The United States is a nation of shoppers. A survey conducted by National Public Radio, a nonprofit and independent media organization in the U.S., revealed that almost 70 percent of Americans have purchased a product on the web. Additionally, almost half (43 percent) of residents in the U.S. say that they shop regularly online.
If your brick-and-mortar store doesn’t have a website yet, now is a good time to get in touch with a reliable e-commerce website developer and have a custom site built for your business.
Here are key reasons to incorporate an e-commerce store into your business model:
Allows You to Track Your Customers
A huge advantage of having a store website is that you can collect data about your potential and existing customers. You can use a web analytics tool to harvest all sorts of information from your online visitors, including:
- Their location
- The web pages they browse on your website
- The products they buy or the services they sign up for
You can then use the data and insights you’ve gathered to optimize your e-commerce website and improve your products or services.
Boosts Visibility of Store Promotions
Retail establishments usually launch a promotion to attract more customers to their store and help increase sales. Your e-commerce store is a great avenue to spread the word about your newest product or service deals. When visitors log on to your website, they can learn about the store promotion right away and take advantage of it.
Promotions are highly beneficial for a business. They help the business grow in a short time but with higher sales. If the promotion includes a sign-up step, such as providing an email address or telephone number, it gives the business owner the chance to contact these visitors for repeat business.
Lets Customers Shop Whenever and Wherever They Want
A brick-and-mortar store is in a fixed location that operates under standard business hours. If your store closes for the weekend, for instance, people will have to wait until the next business day to buy the product they want from your store.
When your business has an e-commerce website, they won’t have to endure that wait. Your shop is open 24/7 to take orders from customers. This is a win-win situation for both the customer and the business owner. The customer can purchase whenever they want, and the retail owner doesn’t miss out on getting a sale.
An e-commerce site is also great for people who would rather buy stuff from the comfort of their homes than drive all the way to your physical store to get what they need.
Improves Your Reach
When you build a website for your store, it’s not just available to customers in your area. It’s accessible in your state and outside the U.S. If you’re thinking of expanding your business or reaching a bigger audience in the future, you can take your store online to increase your reach.
By building a website for your store, you can open up a whole range of opportunities for your business, from gathering customer data to reaching more people. If you’re set on making the “digital” switch, consider building a small website to help you gauge customer interest.