from some other Ecommerce website, it is also important to get the timeline on how long will it take to launch the site. The company should also ensure that there is a graphic design background to crop images that can be aligned with the site.

Getting all Paperwork Ready for Legitimate Business
The company should register the business and get the license and also should look for any legal issues that can affect the business. The company can also contact a local attorney who can assist in creating a business in the right way. Although it comes under the upfront cost, it can save significant expenses for the company in the future.

Before starting the company or any non-profit organization, it is important to register the company and also get vendors license and seller’s permit with a valid state agency. Also, many vendors and other companies also ensure that they have all the legal documents before signing any contract or working with it. Moreover, before opening a non-profit organization, it is important to check for filings and charitable license required.

Selecting Website and Ecommerce Hosting Platform
To save money and time, the company should select the best Ecommerce platform such as BigCommerce, Shopify, and WooCommerce. The majority of the developers and enterprise web development services providing companies are familiar with these platforms that can make it easy to carry payment processing and integrate plugins.

Finding a Matching Theme for Ecommerce Vision
To save huge on cost and time, the company can buy a theme from ThemeForest and find a layout that can match or resemble the feel and look of the site from the perspective of Ecommerce business. There are more than 28,000 website templates in the ThemeForest. Companies are also looking for similar sites that can help in developing the best Ecommerce site.

Rather than developing a website from scratch, the company can download the required template from ThemeForest or any other similar website. Also, the process of customization can be frustrating, hence, finding a theme can save both time and money for the company.

Making Website Live
As soon as the person plans to start the business, and taking the site live, even before listing any products, the homepage should be created along with the contact and About Us page with the help of developers and companies providing enterprise web development services. The homepage need not have to be beautiful, but it should be functioning as it can help the company in many ways. Such as it can allow establishing legitimacy while dealing with the vendor, also before reaching to the bloggers and reporters, the company should have the website and it should be credible. Finally, it can provide the place for sources to link to the site, which can be a key for developing SEO.

Personalizing Outreach
Personalizing a relationship is very important to gain the trust of the customer. Hence, on implementing the SEO strategy, the company can understand the value of personalized outreach. It is also important to get the site developed by professional developers and companies providing enterprise web development services and also personalize relation with the customers.

Developing Payment Gateways
Ecommerce website developers are focusing on developing a payment gateway to help Ecommerce site in accepting payment through credit cards and online payment services. Various payment gateways like 2Checkout.com or authorize.net have emerged to be some great payment gateway options. However, getting approval for payment gateway needs better research and preparation and sets up a secured process for customers to make a payment on the Ecommerce website.

Packaging Order and Finding Suitable Storage/Shipping Options
Before launching the website or getting help from companies providing enterprise web development services, it is important to find appropriate storage and shipping option for goods. Companies also need to find the best services for shipping and tracking packages. The company should also know if there are any shipping restrictions on the products being shipped.
By Shelley Bellefontaine 25 Feb, 2023
2023: The Year To Market Your Business Like Never Before
By Shelley Bellefontaine 24 Oct, 2022
How to Choose a Web Design Agency?
By Shelley Bellefontaine 15 Apr, 2021
Converting website visitors into paying and repeat customers is the goal of e-commerce, but getting there isn’t always easy. In fact, studies estimate the average e-commerce conversion rate is just 2-3%. Sounds gloomy, I know, given all the effort that we go through to build e-commerce websites, and the promotions to get it seen! But, there are things we can do. Follow this simple checklist to optimize your e-commerce website experience, and turn more of your existing website traffic into sales. 1. Attention-grabbing photos (and video, too) Photography needs to do the job of making the shopper feel like they can (almost) touch your product. And the more photos, the better. Include multiple angles of the product standing alone, with people using it, and a shot of the packaging. A short video is great for showing how a product moves, works or how it should be installed. 2. Powerful product descriptions Your product copy should be short and hard-working. Use a mix of action words and sensory words to paint a clear picture of specific product features and benefits. This is also the place to have a little fun if that fits with your brand voice. And don’t forget to spellcheck your text. 3. A clear call to action (CTA) If you don’t ask a customer to buy from you, chances are they won’t. An effective CTA is short and clear, such as Add to Cart or Checkout, and they work best on coloured buttons. Your Checkout button is like a cash register, so don’t make shoppers look for how to give you their money. 4. Reviews and testimonials Product reviews are powerful persuasion tools. A good review can answer a nagging question in the consumer’s mind and give them the confidence to buy from your business. Testimonials, although more effort to obtain because they require outreach, are worthwhile, detailed accounts of the customer experience with your product or service. If you’re able to get media or industry experts to review your products, these are worth featuring prominently. 5. Free shipping With free shipping the norm these days, it’s easy to assume that it’s the only way to go. And while free shipping can increase conversion rates on e-commerce websites, it can seriously eat into your profit margin. Shipping carriers can increase their prices, too, further cutting your profits. Many merchants choose to increase product prices to maintain the same margin, but there is another approach. Free shipping minimums are a great compromise that incentivizes customers to increase their order value while offsetting your shipping costs. 6. Sales, deals, promo codes, and coupons Satisfy the deal hunter in everyone by offering special promotions and discounts. A designated Sale section on your website navigation clearly tells shoppers where to go for the best savings. Ramp up the sense of urgency by using time-limited coupon codes or bundling high-demand products with sellout potential. 7. A straightforward return policy Offering a reasonable return policy is an important part of your e-commerce business strategy. If your policy is too generous, it may be abused. If it’s not flexible enough, customers may choose to buy elsewhere. Post your policy and clearly outline terms for returns, refunds, and exchanges to give shoppers the confidence to place their trust in your business. Ensure returns are handled professionally, and you’ll continue to build customer loyalty for future purchases. Ready to take your e-commerce business to the next level? AtlanticOnline.ca can help promote your business online. Find out more by calling 1-902-717-8496 for a free consultation with one of our eCommerce Account Consultants .
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Shelley Bellefontaine, Digital Marketing Architect, is CEO/Founder of AtlanticOnline.ca, a full-service marketing firm operating at the intersection of marketing and digital media. We provide a host of digital marketing solutions including website design, eCommerce storefront websites, content marketing, email marketing, SEO/ SEM, social media marketing, lead generation as well as marketing strategy, branding, and a variety of other marketing programs to mid-sized businesses and nonprofits.


To learn how AtlanticOnline.ca can help your business or organziation grow online, contact us for an enlightening discussion.

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By Shelley Bellefontaine 25 Feb, 2023
2023: The Year To Market Your Business Like Never Before
By Shelley Bellefontaine 24 Oct, 2022
How to Choose a Web Design Agency?
By Shelley Bellefontaine 15 Apr, 2021
Converting website visitors into paying and repeat customers is the goal of e-commerce, but getting there isn’t always easy. In fact, studies estimate the average e-commerce conversion rate is just 2-3%. Sounds gloomy, I know, given all the effort that we go through to build e-commerce websites, and the promotions to get it seen! But, there are things we can do. Follow this simple checklist to optimize your e-commerce website experience, and turn more of your existing website traffic into sales. 1. Attention-grabbing photos (and video, too) Photography needs to do the job of making the shopper feel like they can (almost) touch your product. And the more photos, the better. Include multiple angles of the product standing alone, with people using it, and a shot of the packaging. A short video is great for showing how a product moves, works or how it should be installed. 2. Powerful product descriptions Your product copy should be short and hard-working. Use a mix of action words and sensory words to paint a clear picture of specific product features and benefits. This is also the place to have a little fun if that fits with your brand voice. And don’t forget to spellcheck your text. 3. A clear call to action (CTA) If you don’t ask a customer to buy from you, chances are they won’t. An effective CTA is short and clear, such as Add to Cart or Checkout, and they work best on coloured buttons. Your Checkout button is like a cash register, so don’t make shoppers look for how to give you their money. 4. Reviews and testimonials Product reviews are powerful persuasion tools. A good review can answer a nagging question in the consumer’s mind and give them the confidence to buy from your business. Testimonials, although more effort to obtain because they require outreach, are worthwhile, detailed accounts of the customer experience with your product or service. If you’re able to get media or industry experts to review your products, these are worth featuring prominently. 5. Free shipping With free shipping the norm these days, it’s easy to assume that it’s the only way to go. And while free shipping can increase conversion rates on e-commerce websites, it can seriously eat into your profit margin. Shipping carriers can increase their prices, too, further cutting your profits. Many merchants choose to increase product prices to maintain the same margin, but there is another approach. Free shipping minimums are a great compromise that incentivizes customers to increase their order value while offsetting your shipping costs. 6. Sales, deals, promo codes, and coupons Satisfy the deal hunter in everyone by offering special promotions and discounts. A designated Sale section on your website navigation clearly tells shoppers where to go for the best savings. Ramp up the sense of urgency by using time-limited coupon codes or bundling high-demand products with sellout potential. 7. A straightforward return policy Offering a reasonable return policy is an important part of your e-commerce business strategy. If your policy is too generous, it may be abused. If it’s not flexible enough, customers may choose to buy elsewhere. Post your policy and clearly outline terms for returns, refunds, and exchanges to give shoppers the confidence to place their trust in your business. Ensure returns are handled professionally, and you’ll continue to build customer loyalty for future purchases. Ready to take your e-commerce business to the next level? AtlanticOnline.ca can help promote your business online. Find out more by calling 1-902-717-8496 for a free consultation with one of our eCommerce Account Consultants .
By Shelley Bellefontaine 07 Jan, 2021
There are plenty of exciting ways to grow your business! More people are using email and social media than ever before, and the result is plenty of new opportunities for leaders and marketing teams across all industries. One aspect of marketing you may be neglecting is your mobile strategy. Over 3.5 billion people own mobile devices globally, which means you’re leaving a lot of money on the table if you’re not doing everything possible to reach smartphone users. If you need more context, consider this; the average person spends 3.3 hours on their smartphone every single day. You can maximize sales and conversions by looking for opportunities to put your business front and center while your target audience uses their phones. The thing is, mobile users have slightly different behaviors and interests when compared to their desktop counterparts. Our goal today is to reveal four effective mobile marketing strategies you can use to help your brand thrive following the new year. Emphasis Personalization In 2021 and 2022, we learned that consumers love personalized experiences. Business owners quickly figured out that catering to their audience’s needs is a great way to generate more sales. You can see personalization aspects across all of the major marketing platforms today, including social media, email, and on-site. Nailing personalization will help you get more mobile conversions in 2021. People are interested in engaging with companies that offer products that help with specific pain points or cater to individual goals. The best way to make this strategy work for you is to understand the customer personas that visit your site. Personas are generalized personality type profiles that define your target audience. For instance, a sporting goods store would have personas for football fans and separate profiles for people interested in basketball. Because your products or services offer multiple solutions, you need to consider these factors when offering personalized content or promotions to smartphone visitors. Using a mobile-responsive design ensures that their experience is personalized to their interests and their device. Leverage the Power of Voice Search Another trend expected to impact mobile sales specifically is voice search. Consumers use smart speakers like Amazon’s Alexa to search the internet, but mobile phones play an equally important role. Android and Apple-powered smartphones have a voice assistant that smartphone users can use to ask questions, browse the website, and make purchases. We know that more people are using their devices to place orders too. A surprising 22% of people using smart speakers, including their mobile phones, used their devices to buy a product. You can improve your voice search visibility by including new keywords throughout your content. The truth is, people rarely speak the way they type. When you’re creating blog posts, use a conversational tone, and include some of these new words throughout your content. Now, when someone is searching for your chosen keywords, there’s a chance your site could pop up in their results. Due to this exposure, they could go to your website and become a subscriber or customer. Mobile users are likely to follow their voice-activated device’s suggestion, so getting this part of your mobile marketing strategy right is essential. Simplify Processes and Empower Users Next, let’s talk about your website’s design and choices you can make to empower users. The people interacting with your brand want a smooth and seamless experience across all platforms. Smoothing out your edges and using each marketing platform to your advantage will help you dramatically boost your mobile conversion rate. For instance, you may want to consider adding a customer support feature to your largest social media accounts. A whopping 63% of people expect customer support options through social media. If a smartphone user is thinking about becoming a customer, not having an additional support option could be a deal-breaker. Your objective is to make things as simple as possible for visitors discovering your company and those interested in the products or services offered on-site. So, improving your page loading times and reducing clutter on your website will ensure that mobile and desktop users alike can find exactly what they need. It’s also a good idea to simplify the big moments in the buying process. For example, fine-tuning your checkout page ensures that more customers stick around and complete their order. As a result, you’ll see fewer abandoned carts and an improved customer retention rate. This part of the process will evolve in phases. Take your time and slowly improve navigation, design, and function availability across all platforms, and you’ll see more mobile engagement. Shift to Visual Content We’ve also noticed a drastic shift in the way people consume content. Mobile users are a big fan of visual content like images and videos. Both of these types of media see more engagement when compared to simple text posts. There’s an additional engagement level that people get from experiencing others doing things instead of writing about them. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there are plenty of ways to mix up your content for mobile users. If you’re looking for a new way to generate more mobile leads for your email list, consider creating an infographic lead magnet. Lead magnets are essentially pieces of content that users can get in exchange for their email addresses. An infographic is a visual piece of content that displays interesting points and facts for people to read. Creating a lead magnet with a nice piece of visual content will encourage mobile users to subscribe, which opens the door to future engagement opportunities. Video content is also extremely helpful in helping brands grow their mobile audience. In fact, video content alone is 50x more likely to drive organic traffic than text-only posts! Think about unique videos you can make that focus on your products or industry as a whole. You can make an opinion piece, guide, tutorial, or even spend some time chatting with your followers. People love video content, and that trend will not change in 2021. Final Thoughts As you can glean from this article, trends will continue to grow. As more people get comfortable using mobile devices, expect to see a continued increase in shoppers. We think that there will be an increased demand for these strategies as brands continue adapting to their customers’ needs.

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