Sell online? Whether you have a brick and mortar store with an online boutique to support it or exclusively sell online, there are ways to support your online customers through incentives that can help enhance their shopping experience. It also provides you with the opportunity to create a new base of customers that will hopefully remain dedicated. Three simple yet effective ways to do this include:

1. Offer free shipping on all your products. No exceptions. If you have to make exceptions, make them few and rare as a way to better support your customers.

2. Provide gift wrapping services for gift items without an additional charge. Make your gift wrapping really fabulous and stand out so that when the the package arrives to the receiver, they are impressed and want to check out your online store, as well, just from the gift wrapping alone.

3. Send email coupons out as thank you for any online purchase. This not only shows your appreciation for their recent purchase, but gives them the opportunity to want to return online to shop for more. The coupon should make the customer really want to return, so offer something more than just 15% off. 25% or more is a nice incentive, as well as other ideas include a gift with purchase or buy one get one free on select items.

Using Email Campaigns To Support Your Online Store

If you have a database of your online shoppers, use email campaigns selectively to communicate your brand message, sales, new items and more. Make sure to excite your customers but not to bombard them with too much, too often. Through your email campaigns, make sure your customers know they are important and among the first to know about all your great products, sales and more. This is a great tool to use as a way to showcase your incentives, as well.

Offer Support To Make Shopping Online Easier

Want to offer even more than what you know you can? Let your customers know that they can contact you through phone or email to communicate their special incentive needs. Be creative and be open to ideas that allow for flexibility to support your clients the best you can.

Finally, recognize that as an online store, you need to reach beyond the expected to stand out from the rest. It’s a tough retail market in all categories, so make sure you take the steps necessary to offer more than what the majority are to your customers in an effort to gain more in sales as a result.

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Nicole Reyle is the founder of Retail Minded. Retail Minded was founded in 2007 in an effort to support retailers and wholesalers. Based in Chicago, Retail Minded services independent and small based retailers and wholesalers across the country with project based support services and throughout the world with their professional blog. Services that are offered by Retail Minded range from general consultation to website construction to marketing support and Buyer’s Packet creations and much more. Founder Reyhle is also available for guest speaking engagements and professional writing assignments.

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