Everybody realizes that eCommerce has been on the ascent for a quite long time, however, no one expected that 2020 to turn out how it has and concerning the topic at hand, its impact on eCommerce. 

Between April 2020, online retail orders boomed a phenomenal spike that shows exactly how much lockdowns have quickened the trends towards eCommerce. Digital presence is making up a bigger and bigger portion of all deals across the country, and the business at the top is pulling in a lot of the new business.

Accordingly, the growth of eCommerce in Sri Lanka isn’t without challenges. On-going urbanization implies that retailers are probably going to proceed with expansion and store-based tasks will stay solid. online retailers should constantly advance to rival retailers in Sri Lanka’s minuscule market space.

Consumer behavior evolves and tends to have paradigm shifts, especially given the current pandemic situation. This paradigm shift poses businesses and marketing teams to reconvene and look at possible opportunities to reach their target audience for conversions. And the best possible way is to reach them online.

If the marketing team does not act upon this macro change, the failure rate for small businesses will be comparably high, yet it gets somewhat simpler when a solopreneur gets customers from eCommerce, Google, Facebook, Instagram, and other online channels. Digital platforms enhance income streams and risk reduction to a startup, and they can expand undertaking esteem if a company buys the endeavor not far off. 

Here are the tips for startups and small-medium businesses to establish an online business presence.

  • Search your business 

A digital footprint empowers you to build a fanbase that likes and shares content, as well who promotes your brand to loved ones. Google your brand as though you’re a client looking for local goods and services.  What search results show up? Attempt numerous and hyperlocal keywords for better results. 

From the beginning, consider how your business fits those list items. You need to utilize similar keywords that will drive customers to your business also. Be that as it may, likewise consider how your business varies. To keep customers returning, offer something more extra. 

At long last, think about your website as a virtual store. This implies that your site is a salesperson, and thus, it ought to be anything but difficult to speak with, offering all the important pieces of information.

  • Standardized across channels

Ask these questions yourself;  How are your close competitors position themselves? Are they publicizing on Google, Facebook, or Instagram? What catchphrases would they say they are focusing on? 

As you showcase information on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and different digital channels, you’ll have to normalize content all over. It’s what advertisers call “omnichannel streamlining,” where a client’s excursion is consistent over every stage. 

  • Showcase your best selling items

A digital presence eliminates fringes and geographical boundaries and accordingly, it’s vital to put your best foot forward.  The basic success factors for online endeavors are having a remarkable product, vital brand, and fan engagement. 

Indeed, even local and global customers can order online (on the off chance that you set up a web-checkout process).  

  • Align your Products and Offerings to the ever-changing consumer habits

As physical purchasing requires social distancing, masks, and hand sanitizers with long queues, and in addition to that, the majority being told to work from home, the need for online shopping has been essential, and consumers have considered taking that leap of faith to eCommerce and online purchases.

This has resulted in many of the eCommerce giants to work their way into promoting their eCommerce stores through paid campaigns and promotions to align with customer sentiments and feedback as the pandemic is not only affecting businesses, it’s affecting people as well who are experiencing personal and life-changing events.

According to a McKinsey & Company survey in the US has shown that about 70% of their respondents believe that their finances will be impacted for more than two months due to coronavirus.

To address this mindset, eCommerce marketers need to focus on analyzing brand perception and audience satisfaction. That way, if marketers are staying on top of audience sentiment, they will be able to identify areas of improvement from audience feedback such as delivery delays, out of stock, product quality. Identifying these issues quickly will potentially relieve burdens on supply chains.

As long as marketers maintain a positive brand perception and satisfaction, eCommerce brands, at the very least, can prevent engagement on your content from declining any further.     

  • Conclusion

Entrepreneurs are facing challenges on account of the lockdown and economic downturn. However, the pandemic offers an opportunity to find new channels for selling items, and to investigate innovative methods of reaching your target audience. We hope this article helps you to understand some of the ways that you can establish your online presence, so you can continue to serve them as best you can!