Curious to know if the money you’re spending on ads for your online store is helping your business grow? This guide will explore everything you need to know about measuring and optimizing your ad performance. We’ll look at important numbers that tell you if your advertising efforts are paying off. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to tell if your ads are worth what you’re spending on them.

Basic Numbers You Need to Know

Before we get into complicated stuff, let’s talk about the main numbers every online store owner should keep track of:

Money Back From Ads (ROAS)

This tells you how much money you make compared to what you spend on ads. For example, if you spend $1 on ads and make $4 back, that’s good! We call this a “4 to 1 return.”

Sales Value

This is all the money your ads helped you make from people buying your products. It’s important because it shows you the real money your ads brought in.

How Many People Click (Click-Through Rate)

This shows how many people see your ad and actually click on it. If lots of people are clicking, it usually means your ad is interesting to them.

Cost for Clicks (CPC)

This tells you how much you pay each time someone clicks on your ad. Knowing this helps you make sure you’re not spending too much.

Setting Realistic Benchmarks

What’s considered “good” performance varies by industry. Here are some general benchmarks:

• Average ROAS across industries: 2.87:1
• Typical ecommerce conversion rates: 1-4%
• Average CTR for ecommerce ads: 0.7-1.2%
• Healthy CPC range: $0.50-$2.00

Remember that these are averages, and your specific goals might differ based on:

• Your profit margins
• Industry competition
• Product price points
• Business model
• Marketing objectives

Signs Your Ads Are Performing Well

Here are the clear indicators that your campaigns are successful:

Consistent ROAS Above Target

If you’re maintaining or exceeding your target ROAS over time, that’s a strong positive signal.

Growing Conversion Value

Month-over-month increases in conversion value suggest your campaigns are scaling effectively.

Improving Quality Scores

Higher quality scores often lead to lower CPCs and better ad positions.

Decreasing Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)

If you’re acquiring customers more cheaply while maintaining quality, you’re on the right track.

Red Flags to Watch For

On the other hand, you should always be alert to these warning signs:

Declining ROAS

If your ROAS is dropping without clear seasonal factors, it’s time to investigate.

High Bounce Rates

If people click but immediately leave, your landing pages might not match ad expectations.

Rising CPCs Without Better Results

Increased costs without corresponding increases in conversion value need attention.

Low Average Order Value (AOV)

If your AOV is below target, your targeting might need adjustment.

Optimization Strategies

When metrics show room for improvement, consider these strategies:

Audience Refinement

• Test different audience segments
• Use lookalike audiences based on high-value customers
• Implement detailed targeting exclusions

Creative Optimization

• A/B test ad creative regularly
• Try different ad formats
• Update creative based on performance data

Bidding Strategy Adjustments

• Experiment with automated bidding
• Adjust bid modifiers for different devices or times
• Set appropriate bid caps

Wrapping Up

Now that you know which analytics to watch for, you are ready to improve your ad performance. Start by auditing your current tracking setup and establishing baseline metrics for your key KPIs. Create a simple dashboard with your most important metrics, and schedule weekly review sessions to monitor progress. Within 30 days, you should have a clear picture of your ad performance and opportunities for improvement.

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Ready to get started with high converting ads for your ecommerce store? Schedule a consultation and let’s discuss how we can support your business growth!

If you’ve been using MailChimp for a while, but feel like you’ve outgrown its capabilities – it might be time to consider switching to Klaviyo. In our comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about migrating from MailChimp to Klaviyo. We’ll explore the step-by-step migration process, tips to make your transition successful and common challenges. 

Why Consider Migrating from MailChimp to Klaviyo?

Before we jump into the migration process, let’s talk about why you might want to make the switch in the first place. MailChimp has been a popular choice for many businesses, but Klaviyo offers some unique advantages for e-commerce stores such as being ecommerce focused, as well as advanced segmentation, personalization, automation and analytics. For example, Cargo Crew’s switched to Klaviyo and their ROI shot up to 74.9x. That’s huge! Their post-purchase flow is now bringing in 3.5 times more revenue per recipient. 

Steps for Migrating from MailChimp to Klaviyo

Before you start the actual migration process, you need to prepare properly. 

a) Audit Your MailChimp Account: Review your existing lists, segments, and campaigns. Make note of any important automations or workflows you’ll need to recreate in Klaviyo.

b) Clean Up Your Data: Take this opportunity to clean up your email lists. Remove inactive subscribers and correct any data inconsistencies.

c) Set Up Your Klaviyo Account: If you haven’t already, sign up for a Klaviyo account and familiarize yourself with the platform’s interface and features.

d) Optional – Inform Your Subscribers: Let your audience know about the upcoming change. This is a great opportunity to re-engage with your list and set expectations for future communications.

How to Export Your Data from MailChimp

a) Log into your MailChimp account and navigate to the “Audience” tab.

b) Select the list you want to export and click on “Export Audience.”

c) Choose the export options that best suit your needs. It’s generally recommended to export all available fields to ensure you have all the necessary data.

d) Download the CSV file containing your subscriber information.

How to Import Your Data into Klaviyo

a) Log into your Klaviyo account and go to the “Lists & Segments” section.

b) Click on “Create List” and give it a name (e.g., “MailChimp Import”).

c) Choose the option to import a CSV file and upload the file you exported from MailChimp.

d) Map the fields from your MailChimp export to the corresponding fields in Klaviyo. Pay special attention to custom fields and ensure they’re correctly mapped.

e) Review the import preview to make sure everything looks correct, then complete the import process.

Update Your Website and Subscription Forms

Remember to update your website with Klaviyo’s forms and pop-ups so you capture your subscribers in the right spot!

Tips for a Smooth Migration

Now that we’ve covered the step-by-step process, here are some tips to ensure your migration goes as smoothly as possible:

Don’t Rush the Process

Migrating your email marketing platform is a significant undertaking. Give yourself plenty of time to plan, execute, and test every aspect of the migration. It’s better to take a little extra time upfront than to rush and make mistakes that could harm your email marketing efforts.

Leverage Klaviyo’s Resources

Klaviyo offers a wealth of resources to help you make the most of their platform. Take advantage of their documentation, video tutorials, and webinars to learn about advanced features and best practices.

Consider Hiring an Expert

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t have the time to handle the migration yourself, consider hiring a Klaviyo expert or agency to help with the transition. They can ensure a smooth migration and help you set up advanced features that you might not be familiar with.

Use the Migration as an Opportunity to Innovate

While recreating your existing campaigns and flows is important, don’t be afraid to explore new strategies and features that Klaviyo offers. This is a great time to experiment with more advanced segmentation, personalization, and automation techniques.

Back Up Your MailChimp Data

Before you fully transition to Klaviyo, make sure to back up all your MailChimp data, including campaign history, analytics, and any custom templates. You never know when you might need to reference this information in the future.

Wrapping Up

The migration process might seem daunting at first. But with careful planning and execution, you can make a smooth transition that sets you up for long-term success. Take the time to explore all that Klaviyo has to offer, and don’t be afraid to experiment with new strategies and techniques. By leveraging Klaviyo’s powerful features, you can create more personalized, targeted, and effective email campaigns that drive powerful results for your ecommerce business.

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Ready to take your e-commerce email marketing to the next level? Schedule a consultation with us to get started!

You may be wondering how early is too early to start planning for BFCM. When it comes to BFCM, there’s no such thing as “too early”! Black Friday/Cyber Monday is your golden ticket to stand out during the busiest shopping days of the year. Inboxes will be flooded and everyone’s competing for attention – are you ready? 

In this article, we’ll walk you through our 6 best strategies to help you write your subject lines, nail your targeting, create the “gotta have it” feeling, and more!

Craft a Subject Line to Get Clicks

For starters – your subject line is like the cover of a book. If it doesn’t grab attention, it won’t get opened. And during BFCM, you’re competing with a ton of other brands. So how do you stand out and get readers to click?

Here are some quick tips:

– Keep it short and snappy (aim for 40 characters or less)

– Throw in an emoji (but don’t go crazy!)

– Create a sense of urgency – “Ends tonight!” or “Last chance!”

– Get personal – use their name if you can

Pro tip: Always test your subject lines. Send two versions to small groups and see which one gets more opens, then use the winner for your main send.

Send your Emails to the Right People

Imagine getting an email about cat food when you don’t even have a cat. That would be pretty weird, right? That’s why segmenting your email list is important. It’s all about sending relevant stuff to the people who want to hear about it.

Here are some cool ways to segment your list:

– Based on what they’ve bought before

– How much they engage with your emails

– Their age, gender, or where they live

– If they’ve abandoned their cart recently

– Your VIP customers who buy all the time
Did you know that segmenting your list can lead to 14.31% higher opens than non-segmented campaigns?

Let Automation Do the Work

Utilizing automation is like having an email marketing assistant who never sleeps. It sends your emails at the perfect moment, without you having to lift a finger.

Use automation to build excitement with countdown emails, to welcome new subscribers, and gently remind about items left in their cart. After a purchase, automations can send out a warm thank you. And if someone hasn’t opened an email in a while, reach out with a friendly “we miss you” message. The beauty of automation is that it handles all these tasks seamlessly, allowing you to focus on your email marketing strategy.

Add a Personal Touch

Here’s a little secret: personalized emails get opened 29% more often and clicked 41% more than generic ones. Pretty cool, huh? So, how can you make your emails more personal? It’s easier than you might think!

Start by using your customer’s name in the subject line or greeting. It’s a small touch, but it makes a big difference. Then, use data about what they’ve bought before or what they’ve been eyeing on your site to recommend products they’ll want to see.

Make them Want it Now

The point of BFCM is limited-time deals, so your emails should reflect that. You want people thinking, “I gotta get this now or I’ll miss out!”

Here’s some ideas for creating that urgency:

– Use countdown timers in your emails

– Let people know when things are almost sold out

– Run quick flash sales during your main event

– Give your loyal customers early access

– Send “last chance” reminders as the sale ends

Create Emails that Look Great on Phones

Did you know that over 40% of emails are opened on mobile devices? That should give you some incentive to double check that your emails are mobile-friendly. But what exactly does that mean? Let’s break it down:

Use a responsive design: This ensures your email automatically adjusts to fit different screen sizes. Most email marketing platforms offer responsive templates – use them!

Make your CTAs thumb-friendly: Make your call-to-action buttons large enough to tap easily with a thumb.

Optimize images: Large images can slow down load times on mobile. Compress your images and use alt text in case they don’t load.

Preview, preview, preview: Always send yourself a test email and check it on multiple devices before hitting that send button.

Mind the subject line length: On mobile, long subject lines get cut off. Aim for 30-40 characters to ensure your message doesn’t get cut short.

Single-column layouts work best: Complex multi-column designs can become a jumbled mess on smaller screens. Keep it simple!

Font size matters: Tiny text is a no-go on mobile. Use a minimum font size of 14px for body text to keep things readable.

Wrapping Up

Remember, the key is to make your emails relevant and exciting for your customers. Do that, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful BFCM season.

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Ready to build a customized BFCM email marketing strategy for your ecommerce store? Schedule a consultation and let’s discuss how we can support your business growth!

When it comes to advertising for your ecommerce products, you’re probably wondering how you can get the most “bang for your buck”. Both Google Ads and Facebook Ads offer powerful tools to help you reach your target customers and drive sales. But which one delivers the best return on investment (ROI)?

In this guide, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of Google Ads and Facebook Ads for ecommerce. We’ll look at key metrics like click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, and return on ad spend (ROAS). By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which advertising platform is the best fit for your situation.

Key Differences of Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads

Before we get into it, let’s review the key differences between Google Ads and Facebook Ads. Google Ads is a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising platform that allows you to show your ads to users who are actively searching for products or services like yours. Your ads will appear at the top of Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs), making it easier for interested customers to find you.

Facebook Ads, on the other hand, is social media advertising that lets you target users based on their interests, demographics, and behaviors. Your ads will appear on users’ Facebook or Instagram feeds.

Both platforms have their own unique advantages and disadvantages when it comes to ecommerce advertising.

The Pros & Cons of Google Ads for Ecommerce

Pros:

1. High intent: Google users are actively searching for products or services, meaning they have a higher intent to purchase. This translates to a higher conversion rate compared to other advertising channels.

2. Precise targeting: With Google Ads, you can target users based on their search keywords, location, device, and more. This allows you to laser-focus your ads for your ideal customers.

3. Measurable results: Google Ads provides detailed analytics and reporting, making it easy to track your campaign performance and optimize your strategy over time.

4. Broad reach: Google is the world’s largest search engine, with over 92% of global market share. 

Cons:

1. High competition: Because Google Ads is so popular, the competition for top ad positions can be fierce, driving up your cost-per-click (CPC).

2. Steep learning curve: Navigating the complex Google Ads interface and optimizing your campaigns can be time-consuming, especially for beginners.

3. Limited creative control: Google Ads is primarily text-based, so you have less creative freedom compared to visual platforms like Facebook.

4. Potential for ad fatigue: Users may become desensitized to the constant stream of ads they see on Google, potentially reducing the effectiveness of your campaigns over time.

The Pros & Cons of Facebook Ads for Ecommerce

Pros:

1. Visual appeal: Facebook Ads offer a more visually-engaging experience, with the ability to use images, videos, and interactive formats to capture users’ attention.

3. Lower cost-per-click: On average, Facebook Ads tend to have a lower CPC compared to Google Ads, making it a more cost-effective option for some businesses.

4. Retargeting capabilities: Facebook’s pixel tracking technology allows you to retarget users who have already interacted with your business, increasing the chances of a conversion.

Cons:

1. Lower intent: Facebook users are typically browsing for entertainment, not actively searching for products. This can result in a lower conversion rate compared to Google Ads.

2. Algorithm changes: Facebook’s algorithm is constantly evolving, making it challenging to maintain consistent reach and engagement with your ads.

3. Limited control over ad placements: With Facebook Ads, you have less control over where your ads appear, which can impact their effectiveness.

Metric 1: Click-Through Rate (CTR)

One of the most important metrics to consider when evaluating the performance of your advertising campaigns is click-through rate (CTR). CTR measures the percentage of users who click on your ad after seeing it.

Generally speaking, a higher CTR indicates that your ad is relevant and appealing to your target audience, which can lead to more conversions and a better ROI.

So, how do Google Ads and Facebook Ads stack up when it comes to CTR?

According to a report by Wordstream, the average CTR for Google Ads across all industries is 3.17% for search ads and 0.46% for display ads. In comparison, the average CTR for Facebook Ads is 1.11%.

This suggests that Google Ads may have a slight edge when it comes to driving more clicks, especially for ecommerce businesses that are targeting users who are actively searching for their products.

Metric 2: Conversion Rate

While click-through rate is important, the true measure of success for your advertising campaigns is conversion rate. This metric tells you the percentage of users who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or adding an item to their cart.

When it comes to conversion rate, the data is a bit more mixed. Some studies have found that Google Ads tend to have a higher conversion rate for ecommerce businesses.

However, other research has shown that Facebook Ads can actually outperform Google Ads in certain ecommerce verticals, particularly when it comes to impulse purchases and lower-ticket items.

Metric 3: Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)

Ultimately, the metric that matters most for ecommerce businesses is return on ad spend (ROAS). This measures the revenue generated for every dollar you spend on advertising.

A higher ROAS indicates a better ROI, as it means you’re generating more revenue from your advertising campaigns.

Some studies have found that Google Ads tend to have a higher ROAS for ecommerce businesses, with an average of $2 to $3 in revenue for every $1 spent.

However, other research has shown that Facebook Ads can actually outperform Google Ads in certain ecommerce verticals, particularly for businesses selling lower-ticket items or targeting impulse buyers.

As we’ve seen, both Google Ads and Facebook Ads have their own unique strengths and weaknesses when it comes to driving results for ecommerce businesses. So, how do you determine which platform is the best fit for your specific needs?

Wrapping Up

In the end, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to which is the better platform for ecommerce businesses. The right choice will depend on a variety of factors, including your product type, target audience, advertising objectives, and budget.

Google Ads may have a slight edge when it comes to driving immediate sales and conversions, while Facebook Ads can be more effective for building brand awareness, engagement, and long-term customer loyalty.

So, if you’re still trying to determine whether Google Ads or Facebook Ads is the better fit for your ecommerce business, the answer is simple: try them both! Experiment, analyze the results, and then optimize your strategy.

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Ready to build a customized advertising strategy for your ecommerce business? Schedule a consultation and let’s discuss how we can support your business growth!

You may have asked yourself, “is email marketing still worth it for ecommerce in 2024?” And our answer is… absolutely! When done right, email marketing delivers an excellent ROI while building meaningful relationships with your customers. This article will explore why email marketing is still a top performer in 2024 and provide our tips to keep your email marketing up-to-date with the times.

Why Email Marketing?

Email open and click-through rates have been declining in recent years. But here are some compelling reasons it will continue to be effective for ecommerce:

– Massive reach: Almost 4 billion people worldwide use email, with 306.4 billion emails sent and received daily. There’s simply no better way to reach customers directly in their inbox.

– High ROI: Email marketing has an average ROI of $42 for every $1 spent, the highest of any marketing channel. Better list segmentation, personalization, automation, and analytics make it even more cost-effective.

– Drives sales: 72% of consumers prefer to receive promotional content through email over social media. And email drives 19% of all online retail sales. 

– Builds loyalty: Brands that get email marketing right see higher customer retention and lifetime value.

– Flexibility: Email works well with other channels like social media and paid ads. It can promote products, share content, retarget site visitors, recover abandoned carts, and so much more.

Clearly, email marketing will continue to deliver results. Now let’s look at some key trends shaping the future of ecommerce email.

Upcoming Email Marketing Trends

Email marketing tactics will need to get smarter to stand out and speak to your customers. Expect to see things like:

– More personalization: Segmentation and personalized content based on interests, behaviors, and purchase history will become the norm. AI will help scale 1:1 messages.

– Video: Short videos in emails can demonstrate products, share testimonials, provide how-tos, and make connections.  

– Customer journeys: Emails will focus on guiding subscribers through pre-defined journeys specific to each persona and objective.

– Automation: Workflows triggered by behaviors will send timely, relevant information and offers without brands having to do all the work.

– Privacy focus: Features like improved unsubscribe flows and selective data sharing will build consumer trust.

Wrapping Up

As new technologies like AI enable more 1:1 personalization, interactive content, and customer journey focus, email will become an even more powerful ecommerce marketing tool.

The key is to continually test and optimize your strategy. Pay close attention to open and engagement metrics as well as the customer experience. Build trust by providing value, not just sales pitches. With a thoughtful, customer-centric approach, email marketing can drive measurable results for your ecommerce biz well into the future.

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Want a free, no-obligation audit of your email marketing campaigns to increase your revenue in 2024? Schedule your audit with us today!

Turning one-time shoppers into repeat customers – that’s the golden ticket in ecommerce today. After all, repeat customers spend 67% more than new customers. So what’s considered a good repeat customer rate in ecommerce? And how can you benchmark your performance to know if you’re on the right track?

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know. By the end, you’ll have actionable insights to stack the odds in your favor for turning new shoppers into lifelong customers. 

What is a Repeat Customer Rate?

“Repeat customer rate” is the percentage of customers who have purchased from your store more than once. It’s a metric that indicates how well you convert first-time buyers into repeat buyers. 

The formula is simple: 

Repeat Customer Rate = Total Number of Repeat Customers / Total Number of Customers

But why does repeat rate matter so much? Well, loyal customers are hugely profitable for several reasons:

– They convert at higher rates – Repeat customers convert 50% more often because they trust your brand.

– They spend more money – As mentioned, repeat customers spend 67% more per transaction. 

– They cost less to convert – It’s estimated to be 5x cheaper to retain a customer than acquire a new one.

– They refer friends – Referrals are your best customers, spending 2x more than average. 

– They forgive mistakes – Loyal customers will cut you more slack if problems arise.

So in short, a high repeat rate provides a foundation for long-term success. Let’s look at what good benchmarks are.

Benchmarks for Excellent, Good, and Average Repeat Rates

What constitutes an excellent, good or average repeat customer rate in ecommerce? While there are no definitive standards, we can look at benchmarks from leading retailers:

Excellent Repeat Rates:

– Amazon – Over 85%

– Walmart – Over 80% 

– Chewy – Over 80%

– Wayfair – Over 60%

Good Repeat Rates: 

– Over 50% is generally considered strong

– Home Depot – 45-50% range 

– Best Buy – 45-50% range

Average Repeat Rates in Ecommerce:

– 15-30% is typical for most ecommerce stores

– Under 20% indicates opportunity to improve

As you can see, anything over 50% is admirable. Of course, benchmarks also depend on the type of product you sell. For example, subscription services and grocery delivery tend to enjoy higher repeat rates.

The key is to track your own repeat rate over time and aim for continuous improvement. Let’s talk about how to calculate that magic number.

Calculating Your Repeat Customer Rate

Figuring out your repeat customer percentage takes just a few simple steps:

1. Identify your total number of customers 

Pull a customer list from your CRM and tally the total number of individual customers, including both first-time and returning. 

2. Identify total number of repeat customers

Filter your list to count how many of those customers have ordered more than once. Alternatively, you can pull a report of their order history to specify “customers with 2+ orders” or more.

3. Plug the numbers into the formula

Repeat Customer Rate = Total Repeat Customers / Total Customers

For example, if you have:

10,000 total customers 

4,000 repeat customers

Your repeat rate would be 4,000 / 10,000 = 40%

That’s it! Track this monthly to measure progress. Now let’s get into proven ways to improve it.

6 Strategies to Increase Repeat Customers

Provide 5-Star Service

Service can make or break the post-purchase experience. Train support staff to deliver friendly, empathetic assistance. Empower them to go above and beyond, like following up after issues are resolved. 

Nail the Returns Process

Returns are inevitable – but they present an opportunity. Studies show 75% of customers would shop with a retailer again after a seamless returns experience. Make it easy to initiate and track returns.

Offer a Loyalty Program

Loyalty programs increase repeat rate by 30-50%. Offer points, tiered benefits, or discounts for repeat purchases. Send reminder emails when points are expiring.

Master Your Email Marketing

Email generates $42 for every $1 spent. Promote new arrivals, share curated content, and offer exclusive discounts to subscribed customers. Just avoid over-promoting.

Double Down on Quality

Never compromise on product quality – defects result in high returns and destroy trust. Likewise, ship orders professionally and quickly. This shows you value customers’ time.

Wrapping Up

Lifelong customers are the rock of a profitable ecommerce biz. While acquiring new shoppers is tough, getting them to return and spend more demonstrates the success of top ecommerce brands.

Now you’re equipped with actionable tips to turn first-time buyers into your best repeat customers. So get out there, start analyzing your repeat rate, and build experiences your customers won’t forget.

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Want to get started with analyzing and optimizing your repeat customer rates? Schedule your audit with us today!

SMS marketing can be a powerful tool for ecommerce businesses. According to recent surveys, 98% of text messages are opened and read within minutes, compared to the 20-30% open rate for emails. With such high engagement, it’s no wonder SMS marketing is growing rapidly. However, with great power comes great responsibility—you need to be strategic with your SMS marketing to see success.

One of the most crucial components of an effective SMS strategy is your sending schedule. Finding the optimal cadence and send times can significantly impact your open and click-through rates. In this article, we’ll explore how often you should send SMS campaigns, the best times to send messages, and tips for creating the ideal SMS schedule for your business. Let’s dive in!

How Often Should You Send SMS Marketing Campaigns?

When launching SMS marketing, one of the biggest questions is: how often should you send messages? You want to send frequently enough to stay top of mind with subscribers but not so often that you annoy them. Here are some best practices for SMS cadence:

• Limit promotional sends to 1-2 times per week: Sending more frequently risks opt-outs and irritation.
• Send cart abandonment reminders within 1 hour of abandonment: Timeliness is key for recovering lost sales.
• Use SMS sparingly for announcements and shipping confirmations: These are timely notifications, not ongoing campaigns.
• Avoid sends on major holidays: Prevent messages from getting lost in the shuffle.
• Always honor opt-out requests immediately: Never spam subscribers who have asked to disengage.

The ideal cadence will depend on your industry, subscriber base, and business goals. Test different frequencies to see what resonates best with your customers and monitor opt-out rates to avoid overdoing it.

What Are the Best Times to Send SMS Campaigns?

Timing is just as important as frequency in SMS marketing. Ensure your messages are received when subscribers are most likely to engage. Consider these key points on timing:

• Avoid early mornings and late evenings: People are unlikely to be shopping at these times.
• Lunchtime (11am – 1pm): Especially effective for restaurant/food brands.
• Evening (6pm – 9pm): Great for reaching people making dinner plans or relaxing after work.
• Sunday afternoons: Ideal for meal kit and grocery delivery messages.
• Mondays and Tuesdays: Tend to perform better than late weekdays.
• Fridays: Statistically the worst day for open rates, but good for weekend-specific offers if sent on Thursday or Friday.
• Sync messages with peak ordering times: Align messages with your business’s buying rhythms.

Always track open and click rates by send time to determine when your subscribers are most engaged, and refine your schedule based on the data.

Top Scheduling Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common mistakes to ensure your SMS schedule is optimized for open rates and conversions:

• Sending too early/late: Avoid off-peak times when customers won’t see your message right away. Track opens to determine ideal hours.
• Irregular sends: Random, inconsistent timing trains customers to ignore your messages.
• Message overload: Limit frequency to 1-2 SMS campaigns per week max, unless transactional. More can irritate subscribers.
• Short notice discounts: While urgency works, give customers reasonable time to take action.
• Spamming opt-outs: Remove opt-outs from your list immediately to avoid damaging your reputation.
• No call to action: Every SMS campaign should include a strong CTA, not just a statement.
• Not tracking data: Pay attention to open rates, clicks, opt-outs, conversions, etc. Data shows what’s working.
• Copying email schedule: SMS is different from email—shorter, more urgent. Don’t just repurpose email content and timing.

Wrapping Up

Follow the strategies outlined in this article, and you’ll be on your way to SMS marketing success. Remember to always honor opt-out requests, provide value with your messages, and speak to your subscribers like real people. Do that, and SMS can become one of your most powerful marketing channels for driving conversions and sales.

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Want to launch your first SMS campaign, or optimize your current one? Schedule a call with us to see how we can support your business growth!

Are you an ecommerce brand that wants to convert more website visitors into paying customers? Who doesn’t! With attention spans shorter than ever these days, it’s getting tougher to guide potential buyers seamlessly through the purchase funnel.  

But don’t worry, we’ve got your back! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the ecommerce purchase funnel and talk about strategies to optimize each stage. From awareness to conversion (and even retention!), you’ll learn how to turn window shoppers into raving fans. So grab your notebook—it’s time to blueprint your way to ecommerce success.

The Ecom Purchase Funnel Explained

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s quickly define what an ecommerce purchase funnel actually is.

Essentially, it’s the journey a potential customer goes through when discovering, evaluating, and ultimately deciding to purchase a product from your online store. This funnel is typically broken down into four main stages:

1. Awareness: When a prospect first becomes aware of your brand or product offering.

2. Interest: The stage where they start researching and evaluating if your solution is a good fit.

3. Desire: If hooked, they enter the desire phase, seriously considering making a purchase. 

4. Action: Finally, the prospect reaches the bottom of the funnel and takes action by buying from you.

Now that we’re all on the same page funnel-wise, let’s dive into optimizing each stage for maximum conversions.

Stage 1: Generating Awareness 

It all starts with awareness. If prospects don’t even know you exist, they’ll never make it into your funnel.

Some top awareness driving tactics include:

• SEO: Optimizing for relevant keywords can attract organic search traffic on autopilot.

• Social media marketing: Strategic use of organic and paid social posts/ads.

• Influencer outreach: Partnering with relevant influencers to tap into their audience.

• PR/Link building: Press coverage and authoritative backlinks from respected sites.  

The key here is to go where your target audience is hanging out online and insert your brand into their world through content, ads, influencer recommendations, and more. Mix up your channels and messaging to maximize reach and visibility.

Stage 2: Building Interest

Once aware, your goal is to engage prospects by piquing their interest in your products or brand story. This stage is all about providing useful, compelling info that compels them to keep evaluating you as a potential solution.

Some killer interest-building tactics:

• Content marketing: Blogs, videos, guides and more that address their pain points.

• Email marketing: Automated nurture sequences delivering value over time. 

• Reviews/UGC: Leverage the power of social proof with reviews and user-generated content.

• Retargeting ads: Stay top-of-mind with tailored ads as they continue evaluating options.

The more engaged and educated you can get a prospect on why your product is the ideal fit, the smoother their journey will be to entering the desire phase.

Stage 3: Creating Desire

This is the make-it-or-break-it stage where a prospect is seriously considering purchasing from you but needs that final nudge of encouragement. Urgency and scarcity tactics can be incredibly effective here when used carefully.

Some top desire-inducing strategies:

• Limited-time offers/sales: Who doesn’t love feeling like they’re getting a great deal?

• Product bundling: Make your offer even more irresistible by packaging products.

• Countdown timers: Simulated urgency and scarcity motivates people to act quickly.

• Personalization: Customize your funnel touchpoints to make it feel bespoke.

• Social proof: Flaunt all those glowing reviews and customer success stories.

The idea is to fan those burning embers of desire into a full-fledged craving for your product by making them feel like they’re missing out on an insane bargain.

Stage 4: Prompting Action

You’ve relentlessly guided prospects through awareness, interest, and desire…now it’s time to go for the grand finale and close that sale! 

Some power-move conversion clinchers include:  

• Foolproof UX: Streamlined, intuitive checkout process to reduce abandoned carts.

• Up-sells/Cross-sells: Maximize order values by suggesting complementary products.

• Exit intent popups: Recover abandoning visitors with can’t-resist offers and messaging.

• Retargeting ads: Hit them with juicy product imagery and promos one last time.

• A/B testing: Continuously optimize all assets and touchpoints through testing.

Remember, making the purchase experience as frictionless and compelling as possible is key to converting that final chunk of the funnel into loyal customers.

The Retention Bonus

Wait, we’re not done just yet! Too many ecommerce brands focus solely on acquiring new customers while neglecting their existing ones. 

Repeat buyers are the lifeblood of long-term growth and profitability, which is why you must prioritize customer delight with retention tactics like:

• Loyalty/Rewards programs: Incentivize continuing to purchase from you.  

• Surprise delight moments: Thoughtful freebies or gestures to strengthen that bond.

• Retention email flows: Educational content, special offers, and more delivered over time.

• Customer advocacy: Make it easy for fans to refer new buyers through an affiliate system.

The purchase funnel is never just a one-and-done transaction for ecommerce brands – it’s an ongoing cycle of attracting, converting, and delighting perpetual customers.

Wrapping Up

To quickly summarize our key blueprint for funnel success:

1. Go where your audience is and generate awareness of your solution through SEO, social media, influencers, PR/links, and more.  

2. Nurture that initial interest and engagement with attention-grabbing content, reviews, retargeting ads, and compelling email sequences.

3. Once a prospect is seriously evaluating you, spark an irresistible sense of desire through limited-time offers, bundles, urgency tactics, and personalization.

4. Smooth the final path to purchase with conversion optimization like airtight UX, checkout process enhancements, and up-sells/cross-sells.

5. Retain happy customers by delighting them with rewards programs, exclusive surprises, ongoing value, and advocacy opportunities.

6. Continuously improve and optimize each stage of the funnel through extensive testing and data analysis.

This comprehensive approach to attracting, converting, and retaining customers through a hyper-optimized funnel is what separates ordinary ecommerce brands from industry leaders.

If you take nothing else away, remember this: constantly evaluate your ecommerce funnel! Even tiny tweaks and iterations to messaging, UX, offers, and automations can yield massive results when compounded over time.

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Ready to upgrade the customer purchase funnel for your ecommerce store? Schedule a consultation and let’s discuss how we can support your business growth!

Artificial intelligence (known as AI) is completely changing the e-commerce industry. From generating product descriptions to analyzing customers, AI can help ecommerce owners work smarter and faster. If you’re a brand that fails to adopt AI, you risk falling behind the competition. 

In our post, we’ll explore the top 5 ways leading e-commerce brands are using AI. Whether you sell products online or just want to learn about the impact of AI, read on for practical tips and examples of AI in action.

1. AI-Powered Product Descriptions

High-quality product descriptions are essential for any e-commerce business. But writing unique, engaging copy for sometimes hundreds or even thousands of products is time consuming. Smart retailers turn to AI-powered tools to automate product description writing.

AI-powered writing tools such as Rytr leverages natural language generation technology to turn product specs and attributes into readable descriptions. The AI examines factors like product features, target audience, and length requirements to produce human-like copy.

Brands can then edit the AI-generated descriptions as needed. The result? Unique, compelling product detail pages that take far less time than producing manually.

2. AI-Enhanced Product Images

Eye-catching product photography is another e-commerce essential. But editing and retouching product images is complex and time-intensive. AI visual platforms streamline this process for online retailers.

For example, businesses can use AI photo editing tools like Meero to automatically remove image backgrounds, apply color corrections, or upscale image resolution. This creates visually appealing product images at scale.

AI can also generate new product photos by varying attributes like color, lighting, and orientation. Brands use this technique to create multiple high-quality images for each product without costly photo shoots. 

In addition, AI can identify ideal image cropping and help human editors focus their retouching efforts on areas that matter most. 

Overall, AI visual platforms enhance product images exponentially faster than manual editing. This translates into higher-converting product detail pages.

3. Predictive Site Search

On-site search is crucial for helping customers find relevant products easily. But up to 50% of e-commerce searches return no results. AI-powered predictive search tools can help.

Predictive search uses data like past search queries, browsing history, and purchase data to recommend products as the user types. This creates a highly personalized search experience.

For example, brands can use predictive search technology like Nosto for Shopify. As shoppers type into the search bar, the ecommerce website can display suggested products the user is likely seeking. 

Predictive search reduces zero result searches, keeps customers on-site longer, and boosts conversion rates. AI enables retailers to turn product discovery into an intelligent, personalized experience.

4. AI-Optimized Marketing Content

Creating targeted, effective marketing content takes significant time and effort. AI content tools help e-commerce brands scale content production and optimize performance.

AI writing technology from Phrasee can be used to generate Facebook and Instagram ad copy. Email marketing is another area where AI can assist. Tools like Persado can analyze audience data to generate subject lines and email copy optimized for open and click-through rates. 

AI can also write blog posts and other website content that targets buyer keywords and answers customer questions. This attracts organic traffic from search engines.

Brands shouldn’t rely fully on AI-generated marketing content. But AI can be a tool to help  scale targeted, high-performing campaigns that drive sales.

5. Customer Analysis

Understanding your customers is invaluable. But sifting through reviews, social posts, and surveys is hugely time-intensive. AI sentiment analysis automates this process.

For example, the AI platform Affinio can help retailers gain insights from customer social media content. Affinio analyzes data such as Instagram comments to identify positive and negative customer experiences.

Seeing feedback trends and patterns in one dashboard allows brands to quickly address issues, showcase successes, and make data-driven decisions. AI reveals insights that would be impossible to detect manually.

The Bottom Line

The examples above demonstrate how forward-thinking e-commerce brands use AI to drive efficiency, boost sales, and improve customer experience. The possibilities are truly endless.

Here are key takeaways on leveraging AI as an e-commerce brand:

• Use AI writing tools to automate and optimize product descriptions, marketing content, and other copy. This helps you create consistent brand voice at scale.
• Employ AI-powered photo editing platforms to edit, transform, and scale product images faster than humanly possible.
• Implement predictive search to provide customers with hyper-personalized product recommendations as they browse and search.
• Analyze user-generated content with AI sentiment tools to identify customer feedback trends and patterns. 
• Combine AI with human creativity and strategy. The best results come from AI and people working together.

Adopting AI can take your e-commerce brand to the next level. Utilize AI now, and you will have a competitive advantage in the years to come.

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SMS marketing has blown up lately for ecomm businesses, and for good reason – it’s an effective way to connect with customers and drive sales. But be aware – you’ve got to make sure you’re following the rules. Non-compliant campaigns can land you with nasty fines or penalties.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to keep your SMS game strong AND compliant. Let’s do this!

Why SMS Marketing Works for E-Commerce

Let’s start with a quick overview of why SMS marketing works so well for ecommerce businesses. Here are some of the main benefits:

• High open rates – According to current studies, 98% of all text messages are opened.
• Fast delivery – SMS messages reach recipients instantly, allowing for timely promotions and engagement.
• Personalized – Texting has an intimate, personal feel that email lacks. Your customers will feel more connected to your brand.
• Many uses – You can use SMS to send coupons, shipping updates, cart abandonment reminders, and more via SMS. The opportunities are nearly endless.
• Easy tracking – Most SMS providers offer robust analytics so you can easily track opens, clicks, and conversions to optimize your efforts. 
• Low cost – Sending SMS can cost just pennies per message, making it very budget friendly. Plus, the ROI potential is extremely high.

Is SMS Marketing Legal?

Many businesses have questions around the legality of sending promotional or transactional SMS messages. Is it legal to text customers without explicit consent? What about existing customers who have provided their number?

Here are the regulations you need to be aware of:

• TCPA – The Telephone Consumer Protection Act regulates marketing via auto-dialers and prerecorded messages. It requires prior express written consent. But SMS sent manually does not require opt-in consent.
  
• CAN-SPAM Act – This act is for your customers who reside in Canada. It covers email marketing but does NOT apply to SMS. However, it’s still smart to provide an opt-in option.
  
• CTIA Guidelines – These best practices recommend sending only transactional messages to existing customers or those who have opted in to receive alerts. For promotional messages, explicit opt-in consent is recommended.

The bottom line is you can legally text both promotional and transactional messages to customers who’ve given you their number and reasonably expect to hear from you. Just make sure to follow any time restrictions on when you can contact them – and only send offers when it makes sense.

For new subscribers who have not purchased from you, it’s safest to get explicit opt-in consent confirming they agree to receive SMS messages. Let’s look at some best practices for compliant opt-in procedures.

Compliant Opt-In Procedures

If you want to build an SMS list starting from scratch, you need compliant opt-in procedures to ensure subscribers have granted permission. Here are some tips:

• Disclose – Be up front that you will send promotional messages to the number provided. Disclose your intended frequency of messages.
  
• Document consent – Save subscriber data including phone number and consent date to prove they opted in intentionally.
  
• Honor opt-outs – Immediately stop messaging anyone who texts STOP or unsubscribes. Maintain do-not-contact lists.
  
• Use compliant language – Say “message and data rates may apply.” Don’t use “free offer” or other misleading phrases.
  
• Send a confirmation – After opting in, send a welcome message confirming subscription.
  
• Limit frequency – Only send a reasonable number of texts to avoid irritating subscribers.

Following these simple procedures ensures subscribers know what they signed up for and provides you documentation of consent should any issues arise. 

SMS Campaign Ideas

Now that we’ve covered the key regulations and list management best practices, let’s look at some effective SMS campaign ideas you can implement today:

• Abandoned cart reminders
• Back-in-stock alerts 
• Order delivery updates 
• Customer satisfaction surveys
• Exclusive promos
• Product launch updates
• Loyalty rewards 
• Event reminders 
• Contact requests 

Each of these campaign types provides value to subscribers while giving your business an opportunity to generate sales.

Wrapping Up

SMS marketing offers too many benefits for ecommerce businesses to ignore. Following these compliance guidelines and campaign ideas will set you up for SMS success while avoiding any penalties. Remember to always provide value to subscribers, honor opt-out requests, and maintain stringent list hygiene practices.

With a thoughtful SMS strategy and the right tools, you can engage customers in a personal, exciting way. Start connecting with customers over text message today!

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Want to try out or optimize SMS campaigns for your ecommerce store? Schedule a consultation and let’s discuss how we can support your business growth!