Technology and the innovation of the digital age have caused business transactions and processes to improve more than ever before. People no longer need to leave their homes to get what they need, and it’s all because of the innovative nature of e-commerce. Shopping has become more convenient, thanks to online shopping.
These innovative business transactions have also had a positive impact on the digital marketing industry. It allows marketers to advertise processes that are convenient for consumers, which makes products that much more appealing. As professionals of online shop building in Cape Town, we’re here to help you incorporate e-commerce into your marketing strategy:
What is E-commerce?
E-commerce is defined as “commercial transactions conducted electronically via the Internet”. Simply put, it is the buying and selling of goods online. E-commerce often refers to the online sale of physical products, but really it describes any commercial transaction.
Since the first online transaction in 1994, e-commerce has evolved to make products and services more discoverable and accessible through online retailers and market places. It has lead to the marketing trend of online shop building in Cape Town for all kinds of businesses.
These transactions have also made it simpler and more cost-effective for people to start their own businesses. Many freelancers and small businesses are now able to sell their goods and services at a scale that would not have been possible with traditional retail.
How E-commerce and Digital Marketing Reinforce Each Other
The birth of digital marketing has allowed for significant growth within e-commerce and vice versa. These two innovative industries have come together to create successful e-businesses. If your business primarily operates online, the best place to market it would be right there.
A primary example would be Amazon. As the most successful online retailer in the world, they owe much of their success to an efficient and adaptable marketing strategy. By prioritising customer engagement and reviews, they have gained the trust of millions of online shoppers across the globe.
E-commerce has allowed for the inclusion of consumers in online businesses. It has given them the agency to decide how they want to make use of their services. It emphasises the now popular notion that companies should be coming to the consumer, and not the other way around.
The Models of E-commerce
When you are considering incorporating e-commerce into your marketing strategy, you have to know what model will best suit your business. There are different types of e-commerce models, and they are:
Business to Consumer (B2C): When a business sells a good or service to an individual consumer(s) (e.g. You buy a pair of sneakers from an online retailer like)
Business to Business (B2B): When a business sells a good or service to another business (e.g. A business sells digital marketing services to another business)
Consumer to Consumer (C2C): When a consumer sells a good or service to another consumer (e.g. You sell your old TV on Amazon to another consumer)
Consumer to Business (C2B): When a consumer sells their own products or services to a business or organisation (e.g. An influencer offers exposure of a product to their online audience in exchange for a fee)
Referring back to our example of Amazon, they would fall under the ‘C2C’ and ‘B2C’ models because their company relies on ‘consumer to consumer’ buying interaction as well as selling products as a business.
E-commerce Marketing
Just like digital marketing, e-commerce marketing is the act of driving awareness and action towards a business. However, e-commerce marketing primarily focuses on marketing businesses that sell products and services electronically. The best thing about this marketing strategy is that marketers can use the same channels and platforms that they would for digital marketing.
Social media, email marketing and search engines can all be used to attract consumers and facilitate online purchasing. Businesses can make use of platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to drive their audience to their website. Because e-commerce websites are highly visual, however, you have to use the right imagery when creating content.
It is also even more effective when your posts allow consumers to buy the advertised product straight away. We highly suggest creating posts that are visually appealing and take the consumer straight to your website or shopping cart. With the assistance of professional web developers, this is how you can implement online shop building in Cape Town.
The Importance of Email Marketing in E-commerce
Email marketing is one of the oldest forms of digital marketing. Despite the drastic shift from emailing to messaging amongst consumers in the past year, email marketing still plays a significant role in e-commerce marketing.
Most e-businesses rely on automated email systems that allow their consumers to experience an interactive buyers journey with the business.
Automated responses to notify the consumer about when their package will arrive or what specials are happening can all form part of your marketing campaign. This form of marketing allows you to sustain a level of trust with your consumers without doing much.
Let’s get Online
Whether you’re e-commerce oriented or want to incorporate online shopping into your business, you must consider e-commerce marketing solutions. The economic climate we currently face is pushing us more and more towards online business transactions. It means that online shop building in Cape Town will become an essential digital marketing service.
E-commerce and digital marketing reinforce one another in a way that has benefitted both industries. Technology is making everything more accessible, and e-commerce is simply a way for businesses to get on board.
Need help with building your online shop? Contact us today for all your web development needs. Drop us an email to info@theagncy.co.za
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