marketing | - Part 2

4 Ways to Increase Sales That Might Surprise You

When it comes to increasing your sales, you’ll find plenty of advice online. However, the key to grabbing people’s attention is often catching them off guard. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to achieve this when everyone’s using the same techniques.

The good news is there are many ways you can get creative with your marketing, or put a fresh spin on a familiar sales technique.

By stepping outside the box, you can immediately stand out from the competition, and perhaps even secure some additional conversions in the process.

In this post, we’ll share four ways to increase sales that might surprise you. We’ll also discuss tips for implementing each of these techniques, so you can be confident that you’re getting the most out of your marketing activities. Let’s get started!

1. Monitor Your Competitors on Social Media

With over 2.7 billion monthly active users, Facebook offers an opportunity to promote your products and services to a huge audience. Creating a Facebook Business Page is a great start, but it’s not enough to simply post content and hope for the best.

To get the maximum return on investment (ROI), you should identify the days and times when your target audience is online. You may also want to look at the type of content that your audience responds most positively to.

While you could learn from trial and error, you can get a head start by monitoring your closest competitors. Facebook’s Pages to Watch feature can record when your competitors post, how often they post, and their engagement:

Increase sales with Facebook's Pages to Watch feature.

You can then use this data to inform your own social media activities. For example, if content posted on Monday morning generates the most engagement, then it may make sense to publish your own content at this time.

To start spying on the competition, head over to your Facebook Business Page and select Insights > Overview. Then scroll to the Pages to Watch section:

Next, select Add Pages. In the popup, type the first page that you want to monitor and select it:

The Facebook Insights dashboard can help you increase sales.

You can add several brands to your watch list. When you're ready, click on Done. Facebook will now spy on these pages for you, and display all of their activities in your Insights dashboard.

2. Run a User Generated Content (UGC) Contest

Running a contest is a great way to create buzz around your products. However, to get the maximum ROI, you may want to base your competitions around user generated content (UGC). This is content like product reviews and customer testimonials created by someone outside your business.

There are different ways you can put a competitive slant on UGC. For instance, you could challenge your customers to take the most creative photos featuring your products.

You could ask your social media followers to submit content based on a theme, such as photos of their furry friends on National Pet Day:

Alternatively, you could post a photo and ask your followers to come up with a funny caption:

This is already a great opportunity to interact with your audience. However, you can take this engagement to the next level by picking a shortlist of potential winners, and then asking your followers to vote by liking, sharing, or commenting on their favorite entries.

This approach can transform your nominees into temporary brand advocates. That's because they'll probably encourage their friends and family to interact with your content in order to secure more votes.

This exposure and engagement can have a positive impact on your sales. To get started quickly, consider adding a plugin like RafflePress to your site.

RafflePress makes it super easy to create and manage contests and giveaways. It has pre-built templates and a drag-and-drop builder, so you can quickly build your contest's landing page.

It also has fraud protection, so you don't have to worry about cheating. What's really great is that the free version of RafflePress includes a feature that helps you set up contest rules.

With paid plans, you get more features like email marketing and CRM integrations, viral sharing, polls and surveys, and image submission entries.

3. Generate Large Amounts of Content, Fast

With experts attributing over 40% of revenue to organic traffic, it’s impossible to overestimate the importance of search engine optimization (SEO). Having a publishing schedule is an essential part of an effective SEO strategy.

Content may be king, but it can be difficult to publish a steady stream of new material. Thankfully, there are ways to quickly generate content without compromising on quality.

In addition to running UGC contests, you could accept guest posts or partner with third parties who can provide you with valuable content in exchange for backlinks.

You could also collect interesting statistics on a subject matter related to your industry, and then publish them as a post.

Data-driven content can be quick to write, and people love to share it:

Another option is to interview thought leaders and experts in your industry, then publish this content in multiple formats.

For example, you might post the video to your YouTube channel, include snippets in your podcast, or turn the conversation into an engaging article.

If you already have a library of content, it’s always worth looking for opportunities to refresh and republish old posts.

This might involve updating the information in an article, or adding new images. Putting a fresh spin on older posts can be quicker and easier than creating entirely new content.

4. Leverage the Power of Buy Now Buttons

Just because a customer adds an item to their cart doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a sale. Every step in the purchasing process is another opportunity for this person to change their mind and abandon their shopping basket. In fact, 69% of customers fail to complete the checkout process.

That’s where buy now buttons come in. These enable customers to jump straight to your checkout page, leaving them with less time to rethink their purchases:

You can create these powerful calls to action (CTAs) using a flexible service such as Buy Now Plus. You'll also be able to post the same button across multiple platforms, including social media.

To get started, simply connect your Stripe account to the free Buy Now Plus service. You can then create a wide range of high-converting buy now buttons without having to write a single line of code:

Buy Now Plus provides everything you need to embed these buttons into your site, add them to your email marketing campaigns, and post them across social media.

For more information on how to drive conversions with buy now buttons, you can check out our complete guide.

Conclusion

Creativity can change the way people see your brand, which is a huge benefit when you’re trying to make a powerful impression.

By putting a fresh spin on well-worn marketing techniques, you may be able to convince potential customers to choose your business over the competition.

Let’s quickly recap four unique ways to increase your sales:

Monitor your competitors on social media.
Run a user generated content (UGC) contest.
Generate large amounts of content, fast.
Leverage the power of buy now buttons, using a service such as Buy Now Plus.

Do you have any questions about boosting sales by thinking outside the box? Ask us in the comments section below!

If you liked this post, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

How to Get Customer Testimonials (3 Easy Ways)

Marketing and advertising are essential for raising brand awareness and securing sales. However, the modern consumer is naturally suspicious of everything that business owners have to say about their own products.

This is where customer testimonials come in. If a third party speaks highly about their experience with your business, then shoppers are more likely to pay attention – and maybe even act on that recommendation.

In this post, we’ll explore what testimonials are and why they’re so prized by online businesses. We’ll then share three easy ways to generate all the testimonials you need to win over even the most suspicious customer. Let’s get started!

An Introduction to Customer Testimonials (And Why They’re Important)

Consumer testimonials are recommendations from happy partners and customers who can confirm the value of your products and services. This customer feedback can take the form of lengthy case studies that are sometimes produced together by the client and the company:

In some cases, happy customers simply share their feedback. Many businesses pick their favorite reviews and present them as quotes on their sites and product listings:

This third-party feedback can be a powerful tool for boosting your sales. According to a report from the Spiegel Research Center, people are 270% more likely to purchase a product that has reviews, as compared to a product that has none.

There’s also evidence to suggest that customer testimonials are more persuasive than any in-house marketing materials. In one study, TurnTo Networks discovered that 90% of consumers are more influenced by user-generated content such as testimonials than email marketing and search engine results.

Your bottom line is influenced by your total number of sales, but also your profit margins. If you ever need to increase your prices, customer testimonials might be the answer. In fact, data from Podium shows that 68% of customers are happy to pay up to 15% more for the same product or service if they’re confident that they’ll have a better experience.

3 Easy Ways to Get Customer Testimonials

Positive testimonials could be the key to boosting your sales, securing new customers, and potentially increasing your prices. Here are three techniques for ensuring that your business gets the feedback it needs to thrive.

1. Make It Easy for Customers to Leave Reviews

There’s no such thing as too much positive feedback. However, there is evidence that the first five reviews have the biggest impact on conversions. This means that you may experience an uptick in sales after just a handful of reviews.

You can use a WordPress plugin like WPForms to create a feedback form that's easy for customers to use. The plugin comes with several forms that work great for gathering feedback. One we really like is the survey form.

This form is available in the Surveys and Polls addon:

The template is pre-set, and includes fields like the Rating field and Paragraph Text field. You can even use conditional logic in these fields so that they appear only if a customer rates you below a set threshold.

2. Ask for Customer Testimonials

According to Bright Local, 76% of consumers are happy to leave a review – all you need to do is ask. To increase your chances of receiving positive reviews, it’s smart to approach the customer when their behavior indicates that they’re happy with their experience.

If a client contacts you about renewing their subscription or leaves a positive comment on your Facebook page, that may be the ideal time to request a review. However, for busy business owners this kind of one-on-one interaction isn’t always possible.

Fortunately, there are ways to automate these requests. Many companies use email software to remind customers that they’ve recently made a purchase, and that you’d appreciate a review:

There’s a chance that automatically contacting everyone may result in some dissatisfied customers leaving negative feedback. However, when it comes to reviews, quantity is key.

Over half of consumers are more likely to purchase a product that has a large number of reviews and an average rating, compared to a product that has a small number of reviews and an excellent rating.

This suggests that it may be worth risking the occasional poor review, so long as it’s outnumbered by positive feedback.

If you do attract negative reviews, then we always recommend publicly responding to the person, and trying to bring their complaint to a positive conclusion.

If people see you interact with unhappy customers in a polite, helpful manner, they may feel confident that you listen to your audience and always strive to provide a good experience. This could have a positive impact on your sales.

3. Register With Popular Consumer Review Sites

When Canvas8 asked customers which sources they trust to provide honest reviews, third-party sites ranked second. Even when your audience is free to post reviews on your site, there's always the suspicion that you may be moderating this content in some way.

However, you have no control over third-party sites, which makes them a powerful tool for proving the quality of your products:

How to get customer testimonials via your Facebook Page.

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to register your business with all of the major consumer review platforms. This includes Facebook, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Google My Business:

Get customer testimonials for your Google listing.

Once you’re registered, we recommend monitoring these platforms carefully, as some consumer review sites highlight businesses that are responsive. This may earn you some additional reviews.

Since these review sites carry so much authority, it’s smart to show people all the platforms where your business is registered. Many developers have created plugins that make it easy to embed this third-party content on your WordPress website. This includes Reviews and Rating, which provides a widget and shortcode for your Google My Business content.

Conclusion

Customer testimonials are one of the most powerful forms of marketing. Research suggests that if you can secure as few as five positive reviews, you might experience an uptick in sales.

To help you set up a steady stream of positive testimonials, we’ve shared the following tips:

Make it easy for customers to leave reviews, using a plugin like WPForms.
Ask customers for testimonials by emailing them after they make a purchase.
Register your business with popular consumer review sites, such as Tripadvisor and Yelp.

Do you have any questions about how to secure more customer testimonials? Ask us in the comments section below!

If you liked this post, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

How to Boost Online Sales Fast (Top 3 Ways)

In the world of ecommerce, speed is essential. This can be particularly true if you're looking for a quick way to boost your online sales. However, marketing can be unpredictable, making this goal a tall task at times.

Fortunately, a customer-focused approach can help. By using strategies that make purchases easier and more fun for your shoppers, you can increase your online sales in record time.

In this article, we'll discuss a few key things to know about boosting your online sales. Then we'll cover the top three ways to increase your revenue in a snap. Let's dive right in!

What You Need to Know About Boosting Online Sales

It's hard to argue that driving online sales is anything but good news. However, how you increase your revenue can make a big difference. Even if you're focusing on speed, you might want to think of the long-term as well.

For example, one study found that customers who have been shopping somewhere for 30 months or more spent 67% more per order than shorter-term consumers. That means you might want to find a strategy that boosts sales now and also lays the groundwork for future profits.

One way to do this is to focus on customer service best practices. Any sales tactics that are misleading or confusing can end up hurting you in the long run. By focusing on serving your shoppers' needs, you can avoid future complications.

Additionally, it's best not to expect sales to balloon overnight. Even speed-focused strategies can take time to work. We recommend that you keep an eye on your analytics plan. This can help you get an idea of what's working for your site and what isn't.

Finally, we suggest that you keep your individual site's needs in mind. Every audience is different. Therefore, an approach that works for a competitor may not work for you. Try to follow your marketing instincts: if a strategy feels off-brand for your site, it might not be the best fit.

Top 3 Ways to Boost Online Sales Fast

If you're ready to get your sales numbers up, consider implementing one of the following effective tactics in your online store.

1. Add Urgency to Your Sales Pitch

A valuable deal can be hard to find. However, your customers may not feel inspired to act on one unless there's a finish line. That's why you might want to consider adding a timer to your sales to add a sense of urgency.

Publicizing the end of a sale can be a powerful way to pique interest. Rather than an abstract end date, shoppers have a hard deadline. This can encourage them to act quicker on their sales rather than putting them off until later.

This can also be an effective strategy when used with a calendar holiday. You can consider a recent Macy's campaign based around Memorial Day as an example:

A banner ad for a Macy's Memorial Day Sale.

Not only does this approach make use of urgency, but it also helps your customers plan. If they can expect a sale around a holiday, they might be more likely to visit your store when that time comes around.

Adding sale deadlines is also a pretty quick process. Simply add a timer to whatever campaign you had planned.

However, it has long-lived potential too. For example, you can consider recruiting influencers to spread the word of your urgent sales in the future. It may take time to cultivate the right ambassadors, but they can help you quickly reach new audiences once they're involved.

2. Send Out Free Promotional Items

Another way to quickly boost sales is to run a giveaway. It can be a physical product, a coupon code, or a small sample. Whatever form you choose, a well-run contest can create tremendous buzz around your site.

Giving away free items is a well-proven strategy too. One study found that millennials are 75% more likely to make a repeat purchase after receiving a free item. Thus, even a small gift can make a big difference.

One popular approach to this is a raffle-based giveaway. Hosting a giveaway can quickly drive traffic to your site. This may lead to more people discovering and potentially purchasing your products.

Even users who don't make an immediate purchase will now be aware of your brand. You can consider the recent giveaway from Chef's Corner Store as an example:

A giveaway can also grow your email marketing list for future use. In the above example, users must sign up to an email list to win, making this strategy useful for growing your leads.

As an alternative, you might also change up the ways people can enter to win. For example, you could require users to comment on a post or view a product instead. This can boost your engagement while also helping potential customers explore your site.

3. Make Checkout an Easier Experience

Checkouts can be a maze. Shipping information, payment data, and confirmation pages can bewilder your shoppers. Every extra step can increase friction. This can be a waste of all the careful marketing you've done to get customers to the checkout page.

Fortunately, the solution is simple. All you have to do is cut down on cart complexities and minimize the steps your customers have to complete to purchase your products. By doing this, you can capitalize on interested parties instead of spending time reaching new audiences.

It's not just about the steps themselves. You can start a checkout off on the right foot by making it as easy to begin as possible. Our plugin Buy Now Plus can help you do just that:

A banner for Buy Now Plus, an easy way to boost sales fast.

With Buy Now Plus, encouraging more sales is easy. First, you can create customized buy now buttons. Then, you can post them on your site. Finally, when a user clicks those buttons, they'll be taken straight to a secure checkout process.

Buy Now Plus has a super-quick setup. This means you can focus less on getting used to a new program and more on using it to drive sales.

In addition to your site, you can also use Buy Now Plus on your social media accounts. You can place a button anywhere you can add a URL or HTML link, so the possibilities are nearly endless. Simply add the link and let our platform do the rest.

Conclusion

Running an ecommerce store can come with a lot of pressure. If you need to increase your sales as soon as possible, this stress is likely to rise. Fortunately, you can quickly boost your revenue by focusing on your shoppers' experiences.

In this article, we covered the top three ways to boost online sales fast:

Use a deadline to add urgency to a sale.
Give out free products to attract new customers.
Streamline your checkout process with a tool like Buy Now Plus.

How do you boost your sales on a tight timeline? Let us know in the comments section below!