Growing your eCommerce business requires a deep assessment of your current position. Experts are better equipped to do this assessment for many reasons. They are distanced from any emotional investment in your business success and focused on your core issues, be they human resources, production, or website development. Hiring an eCommerce expert is a large investment, and business owners should be well-informed about the role this expert takes in their business and what outcome they can expect.
What is an eCommerce Strategy?
An eCommerce strategy outlines how a business plans to achieve its goals. To create that map, you need to understand your goals and objectives.
Depending on your goals, you will need a different strategy, and each strategy requires different tactics. If you have identified that your cart conversion rates are an issue, developing a new email marketing plan will not change the problem. In this case, the goal should be to improve cart conversions which would mean identifying the point on the customer journey traffic is stuck in the funnel. An expert can determine the best tactic to address pain points, move customers through the funnel and convert sales.
What is an eCommerce Consultant?
An eCommerce consultant is an expert in managing and growing an online store. A consultant, or their team, will analyze your business data and track your industry to devise a plan to grow your business. This individual or agency listens to your values and your goals. They create a strategy that aligns with your brand.
What are typical eCommerce Consultant Services?
An eCommerce consultant is an expert in several areas of digital marketing.
- Paid advertising
- Email marketing campaigns
- Content marketing campaigns
- Search engine marketing campaigns
- Website development and design
They must be able to effectively direct strategies and training to improve your business. A strategy will touch on each of these points, with some more pronounced than others. An expert will specialize in digital marketing but gave knowledge and skill in all aspects of the business.
Where to find an eCommerce Expert?
The obvious first place to find an agency or consultant is a search engine. This will yield a range of results, and it can be difficult to know which is the right agency for your business.
The best way to find an expert for your eCommerce is to ask your network. Check your business’s social media network, check your competitors’ results, and ask others about their experiences.
When you’ve found some agencies you’d like to work with, ask for references and case studies. Check references and select the team that is responsive, has knowledge of your business when they respond, and is engaged in conversations with your point person.
Is an eCommerce Consultant Worth the Investment?
An expert is not always the right answer. Depending on your issues, some things can easily be resolved in-house with a new focus and reassessment of a strategy that is not meeting expectations. Quantifiable data can show you where a problem exists, and sometimes these problems need a tweak, not an overhaul, to be corrected.
The investment in an expert is worth it for businesses that are ready to grow, or have been trying to grow but have not seen the expected results. It is a big investment, so having a clear vision of business goals is the best way to ensure you make the most of your investment. Without a goal, your investment could be wasted.
What ROI should be expected from hiring an eCommerce Consultant?
While putting an exact figure on the return you can expect when using a consultant to drive business, an expectation of a 3x return on each dollar you spend is considered reasonable. This figure varies depending on the consultant’s ability to increase your average customer lifetime value.
However, a particular campaign might return a lower initial ROI, such as funnel optimization or individualization of the customer journey, but it will increase your average ROI in the long term.
What types of Platforms should an eCommerce Consultant Be Familiar With?
There are a huge number of eCommerce platforms. Wix, Shopify, WooCommerce, and WordPress are all popular choices for eCommerce, and while your consultant will likely be familiar with them all, they might be an expert in a handful of platforms. When sourcing the right person for the job, it is important that they know your tech stack.
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