Customers love to feel the soft fabric of a sweater, admire the craftsmanship on a piece of furniture, or sniff an aromatic candle before making a purchase. As an online retailer, you're probably wondering wondering: "How can I recreate this tangible experience in my ecommerce storefront?" 

We'll uncover strategies to help you boost website sales and increase customer engagement, from mobile-first design to personalized recommendations through AI. Rely on your virtual shopping assistants to guide your customers down the digital aisles they're looking for. Top connective ecommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento and Square Online can help streamline your ecommerce business, helping you master the art of online retailing to grow your business.

Boosting ecommerce store sales

Searching for approaches to expand deals and client procurement is fundamental in the quickly evolving universe of ecommerce. One such strategy that has proven effective for many online stores is offering an app-like shopping experience.

According to a study by Square Online, businesses saw a 97% increase in sales when they offered their customers this type of immersive, mobile-friendly browsing environment. The intuitive nature of apps keeps customers engaged longer, which often leads to more frequent purchases and higher average order value (AOV).

Another proven strategy to boost ecommerce sales is to offer product protection as an upsell opportunity. Extended warranties for products like electronics, appliances, furniture and jewelry are just as important to ensure damages and malfunctions don't put a strain on your customers' budgets (or your bottom line). Prioritizing your customers' experience, making sure your website is mobile-friendly, and leveraging smart product placements and upsell opportunities will help you elevate the ecommerce shopping experience for your business.

The impact of mobile-first design

A key factor in creating an engaging app-like shopping experience lies within adopting a mobile-first design approach. As the majority of online shoppers use smartphones for browsing and purchasing products online, designing your ecommerce store with these users in mind can help you connect with your target audience.

An "app-like" shopping experience refers to website design strategies that make browsing as easy and engaging as using an app on your phone. This could include responsive site design for seamless use across devices, interactive content such as sliders or animations, or even personalized recommendations based on past purchases – much like what you'd see in your favorite retail apps.

This shift towards accommodating mobile users isn't just about aesthetics; it's also about functionality. A streamlined checkout process minimizes frustration and encourages completion - resulting in increased conversions and ultimately driving dollars to your bottom line.

Directing customers to specific products

Besides delivering an exceptional user interface on both desktops and smartphones, pointing customers towards specific items can be another powerful way to drive up average order values. It's not just about having great products but also making sure those items get seen by potential buyers.

A well-implemented recommendation system goes beyond pointing customers towards hot deals; it makes shopping personal by suggesting products based on their browsing history and previous purchases. This not only helps increase average order value but also improves customer loyalty as they feel understood and appreciate the efficient and personalized experience you've created for them.

Social media platforms have long been using algorithms that predict what users want next – why shouldn’t your ecommerce platform do the same?

You could start selling popular ecommerce goods or introduce special discounts during peak seasons like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, then strategically drive traffic using AI tools towards these hot-ticket items using marketing campaigns across social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram, email and retargeting ads to ensure your customers are aware of your ecommerce store promotions.

Top ecommerce platforms for 2023

Check out these top 100 most successful Shopify stores - how does your ecomm shop stack up? When it comes to success in the online retail world, choosing the correct ecommerce platform to support your business needs is essential.

These ecommerce platforms offer more than just a digital space to display your products. They give you tools to manage inventory, interact with customers, track orders and analyze sales patterns - all from one place.

Among the popular frontrunners are WooCommerce, Shopify, and Square Online. Each offers unique features designed to cater specifically to different types of businesses.

WooCommerce: the open-source marvel

WooCommerce is known as an open-source plugin built specifically for WordPress users. It's flexible enough to accommodate anything from small start-ups to large-scale retailers selling hundreds of thousands of items.

Shopify: an all-in-one solution

Shopify has positioned itself as a go-to solution not only for the ease of selling online, it also integrates payment gateways effortlessly. Their standout feature? A smooth checkout process aimed at reducing cart abandonment rates which directly impacts your ecommerce sales.

Square Online: tailored for smbs

Square Online is geared towards smaller businesses looking for simple yet effective solutions; its easy-to-use interface enables anyone to create an online presence without any technical know-how. It also allows for integration with physical stores, providing a seamless omni-channel experience.