Online Advertising Methods Every Web Shop Owner Should Try

Many entrepreneurs choose to operate their businesses online for a number of reasons. First, the Internet makes it possible to reach a wide client base and it provides a platform for doing business 24/7. Operating virtually or online reduces overhead costs of running a physical brick & mortar store. What’s more, web shops give customers the convenience of being able to buy items at the click of a button and have orders shipped to their door steps.

 

There is no doubt that launching an e-store is beneficial on many levels. But, after bringing it to fruition, how do you get customers to find your store online? Below, you’ll learn about four key online advertising methods for promoting your business.

1. Blogging & SEO

 

A blog can generate traffic back to your website. It’s also a great way to establish your business as an authority in the industry by providing content that consumers find valuable.

From buying guides and product reviews, to shopping tips and advice on solving common problems, you can find many topics to blog about. Just make sure that the content revolves around the type of products or services your store deals with. Remember also to do keywords research and optimize content with phrases that buyers are using to find information online. This will make it possible for search engines to index your blog pages for various search terms.

 

2. Email Marketing

Email marketing can help keep your online shop in the minds of customers. Rather than just selling, take the initiative of sharing news, special offers and tips by sending regular targeted emails.

For email campaigns to be effective, you need prospective customers to voluntarily join your mailing list. The best way to do so is through op-in subscription. Let prospective customers know that they will be the first to know about product deals, sales and more if they choose to subscribe to your newsletters or email updates. Alternatively, offer an incentive, maybe a free e-book or email series on smart shopping, as a way to encourage new subscribers to join the mailing list.

3. Social Media

Everyone is on social media these days. That is why over 50 million businesses use Facebook pages to promote their brands. If you operate an online business, trying to tap into the massive traffic potential that social media offers is a smart move. You can promote products on your store through posts or share industry related news with followers. Hosting contests and rewarding customers publicly is also a good strategy to increase brand loyalty. The beauty about social media is that it can be a useful tool for improving customer service, increasing brand awareness or encouraging audience engagement.

4. Paid Online Advertising

Another way to market your web shop is through online paid advertising. For a small fee, search engines like Yahoo, Bing and Google will serve up contextual ads on the first page to drive targeted traffic to specific landing pages on your online shop.

Alternatively, you can set up paid ads to appear on social media, which are a bit different. Instead of relying on search intent, these ads appear based on chosen metrics or profile information of users. As a result, social media ads increase the odds of targeting the right customers.

 

Final Word

Keep in mind that these are just a handful of the online advertising options that exist for anyone who wants to market their online store. Some methods will offer a better return on investment compared to others. In addition, time-lines for seeing results will vary from one marketing option to the next. Whatever marketing channel you adopt, make sure to use analytics as well as conversion tracking software to know what works for your online business when it comes to marketing strategies. If you don’t know how to do so, consider hiring an online marketing professional.