1. Share more contents

As you have heard of an adage “content is king” and it has the same implication on an eCommerce website, as well. Writing blog posts is a great way to load your website with content. In that case, never compromise with the quality, first of all. And then, write for your users. Search engines love what users prefer. But, it’s not enough to write only your site. Step out and appear on social media with unique and engaging posts. Besides sharing content from your blog, plan out content for social media alone. It will help you get an individual identity over social channels. Above all, get featured on other blogs with sponsored content and featured posts.

2. Find out what works best for you

When fixing a strategy for your eCommerce store, be open-minded. You have to initiate changes to it whenever needed. Every business is different. That’s why you shouldn’t follow a ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy for your site. What strategies work for others might not work for you. Try with various plans before determining a particular model. Facebook ads work best for many organizations, while others get benefits from offering special packages to Facebook groups. Interestingly, a lot of companies did very well in getting traffic from Pinterest. In your case, it might be best to start with the email campaign. The thing is you never know until you tried.

3. Leverage promotion on packaging

Have you ever seen the Zappos’ packages? They’re amazing along with their name printed very well, which surely deserves attention. Now, come to the takeaway. Print your company name and website address on every package you deliver. Wherever your customers put it, there’s a big chance many people would see it. Friends when visiting his house, neighbors when the package arrives and is kept near the staircase, and other ways during delivery can notice the name. Not only that, millennials love to share exciting things on social media. So, they might upload pictures of newly bought shoes or t-shirts with the packages placed next to the products. People might know your name from there.

4. Build a robust content marketing strategy

To get the most out of the content, you need first to establish a content marketing strategy. If you can do that you can get more things done and achieve higher goals. Jot down the plan on how you want to approach your customers: writing blog posts, getting featured on other sites, video promotion, and so on. Based on your approaches, now make a comprehensive plan where you’ll set a date for what to publish and which day. And that’s not enough. Monitor the resulting weekly or monthly to figure out what works fine and whatnot. If you have a dedicated team for the content, then keep the content creation and content marketing team separated.

5. Engage users with your journey

Let’s not move alone. Involve your customers with you. The more you can encircle them to your business, the more profit you will receive. In many ways, you can do that. Keep an option to write reviews on your product pages and add a comment section. Whenever a user asks a question, reply to it. Run a survey on your site and get feedback from users. Based on that data, you can create an informative post comfortably. Moreover, offer contests occasionally with a lucrative prize so that users love to engage with your site and products. Especially, encourage them to share on social media. It might be a goal achieved with a hashtag suggested by you.

6. Offer something extra

When everyone is following the same tricks, it’s you who try to stand out and grab the best attention from your audience. Follow the basic principles (meaning, do what others are doing.) Then, excel your strategy by implementing a one-of-it’s-kind technique. Let me give you an example. Shopify is known for its robust eCommerce platform. Beyond their core service, they have a service name Hatchful which allows people to build logos and brand assets. And, of course, it’s free! If you can introduce an exclusive service, it will help you build a strong identity to place you ahead of time. If you can’t make that happen, you can at least produce a free buying guide.

7. Never compromise with the basic

While you’re concerned about offering extra services, don’t forget the fundamentals. You can’t win customer’s hearts with amenities while you’re lagging behind providing the essential facilities. Make sure you’re providing faster delivery. Within a specific region or for some products, you may offer free shipping. Also, it’s vital to deliver what you displayed in your store. If somehow customers find it’s not what you presented the trust will be at stake, and you have to pay for it big time. Furthermore, adding multiple payment options, keeping product variations, and writing clear descriptions also fall into the requirements.

8. Start a YouTube channel

Of course, you have tons of marketing ideas, and yet I have mentioned YouTube separately. First of all, YouTube can be a standalone platform for you that brings you traffic and sales. Beyond your website, you can establish a channel there to build an audience that everyone else is missing. Brightside, 9gag, and myriad other companies can be an excellent example of that. Next, you may ask what to do on a video platform? Actually, a lot. By making how-to videos, you can attract many people and convert them into your customers. Besides your original videos, you can ask customers to give a video review and then combine them in a single file and promote.

9. Maintain the clean-slate for no-penalty with search engines

Don’t forget that the search engines are watching your site. If they see you’re not following the best practices they recommended, your site won’t appear on result pages. However, keeping the site up-to-the-mark of what Google suggests will help you put it on the safe side. Furthermore, the chance of appearing on SERPs will also increase. So, don’t add duplicate content, first and foremost. Avoid keyword stuffing, getting irrelevant and low-quality links, and other things that Google forbids you to do. Instead employ the best SEO practices, like on-page optimization and healthy link building.

10. Don’t overlook [and overuse] email marketing

Among all forms of marketing, email communication has a personal touch that connects an individual customer directly. While you send messages for all people through other mediums, emails set one user apart from others. To get the most out of this method, you need to build a robust email marketing strategy. First, add a subscription option on your website to collect email addresses from people. Then, plan what to send them and how often. You can send curated blog posts, buying guides, special discounts, coupons, and bundle offers. Finally, you can set campaigns over the year with a different time slot. Otherwise, sending emails weekly or monthly won’t irritate your users.

Final words

I hope this article will help you achieve a more significant conversion from your online shop. Always keep your mind open so that you can infuse more tricks whenever possible. While applying the tips mentioned above, don’t forget to observe how each action performs. If it works excellently, then repeat it otherwise replace it with other effective techniques. There’s always room for improvement.

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The post Top 10 Tips and Tricks to Win the Competition with eCommerce Store appeared first on Tricky Enough.

Whether you are starting a business or expanding the one, financial capital is the one thing you would often find lacking. Your current reserves and income generation is only enough to meet the day-to-day business needs and other business obligations including taxes and salaries. So, what are the available options that can help you with your desired business target? You can wait for some years to garner some savings that you can invest in your business later on or you can apply for a business loan today. A business loan is usually the best bet in the business world. You get enough capital in a limited period of time that can, in some cases, save you and in other cases help you grow rapidly in your specific domain. One glitch in this business loan scenario is the terms and conditions. Most often than not, if you are applying for a business loan you will have to agree to the terms of your lender and will not have much say in what, how and when of your loan agreement. How can the terms of a loan agreement be arranged in your favor? It seems like a mammoth task, considering you are borrowing something and also want to place a condition that you will return according to your convenience. Fortunately, it is not unconventional and difficult in the business world to obtain a business loan on your own terms. You just need to be smart in your trade and be knowledgeable about the loan conditions and agreements. This article highlights 10 tips that can help you obtain a business loan on your terms.

1. Breakdown Loan Requirements

If you breakdown your loan requirements, you come off as someone who is serious about business and the agreement. Once you have clearly identified what you need the loan for, you can present your requirements to the lender. The lender will then know what exactly you are going to use the amount for. Alternatively, if you present your loan requirement as a lump sum, you will weaken your case in front of the creditor. Anyone who is lending you money would wish to know where that money is going to be spent and how you plan to return it. If you start off with a weak plan, you damage your chances of being in the creditor’s favor. Breaking down your loan requirements is a solid start when it comes to making the creditor agree to lend you capital on your terms.

2. Research the Lenders

It is critical to know the institution or the bank that you’re going to reach out for a business loan. Every lender or creditor has different terms and conditions in case of lending and loan repayment. Therefore, it is best to do your homework before preparing a loan application. Another thing you should keep in mind is that if you are applying to multiple lenders, you should modify your loan application accordingly. Some broad stipulations remain the same across the board when it comes to business loans, but every creditor has various limitations and different work practices. So, it is best to do thorough research on the creditor you wish to reach for the financing. That includes going over the previous loan agreements of the preferred creditor, if available. You can also try to establish contact with businesses that previously had a business relationship with the said creditor. Having background knowledge and a good understanding of the lenders will be instrumental in having a favorable loan agreement.

3. Prepare Proper Documentation

Once you have identified the lender/s you are going to apply for a loan, then comes the preparation of the documentation. As mentioned earlier, it should be a lender-specific application. Therefore, prepare your documentation according to the requirements of the creditor. Some broad points that should be considered while preparing documents for the application loan are:

• Name of business should be clearly stated without any spellings error.
• The business credit report for at least past 2-3 years.
• The loan applicant’s business and personal credit history.
• Tax ID.
• The tax returns.
• Amount of loan along with details of the purpose.
• Financial statements of business and business’s shareholders.
• Projected financial statements.
• Bank statements.
• List of executive officers.

When you have already outlined the essential details for the scrutiny of the creditor, there are great chances that the creditor will give you and your application due attention and time. Proper documentation is the key step in convincing the lender to agree to your term loans.

4. Have A Good Credit History

It cannot be stressed enough that you should have a good credit history when applying for business loans. If your credit history is poor, your chances of having a loan approved on your terms will go down the drain.

• A creditor thoroughly scrutinizes the financial statements and personal and business credit history of the loan applicant.
• If your credit history is below 700, your chances of securing a loan are slim to none.
• A credit score in the range of 600-700 may work if your current and past financial statements along with projected financial statements present a promising outlook.
• Debt to income ratio is also considered and if it falls in the favorable scale, your chances of securing a loan from your preferred creditor also get a boost.

Time in business and business cash flow are some of the other factors that are considered by the creditor in addition to credit history. If your cash flow is positive and consistent and you have been in the business for 2-3 years with consistent performance, the possibility of loan on preferred terms becomes enhanced.

5. Orderly Financial Statements

Keeping your financial statements in order may seem an unimportant task for some but it is highly essential in three scenarios. When you have to pay your taxes, when you are applying for insurance claims and when you are applying for a loan! The financial statement is thoroughly screened by lenders. Therefore, it is advisable that an accountant is tasked with getting the financial statements in order before they are presented to the creditor. If you are applying to a top-notch creditor, it may be the case that their enterprise will require your financial statements to be audited by a certified accountant. So, be prepared to incur the cost of such. Well-organized balance sheets and carefully outlined cash flow statements including accounts payable and receivables will beef up your loan application in the eyes of the creditor.

6. Good PR With Loan Officers

It is not always the creditor who can help you in securing a loan. It is in your benefit to develop good personal relations with the loan officers. It does not imply that they will be disloyal to their employer and will gain you inside favors. Having good PR with loan officers entails that you can gain knowledge on the best time to apply and also about the preferences of your creditor. You can thus prepare your loan application accordingly. Loan officers can also help in arranging an impromptu meeting with the creditor in case anything urgent comes up at either end. This kind of arrangement works in favor of both parties.

7. Consider Providing Security or Collateral

If you can provide loan security or collateral for the loan, you can make the creditor draft the entire loan agreement according to your terms. A collateral is a surety for the creditor that any amount they are lending can be sourced by liquidating the assets presented as collateral. The amount lent by the creditor is safe in case you put up collateral in your loan agreement and you can make the creditor agree to an interest-free loan payment or payment over a period of time suitable to your business plans.

8. Analyze the Proposed Loan

It is in your best interest to analyze the terms of a loan agreement before finalizing it. Every creditor will present their terms to you when you apply for a loan. You should apply to multiple lenders and then analyze the proposed terms from all the lenders. Out of these, you can select the one that aligns best with your business targets and your ability to pay back the loan. You should never consider one creditor for your loan and neither should you have too many options. Where one can result in a bad deal, the latter option will result in the loss of valuable time and resources. Select 3-4 creditors and analyze the proposed loan agreement presented by them and go for the one that suits you the best.

9. Keep Bookkeeping In Order

If you do not have an accountant to manage your accounts, consider hiring one. However, if your budget does not allow a full-time accountant, you can opt for hiring the services of the one to just organize your bookkeeping before you apply for a loan. Alternatively, if you or any other employee is good with accounting software, you can try using such software to put your bookkeeping in order. The accounts are thoroughly scrutinized by the lender and it will not bode well for your case if they are not in an orderly fashion. If you cannot keep your accounts in order, the lender may doubt your ability to repay the loan. Therefore, make sure you either acquire an accounting software or hire an accountant.

10. Active Personal And Business Online Profile

You ask for a huge loan from someone and they just lend it to you without knowing much about you or your business. That does not really happen in today’s business world. A lender does not only thoroughly screen your accounts, financial statements, and credit history but also does perform professional and personal scrutiny before approving the loan. You should have an active online presence, in terms of your business as well as on a personal level. The creditor should be able to have a basic understanding of you as a person and of your enterprise as a business entity in the market. Make sure it is updated and honest. This will improve your case and desire to have a loan on your terms.

Do thorough research before applying for a loan so that you can identify a lender who can give you the best deal that matches your set of requirements. Following these 10 tips can be your starting point in preparing the case for your next business loan.

The post 10 Tips to Obtain a Business Loan on Your Terms appeared first on Tricky Enough.

Any brand that does not have a social media presence is already in the dust. But even for those that do, trying to get recognition (and thus a following) can be a real struggle. The competition has never been higher and standing out in this sea of company profiles, accounts, pages, and posts is a huge challenge.

If you are struggling to get social media brand recognition, then this article is for you. In it, you will find some strategies and tips that have worked for others and may work for you.

Find Your Audience on Social Media

If you have not already developed a customer persona, then that is your first and obvious step. Beyond that, however, there is lots of data out there that you can access. If you have solid demographics on your customer persona, you can research where they hang out online, even down to the best times of the day and best days of the week to be posting to reach them.

Choose Your Platforms Wisely

Once the research is completed, you are ready to choose among the numerous social media platforms where you will establish a presence. Unless you are a Coca-Cola, you cannot possibly be everywhere – you don’t have the social media content team that such an enterprise has.

And so, you must choose just a couple of those platforms, based upon your research. Why? Because you only sustain and be consistent with your content creation and posting on just a couple of platforms. Remember, Nathan Chan began with Instagram, only branching out to other platforms as his success grew. It’s far more important that you do one or two platforms as well. Choose wisely, and you will reach much of your target audience. You can expand later.

Customize the Content Based Upon Platform

If you have chosen two platforms, let’s say Facebook and Instagram, do not think that you can simply create one post for both platforms. They are very different. Instagram is totally visual and your text is really contained in your captions, bio, and the discussion thread. Facebook, on the other hand, has no limits regarding text, and hashtags have never really been fully embraced. While the topic may be the same (and there should be some consistency of topics), the methods by which those topics are covered on each of these platforms will differ.

Focus on as Many Visuals as Possible

There is just an ocean of content out there on social media, and consumers just ignore most of it. They are busy, suspicious, and not moved by hard sells. And at this point, the use of mobile devices has exceeded the use of PCs. If you create walls of text, you will be ignored. Whatever you can say visually, you must – photos, other visuals, videos, etc. You will capture far more attentiveness and engagement if you do. There is a huge body of research that demonstrates this. You should read it so that you understand the importance of “saying it with visuals.” A great informal how-to or explainer video, especially if you can add a little humor, will buy you lots of goodwill.

When You Must Use Text

Yes, you will need to do this sometimes. You will need to create a compelling brand profile; you will need to use words to engage, educate, entertain, and inspire. When you do need words, make certain that they are couched in creativity, with amazing post titles/headlines, a format that is easily readable and “snackable,” and a conversational tone. Crafting an engaging text is a tough challenge. If you need help, get it. Find freelance copywriters with successful records, either on sites such as Upwork or on any number of online writing services, such as Trust My Paper. The point of social media is not to sell. It is to tell stories, solve problems, engage, and, above all, to establish social relationships. Be social.

Get the Right Balance

It’s called social media for a reason, and the operative word here is “social.” You are not on social media to sell your products or services. You are there to build relationships with an audience. At least 80% of your post content should have that as a goal. So, go forth, tell stories, entertain and inspire the folks, be a giver, and endear yourself to your following. Every once in a while, you can direct followers to a blog post you have posted on your site or to feature a new product or a discount. The point is this: you need to get outside of yourself and your sales and profits goals and get into serving others.

One of the most impressive and revered types of social media content is that of a company that takes on a social cause and gets its followers involved too.

Another major type of content engagement is surveys, contests, quizzes, etc. They don’t even have to relate to your niche – they only need to relate to topics that are of interest to your audience and/or provide a prize that is valuable. You can even make sharing the content as an “entry ticket” to a contest.

An additional great strategy is that of “newsjacking.” You can take a major news item and find a creative way to comment on it and start a discussion. And if it relates to your niche, all the better. How many bottled water companies do you think grabbed hold of the Flint water crisis and used it to make donations and promote conversations?

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Find Indirectly Related Businesses and Collaborate

There are plenty of established businesses on social media whose audiences are the same as yours. When you can find those that are not in your specific niche, you can set up collaborative relationships to promote one another and both add to your followings.

And even better? Give shout outs to other businesses that share your audience, without any expectation of getting the same in return. Most companies have social mention software that alerts them when they are mentioned anywhere (you should have this too), and they will link to the post that gave them some free publicity. They will feel good about you and will probably feel compelled to give you some free publicity too.

Track, Track, Track

Social mention software is just one thing you can do to track. But the great thing about it is that you receive alerts whenever someone comments on a post. Then, you can go in immediately and respond to that comment in some way. This not only keeps relationships going but, if there is an issue posted by a customer, you can publicly resolve it.

All social media platforms have tracking analytics so that you can evaluate the effectiveness of your content. You will be able to see which types of posts are getting the most likes and shares and where your newer traffic is coming from. These insights should drive what you do going forward.

Begin with These

These eight tips should give you a bit to “chew on” as you review what you have done thus far and which of these you can use to boost your brand on social media. These strategies have proved successful for others, and there is no reason they should not for you. Go slowly and deliberately. You will probably not crush social media at the level that Nathan Chan did (he is the exception), but over time, if you persevere and keep consistency, you will crush it enough to gain a large following.

The post 8 Tips to Crush Brand Recognition on Social Media appeared first on Tricky Enough.