Do you need a website to get started with ecommerce marketing? How can you begin selling online without a website? What value does a website offer in terms of sales?
Is a Website Essential for Ecommerce Marketing?
If you have been thinking about starting an online store, you will have asked yourself these questions at some point or another. In theory, you could start an online shop even with just a Facebook page, Twitter account or YouTube channel. In reality, although it is possible to sell from just about any platform that offers a payment gateway, there are a few things that you will need to keep in mind if you plan to sell without a website.
To help you get a better idea of what happens when you sell without an ecommerce marketing website, here are a few things to consider.
A website allows you a far greater level of customisation
When you sell on social media, you are limited to the platform’s look, layout and navigation. When you have your very own website, you will have full control over how your online store looks, how your products are displayed, how your shopping cart works, how your product descriptions are shown and how your website engages customers. Your website then becomes an extension of your brand in terms of look, feel and functionality.
A website allows you to own your lists
Another benefit of a website is that you have the ability to own your lists. That means that you can create lead nurturing funnels, set up autoresponders, send out abandoned cart emails, keep customers updated on specials and new products and plan various other email marketing campaigns. When you are selling on social media, you have to rely on private messaging to engage with customers. This can be limiting if you want to grow your email database.
A website allows you to reach more customers
What is even better than just having a website or just having a social platform that you use to sell is having a combination of channels that reach a far greater audience. A cross-channel approach would be especially effective for ecommerce brands, as it helps to target customers through many different channels. You could use SEO and other digital marketing strategies to grow your website’s reach, while also targeting customers on social channels, email, paid advertising, mobile and various other channels. This type of integrated approach has been proven to provide excellent results from a conversion point of view as well as an engagement point of view.
The trouble with putting all of your eggs in one basket is that you end up losing out on potential sales and the chance to reach more customers. Taking an integrated approach is an excellent way to benefit from a well-rounded strategy that maximises your ecommerce marketing results.
