Introducing a new product into a crowded e-commerce marketplace can be difficult. It may feel like you’ll never be heard above the constant noise of your competitors’ marketing. However, when you use a few tried and tested strategies, debuting an e-commerce product can be a breeze.
In this article, we’ll share four essential tips to help ensure a successful launch day for your new e-commerce product. Let’s get started!
1) Conduct Market Research
Introducing an e-commerce product into the world is a big deal. Therefore, you’ll want to take it seriously and conduct extensive market research beforehand. First, getting to know your consumer is key.
You’ll want to identify your target audience right off the bat. That way, you can aim your advertising at this demographic. For example, if you’re selling goods that you believe will appeal to Gen Z, you might consider marketing on platforms with a youthful audience, such as TikTok.
You’d be wise to find out exactly what your audience expects from your product and their customer journey. Conducting surveys, beta testing and trial runs could help you determine this information.
Once your research is done, you can use your findings to set targets, create project timelines and more. It’s best to start early and give yourself more than enough time to work around any obstacles and setbacks. An e-commerce product launch can take months to prepare.
At this stage, it’s also important to keep in mind the current marketing and e-commerce trends. You may want to research what your audience is looking for to discover if they are motivated by timely concerns such as sustainability.
2) Offer Deals
Everyone loves a good deal, and this has the potential to make or break a launch. An attractive offer can prove irresistible for potential customers who are on the fence. That’s why there’s no need to limit the customer to a single choice.
When it comes to launch deals, the sky’s the limit. You may want to offer a discount for items that are bundled together, or promo codes in exchange for email list sign-ups. It’s also common to offer free shipping when a specific checkout value is reached. Additionally, you can consider free gifts, exclusive content, or even a site-wide discount on launch day.
It’s important to factor all of your offers into your target setting and planning. This will help you land on reasonable discounts. The key is to offer deals that are appealing to your customers but still enable you to turn a healthy profit from the get-go.
3) Stay ‘On Brand’
If you want your e-commerce product launch to be successful, your potential customers must believe in the value of what you’re selling. That’s where your brand comes in. Your brand can encompass everything from your company’s story to your color palette.
Whether this is your first product or not, you’ll want to make sure that all the marketing material and content you produce for your launch is aligned with your brand. That includes any social advertising, landing pages and your website as a whole.
Additionally, you may want to develop a mini-brand kit for your launch. A theme that is tied to your audience’s interests, public events, holidays or timely trends can significantly boost your sales.
For example, a holiday season launch with special offers can be a simple but effective strategy. Of course, depending on your product, you might want to go with a more complex theme, or something abstract or artistic.
4) Build Anticipation
Building anticipation is essential for any product launch. You’ll want to announce your forthcoming e-commerce product, then give your potential customers the chance to start anticipating it. This can happen over the course of a few weeks or even months. However, you don’t want to drag this stage out too long or you may end up with frustrated customers.
You can reveal new elements of the product little by little to build suspense. Furthermore, you would be wise to advertise your launch on any social media channels you use. You could even develop an influencer marketing campaign, as this can be more valuable than standard paid advertising.
Depending on your target demographic, you may want to work with influencers on YouTube, TikTok or even Facebook. Email marketing can also be a powerful tool. If you already have a robust email list, you could create a series of emails advertising your new product and schedule them to be sent on important dates.
Another excellent way to build hype is by taking pre-orders. If you’ve been established for some time, you likely have some loyal customers you can target. Finally, landing pages with countdown timers can be a fun way to build excitement. Whether you’re launching your very first product or your hundredth, creating buzz is key.
Conclusion
Debuting a new product is an exciting time for any online business. However, it can also be overwhelming. Fortunately, you can help ensure that everything goes smoothly with a bit of planning and research. By offering irresistible deals, staying true to your brand, and creating hype, you can ensure that your e-commerce product makes a splash.
Do you have any questions about successfully launching a new e-commerce product? Let us know in the comments section below!
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