RESOURCES
Ready to continue your digital adoption journey? Check out these next steps!
If you haven’t already done so, check out our last blog on beginner digital adoption techniques! If you’ve already mastered these intermediate digital adoption techniques, skip ahead to our advanced digital adoption techniques.
Running an eCommerce website can be a challenge, which is why installing integrations can help you run operations more smoothly. An eCommerce integration is the collection, exchange, and organization of data between your eCommerce applications and your back-office systems. Without integration, businesses would have to manually update their paperwork. eCommerce integrations can minimize human error, improve productivity, and save time. A couple of the most common integrations that websites need are a payment gateway and a shipping solution.
To accept online payments, you need to install a payment gateway. On-site payments are the most common gateway. This payment method is embedded in your site checkout form, meaning customers won’t have to leave your site to complete their transactions.
eCommerce Shipping Solutions describes the process of receiving customer orders by packing the product at a warehouse, printing and tracking shipping labels, and managing returns. Integrating a solution will help increase accuracy, minimize human error, and improve customer service. Plan out a shipping strategy that aligns with your business goals. Common shipping solutions include:
<ul><li>Free in-store or curbside pickup</li><li>Local or same-day delivery</li><li>Free shipping</li><li><a href="https://www.shopify.com/ca/enterprise/third-party-logistics-3pl" target="_blank">Third-party logistics</a></li></ul>
The solution you choose should align with your business goals. Evaluate the pros and cons of each shipping option.
Here are some resources to learn more about eCommerce shipping:
<ul><li><a href="https://www.shopify.com/ca/blog/shipping-strategy#3" target="_blank">Shipping Strategies: How to Offer Free, Flat Rate, and More</a></li><li><a href="https://woocommerce.com/posts/ecommerce-shipping-solutions-guide/" target="_blank">A guide to e-commerce shipping</a></li><li><a href="https://www.shopify.com/ca/blog/shipping-and-fulfillment#shipping-guide-11" target="_blank">How to streamline your shipping solutions</a></li></ul>
As you establish your business you are expected to collect sensitive information, it is crucial to understand how to handle and store it. Maintaining your business’ cybersecurity hygiene is vital.
Cybersecurity hygiene is a set of practices that are performed regularly to maintain the health and security of customers, their devices, networks, and data. The purpose is to keep sensitive information secure and protect it from cyber-attacks.
Poor cybersecurity hygiene can cause damage to businesses, financial loss, and destroyed trust among your customers. Follow these practices to ensure you’re doing whatever it takes to protect your customers as well as their information.
Best Practices of Cybersecurity
<ul><li><b>Update your password</b> – Create a complex password that has a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters and numbers. Make sure to also change it often.</li><li><b>Multi-factor authentication</b> – This is an extra layer of security for your accounts. Multi–factor requires an additional password when logging in.</li><li><b>Update software</b> – The latest software is updated and protected. </li><li><b>Install antivirus and malware software</b> – Install antivirus software to get rid of viruses.</li><li><b>Backup regularly</b> – Backup files on an external hard disk or in the cloud. </li></ul>
Resources
<ul><li><a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/cyber-hygiene" target="_blank">What is cyber security</a></li><li>Learn more about the <a href="https://woocommerce.com/posts/ecommerce-shipping-solutions-guide/" target="_blank">the importance of cyber hygiene and other benefits</a></li><li><a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/cyber-hygiene" target="_blank">Discover the benefits of how maintaining your cybersecurity</a> can help your business</li></ul>
Having a social media page is vital as your business grows. Depending on your goals and target audience, you may find your business operating two or more social media accounts on multiple platforms. It may be difficult to keep up and maintain all of your accounts, using social media automation software can help you stay on top of them.
Social media automation is the process of using automated software to manage your social media tasks (What is social media automation). Automation can help with scheduling, publishing, and data reporting. It will minimize human error and increase visibility.
The Benefits of Social Media Automation
<ul><li><b>Boost online presence</b> – - Social media automation will boost your business’ online presence because you will be consistently creating and sharing posts or updates (<a href="https://www.wrike.com/blog/social-media-automation-explained/#What-is-social-media-automation" target="_blank">Why Your Team Needs Social Media Automation in 2022</a>). In turn, you will build brand awareness by sharing eye-catching posts and remaining consistent with posts.</li><li><b>Increase engagement</b> – Social media automation platforms allow you to manage all of your accounts and engage with customers from one, singular platform.</li><li><b>Reliable and time-saving</b> – With automation there’s no need to worry about missing your posting times. Automation will publish your content for you. Scheduling your content ahead means setting aside valuable time to plan out your social media posts. The automation software will take care of the rest. </li></ul>
Learn more about social media automation and discover more at Hootsuite.
Email marketing is the process of sending personalized, targeted emails to your customers. This marketing strategy allows you to continue to build relationships, gain trust, and boost sales among your customers. Build an email list by creating compelling lead magnetics to have the customer opt-in.
The elements of creating great emails:
<ul><li><b>Segment your audience</b> - This is the process of grouping alike customers together. These individuals will share similar characteristics.</li><li><b>Personalized emails</b> – Emails that provide value and relevance to that customer. Use customer data to spark interest and gain attention.<ul><li>For example, you can use the customer’s purchase history to persuade them to buy more of their favorite products.</li></ul></li><li><b>Comply with Canada’s anti-spam legislation (CASL)</b> – All emails must comply with the <a href="https://fightspam-combattrelepourriel.ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canada-anti-spam-legislation/en/getting-consent-send-email" target="_blank">Canada Anti-Spam Legislation</a>. Emails must have the following:<ul><li>Permission – Customers must opt-in and give you permission to send emails.</li><li>Valid email (website, phone number, contact information).</li><li>Unsubscribe button or mechanism.</li></ul></li></ul>
Here is a guideline on how to create your own successful email marketing strategy.
An important digital adoption technique to adopt is search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is the process of increasing the visibility of website pages on search engines to attract more relevant traffic. Good SEO aids in higher visibility, which means that more customers will be able to reach your products and services.
SEO elements that need to be considered:
<ul><li><b>Keyword research</b> - The process to find terms and phrases that potential customers are typing into search engines.<ul><li>Why is it important? By knowing what terms and phrases customers are using, you can create meaningful content around those words. </li></ul></li><li><b>Content development</b> – Create content that addresses the searcher’s needs. The content should be relevant and engaging. It can come in the form of text, video, and photos.<ul><li>Why is it important? Valuable content can gain attention and website traffic.</li></ul></li><li><b>Meta description</b> – Provides the search engines a summary of what the webpage is about.<ul><li>Why is it important? Meta descriptions let search engines know what your website is about, and search engines will have an easier chance of ranking your webpage to answer search queries.</li></ul></li><li><b>Images with alt text</b> – <a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/important-tags-seo/156440/#close" target="_blank">Alt text</a> is a description of images on the webpage. Alt text is displayed if the image cannot be loaded, and it is helpful for those with vision impairments (Barysevich, 2020).<ul><li>Why is it important? Since search engines cannot see pictures, alt text describes the image to the search engines so they can better rank your site.</li></ul></li><li><b>Mobile friendly </b> – Have your website optimized for mobile devices to better the chances for conversions.<ul><li>Why is it important? – More customers are using their smartphones to find local information on their phones.</li></ul></li></ul>
Consider these elements while improving your website’s SEO. This can help increase your website traffic and build awareness for your business.
Read more about how meta tags can increase your website traffic.
Wanting to learn more about SEO? Check out what is SEO and why it is important.
