Everyone knows that the internet gives you access to a lot of things. In a real way. You don't have to only help the great people who live in your zip code anymore. An e commerce platform could help you reach people all over the world from Main Street in Willis to the busy streets of New York City or even the stylish boulevards of Paris. It's not just about casting a wider net it's about finding the right fish for your business no matter where they are.
Consider this The U.S. Census Bureau says that e commerce retail sales in the second quarter of 2023 were about $253 billion in the U.S. alone after taking into account seasonal changes. That is a large online market that hasn't been used yet. You can do a lot of things especially if you make your online plans work for a lot of different people.
Imagine what your store would look like with a sign that says "We're Always Open." An e commerce platform makes this dream come true. While you drink your morning coffee your online store could be busy making sales and making people happy all over the world.
It's like having a sales team that never stops working. One of the best things about being open all the time is that you can help customers who have different schedules because of their lifestyles or time zones. This could include those unique night owls or customers from other countries who want to shop while you sleep.
Growing a business usually costs a lot of money. Renting a bigger space and hiring more people quickly adds up. You don't need a lot of space or employees to get your business ready for e commerce though. You can learn how to set up an online store with Shopify's budgeting guide. Shopify says that running an online store costs a lot less than running a physical store because you don't have to pay for things like hosting and digital marketing tools. If you plan ahead these investments will pay off pretty quickly.
Plus solutions like dropshipping can help you deal with inventory problems more easily because you don't have to keep anything on hand. So your money goes further and your business gets smarter.
We expect both speed and ease from the internet and good service is no different. Customers want to have a good time when they shop online from easy navigation to fast checkout. Willis businesses have a great chance to make online interactions that are unique to each customer and really connect with them.
But what is it that makes it so special? Google Analytics and Shopify are two examples of analytics tools that businesses can use to learn more about their customers' habits and preferences. You can learn when they buy the most what they like and what makes them leave their carts. The Baymard Institute for example found that almost 70% of shopping carts are left behind because the checkout process is too hard. By making this process easier businesses can get back a lot of the sales they could have made.
Let's be honest people are changing the way they shop. McKinsey says that the pandemic sped up e commerce trends by about five years. Some physical stores are coming back but a lot of people still like being able to shop from their couch.
It's not just a choice to stay ahead of the curve it's a must because social commerce influencers and sites like Instagram and TikTok now have shopping features. Your business will be ready for the next big shopping trend if you put money into it now.
In the end it's clear that e commerce has a lot of great benefits that are hard to ignore. There are many more benefits to not sticking to traditional methods than there are drawbacks such as reaching more people being available 24/7 growing at a low cost making customers happier or keeping up with new trends.
If you're a Willis business owner who is thinking about going digital don't think of it as a technical challenge. Instead think of it as a way to reach more people and connect with your customers where they are—online. It's not just about moving forward it's also about keeping up with the times.
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