So you have an online store in Kenya? Congratulations!
Honestly, most people spend a huge chunk of their time spinning their wheels and making little progress.
Now that you are here, you must have seen the level of competition that exists out there. So to stand out from the rest, you will have to make your online store irresistible for shoppers and one that they would want to come back to over and over again.
In this blog post, we will go over some ways you can make your online store irresistible to shoppers.
To make it easy for you, we’ve grouped points into:
- Store Design and Experience
- Marketing
- Customer Experience
The truth is, there are some things you need to accomplish under each of the above categories to attract and retain customers in your online store in Kenya.
But before we look at each, let us talk about this first.
Why you need an irresistible online store in Kenya
First and foremost, an online store gives you a much larger reach than a brick-and-mortar store. You can sell to people all over the world, 24/7.
In fact, an online store is also more convenient for customers. They can shop from the comfort of their homes, and they don’t have to worry about fighting traffic or dealing with crowds.
And above all, an online store in Kenya offers a much wider range of products than a traditional store. With an online store, you can offer infinite products without having to worry about space constraints.
In short, it is a perfect business model if you want to take back control of your time and income.
But due to competition and whatnot, it is becoming harder and harder to attract, let alone retain, customers. If this worries you sick, you’ve come to the right place.
Store Design and Experience
This is all about how your store looks and feels. The overall design, user experience, navigation, etc. All these factors affect how customers perceive your brand and whether they want to do business with you.
a). Aesthetic design.
Aesthetic design is all about creating a visually appealing environment for your shoppers.
It’s important to consider how to use color, texture, and lighting to create an inviting atmosphere. You want your store to be welcoming and easy to navigate so that shoppers can find what they’re looking for quickly and effortlessly.
When it comes to color, think about how you can use it to create a cohesive look that reflects your brand identity.
For example, if you’re selling products targeted towards a young, hip audience, you might want to use bright, bold colors in your design.
The texture is also important – using different materials can add interest and depth to your design.
Finally, lighting is key in creating the right mood in your store. Think about how you can use natural light and artificial lighting to create a warm and inviting space.
The overall thing to go for is NOT to make your store ugly!
I know that may come out harsh, but it is the truth. You know what ugly looks like, so don’t let that be your store.
Luckily, the best way to avoid that is to use tools. OLITT is one of such awesome tools that can’t just make anything ugly!
It has gorgeous templates that will make it harder for you to mess anything up.
Read also: How To Start Online Store Business In Kenya.
b). Optimize your product listings
To ensure your online store is irresistible to shoppers, you need to optimize your product listings. This means using keywords that customers are likely to search for and ensuring your product descriptions are detailed and easy to find.
You can do a couple of things to make this happen, starting with your product titles. They should be optimized for search engines, so potential customers can easily find your products.
Ensure to include relevant keywords in your titles, and avoid using generic terms that could apply to any number of products.
Your product descriptions should be clear and concise, providing potential customers with all the information they need to purchase.
In addition to describing what the product is and how it works, include information about shipping times, return policies, and other relevant details.
You also need to include customer reviews with your product descriptions so potential customers can read feedback from other users. These customer reviews should be authentic and honest since fake reviews will only make your company look bad?.
c). Use high quality product images
If you want your online store to be irresistible to shoppers, use high quality product images.
Your customers need to see what they’re buying, so take multiple photos of the item from different angles. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Product images are an essential part of any online store. They give shoppers a visual representation of the items they are interested in purchasing. High quality product images can make all the difference in whether or not a shopper decides to buy from your store.
Make sure to take multiple photos of each item from different angles. This will give shoppers a good idea of what the item looks like and help them make a decision about whether or not they want to purchase it.
Whether taking pictures yourself or hiring a helping hand, use a high-quality camera. If you can’t afford one, some phones can take really good pictures, so you don’t have an excuse.
Here’s something else:
Consider showing your products in different setups. You can even hire models or use flat lays.
Related: 7 Best Online Store Builders in Kenya.
Marketing
In your quest to make your online store in Kenya irresistible to shoppers, there’s something you can’t ignore; Marketing.
Marketing in Kenya can distinguish between a successful online store and one struggling to find customers.
By understanding the principles of marketing and how they can be applied to an online store, you can create a shopping experience that is hard for customers to resist.
The first principle of marketing is to understand your target customer. What are their needs and wants? What motivates them to buy? Once you know this, you can create a marketing strategy that resonates with them and drives them to your store.
Another important principle of marketing is creating a unique selling proposition. This sets your store apart from the competition and makes shoppers want to buy from you instead of someone else.
You can attract attention and create an irresistible shopping experience by highlighting what makes your store special.
Besides that, here are some aspects of marketing to help you get it right.
e). Focus on building brand identity
Brand identity is the collection of characteristics and elements that make up a brand. This includes the brand name, logo, tagline, overall look, and feel.
Together, these elements create a unique and recognizable identity that sets a brand apart from its competitors.
To build an effective brand identity for your online store in Kenya, focus on creating a unique and memorable brand that will resonate with your target audience.
This can be accomplished by developing a strong visual identity consistent across all touchpoints, from the website and social media to packaging and advertising.
Additionally, businesses must create compelling content that tells a story and highlights the brand’s unique value proposition.
As they say, stories sell! And they do.
All you have to do is find what yours is and fine-tune it to fit your target market.
Above all, stay true to the brand’s core values and maintain a consistent message throughout all communications.
A well-defined brand identity can help businesses create an emotional connection with their target audience. Additionally, a strong brand identity can increase customer loyalty and repeat business.
Your customers feel like they belong with you because you understand them.
f). Leverage social media
There are over 11.8 million social media users in Kenya?! As this number continues to grow, so does the opportunity for online stores to leverage this platform to attract and retain customers.
Here are a few ways you can use social media to make your online store more irresistible to shoppers:
- Use social media platforms to showcase your products and services. Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are perfect for this, as they allow you to share high-quality images and videos that show off what you offer.
- Use social media to build relationships with potential and existing customers. Take the time to respond to comments and questions, and share interesting or useful content to help them get to know your brand better.
- Use social media analytics tools to track which of your posts are performing well and adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Use social media ads to reach a wider audience and drive traffic to your online store.
Read also: How To Make Social Media Work For Your Small Business in Kenya.
g). Get into email marketing
Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to connect with customers and promote your eCommerce business in Kenya.
Why?
You can target specific groups of customers with highly personalized messages.
With email marketing, you can segment your subscribers into smaller groups based on their location, purchase history, or even what time of day they’re most likely to shop. This allows you to send targeted messages that are more likely to resonate with each subscriber.
At the same time, email marketing is an extremely cost-effective way to reach your audience.
For every $1 spent on email marketing, you can expect an average return of $36. Email marketing is one of the most profitable ways to reach your target customers and promote your store.
And now you are wondering how to get started with email marketing for your online store in Kenya.
There are a few things you need before you can start sending emails:
A) An Email Service Provider (ESP)
An ESP is a platform that allows you to manage your list of subscribers, create and send email campaigns, and track the results.
There are many different ESPs available, but some of the most popular options for small businesses include MailChimp, Constant Contact, and Sendinblue.
B) A List of Subscribers
Before you start sending emails, you need people to send them to! You can grow your list organically by adding a signup form to your website or blog. Make sure to offer an incentive for subscribing (like a discount code), so customers are more likely to sign up.
You can also import existing customer lists from platforms like your CRM or eCommerce solution. Make sure you have permission to contact these customers before adding them to your list.
C) Email Templates
Once you have an ESP and a list of subscribers, it’s time to start creating email campaigns.
Most ESPs offer pre-designed templates that make it easy to create beautiful emails without any design experience. However, if you want more control over the look and feel of your messages, you can also create custom email templates using HTML and CSS.
e). Perform customer data analysis
A recent study by Accenture found that 91% of consumers say they are more likely to shop with brands that provide offers and relevant recommendations.
Another study by Smart Insights found that 63% of consumers will stop buying from brands that use poor personalization tactics.
If you want to make your online store irresistible to shoppers, you need to perform customer data analysis. By analyzing customer data, you can identify patterns and trends that will help you personalize the shopping experience for each customer.
For example, let’s say you sell women’s clothing. You could use customer data analysis to determine which types of clothing are most popular with your customers.
Then, you could display those items prominently on your website and send personalized recommendations to customers based on their past purchases.
Customer data analysis can help increase sales and create a loyal customer base.
f). Don’t neglect SEO
If you want your online store to stand for shoppers in Kenya, don’t neglect SEO.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing a website for Google search to earn higher web traffic levels and improve the site’s visibility.
To implement eCommerce SEO in Kenya, start by researching keywords that are most relevant to your products and target audience.
Once you know which keywords to target, integrate them into your website’s title tags, meta descriptions, product pages, and blog posts. In addition to on-page optimization, link building is also important for online store SEO.
Try guest blogging or creating informative infographics that other websites will want to link to.
By following these tips, you can make your online store in Kenya more visible in Google search results and attract more potential customers.
Read also: How To Make Shopify Stores Profitable in Kenya.
Customer Experience
To make your online store irresistible to shoppers, you must focus on the customer experience. This means creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for customers from when they land on your website to when they checkout.
By doing so, you will not only attract more shoppers but also retain them as loyal customers.
So what exactly is customer experience?
It is the sum of all customer interactions with your brand, from discovery and research to purchase and post-purchase. Creating a positive customer experience at each touchpoint is essential to driving conversions and loyalty.
There are a few key components of an irresistible customer experience:
h). Make sure your website is easy to navigate and visually appealing.
Though we’ve already discussed this, it is worth repeating that customers should be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.
An important aspect of operating a successful online store is providing customers with a positive and easy shopping experience. Creating a website that is visually appealing and easy to navigate can help attract new customers and keep existing ones coming back.
A well-designed website will help give your business a professional appearance and make it easy for customers to find what they want. Be sure to include clear, concise product descriptions and high-quality images or videos. Organizing your products into categories can also be helpful.
i). Provide excellent customer service.
Creating a positive customer experience doesn’t stop at the design of your website.
You should also focus on providing excellent customer service. This includes responding to questions or concerns promptly, offering flexible return/exchange policies, and providing free shipping or other discounts when possible.
If something goes wrong, make it right as quickly as possible. Go above and beyond for your customers; they’ll keep coming back for more.
j). Offer competitive prices and free shipping.
Everyone loves a discount, so offering low prices and free shipping will entice shoppers to visit your store and make a purchase.
And to keep your prices low, you may need to directly source your products from wholesalers or manufacturers.
Final thoughts
As you can see, there are a few key components to making your online store irresistible to shoppers. Following these simple tips can increase traffic and conversions in no time.
However, even if you don’t have the time or budget to implement all these ideas, one last thing you can do to make your store more appealing to customers: offer great customer service.
Ensure your team is responsive, helpful, and friendly, and go the extra mile to keep your customers happy. If you provide a great shopping experience, they’ll be back for more and tell their friends about you, too.
So whatever else you do to improve your store, always remember that the customer comes first.
You can now create an online store in Kenya easily.