Five tips on how online retailers can maximise revenue
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E-commerce sales in Thailand continue to rise each year as more new merchants become digital, but few online retailers are aware of the seasonal changes that can have an effect on sales throughout the year.
E-retailers need to be properly prepared in order to ensure they take advantage of the increasing number of visitors to their stores.
Rakuten TARAD.com suggests five tips to ensure e-retailers maximise opportunity: prioritising their search-engine optimisation; adapting the content in an online shop; testing the “look and feel” of the online shop; analysing price, selection and incentives; and developing social-media strategies.
When consumers search for products online, search-engine optimisation is one of important tools that online retailers can use to lock in customers. Although no search engine reveals its algorithm, it is usually a combination of the frequency that a key word is entered and the amount of linkage from other sites.
In regard to adapting the content in an online shop, an important aspect is refreshing product displays, especially during seasonal sales periods. Planning is key here, and looking ahead by up to two months can help merchants be better prepared for busy times.
Consider products that are a good fit for the season, and anticipate customer needs.
Testing the look and feel of the online shop can be created quite quickly, however customer preferences often become apparent only after time spent browsing the store.
While the look and feel should not be altered during times of high visitor rates, so as not to confuse users, time should be taken in advance to make adaptions and maximise the customer experience.
Meanwhile, price, selection and incentives are always important factors for consumers. There will be plenty of competitors looking to attract the same customers, so an e-retailer needs to stand out by preparing special seasonal prices, or even offering free gifts for shopping on rainy days, says Rakuten TARAD.com.
Lastly, online stores should develop social-media strategies to reach objectives and attract new customers.
There are more than 18 million Facebook users in Thailand, and other networks and services, such as Instagram and Twitter, are also popular.
