How to maximise your online shop & increase sales
8 minute read
In this post, I am going to be talking about easy ways to get your online shop up to speed.
So you can
Show up the value of our items
Connect with customers
Generate more sales through your online shop
These are some small steps that you can make to really get the most out of your online store. It is all well and good having an online shop but often harder to keep it updated and a part of your business you are proud of. This is especially true when there is so much happening in the real world. If the pandemic has taught us anything it is that it’s always good to have a plan B. If your business does have to move online you’ll be doing yourself a favour by getting familiar with these easy steps now;
Photographs for your online shop
Photos are the key.
There is so much noise and copy (words) online that people usually are looking just at the images, especially when browsing. This means that sometimes the pics alone is what your potential dream customer is looking at. Make them count!
The detailed copy comes in handy when they have arrived at an item they are really interested in and want all the information.
The setting and backdrop of a photograph is a great way to sell the associated lifestyle of your item and call out to your target customers. Hand-made mugs full of tea? Beautiful paintings hanging in cosy living rooms? Think of the end-use of your items and the type of person who would buy them... Then put these together in an image.
For example, rustic style jewellery for wholesome folks? Organise a sunny woodland photoshoot.
That said, super clear product shots are also a must…
Clear product shots
The dreamy, styled product shots add value by helping potential customers imagine your items in their lives, however…
When it comes to purchasing;
Clear product shots are very important.
We all know the feeling of disappointment when something turns up in the post and it is not exactly what we thought it would be. Maybe the colours are off or the item is a different size in real life to what we understood from the screen. Apart from disappointing people, this will also mean returns, which will take up more of your valuable time which you could be spending, creating, working on your biz or generally having a nice time.
To get those great, detailed product shots and avoid returns and disappointed customers, I recommend:
Bright backdrops, high-quality images (DSLR camera) and good lighting all show off the beautiful details of your creations and make sure customers know exactly what they are buying. This is particularly important if you’re selling unique items like artwork or jewellery. Being able to show off all of the tiny, creative imperfections and details will show your customer what a beautiful one-of they are buying and how much love you have poured into it.
Another useful thing to include in these detail shots is something for scale that everyone will recognise, the item in someone’s hands or next to a mobile phone. Measurements of the item may be in the product description but it is often hard to translate these into real life, especially with art pieces.
Detailed descriptions
Beautiful works of art, whether £20 teacups or £1,000+ canvases are all made with love, but, remember to detail the key components for your website visitors. From grog clay and glazes to giclée prints or oils on canvas - tell people the medium of the piece. Buying online can be hard as the final piece is not present to appreciate, this is especially true for artwork but you have to fill in the gaps as best you can.
Another way to add value is by sharing where the product is made. We are constantly bombarded with cheap goods and rip-off items made cheaply abroad. Local products are so appreciated and their provenance adds so much value!
Share the process
Was the piece inspired by a certain surrounding, a difficult time or in response to something you experienced?
If so, share the story! Human beings love stories, they are a great way of sharing information and, in this instance, a way to connect with potential buyers by giving them more insight into your work and process. This is particularly true of creative pieces!
Caring for artwork
Let people know how best to love and care for the artwork they're considering buying.
Are your watercolour originals best not hung in direct sunlight? Perhaps gold vermeil jewellery pieces should come off before the washing up gets done?
Add value to your piece by sharing with people how they can treat their new items with care so they'll be able to enjoy them for as long as possible.
And those are my top tips to maximise your online shop…
All of these add value by helping the customer connect with the end-use of the item, where it is from and what inspired the creation of the pieces in the first place. Being able to add value through a brilliant online shop will help convert browsers into buyers. I really hope those quick tips were useful!