11 Tips to Grow Your Online Business Overseas
1. Build trust and a reliable reputation
E-commerce is a new experience and consumers are naturally wary. Parting with your hard-earned money before seeing a product is a scary proposition. Make sure your delivery partner is reliable. Delivering what you sold on time and in one piece is paramount. A bad experience will reflect poorly on a seller’s credibility. If a product is not delivered on time, buyers are more likely to blame the seller than the delivery agent. Blaming the delivery agent will just seem like a lame excuse for poor performance.2. Provide clear shipping costs & return policies
Hidden costs destroy trust and credibility. Even if you are offering a great product or deal, it can make the customer suspicious. Be transparent, up front and don’t hide behind the size 4 font.3. Reward the loyal consumer
It costs more to acquire new customers than to retain an existing one. This adage holds true for all businesses, and more so for small online businesses. I think it is crucial to maintain credibility and a good reputation. Loyal consumers will be your voice and advocate. This is especially true when things go wrong. If you treat them right, a loyal customer will stand up for you.4. Be consistent and get reviews
Consistency is the cornerstone of all online business. The customer needs to know exactly what to expect. Deviations from the norm can be stressful and will just create more distrust. On the other hand, a surprise when you exceed expectations is always welcome and helps to build loyalty.5. Be unique
Don’t be another “me too”. A customer is not going to seek out a small business if they can find the same product at an established merchant. You need to either have a competitive price or a unique product that the competition can’t offer. Find a “need” to fulfil and customers will come knocking on your door. Be open to new ideas and you may find new opportunities.6. Exploit your size by being nimble and flexible
This can be done in various ways:- Being your own boss means you can do what you want
- Find new ways to surprise and delight your customers
- Don’t think, “That’s how it’s always been done.” Be ready to embrace something new
- Your vendors can also be your partners. Be open to collaboration so you can leverage their reach and expertise.