eCommerce Needs Direct Selling

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Why do eCommerce Brands need to Say YES to Direct Selling?

In the past, the only way to buy what you want is by going to the stores. Sometimes those shops run out of products, and you waste an afternoon to have nothing.

Jumping to the 21st century, a new route to shop was born: Online shopping. eCommerce has drastically changed the human lifestyle to a more convenient buying journey.

Physical stores are predicted to be defeated and have to give the throne to the modern method.

Both approaches are co-existing.

Brick-and-mortar stores adapt to the new opportunities from the Internet, whereas eCommerce brands take advantage of direct selling.

This interrelation brings prosperity to the businesses, so more and more store-owners decide to integrate these two models. 

The strong bond of eCommerce and direct selling

Direct selling is face-to-face selling in which customers personally buy products from a fixed location. 

Be careful not to mix up the definition of direct selling and direct marketing. Direct selling is when retailers contact and sell straight to consumers without a third party, while direct marketing is when a business advertises directly to the consumer.

On the other hand, eCommerce is based on the Internet to simplify the buying journey of consumers. Just after a few clicks and phone calls, things arrive right at their doorsteps. 

At first, these two models seem to follow completely different roads. However, if merchants can smartly optimize the best of both worlds, they can gain massive success since two platforms can support the development of each other. 

A physical store can be the base for the growth of the online platform and help the brand stand out from hundreds of same categories shops on the Internet.

On the contrary, the website brings the store closer to customers because buyers can easily find more information on the Internet. 

The trend of connecting online and offline together has led to the popularity of the O2O model.

The O2O model is “a business strategy that draws potential customers from online channels to make purchases in physical stores.”

People call this duo the “Trillion dollar opportunity” since it can bring unmeasurable possibilities for the development of brands, both in revenue and reputation.

However, many stores underestimate the role of direct selling in recent years. They think it’s a waste of resources to open an actual store while witnessing positive results from the shopping websites. 

Undoubtedly, the booming of online shopping platforms has reduced the influence of offline stores. However, it’s still a game-changer in the competition. That’s why giants in the industries emphasize the importance of giving customers various methods to shop, not just limit them on the Internet. 

Although eCommerce has its superiority edge, it’s still a common phenomenon to see people come to outlets or malls to pick what they like. Therefore, online stores are starting to realize the enormous benefits of a gift named Direct Selling.

The irresistible advantage when eCommerce businesses invest in direct selling

It creates brand awareness.

When a physical store opens, you have increased the chance for customers to encounter your brand. Whether they actively look for you or your banner accidentally captures the eye of people on their way back home, your store is an impression of your business.

Some people believe that a brand with an actual store is more trustworthy than those who don’t own a location. With the help of the Internet, your brands can be reached on a wide range, but it’s essential to create brand awareness locally. 

You can communicate better with customers.

Being available both online and offline helps you get to know customers easier. You have more channels to contact potential buyers.

Since the dawn of shopping, it’s natural for humans to stop by a store, come in and check out its item. Direct selling is the traditional way to shop, and it still proves its effectiveness nowadays.

Direct selling is incredibly efficient when it comes to attracting new customers. Consumers quickly get confused in the matrix of online stores. However, it’s simpler for them to choose an offline shop to buy to have a realistic analysis of what they would likely purchase. 

There are upselling potentials.

It’s hard to persuade customers to purchase a higher-priced product from the Internet, although it’s better. People mistake a good deal online for the lowest price. However, usually cheap doesn’t go with high-quality.

Adapting direct selling will give you more chances to introduce upsell products to your customers. You can show them what’s the most suitable item for their needs in buyers’ budgets. With real experience and analysis, customers will quickly decide on the more beneficial products.

You can avoid shipping costs and intermediaries. 

One major issue for online stores is that they suffer from balancing the fee for shipping and middleman. Some may say that the rental price for a physical store is tremendous, but they don’t see the burden from a third party to the development of a business.

Cutting out intermediaries saves you lots of money!

Owning a location means that customers can come to your store and pick up their goods whenever they want. No more upsetting situation when buyers are on a date outside, then the shipper calls them to pick up something they ordered a week ago. 

Adapting BOPIS (Buy-Online-Pickup-In-Store) also gives consumers an active attitude that they don’t have to depend on anyone to get what they want; maybe they can pick up themselves when their work is finished.

You can boost sales 

It’s unwise to stop yourself from gaining more profit when there are huge chances available. Don’t rely on only one stream of revenue.

eCommerce is an intense battle. Every day, dozens of new stores are born and die. This cycle is inevitable. So every brand tries to concrete the status, so they don’t be the next one to fall.

One safety net you should consider is adapting direct selling. The more profit you get, the more capital you have to improve your store!

This method draws a straight line from you to potential customers, so you don’t have to worry about the commission for some agencies you barely know.

You’re in control of creating your uniqueness.

You may think the Internet does all the marketing campaigns for your team: Through some simple steps, your products are shared on Facebook or Instagram.

However, there are millions of items being advertised on the Internet every day. It’s hard to differentiate if you don’t have a unique point.

It’s great to have customers remember you. Having a physical store help, you show your differences in a practical way. One of the most severe drawbacks of online platforms is a lack of experience.

Consumers trust you better when they can see the products. This will make you stand out from thousands of other brands that share the same categories.

It’s a smart strategy to develop direct selling since it brings enormous profit to the business.

Therefore, stores start to wonder how to maximize the potential of direct selling while maintaining their websites? It is a tricky situation for brands to guide visitors’ attention from online to offline since customers have been familiar with the convenience of the Internet. 

Let us help you solve this riddle! 

Tools to help businesses convert online to offline engagement

There are dozens of products that facilitate offline shopping on online platforms. Nevertheless, here are essential features that an eCommerce site must have to elevate their direct selling!

Coupons that can only use at the location

Who doesn’t love a discount? It’s a smart move to give your customers an in-store coupon when they purchase something online. This will provide them with the urge to come to the physical store and notify them that you have an offline location. 

Reward points

Reward points work the same way as in-store coupons. After every successful transaction, whether online or offline, buyers can collect points based on their bills. When shopping at the actual stores, they can be discounted by those reward points. This will encourage them to get more points to reduce the cost at the next purchase.

Store locator

Consumers usually hesitate to buy at the actual store since they don’t know how they see the address. Let’s admit it; sometimes, you are too lazy to find the road. How about stores do that hard work for you and directly show the way? 

With Store Locator, customers can be guided to the closest store in the neighborhood in a blink of an eye! Retailers can configure the extension in the back-end of the Magento 2 website so it fits the store’s requirements.

Social networks 

Optimizing social networks such as Facebook or Instagram can help stores show their strength to customers. Using Facebook Live Stream or Instagram Stories, merchants can deliver actual footage of offline stores and products, build trust with consumers, and drive traffic to direct selling.

Looking ahead

Of course, the ultimate goal of every business is gaining the most profit. There are many roads to achieve this success, and one of the best is uniting both online and offline methods. This is why more and more Internet-based stores say ‘Yes’ when it comes to direct selling nowadays.

Through the article, we hope you have realized the necessity of combining eCommerce with direct selling. Since it is a huge opportunity, many stores are trying to get their hands on the prize. Businesses should smartly choose the best tools to transform their website into a key to open the gate of direct selling as soon as possible. Don’t be the one who goes against the current!

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