The future of buying and selling is digital. It seems you can buy almost anything online nowadays, and soon physical stores as we know it might be a thing of the past. Business research on Statista predicts e-commerce will be a $4.87 billion industry by 2021.

That’s a big number you can’t ignore, especially if you’re looking to grow your own e-commerce business. There are many ways that you can do this, like looking into using something like BigCommerce SEO services, to help improve your online business. This could be the solution you need to grow your business and making your business the success it can become. Be sure to do a bit of research into this before going ahead with anything. In an age when consumers can buy just about anything from groceries to cars online with the click of a button, it’s up to you to keep your e-commerce strategy competitive to stand out from the competition.

Here are 5 tips for improving your e-commerce strategy today!

If you don’t have a store yet, grab one on Shopify.

Keep customer service alive

One of the biggest pitfalls of e-commerce is the lack of customer service. When consumers go into brick-and-mortar stores to shop, they know there’s someone they can easily ask if they need help or have any problems.

This doesn’t always translate on e-commerce sites, and that means customers often report low levels of customer service. To break down these barriers, make customer service a priority in your business.

Easy ways to offer customer service through your e-commerce website are through simplified support systems. There should be a clear way for customers to get help at any point in the shopping process, whether they’re worried about their recent order or they just want to learn more about your products. Even if your business idea is to sell digital downloads, your customers should always be your main priority. You should want to make it easier for them to navigate around your site. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to build a successful business.

Creating chat features, helpful guides, and easy contact buttons goes a long way when building a successful e-commerce site.

Encourage impulse shopping

With so many websites competing for consumer attention, you don’t have a lot of time to make an impact. Unlike shopping in-person, e-commerce introduces an element of impulsivity. No business does this better than Amazon with their one-click purchase feature.

The longer a customer waits between finding something they like and checking out, the less likely they’ll make the purchase. Business.com e-commerce bloggers claim one-click shopping is the way of the future, and more online sellers should take a hint from this trend.

Focus on user experience

Everyone has abandoned their digital cart because of a poor website design. Sometimes things just don’t function easily, and most shoppers won’t stick around to fight with a bad website. A great way to approach this problem is to design your website with your ideal customer in mind.

If you’re marketing to busy professionals, make sure the website is easy to navigate, and that it gets right to the point. If you’re selling to eco-conscious young people, make sure your website communicates your message and highlights the relevant details.

Task your team with navigating your e-commerce website for at least an hour to make sure it’s easy to use and a great experience for your customer!

Use social media

The right marketing strategy can completely transform your e-commerce business. Since you’re running a digital business, you need a digital strategy. Social media places your business in front of the right audience and increases brand awareness.

Explore social media like Pinterest and Instagram, which are known to benefit e-commerce businesses. Don’t forget to try new ways of reaching your audience, through Instagram Stories or even Snapchat for example. Just don’t get too comfortable with your social media strategy!

Things are always changing on social media, so be ready to adapt to new algorithms or shifts.

Try new things

There’s nothing wrong with the tried and true, but there’s something to be said for blazing your own path. The digital sphere is the wild west. The brands that are willing to step outside the box are the ones that have the power to change the world of e-commerce.

Ollie Smith, CEO of ExpertSure, believes the best way for businesses to succeed is through “experience—making mistakes and working to constantly improve the bottom line.” He’s right; the internet is always changing, and the best thing you can do for your e-commerce business is learning from what works and what doesn’t.

E-commerce Success

Building your e-commerce website into a successful business is all about your focus. It’s not about your business, it’s about the customer. As long as you’re willing to fight for the best customer experience and listen to feedback, you’ll see growth.

There is no black-and-white strategy when it comes to e-commerce. The only thing that’s certain is that it isn’t going away anytime soon, so hold on for the long haul.