Preparing Your Builders Merchant Business for Online Sales Peaks

Assessing your current online infrastructure

Before diving into the nitty-gritty of preparing for online sales peaks, it’s crucial to assess your current online infrastructure. This means taking a hard look at your website’s performance, speed, and user experience. Slow loading times can deter potential customers, especially during peak sales periods when traffic is high. According to Google, 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than three seconds to load.

Here at iWeb, our expert solution architects can help you identify bottlenecks and optimise your site for better performance. We recommend using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix to get a comprehensive view of your website’s speed and performance. These tools can provide actionable insights to help you make necessary adjustments.

Optimising your product listings

Product listings are the heart of your online store. Ensuring they are optimised can make a significant difference in your sales. Clear, high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and accurate specifications are essential. According to a study by Salsify, 87% of consumers rate product content extremely or very important when deciding to buy.

iWeb’s e-commerce expertise includes integration with Akeneo PIM, a powerful tool for managing product information. Akeneo PIM allows you to centralise and streamline your product data, making it easier to update and maintain. This ensures that your customers always have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Enhancing user experience (UX)

User experience (UX) is a critical factor in converting visitors into customers. A well-designed, intuitive website can significantly improve your conversion rates. According to Forrester, a well-designed user interface could increase your website’s conversion rate by up to 200%, and a better UX design could yield conversion rates up to 400%.

Our talented team at iWeb specialises in Adobe Commerce Web Design, ensuring your site is not only visually appealing but also user-friendly. We focus on creating seamless navigation, easy-to-use search functions, and a smooth checkout process. These elements can make a huge difference during peak sales periods when users are in a hurry to make purchases.

Implementing robust security measures

Security is paramount, especially during peak sales periods when cyber-attacks are more likely. A data breach can not only result in financial loss but also damage your reputation. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2020 was £3.86 million.

iWeb’s 29 years of e-commerce experience include implementing robust security measures to protect your online store. We recommend using SSL certificates, two-factor authentication, and regular security audits. Our Magento Developers are well-versed in these practices, ensuring your site is secure and trustworthy.

Streamlining your checkout process

A complicated checkout process can lead to cart abandonment. According to the Baymard Institute, the average cart abandonment rate is 69.57%. Simplifying your checkout process can significantly reduce this rate and increase your sales.

Our talented in-house team at iWeb can help you streamline your checkout process. We focus on reducing the number of steps, offering multiple payment options, and ensuring the process is mobile-friendly. These changes can make a big difference, especially during peak sales periods.

Preparing your inventory and supply chain

Inventory management is crucial during peak sales periods. Running out of stock can lead to lost sales and disappointed customers. According to a study by IHL Group, out-of-stock items cost retailers nearly £1 trillion annually.

iWeb’s e-commerce expertise includes end-to-end BisTrack integration, ensuring your inventory is always up-to-date. This integration allows you to manage your supply chain more efficiently, reducing the risk of stockouts and ensuring your customers receive their orders on time.

Leveraging digital marketing strategies

Digital marketing is essential for driving traffic to your online store, especially during peak sales periods. According to HubSpot, companies that blog receive 55% more website visitors than those that don’t.

Our team at iWeb can help you develop and implement effective digital marketing strategies. We specialise in Adobe Campaign and Adobe Marketo Engage, powerful tools for creating targeted marketing campaigns. These tools can help you reach your audience more effectively, driving more traffic to your site and increasing your sales.

Analysing and adapting post-peak

Once the peak sales period is over, it’s essential to analyse your performance and make necessary adjustments. According to McKinsey, companies that use data-driven marketing are six times more likely to be profitable year-over-year.

iWeb’s e-commerce expertise includes using tools like Adobe Analytics and Adobe Real-time CDP to gather and analyse data. These tools can provide valuable insights into your customers’ behaviour, helping you make informed decisions for future sales periods.

Ready to take your builders merchant business to the next level? Reach out to iWeb today to learn how we can help you prepare for online sales peaks and drive your digital transformation. Contact us now to get started!