Why You Need More Than Just Images to Sell Your Products

While it’s said that a picture’s worth 1,000 words, in the online world imagery isn’t enough.  Great quality pictures of your products are certainly part of the mix, as online culture is highly visual.  All the same, if you’re relying on images to sell your products, you’re not doing all you can to drive the people looking at those pictures to your store.

Written content is a key strategy for marketing what you’re selling and some of that concerns rich product descriptions.  This is a content marketing strategy you need to know about and employ.  Here’s our take on why you need more than just images to sell your products.

SEO – your best friend.

Search Engine Optimization is your best online friend.  It’s how people find you on Google and other search engines.  The “optimization” part happens when you write keywords into your text to ensure you have a respectable ranking, making you easy to find.

If you don’t understand SEO well, calling on the services of someone who does to write your copy is a great idea.  Many retailers miss this part of the online puzzle, but it’s so crucial to understand, if you want potential customers to know you’re there.

Images can’t do that.  SEO can and using often-searched keywords connected to the products you’re describing is how you get there.

All your products should be featured with descriptions.  Even a brief product description can drive traffic to your page and subsequently, shoppers to your store.

Words matter.

Online marketing is dependent on words.  Images are important, because they get attention, but they don’t drive traffic.  Only words can do that.  Many retailers are convinced that photographs are the most important element of their websites, but that’s not the case.

Successful online marketing considers the value of words – something retailers hoping to have a robust online presence that’s visible by merit of its search engine rankings, need to embrace.

If your current website doesn’t feature text descriptions to go with all those arresting images, your results are going to be underwhelming, to say the least.  Get those descriptions up, written with SEO in mind and watch your page visits (and sales) soar.

SEO plus.

Visuals only tell part of the story.  Because shoppers online can’t have a tactile experience of the item displayed, they need more information about it.  What does it feel like?  Are the shoes made of “supple leather”?  Is the camera case “sturdy and practical”?

Your product descriptions can make a tremendous difference in online conversions, providing customers with the information they need to make a buying decision.

Is it time to give your online presence the SEO and informational ballast of written descriptions?  Oh yes, it is!  Online retailers who invest in adding product descriptions to their online presence will reap tremendous benefits in terms of sales by adding this crucial feature.

Clip Strip Corp. is a leading-edge innovator in retail POP display support products.  Contact us to find out more.

The post Why You Need More Than Just Images to Sell Your Products appeared first on POP FUEL.

source http://clipstrip.com/pop-fuel/why-you-need-more-than-just-images-to-sell-your-products/

Does Price Matter? Why Price Comparison Shopping Isn’t the End of Retail

Despite claims that the retail sky is falling, traditional retail continues to account for most consumer purchases.  And there’s plenty of reason for that.

Sure, consumers are comparing prices online.  Their mobile devices allow them to walk into your outlet, look at the prices of your products and conduct an online search to ensure that your price point is in line with competitors’.

But that’s not the end of the world.

This post explores the importance of price points and why you may have an edge, even if the price of your items may not be the lowest.

Content counts.

While consumers are conducting price checks, they’re also using their trusty mobiles to research the content of products, location of manufacture and other considerations increasingly important to the modern consumer.

Nobody wants to contribute to sweatshop labor and nobody wants to eat something which contains mystery ingredients they can’t pronounce.  Consumers now are looking at more than price.  They also want to know that what they’re buying is ethically produced, nutritionally sound and of a quality that merits buying it.

Product reviews.

Something else today’s savvy consumer wants to know about products is what their fellow consumers think of them.  Online reviews have incredible clout when it comes to customer conversion.

Reviews read online are the “word of mouth” of the 21^st Century.  Regardless of what you’re selling, your customers want to know about the experiences of other shoppers.  In fact, positive reviews have been found to be the most important factor influencing conversions.

Keeping that mind is crucial to your success and something you should always be aware of.  That means tracking online reviews of the products you’re selling, as well as reviews of your outlet.  In today’s market, those reviews drive a great many sales.

So, does price matter?

Sure, it does!  But it doesn’t matter as much as many would have you believe.  While consumers continue to be price conscious and certainly perform comparisons, price is only the third most important deciding factor in consumer purchases.

Reviews are the primary driver of consumer conversions, with product content coming second and finally, price.

Today’s market realities are smashing conventional wisdom about consumer behavior and decision-making.  An awareness of what really matters to your shoppers is how you’re going to succeed, moving forward.  Once again, the Trifecta of 21^st Century Consumer Conversion is organized in terms of importance, like this:

• Consumer reviews
• Product content
• Price

Shoppers are willing to pay a little more for products which respond to their need for ethically-produced products and products of a high quality, conforming to their preferences.  They care what other people think and take reviews so seriously, that this is the number one deciding factor driving conversation.

Bringing up the rear is price.  While price still matters to consumers, reviews and content are front of mind in their purchasing decisions.

Clip Strip Corp. is a leader in retail POP display supports which create sales floor consistency and a premium consumer experience.

The post Does Price Matter? Why Price Comparison Shopping Isn’t the End of Retail appeared first on POP FUEL.

source http://clipstrip.com/pop-fuel/does-price-matter-why-price-comparison-shopping-isnt-the-end-of-retail/

8 Practical Ways Brick and Mortar Stores Can Compete With Amazon

Amazon is the elephant squatting in the corner of every brick and mortar retailer’s store.  Sure, it’s a big, iconic online retailer.  But confronting that Amazon elephant is not as tough as you think.  Here are 8 practical ways brick and mortar stores can compete with Amazon and grab their market share.

1. Online visibility.

This is a big one.  When consumers search products online, Amazon is always going to come up at the top of the results.  But you can combat that effect with effective SEO (search engine optimization) that pushes you up in the search engine rankings.  Select popular products and ensure that product descriptions include keywords which mirror the ones Amazon is using.

2. Exceptional service.

Personalized, warm service is something Amazon can’t give its customers.  You can, though.  Training your staff to be at their very best for everyone who comes in is a retailer’s most pressing need.  Your sales staff is your edge.

3. Customer experience.

Make a visit to your store a reward for your customers.  Create an environment that’s branded, unique and pleasant, ensuring that customers arrive to discover an immersive experience that makes the trip worth it.

4. Emphasize convenience.

Shoppers conducting online searches for local products need to see that it’s convenient to shop at your location.  Emphasize features like abundant street parking, and an easy to find outlet.  Amazon isn’t all that convenient if you’re looking for something you need immediately.

5. Leverage your online presence.

If you’re not set up to do e-commerce (which is not compulsory in terms of competition), your online presence should be leveraged to drive business to your store.  Everything you can do to enhance that presence and make people want to visit you is well worth your time.  That means keeping your site active and attractive.

6. In-store events.

A sub-set of customer experience, in-store events provide added value for your shoppers.  Demonstrations, fashion shows and tutorials about products you know your customers love, when held regularly, create buzz and generate interest.  Use social media to keep your shoppers up to date and in the know.

7. Live presence.

A static website which doesn’t cover all your in-store product isn’t good enough anymore.  To compete with Amazon, you need to keep your website and social media channels fresh.  Your online catalogue should be up to the minute and include announcements and descriptions of new products.  It’s worth your time to invest in this.

8. Get mobile.

The rise of the mobile device means that your website needs to be compatible for these users.  When they log on, they should see a website adapted to their needs.  To remain competitive and to pull in potential customers using mobile devices, it’s imperative that your online presence conforms to the needs of this market.  Hire someone to get it done and reap enormous benefits.

Clip Strip Corp. is a leading-edge provider of retail POP display supports. Our outstanding products bring professionalism and consistency to your in-store customer experience.

The post 8 Practical Ways Brick and Mortar Stores Can Compete With Amazon appeared first on POP FUEL.

source http://clipstrip.com/pop-fuel/8-practical-ways-brick-and-mortar-stores-can-compete-with-amazon/