What is an eCommerce Agency? A Guide to eCommerce Market Success
According to Shopify, global online shopping is on track to surpass $7 trillion by 2025. To secure your share of this enormous pie, you must act now and differentiate yourself from the competition.
So, let us lead the way! With our expertise in matching businesses with growth opportunities, we've cultivated numerous successful partnerships.
In this article, we'll equip you with everything you need to know about eCommerce companies to jumpstart your journey.
What is an eCommerce Agency?
An eCommerce agency can boost your store's online presence with digital marketing to craft eye-catching promotional materials. Their goal? To make your store stand out in a crowded marketplace. An effective eCommerce agency can be the difference between blending in and being a top choice for customers.
Why Hire an eCommerce Agency?
Now is an excellent time to work with an eCommerce agency. Over 25% of businesses today are conducted online, and users in the eCommerce market in the US alone are forecasted to increase by 50.7 million between 2024 and 2028.
So, if you take advantage of this trend, you will:
Get faster results
Agencies set clear metrics, keep a keen eye on eCommerce KPIs, and meticulously document every process to help determine whether you’re making progress or not.
With a combination of strategic planning, optimization, and efficient execution, agencies optimize their efforts to help you achieve whatever business goal you have.
Expand your brand’s reach
eCommerce agencies help you connect with a broader audience and open new growth opportunities.
For instance, unlike physical stores with limited operating hours, eCommerce agencies can handle your website operation 24/7. This boosts your accessibility to your customers. They also use analytics tools to gain insights into customer behavior, preferences, and market trends, helping refine your marketing strategies and better target specific demographics.
Drive more traffic
eCommerce agencies use various strategies to drive more traffic to your online stores. The most common approaches are search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and social media marketing (SMM).
They also recommend creating blog posts, articles, and videos that address customer needs, provide valuable information, and attract visitors.
But did you know that these strategies won’t only increase your online store's visitor numbers but also enhance your site’s domain authority? These efforts will make your site more visible and attractive to potential customers.
Generate quality leads
Capture leads and build a relationship with your potential customers. eCommerce agencies can help you create dedicated landing pages for specific campaigns or valuable resources, such as ebooks and white papers, to engage potential customers likely to be interested in your products or services.
With a deep understanding of your market, get to have tailored strategies for you, attracting high-quality leads crucial for converting interest into sales.
Gain better ROI
Working with an agency can also lead to a better return on investment by minimizing the hidden costs of running an eCommerce store, such as website development, software licenses, patent fees, and recurring tool subscriptions.
eCommerce agencies can streamline your operations and allow your in-house teams to focus on critical tasks, enhancing efficiency and preventing burnout.
Partnering with an eCommerce agency offers a pathway to leveraging expertise and technology for better results, expanded brand reach, increased traffic, quality lead generation, and improved ROI. It’s a strategic move for businesses aiming to thrive online.
3 Kinds of eCommerce Agencies
eCommerce agencies can be broadly categorized into three types based on their main focus and services:
eCommerce development agencies
eCommerce development companies specialize in creating and designing online stores or platforms for businesses. Agencies in this category focus on building a functional and visually appealing online presence for businesses. Their services include eCommerce website development, coding, and user interface design.
Most agencies of this type can charge $25 to $149 per hour. Depending on their proven capabilities, you’ll need around $5,000 to $50,000 for a minimum project size.
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eCommerce consulting agencies
This agency provides eCommerce strategy and advice to businesses looking to establish or improve their online presence. Their wide range of services may include market research, business analysis, and recommendations for optimizing eCommerce operations. Their focus: Helping you make informed decisions to achieve your goals.
eCommerce marketing agencies
eCommerce marketing companies offer various digital marketing services for your online growth. They specialize in creating marketing campaigns and promoting your products or services through various marketing channels. They aim to increase visibility, attract traffic, and enhance sales for eCommerce businesses.
The services you can get are influencer marketing, email marketing, and SMM. They can also guide you with eCommerce SEO and many other strategies.
Top eCommerce marketing agencies, like Major Tom and Loud Mouth Media, can charge you from $100 to $300 per hour. A minimum project size, on the other hand, can cost you $1,000 to $25,000.
Understanding these costs is crucial for businesses planning to enhance their presence in the eCommerce marketplace. Allocating an adequate budget for digital marketing is essential, as it ensures that your ecommerce platform can effectively attract and retain customers.
Each of these agencies brings valuable skills and services to your eCommerce brand. They can help you navigate the digital landscape, acquire knowledge and tools, and more. Choose the right eCommerce agency that specializes in what you need.
When to Partner With an eCommerce Agency
You might be wondering: When’s the best time to partner with an eCommerce agency? This decision can be pivotal for your online business's growth and success.
Here are moments that signal it's time to seek help from these experts:
New product launches
Launching a new product is critical for businesses and demands meticulous planning. Since product launch campaigns are brief, missing out on capitalizing on this momentum can lead to fewer conversions.
With an eCommerce agency, your product can hit the market with an impact. They can optimize your eCommerce platform for your new product launch, maximizing visibility and sales from the get-go. This includes your inventory management, order processing, and payment gateways.
Declining sales
Whether it's your landing pages, product pages, checkout process, or campaign strategies, an eCommerce agency can offer consultation and audit services to pinpoint issues and devise strategies for improvement.
These experts can provide detailed audits to give you valuable insights, helping reverse sales declines.
Lack of skills
The challenge of not having enough skilled personnel is common, especially in the early stages of an online business.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, 8 out of 10 small businesses have no employees. So, it’s no surprise that small businesses often start with a lean team, sometimes with the business owner wearing multiple hats.
Find an eCommerce agency to help fill these skill gaps. They can provide expertise in eCommerce growth marketing, website design, and web development, allowing you to focus on core business activities.
Not enough time
As your business grows, so do the demands on your time. Partnering with an eCommerce agency can alleviate this pressure. They can handle critical tasks, like product development and marketing, which you may not have the time or expertise to manage effectively. This support can help enhance your productivity and prevent burnout.
Entering a new market
An eCommerce agency with experience in international markets can provide valuable guidance and support. Expanding into a new market involves navigating cultural differences, understanding local payment preferences, and overcoming regulatory barriers, among other issues. With an extra set of hands, you can adapt your strategy to meet local needs and successfully establish your brand in new territories.
In these scenarios, partnering with an eCommerce agency offers strategic advantages. So, whether you're launching a new product or entering new markets, an eCommerce agency can be a valuable ally in achieving your goals.
Top eCommerce Challenges and Effective Solutions
Learning about these common eCommerce problems and finding good solutions can improve your business.
Here’s a guide on common client challenges in eCommerce and how to address them:
Customer experience (CX)
The Challenge: Ensure a positive shopping experience.
The Solution: 88% of consumers are less likely to return to a site with bad UX. Create a smooth shopping process, personalize user interactions, and have an easy-to-use website. You can improve satisfaction by investing in user experience design and using tools that gather customer feedback.
Data security
The Challenge: Keep customer data safe.
The Solution: When there's a data breach, it's not just about losing money. You end up losing more: your customers and your reputation.
Build trust by prioritizing data security. This involves implementing security measures like SSL certificates, two-factor authentication, and regular security audits.
Cart abandonment
The Challenge: Encourage customers to proceed with the checkout process.
The Solution: According to Statista, 47% of consumers in the US abandon their online purchases due to extra costs (shipping, taxes, etc.), while 25% aren’t too keen on creating an account for checkout.
Increase conversions by making checkout easy, offering multiple payment options, and sending friendly reminders.
Logistics and shipping
The Challenge: Guarantee reliable and timely shipping.
The Solution: Meet customer expectations by partnering with reliable carriers. You can optimize logistics, offer tracking options, and explore flexible shipping solutions.
Product catalogs
The Challenge: Have clear, detailed, and up-to-date product catalogs.
The Solution: High-quality images and comprehensive descriptions improve searchability and decision-making. This also enhances your user’s shopping experience.
Product returns
The Challenge: Streamline the return process.
The Solution: Simplify the return process with customer-friendly policies and clear instructions. If feasible, offer free return shipping. This removes a significant customer barrier and makes the return process more appealing.
Refund policies
The Challenge: Have transparent and customer-friendly refund policies
The Solution: Have easily accessible and transparent terms and conditions. You can also provide a step-by-step explanation of how refunds work. You can also use graphics to represent the process visually. Doing so will allow you to avoid confusion and build trust with your customers.
Customer support
The Challenge: Provide efficient customer support through various channels.
The Solution: 49% of respondents left a brand they were loyal to in the last 12 months because of poor customer service.
Improve accessibility and satisfaction with well-trained and empathetic customer support teams.
Packaging and sustainability
The Challenge: Have eco-friendly and sustainable practices.
The Solution: Embrace sustainability to reduce environmental impact and appeal to eco-conscious consumers. You can start by thinking cyclically or by going paperless and fully digital.
Website traffic
The Challenge: Boost website traffic.
The Solution: Sustain growth by consistently analyzing and optimizing strategies based on performance data. Hire a team that can handle your brand's SEO, content marketing, and more.
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