In recent years, e-commerce businesses in India have experienced exponential growth, fueled by technological advancements and increasing internet penetration. With a population of over 1.4 billion people, India presents a vast market for online businesses to tap into, making it one of the most profitable businesses in India. However, as the competition intensifies and consumer expectations evolve, it becomes crucial for e-commerce businesses to adopt effective strategies to drive growth and stay ahead in this dynamic landscape. This article explores various strategies that can be employed to grow an e-commerce business in India. We will delve into key tactics that have proven successful for entrepreneurs operating within the realm of online retail.
5 Proven Strategies for a Successful E-commerce Platform
1. Social Media Marketing
Social media has been an indispensable part of every internet user, and it’s no different for Indians as well. The people in India spend an average of 2.36 hours daily surfing on social media, with the three most used ones being Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
While more individuals are seen on the platform, even businesses and brands are not far behind in using social media to create a social presence. The trend of humanizing your brand on social media has seen a spike. This means that social media is the perfect weapon to provide content and connect with your audience by creating content that appeals to them. You can use social media to start and grow your e-commerce business in India for direct and indirect marketing, as it’s easier to gain attention, increase your website visitors through these platforms, and also connect with the right audience who can potentially become your customers. But you must post consistently to cut through the competition.
2. Influencer Marketing
Think hard, when was the last time you saw a billboard advertise for a product and actually thought it was worth splurging your money on? And when was the last time you thought about buying something because a trustworthy social media influencer recommended it to you?
The possibility of the second instance being more common than the first one is high. This is because people are more likely to buy something when another person recommends it. With influencer marketing, you can take advantage of this and make an impression on your potential customer base.
Influencer marketing is a successful strategy that gives your marketing efforts more authenticity. Most influencers subtly promote a product or brand through videos, posts, or reels. This eliminates the overt advertising angle, and people are more warmed up to the product as the influencers do not directly tell them to buy it. It is effective for e-commerce business growth in India as it’s more of a resourceful method. To gain better results, try collaborating with social media creators in the same niche as your service or product.
3. SEO
Search Engine Optimization, SEO, is a marketing strategy used to optimize your website to make it rank on search engines like Google. This strategy is essential since almost 46% of customers begin their product search on Google. But you need to understand that it’s not the customer reaching your business, it’s the search engine deciding what business it needs to show the customers. So, it’s imperative to rank on the search engine.
But how do you make your website rank? By making it SEO-friendly.
One of the most crucial steps to make your e-commerce business in India successful is to make the search engine understand your website by devising an effective SEO strategy. Incorporate ranking keywords in your website without stuffing them, conduct a competitor analysis to understand what your competitors are strategizing, interlink your pages, get backlinks from high authority websites, create a mobile and desktop-friendly website, and include click-worthy titles for blogs and webpages.
4. SEM Campaigns
Search Engine Marketing, SEM, is a marketing strategy that uses paid advertising on social media platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, and search engines, like Google, through keywords to display your website to potential customers. This is paid advertising where you handle Pay Per Click (PPC) costs to grow the online traffic of your e-commerce business in India.
5. Multichannel Sales
The e-commerce business in India is currently adopting a new practice of multichannel sales to grow its potential.
Selling on one platform, like only through your own website, limits the potential of reaching more audiences. Your potential customers prefer having more convenient and variety of choices. They need multiple channels to browse through the options stress-free. Adopting a multichannel sales approach can help you as you are selling your products on multiple mediums. For example, if your primary platform for selling is your website, you should also make it available on third-party websites, mobile applications, or social media. This generates more revenue as your source of selling expands.
Bottom Line
Implementing effective strategies is crucial for the growth of e-commerce businesses in India. By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the Indian market and staying abreast of industry trends and consumer preferences, you can tailor your approach to better cater to local customers and position yourself for long-term success.