E-Commerce

One of the best things about running an e-commerce business today is that there are more tools than ever to help you succeed. Even if you're just starting your company, you can use programs to help you drive sales and grow your brand quickly. However, having the best tools is only part of a successful strategy; you must also know how to use them.

So, let's break down the top types of software you should invest in and go over the best practices for making them work for your business.

Top ECommerce Tools for Small Business Owners

Digital Asset Management (DAM)

One of the most important decisions you can make when developing your e-commerce site is determining how many products you'll sell. While it's tempting to sell as many items as possible, it can make connecting with your customers harder. Big sites like Walmart and Amazon can sell everything, so it's often better to cater to a specific niche.

However, even if you're targeting a niche audience, you'll still likely have a few dozen items in your store. Ideally, each item will have multiple digital assets, such as photos, videos, tutorials, manuals, infographics, and more. Unfortunately, curating and managing these assets is much harder than it might seem.

That's where digital asset management comes into play. A DAM system allows you to store and manage all of your assets from a single, centralized server. This way, as you add more assets to your website, you don't have to scroll through endless images to find the right one.

Some of The Benefits of A DAM Include:

• Multi-User Access - If you have multiple people working on your marketing and sales teams, everyone can get access to the system. You can also control access so individuals can only see the assets they need, not the entire library.

• Automatic Updating - The best DAMs sync with your website and landing pages automatically. This means you only have to update your asset library once instead of making changes to multiple accounts. This feature also ensures that your pages always display the most up-to-date images and information.

• Keyword Searching - As you add assets to the system, you can include various keywords to make the library easier to search. Now, users don't have to scroll endlessly or check tons of file folders to find the right photo or video.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

As customers buy products from your digital storefront, you must collect data about each one. Marketing to existing customers is generally cheaper than marketing to new leads. However, if you're handling dozens or hundreds of sales per day, it can be impossible to manage so many users manually.

Customer relationship management (CRM) software is a much better solution. Not only do these programs handle many tasks automatically, but you can find a CRM that's customized for your industry. For example, if you sell and repair HVAC systems, you can find a CRM designed specifically for HVAC companies. Similarly, if you sell consumer packaged goods, you can get a CRM that focuses on generating repeat business.

But what exactly does a CRM do that makes it so valuable? Some of the perks include:

• Automatic Notifications and Reminders - If a customer buys an item they'll need to refill again later (e.g., toothpaste or toilet paper), you can send automatic reminders when it's time to restock. You can also incorporate loyalty deals and discounts to encourage each customer to come back for more.

• All-In-One Customer Management - A customer may interact with multiple people within your organization, such as salespeople, customer service reps, etc. With a CRM, employees can see these interactions and any notes attached to them immediately. This way, there are no miscommunications and everyone is always on the same page.

• Better Data Collection for Marketing - These days, personalized marketing campaigns are far more effective than generic ones. A CRM allows you to collect data about your customers to use for future campaigns. For example, you can conduct A/B testing to see which ads or posts get the most engagement from your audience.

Email Marketing and Automation

Some CRMs come with email automation built-in, while others don't. Either way, you should invest in a high-quality email marketing tool, especially as an E-commerce business.

Since all of your sales happen online, email is the best way to promote your business to new and existing customers. As you generate leads, you can funnel them into segmented subscriber lists. From there, you can send customized messages that are more likely to spur action and generate sales.

Best of all, many email platforms offer automated tools. These tools can segment your lists based on user activity and data. This way, you don't have to spend countless hours poring over the data yourself.

As a rule, customers are six times more likely to open a personalized email, so investing in high-quality software allows you to take a personal approach without spending a ton of money on time and labor.

Social Media Integration

Social media platforms are some of the best lead-generation tools. However, you must be able to integrate your platforms into your CRM and/or your email marketing software.

Additionally, it's best to manage all of your social accounts in a single dashboard. Many social media integration platforms allow you to schedule posts across different websites so you can maintain momentum and continue generating more leads.

That said, you must also know how to curate content for each platform. What works on Facebook may not work well on Instagram or TikTok, so you have to plan accordingly. Also, don't forget to use analytical tools to see what posts generate the most leads. Over time, you can refine your social media messaging to make it even more engaging and effective.

With the Right Tools, Your Small Business Can Compete

As you can see, high-tech software allows your brand to compete with other, bigger E-commerce companies. Even if you're a one or two-person operation, you can leverage these tools and strategies to boost sales and turn your passion into profit.

The lucrative eCommerce market is growing at a rapid pace. Users prefer to buy in the comfort of their place; this has multiplied their numbers and stimulated businesses to invest in this industry. But how? This question is quintessential for attaining an edge in the eCommerce market.

Luckily, various platforms make it possible to create an online store, one of which is PrestaShop. This is not as famous as Shopify or WooCommerce, nor does it provide extensive powers like Magento. But, this platform is a mix of all of them, which makes it suitable for small to enterprise-based businesses.

However, this platform can be considered complex when it comes to making an online presence that truly relates to your brand’s voice. Here, opting for PrestaShop web development services is good. The experts can assist you in developing a feature-rich and fully functional online store.

PrestaShop Overview

PrestaShop is one of the platforms that provide a range of features that can assist a business, whether small or large, to formulate an effective web presence. It was launched in 2007, and since then, it has gained significant traction. This CMS platform is written in PHP and provides various benefits to a business using it for its online store operations. With features like inventory management and order processing, this platform plays a crucial role in the success of an online store. Moreover, it comes with various built-in languages, an easy-to-use dashboard, and other outstanding features that are helpful in establishing a sustainable web presence.

Why PrestaShop for eCommerce Website Development?

The decision to pick or leave a CMS depends on various factors, like scalability, cost-effectiveness, features, and more. PrestaShop is one of the platforms that almost ticks all these checkboxes and helps develop a feature-equipped web store. Its unique features make PrestaShop a valuable CMS that can become an impetus for businesses to invest in. However, various reasons will make it crystal clear why you should opt for this platform for your eCommerce website development:

1.      Customizability

PrestaShop is an open-source content management system that not only makes it free to use without paying license fees but also enables optimum customizability. You can choose any theme from PrestaShop’s collection of varied themes that somehow relate to the requirements of your business. You can customize a particular theme to some extent based on your needs. However, you can also develop a custom theme if none of the pre-made themes are appropriate. Custom development requires expertise, and opting for a PrestaShop web development company is a wise decision. The experts can assist you in building the web store that you have envisioned.

2.      Feature-rich

PrestaShop is known for its features, and it provides some out-of-the-box features that can help build a strong web presence. Product management, order management, customer management, and more are some of its features. It is crucial to integrate the right combination of features in your online store to improve its effectiveness. This requires an in-depth analysis of your project needs and the features to include in your online store.

3.      Scalable Website Development

Scalability is crucial to consider while developing a website, especially an eCommerce site. Because of the presence of various and most trusted eCommerce websites, the approximate time users wait for a solution to load has reduced, enabling them to scroll to another site and buy products. To avoid this, choosing an online commerce site development platform plays a pivotal role, and if you have picked PrestaShop, you are in luck. This is primarily because of its modular architecture that enables a business to start small and scale the store as your business grows. You should also focus on including the required and right plugins to improve the scalability and performance of your site.

4.      Effective Analytics

PrestaShop allows a business to include reporting and analytics tools to gain insights into user behavior. Once the feature is successfully integrated, you can track not only user insights but also performance metrics. Also, you can have a better idea about various things like:

●       Why are the majority of users leaving your site?

●       What is causing them trouble?

●       Which product is highly searchable?

●       Is your cart working correctly?

This will assist you in improving the errors and providing what a user requires.

5.      Multilingual and Multi-currency Support

Users who live in different portions of the world where English is not considered the primary language can face difficulty understanding the context of words written in English. As a result, they will leave the store if they cannot find their regional language. However, with PrestaShop, this complexity has been resolved. The platform comes with built-in support for 60 plus international languages, making it suitable for users of different regions to understand the product and make purchases. Moreover, PrestaShop also supports multiple currencies, making it suitable for users to access and buy in their preferred currency type.

6.      Power-packed Security

Security is the primary concern a business must give proper attention to. Maintaining a secure web presence is crucial to safeguard users' critical information and allow them to revisit your site. PrestaShop is highly secure and provides various built-in security features. However, it can be prone to hacking and other malware attacks, so performing timely optimization or security audits becomes vital. You can do this on your own or work with an expert company to provide you with a highly secure PrestaShop-based online store.

Conclusion

PrestaShop is one of the most potential eCommerce website development platforms. It provides various out-of-the-box features that enable a business to maintain a powerful online presence. This platform's customizability enables need-based web store development. You can also integrate the right payment gateways in your store, improving sales and user experience. However, the process of website development on this platform is highly complex. It is wise to hire PrestaShop developers for your project. The experts will assist you in creating an online store that resonates with the requirements of your project. The most valuable decision here is to hire the right team and consider valuable factors that can help you. The right team can assist you in completing the development as envisioned. 

Author Bio

Exceptional customer service is one of the qualities that sets the majority of e-commerce companies apart. It is certainly becoming more important to tell the difference between better known online stores and their smaller counterparts. People no longer just appreciate good prices, but also expect competent customer service in case something goes wrong. With millions of online shops available, there is stiff competition among e-commerce stores in terms of reputation and customer loyalty.  

We did the work of sifting through hundreds of online shopping sessions and determined what we believe are the best 7 e-commerce sites to help you get the service you deserve. These companies have dedicated customer service specialists who are always willing to help in any way possible, regardless of how difficult the problem may be.

1. Amazon – The Gold Standard of E-Commerce Support  

It is unquestionable, we all know, that Amazon serves as the marketplace kings. Because of its emphasis on the customers as the focal point of their business, they have built an empire like no other. From their customer-centric business model Amazon's 24/7 live chat, phone and email support is always available. Also, one of Amazon’s strongest selling features is the incredibly simple refund policy where goods are returned or refunded without any bothersome conditions. 

On top of this, Amazon Prime offers even better customer service benefits by providing unsolicited assistance for rapid responses in customer support, exclusive support channels, and fast shipment of ordered goods to existing customers. Many are grateful for this overwhelming and sometimes mind-boggling focus on convenience and ease of doing business which ensures customer loyalty and goes as far as fueling the economy of e-commerce.

In addition, Amazon offers a very comprehensive FAQ and help center that addresses a multitude of common concerns, which provides customers the freedom to take care of some issues by themselves. These forms of support, and the ability for customers to solve some problems themselves, is how Amazon is still leading the market in online shopping. 

What makes it unique: 

• Accessible customer support all day, every day

• Easy to manage return and refund requests

• Self service help center

• Preferred assistance for Prime customers

• Prompt feedback on order status and tracking

2. Zappos – The King of Personalized Service

Zappos, an online seller of shoes and clothes, is known as the best when it comes to customer service. Their service strategy is defined through their philosophy of “wow,” working to ensure that the customer is always satisfied. Zappos customer service representatives have a reputation for spending more than the appropriate amount of time on the phone just to make sure the customer is content throughout the whole process. 

Zappos is not like other companies. They prefer longer calls so that rapport can be established instead of asking customers to recall quickly. From time to time, it may take hours to assist one client and this yields great results. They also have a sensational 365-day return policy which proves that customers will always be happy.

Also, Zappos customer service relies heavily on human interaction. They tell their representatives to always make real human connections with customers instead of sounding robotic and reading from a prepared script. This form of freedom enables more compassion and empathy during supportive interactions with customers. 

Why Do These Stand Out: 

• Customer service that is caring, and truly helps the way the customer expects

• A policy that allows customers to return items up to a year after purchase.

• True and real interaction

• True and genuine attention and dedication to ensuring customers are happy.

• Support is provided effortlessly through a clear platform that invites customers to ask questions.

3. Chewy – Best Friend To Pet Owners

Chewy pet parents stand out in the way they offer extra support, pet parents are where they have currently carved a niche for themselves. They do not only sell pet products but actively foster a family-type culture with their customers. Representatives at Chewy are knowledgeable, caring, and eager to suggest appropriate pet care tips and recommendations.

However, what amazes everyone is the company’s thoughtfulness in sending handwritten cards, and in some cases, flowers to customers when their pets die. Because of their efforts, they have grown a loyal customer base because of their sympathy and efforts to ensure that customers are really satisfied.

Chewy's simple website coupled with their great return policy and customer service makes them effortless options for customers. Assuredly, the customer service team is also known for their in-depth knowledge of many pet care questions, which increases trust and reliability.

Why Apple Customer Service089 It stands Out: Apple Support Reasons: 

• Concern and Compassionate Service

• Effective and Efficient Order Processing

• Excellent Return Procedure

• Specialization in Pet Care and Recommended Products

• Tailored Communication

4. Apple – Premium Support for Premium Products

Apple leads the market when it comes to customer service as they deal with it along with their brand. They have pet care services with integrated customer support via chat, advanced ticketing, and their proprietary support software including AppleCare, Genius Bar bookings, and the Support App. In addition, every interaction at Apple is made sure to be carried out in the most professional and efficient manner.

Apple support teams are highly trained to give the correct and relevant information to whatever a customer needs assistance with. Whether it is through live chat, phone support, or walk-in support in the Store, they make sure to cover all bases of integrated online and offline support, making solving problems remarkably smooth.

Also, customer service philosophy makes it mandatory for clients to educate them through self-help guides, forums, or one-on-one tutorials, so users are made productive by being given the means to control their devices properly.

What Makes It Stand Out: 

• Support agents possess exceptional training and experience 

• Offline and online support integration is effortless 

• Rapid resolution of issues 

• Firm emphasis on customer training 

• A knowledgeable community allows users to self-serve 

5. Nordstrom - Luxury Service Even Online As a known physical store

Nordstrom has been regarded as a store with great customer service, and now they have managed to move that experience to their e-commerce platform. Their customer-centric culture enhances Nordstrom's reputation for easy returns, professional styling, and personal attention. 

Instead of a robot, customers are treated like a personal shopper, which makes Nordstrom the go to place for premium online shopping. They also allow for reserving items online and trying them out in store before deciding if a purchase should be made. 

What Makes It Stand Out: 

• Personalized styling 

• Straightforward return policies 

• Professional and friendly service 

• Try before you purchase 

• Virtual makeovers

6. Wayfair - Making Furniture Shopping a Breeze 

Easy Wayfair understands that buying furniture online is difficult. To combat this, they offer comprehensive product descriptions, customer reviews, and even a 3D room planner. For all inquiries, our customer support team is willing to assist from product questions to returns.

They offer even longer coverage terms and protection plans, which makes the shopping experience even safer. Also, their responsiveness to customer comments and reviews is what drives them to be a better company in the highly competitive e-commerce industry.

What makes this stand out?

• Sophisticated online instruments for efficient shopping

• Prompt supporting agents ready to assist

• Scope of warranty options

• Feedback of the customers is taken into consideration

• Step-by-step assembly and installation instructions

7. Etsy - For the One of a Kind Community Experience

Etsy's strength lies in its community of small business owners and craftsmen. Customer support is not reduced to simply addressing problems but concerns caring for the connection between buyers and sellers. The resolution of disputes is efficient and gives the customers a sense of satisfaction from the transaction.

Etsy's support team is also easily reachable through chat or email which makes their friendly and creative shopping experience so much better.

Why It Stands Out: 

• Emphasis on creativity and community

• Powerful remedies for resolving disputes

• Reliable support through chat and email

• Authentic relationships between buyers and sellers

• Customized attention and skillful handiwork

Final Thoughts 

While many e-commerce sites try to pay lip service to good customer care, these seven companies actually do so effortlessly. They recognize that customer service is much more than an operational unit; it is their primary business. Through warm communication, sympathetic actions, or easy-to-access support channels, these companies exemplify the achievement of positive customer service. 

Shoppers’ needs continue to shift towards utilizing online stores, and customer care will always come first. For the most rewarding shopping experience, these companies should be the first to be considered.

The holiday season is not just an exciting period for eCommerce sellers due to increased conversion opportunities, but also an equally overwhelming one as the operational overload increases 2x-3x. Optimizing listings for various holidays such as Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and Christmas, meeting sudden spikes in product demands, ensuring seamless order fulfilment, and amid all of this, maintaining profitability becomes challenging for businesses if they lack dedicated support. Hiring an experienced eCommerce virtual assistant in such scenarios can truly be a game-changer for online sellers and brands. How? Let's understand it through this blog.

The Growing Pain Points in the Holiday Season for eCommerce Sellers and How Virtual Assistants Tackle Them

During the peak holiday season, the administrative overload increases significantly, which can disrupt even the well-prepared sellers. Several operational challenges arise as sellers not only have to capture more shoppers through their listings but also meet their expectations and demands before their competitors can do so. Let’s see the key pain points of eCommerce sellers that demand the intervention of eCommerce virtual assistants:

1. Omnichannel Order Management Overload

During the holiday season, shoppers are buying everywhere. For sellers, it becomes difficult to focus on only one sales channel or predict where the sales can come from. Maybe a shopper sees your product on Amazon but ends up buying it from Walmart due to fast shipping or more discount - you never know.

In such scenarios, it becomes important for you as a seller to focus on all sales channels and provide a seamless order experience to customers on all platforms. When orders flood from multiple channels at once, sellers face omnichannel overload, leading to missing notifications on one channel or forgetting to update inventory on others.

How can eCommerce VA help?

An eCommerce virtual assistant can streamline omnichannel management by using tools like ChannelAdvisor, SellerCloud, and LinnWorks. They understand how different marketplaces or channels work, and thus, they apply their knowledge to handle your sales on each channel. They can consolidate orders from all sales channels and decide which one needs to prioritize when. Since they dedicatedly handle your operations on multiple sales channels, you don’t need to worry about shipment delays or missed notifications.

2. Last-Minute Listing Optimization and Price Wars

The most important and challenging thing in the holiday season is to stay visible and competitive each day. With thousands of sellers selling the same product by running different promotions and tweaking listings, the search rankings and prices change continuously. To stay ahead, you need to optimize your listings on relevant phrases (or high-volume search terms) and match (or lower) the prices offered by competitors. However, without a strategic approach, changing pricing can lead to lower profit margins or even loss.

How can eCommerce VA help?

A virtual assistant for eCommerce is proficient in using various tools for keyword research and competitor pricing analysis. By analyzing competitors’ product pages or top-ranking listings for relevant search terms and optimal price points, they can make ideal strategies to ensure that you remain both profitable and competitive during the holiday season.

3. Handling Seasonal Marketing and Holiday Promotions

Running ads is not simply enough to get more sales during the holiday season. Sellers also must know when to run a promotion, where to run it, and how to optimize it for better budget utilization. However, this is not possible to determine without having subject matter expertise. Many sellers struggle to manage limited-time deals, optimize target audience or bids in ad campaigns, or decide on a suitable marketing channel to promote a product during the peak season. Without expertise, they often set up promotions too late, spend too much, target the wrong audience, or miss out on key shopping trends.

How can eCommerce VA help?

eCommerce virtual assistants bring the subject matter expertise you need to handle seasonal marketing and promotions profitably. They stay up-to-date with the latest shopping trends and devise a custom strategy to promote your products on different channels & social media platforms. Because they have years of experience in managing promotions on various eCommerce platforms, they know when to run a campaign, which audience to target, and how to optimize bids for better ROI, all without last-minute errors.

4. Managing and Forecasting Inventory Amid Unpredictable Consumer Trends

One of the biggest headaches for sellers in the holiday season is predicting what will sell and how much to stock. This is because the shopping preferences of users keep changing overnight based on viral trends, influencer marketing, and AI-driven recommendations. One day, the product is sitting in a warehouse, and the next day, it is getting sold faster than you can imagine. In such scenarios, predicting stock demand and managing inventory accordingly to avoid overstock or out-of-stock situations become very difficult.

How can eCommerce VA help?

By analyzing shopping trends and sales patterns in real time, eCommerce virtual assistants can simplify inventory forecasting for sellers. They can also sync inventory across multiple channels through a centralized stock management system to keep you updated on items left in warehouses. Using these insights, you can make data-driven results to replenish stock and avoid issues like overstocking or out-of-stock.

5. Handling Growing Custom Support Queries

As the orders increase during the holiday season, so do the customer queries and complaints - from where is my order to last-minute changes, cancellations, and refunds. And they expect an instant response! In case of delayed responses, bad reviews and ratings are expected. However, for eCommerce sellers, it becomes quite difficult to provide round-the-clock support or prompt replies amid managing orders.

How can eCommerce VA help?

An eCommerce virtual assistant works like an extra pair of hands in such scenarios, efficiently handling customer queries across social media, marketplaces, email, and websites. Whether the queries are related to refund, cancellation, or product quality, they can provide personalized responses for each without any delay. In fact, some eCommerce VAs are flexible enough to work in your timezone to ensure seamless and proactive support for an improved customer experience.

6. Managing Order Fulfilment Speed with Shipment Delays

During the holiday rush, shoppers look for same or next-day delivery, and thus, on-time order fulfilment becomes critical for sellers to maintain good ratings. But how do you ensure faster order fulfilment on every channel when you have too many requests to process? The problem is not just about shipping quickly, it is about providing real-time order updates and ensuring no shipment delays or bottlenecks.

How can eCommerce VA help?

An experienced virtual assistant for eCommerce takes over the time-consuming backend work. They manage notifications for upcoming orders and process them within a very short window. Additionally, they coordinate with suppliers or warehouses, track shipments, and provide regular updates on shoppers about their product delivery. This way, they avoid shipment delays or other bottlenecks to ensure a seamless shopping experience.

To Summarize:

There are numerous benefits of hiring an eCommerce virtual assistant during a peak holiday season. They not only streamline your operations to avoid administrative overload but also help you efficiently scale your operations without breaking the bank. Also, it is a cost-effective option as you get access to on-demand expertise without hiring overhead. When you have a dedicated eCommerce virtual assistant to handle marketplace management, you get more time to focus on other tasks, such as product research, sourcing, or business expansion.

Also Read : what is google ads

Now, when you know why to hire eCommerce virtual assistants the next question is from where to hire. You can go to various platforms like Freelancer, UpWork, and Fiverr to find specialized virtual assistants for eCommerce or can partner with dedicated VA agencies. Whichever approach you choose, here are a few things you should consider to hire the right fit:

1. Decide on which tasks to outsource to an eCommerce VA during peak season. When you have a clear idea of your requirements, it will become easy for you to make the right decision.

2. When shortlisting an eCommerce VA, check their relevant experience on required marketplaces/platforms. Also, check if they can work on your choice of tools for tasks like keyword research, SEO, inventory tracking, etc.

3. Check their engagement models to ensure savings. You can also ask them if they will work in your timezone or not.

4. Ask them about their mode of communication. How frequently will they give you updates about the project’s progress, and will they maintain compliance with the marketplace’s guidelines?

Key Takeaway

Hiring an eCommerce VA during the holiday season is a strategic investment for your business. They can maximize your profits, conversions, and organic visibility amid the fierce competition with their subject matter expertise. By choosing the experienced resource, you can say bye to operational chaos and enjoy more sales.

Author Bio:

I, Usman Ali Khan, as of now, i'm filling in as an SEO expert, I have proficient experience of 5+ years in website audit, website analytic's & search engine optimization, understanding search engine behaviors, technical SEO, off-page SEO, and keyword research, Google Webmaster, ubersuggest, semrush, and ahref. An up-to-date, working knowledge of current, past, and projected trends in the SEO industry, etc. And so on, responsibilities stretch from expanding web traffic to further developing web scan positioning for organization sites.