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The rise of eCommerce has been impressive, to say the least. It’s completely revolutionized retail over the last few decades and impacted brick-and-mortar businesses in a way few expected. Online sales accounted for less than 1% of total retail sales in 1999 — today, it’s between 14%-20%. This not only demonstrates the power of eCommerce but also shows how truly competitive the space is for brands.
So, you’re a brand looking to find success in the eCommerce landscape or strengthen your current standing. There are many challenges, but one of the most difficult is being able to stand out in the crowd. And it’s a big ol’ crowd! Setting yourself apart from competitors has been branding 101 since day one, but that’s not to say it’s easy. In this post, we’ll look at what it takes to wow your customers and why resources such as virtual stores and social media are helping brands exceed their goals.
Branding is the Foundation
It may sound like the most obvious advice you’ll receive today, but branding must always be the core foundation for every brand. Your branding is what makes customers relate to your ideas and visions while developing an emotional connection. You could have the finest logo, website design, and amazing products but it’s all useless without good quality branding because you won’t stand out. In return you’ll lose business when you don’t stand out against your competitors.
When you look at your branding, you need to think about the following critical elements for success:
Purpose: Why does your brand exist? What are you trying to achieve? If you don’t know, then you need to know quickly. Otherwise, you’ll be a brand without a plan in a highly competitive field.
Core Values: Arguably the most crucial aspect of a brand. Who are you, and what do you stand for? A strong foundation creates a brand heritage that survives and flourishes.
Vision: Your brand vision shapes its future and establishes a roadmap for how you act and react within your industry. Vision is the guiding light that offers the inspiration to create and continue the growth of your brand.
Personality: Often, we connect with brands for the same reason we connect with people. Because we like them! Show customers some personality and allow it to shine through across all channels.
Promise: Integrity is at the top of the list for customers when it comes to choosing a brand, so keep your promises. In this case, your promise is assurance of high quality and reliability. Whether it’s products, services, or even your marketing content — customers must have faith that you will deliver.
Top-Tier Website
In the world of eCommerce, websites and social media are vital tools for identity and delivering messages. If your goal is to stand out in the online retail space, you must ensure your brand is highly visible and consistent when using online channels. For your website, you need to create an environment that engages customers and seamlessly guides them through the buyer’s journey.
In the world of eCommerce, websites and social media are vital tools for identity and delivering messages. If your goal is to stand out in the online retail space, you must ensure your brand is highly visible and consistent when using online channels. For your website, you need to create an environment that engages customers and seamlessly guides them through the buyer’s journey.
Drive Engagement Through Social Media
We’re way past the days of social media just being a platform to stay in touch with friends and share photos from your latest holiday.
Today, it’s a multi-use platform designed to suit a wide range of social applications. For businesses, it’s among the most impactful marketing tools for engagement, visibility, and brand growth. Social media content allows brands to communicate directly and connect with their audience while delivering a subtle yet effective sales pitch. Every brand has its unique way of conveying a message and telling a story, and social media offers a vast array of tools to achieve this.
Some brands use humor and pop culture to engage customers, whereas others use various platforms to build and nurture loyal communities. The fantastic thing about social media is that it suits all purposes and can deliver on all fronts, but it requires time and effort to be effective. Ask yourself, what do your current social media offerings say about your brand? If it doesn’t align with your branding and what you want to achieve, it’s time for a change.
Explore New Markets and Opportunities (Virtual eCommerce)
The world is forever evolving, and so are the many industries that make up the modern business world. Technology is the most significant driving factor for growth, and as it advances, we must follow suit. Brands looking to stand out from the crowd must use all of the tools and resources at their disposal. And at times, this requires peering into the future and ensuring you’re one step ahead of your competitors.
The future of technology, eCommerce, marketing, gaming, and social media are all driving towards one destination right now — the metaverse and the practical use of virtual environments.
Virtual environments contain purchasable virtual property and also internal marketing channels (such as galleries). Properties can be designed to suit the many different needs of a brand, and for retail brands, this comes in the form of virtual stores. Of course, we’ll see the space evolve significantly over time, but there are opportunities for profit and growth right now. By working with our specialists, your brand can create its own virtual store. Complete with eCommerce integration for a state-of-the-art, omnichannel approach to retail.
Brands currently use VR and AR technology to provide virtual experiences to customers with the goal of increasing visibility and sales. On a base level, adopting the newest technology is always a solid tactic for engaging audiences. This is because people are intrigued by the technology, its uses, and the creativity of brands. Exploring the possibilities of virtual eCommerce can attract consumer attention to your brand, but it’s your job to turn that attention and intrigue into growth.
Emperia is an industry-leading provider of immersive environments for retail, fashion, and art. Find out more!