Ecommerce is about buying and selling in the online world. From retail giants like Amazon and Ebay, to indie stores like Etsy. Every company who has a website to sell products or services is part of the ecommerce universe.
Global ecommerce is big business thanks to the rise of the internet, the adoption of smartphones, our busy modern lifestyles, and the pandemic, which has forced many people to shop online rather than in a store. In fact, there are an estimated 12-24 million ecommerce sites in the world and by the end of 2022, ecommerce is expected to make $5.42 trillion in sales.
Make no mistake, ecommerce is big news and it’s here to stay. So, where does an ecommerce agency fit into the picture?
What an ecommerce agency does
An ecommerce agency can wear many hats. Overall, they’re geared towards:
- boosting your online and offline presence,
- implementing strategies for growth, and
- guiding online visitors through your sales funnel so they become online shoppers of your product.
There are many services that fall under the umbrella of an ecommerce agency, from SEO to integrated campaigns, that cross all communication channels. An ecommerce agency is all about elevating your position.
Here are a few areas in which an ecommerce agency can help your online business.
1. Strategic planning and consultation
One of the first things an ecommerce agency will usually do is to take a look at where your ecommerce business is at, and what you want to achieve. From growth to sales goals, a good ecommerce agency can help you create a brand strategy to meet your dreams and elevate your business to its ideal position. The planning can cover everything from marketing to SEO, website design to meeting demand and can be both creative and analytical.
2. Ecommerce software strategy and implementation
Ecommerce depends on technology and a good ecommerce agency will help you navigate the huge range of technology out there to find the right software for your business needs. Software can cover everything from picking the right platform to host your site to shopping cart development. It can include SEO plugins and automation. Understanding how software and technology can help your company to thrive is an essential element of staying ahead of the curve in the online world.
3. Discovery and searchability
Driving more traffic to your site is important if you want to improve sales. Afterall, no one can buy anything from you if they can’t find you. But traffic isn’t all about the numbers game. It’s about driving relevant traffic to your site. By reaching the right audience, you have more chances of casual browsers becoming buyers. An ecommerce agency can improve your chances of being found in the search engines by using best SEO practises and tailored marketing campaigns.
4. Conversion rate optimization
Another essential element that ecommerce agencies can help with is conversion rate optimization – the act of turning online visitors into online shoppers. This can be achieved in a number of ways and an in-depth understanding of the customer journey is essential to get you there. From understanding the numbers to identifying gaps in the process, utilizing the right tools, strategizing, and optimizing – this isn’t a linear process but a circular one that relies on art and science to get it just right.
5. Brand strategy and positioning
Building a brand strategy and perfecting your positioning is all about how your brand stands out from the crowd. A good ecommerce agency will help you to identify your strengths and help to create associations that sit in a customer’s mind when they hear your name. It’s a process of evaluating your values, essence and individual personality, and marketing it in just the right way and to the right people.
6. Creativity and connection
The backbone of your ecommerce brand is creativity and knowing how to connect with your audience in a real and authentic way. The right ecommerce agency will work with your business to implement a creative digital strategy tailored to your needs, including email marketing and customer service roadmapping. This is how you’ll forge trust and create unbreakable bonds with your consumers.
7. Data and analytics
Ecommerce agencies can also help you with data and analytics. While driving business can be about creativity, connection, strategy, and positioning – all of this relies on an understanding of data and having the right tools and software to analyse and understand the data. This helps you to see where your business is working and where it may not be working so well.
The benefits of hiring an ecommerce agency
Having looked at the areas in which an ecommerce agency can work with you, it’s clear to see the benefits of hiring an ecommerce agency to super-charge your business.
When you hire an ecommerce agency to help propel your brand to the next level, you’ll also gain the following value:
1. An external perspective
Fresh eyes are always important. When you’re heavily invested in building and understanding your ecommerce business, it can be tricky to see the wood for the trees. Bringing in an outside perspective from industry experts can help you to understand new insights and see things from a different perspective.
2. Access to latest trends and expert insights
With an ecommerce agency, you get access to a team of industry experts who spend their days learning the ins and outs of the latest trends. Digital industry moves fast, algorithms are ever-changing, and software is constantly evolving. It’s a full time job to keep up with it. By hiring an ecommerce agency, you’re getting access to insights that can accelerate your business.
3. Solid strategizing
Having an ecommerce agency on your side means that you’re getting specialized help to plan your future strategy. SEO, branding, marketing, and building an omnichannel retail strategy can seem overwhelming but when you have a whole team behind you who are highly adept at process and execution, it can be the driving force that turns your ecommerce business around.
4. Reports and analytics
Reports and analytics are great tools for knowing if you’re on the right track. The reports are insightful and intuitive and can help you to see what’s working and what’s not – which means you can channel your resources in the right direction.
