Business Tips
3 Key Benefits of Opening an Online Store
Are you thinking of opening an online store but aren't quite sure if it's the right move for your business? Read on to learn more!
In this article, we highlight our top tips on how you can promote your online store to grow sales!
If you don’t let your customers know you have an online store with incredible products (and great deals), how will they ever find it on their own and make that first purchase?!
In this article, we highlight our top tips on how you can promote your online store to grow sales!
How to Promote Your Online Store to Grow Sales
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1. Update Your Website
Your website is an incredibly important part of the sales process. As mentioned in the previous section, oftentimes it’s the first impression customers have of your business.
Promote your online store on your website through calls-to-action. Make sure that you have a button saying “Shop Here” or “Online Store” at the very top of your home page, in your header, and throughout your website.
Add “new products” banners on your home page that link to your online store. Make sure that you announce offerings frequently!
Are you in need of a website refresher? Take your business to the next level by launching a modern, easy-to-use website built by FEC industry experts.
2. Start a Blog
According to HubSpot, 47% of buyers view three to five pieces of content prior to engaging with a sales rep, and 70% of people say they'd rather learn about new products through content over traditional advertising.
Building content on your own website is a business asset. It will increase your site ranking on search results and your chances of getting more website visitors. In fact, according to Hubspot, the average company that blogs has 55% more website visitors than those who don’t!
Not knowing what to write about or having the time to do it are the most popular objections to starting a blog. Consider asking your staff members about it, perhaps one or two would be willing to pitch in and write. This is a great opportunity for professional growth.
As for topics, keywords are your guides. Think about what customers would search that could relate to you and your business. You can also use tools like Keyword Search to discover different keywords. For instance, if you’re an arcade in Austin, “best arcades in Austin” or “family fun center in Austin” are a great example of some of the phrases people may search that you can use to write about. Before you publish the blog, add a call to action about your player cards or winter pass and link directly to your online store!
The primary goal is to make your readers become customers.
Here are some blog topic ideas (with call-to-action options) to consider:
- Top holiday gift ideas for friends & family
- Online Store CTA: Gift certificates or party packages
- Family-friendly events ideas during the holiday season
- Online Store CTA: Tickets to Meet with Santa
- Entertainment for kids near [insert location]
- Online Store CTA: Players passes or combo deal (Entree + Players Pass)
- Happy hour near [insert location]
- Online Store CTA: Players Pass
3. Social Media
Social media is a great way to promote your online store.
If you’re not quite sure where to start, Facebook guarantees a wide reach and is commonly used by online retailers.
Focus on maintaining a constant flow of promotional content and updates on deals and discounts happening in your online store.
Post eye-catching graphics and pictures of the products you’re selling. You only have a few seconds to grab the attention of a prospective customer, so make it count! Use PCS Marketing Automations to begin improving your branding and social media marketing today.
On average, it’s important to post at minimum once a day. Look at the following data for current detailed recommendations on popular times and frequency for each social media platform. This will help you gauge when to post. Additionally, PCS Marketing Automations can help you schedule several posts in advance and automate the process.
Once you decide on which platforms you’d like to use, be sure to optimize your profile and come up with a unique hashtag for your business (and, online store).
Use keywords that relate to your business such as #adventurepark or #lasertag to reach a wider audience. Focus on promoting your online store by using sales or event hashtags like #blackfridaysale or #mothersdaydeals. You can also use hashtags related to your product like #winterpass or #summercamptickets.
4. Email Campaigns
If you’re a Party Center Software customer, you can pull various reports from your software about your customers. For instance, our Customer Detail Report provides you with an overview of customer accounts at your facility. Through this report, you can collect all of your customer emails and add them to our email marketing platform PCS Marketing Automations.
With PCS Marketing Automations, you can also re-market to guests and increase repeat visitors. Send reminder emails, promo emails, and more to keep customers coming back! Best of all, you have UNLIMITED emails with no contact caps.
In your monthly or weekly newsletter, you can share promos, new offerings in your online store, details about upcoming events, blog posts, and so much more!
Using our reports feature, you can personalize your emails even further by compiling a report based on birthday month or product purchased via online store, and send specific emails with an offering or promo code to get those customers to encourage them to visit your store once again.
5. Create a Sense of Urgency
One of the most effective ways you can promote your online store and grow online sales is to create a sense of urgency.
Simply put, people want what they can’t have and most are afraid of missing out on that great deal or bargain! Creating urgency around your product is an effective way to motivate customers to buy.
Remember, you’re not trying to make customers panic or have a frustrating user experience. Creating urgency simply helps relieve buyer hesitation and increase motivation to buy.
Here are a few ways to create urgency:
- Add a deadline to your sale.
- Allow your customers to see product stock levels. Add text stating “limited stock” when you’re running out of a product.
- Alert your customers via text when holding a flash sale.
- Send “last chance” or “don’t miss out” emails.
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Download Utilizing Your Online Store to Sell More Products
As the owner or operator of a family entertainment center, it’s important to consider the changes that have taken place in the last few years. If your facility isn’t able to operate as usual, you’re facing financial hardship, or you’re simply looking to expand your business, an online store can help you grow revenue!
Download Utilizing Your Online Store to Sell More Products eBook today!
