Jamie C. Winters

Ways To Make Your E-commerce Standout 

Online shopping is currently at an all-time high, and as a result, every niche is saturated with e-commerce brands that are nailing the basics. These companies have fulfillment and distribution locked down, and moreover, they know precisely how to meet the needs of even the pickiest customers. In this highly competitive landscape, people want to be able to differentiate between products and brands quickly. Consequently, knowing where to invest valuable time and resources can mean the difference between a converted consumer and an abandoned cart shopper. So, the question remains: What are some of the best ways to make your e-commerce business stand out in such a crowded market?

More than 90% of buyers say they pay more attention to visual appearance over other elements when making a purchase. Furthermore, consumers will leave if your website is outdated or clunky before they even consider purchasing. You cannot afford a website that doesn’t have great UI/UX and funnels customers to a CTA. A few of the most crucial elements of a great e-commerce website are:

• Clear Calls to Action
• Multiple, Large, High-Quality Images on Product Pages
• Lifestyle Versus Product Imagery
• Recommended Related Products
• Customer Reviews and Ratings for Products
• Intuitive and Useful Site Navigation
• Easy Checkout

Generate consistent month-over-month revenue and wow your customers by offering a subscription box or personalized pairings and add-ons. Here are some keys aspects of creating a successful subscription box.

It’s no surprise that people like to buy stuff from companies that help others. Whether your philanthropic outreach is for children, pups, or people struggling with addiction, adding a charitable cause to your business is a great way to set you apart.

Choosing a 3PL Partner – Factors to Consider

For e-commerce business owners, fulfilling orders in-house might be feasible for a short time. As sales increase and warehouse space become sparse, it might be time to outsource fulfillment. Choosing the right 3PL partner for your fulfillment needs can help your business become more strategic, increase customer satisfaction, and scale. Here’s what you need to understand about choosing a 3PL partner and factors to consider.

1. What are your company’s shipping and packaging priorities?
2. What are your company’s marketing priorities?
3. How will these priorities change over the next 3-5 years?
4. What is the projected growth you expect over the next year or two?
5. What qualities do you expect your 3PL partner to have?
6. What services do you want your fulfillment partner to offer?
7. Is sustainability important?
8. How communicative do you want your 3PL partner to be in the relationship?
9. Do you want your fulfillment team to handle returns and restocking?
10. Where are the majority of your customers? Countries, regions, towns, etc.
11. Is offering free shipping to your customers a priority?

Capability

Almost every 3PL company will provide an expanded network of transportation carriers, warehousing, and expertise in the logistics industry. These are the foundational requirements. Therefore to understand which 3PL partner will work best with your company, you need to understand what other services they provide. For example, can they help you with kitting, pick and pack, and returns management? Selecting a 3PL provider that can offer various services will help you offload more logistics management as you grow.

Stability

Don’t go with a newbie. Fulfillment companies popped up like dandelions during the COVID-19 pandemic and have subsequently withered just as fast. Choose a 3PL partner with an established track record for superior service and exceeding industry service standards. The supply chain continues to fluctuate rapidly. Selecting an experienced and stable 3PL partner can help you preempt shifts in the supply to ensure minimal disruptions to your business operations and inventory.

Reputation & Reviews

3PL partners that go above and beyond to care for their customers, carriers, staff, and vendors will have a solid reputation in the industry. Fulfillment companies leverage their relationships in transportation, manufacturing, and marketing to help their clients. Trust reviews from multiple sources to determine what you can expect working with them.

Safety & Security

Amazon lawsuits are multiplying daily from accounts of negligence and safety concerns. While no warehouse is perfect, it’s vital to ensure your 3PL partner is demonstrating a high level of safety for staff and products. Look for providers that have PCI certification and a HAZMAT shipping certification. Furthermore, they should safeguard financial information.

Customer Service

Excellent customer service is a vital part of running a successful business. When customers have a good experience with your company, they share it with others. 3PL companies that exhibit excellent customer service respond quickly to requests, provide clear and helpful communication, are adequately trained, speak with customers directly, and are present in the warehouse. When choosing a 3PL partner, evaluating their customer service offering and quality is crucial.

Scalability

One of the benefits of partnering with a 3PL is the ability to scale your business. The partnership allows you immediate access to flexible storage space, expertly trained fulfillment staff, and a broad network of transportation carriers. Most 3PL companies offer some level of scalability for your business. However, not all 3PLs are created equal. You don’t want to discover after you have onboarded that your plans to 10x are impossible. Ensure your fulfillment partner can provide storage, shipping, and fulfillment solutions for your business today and in the future.

Accuracy

Inaccurate data, inventory, or tracking details can affect your bottom line and customer satisfaction. A solid 3PL partner will have a 99% or higher accuracy rate. This is the industry standard, so anything below that is a red flag. Most 3PL companies utilize high-tech inventory management systems and real-time tracking and delivery programs. This reduces human error and increases insight.

Responsiveness

One of the main complaints of customers about 3PL partners is the need for more responsiveness. In general many fulfillment companies don’t have the human resources to provide a dedicated account manager. They correspond with customers “when they can.” With Falcon Fulfillment, you always have a dedicated account manager. This has enabled our customers to get the answers they need to make crucial business decisions and keep their clients happy. Ensure you are satisfied with the level and consistency of communication your 3PL offers.

Omnichannel Expertise

Retailers who desire to meet and exceed customer expectations strategically offer an omnichannel experience. Find a 3PL provider that has expertise in streamlining sales, inventory management, and fulfillment across all platforms. They can make recommendations to expand your sales funnel without jeopardizing brand continuity or diminishing customer service.

Multi-site Distribution

Unless you sell to customers in a single location, having a 3PL partner with multi-site distribution centers is a significant benefit. This significantly allows you to offer your customers lower shipping costs and faster delivery. Multi-site distribution is essential when competing with the “Prime Effect,” of lightning-fast fulfillment.

Compatible Technology

Every 3PL partner will have slightly different integrations that are turnkey. Select a fulfillment company that already has compatibility with your systems or is willing to customize integrations. Disjointed systems are one of the significant causes of frustration and miscommunications in logistics and shipping so discuss this issue early in conversations. Here is a short list of the integrations Falcon currently offers:

• Shopify
• ShipStation
• WooCommerce
• Infusionsoft
• ClickBank
• OrderBot
• Click Funnels
• Zapier

In addition, our Shipstation partnership allows us to integrate with more e-commerce shopping carts like:

• Amazon UK, Canada, Mexico, USA
• UltraCart
• eBay
• Walmart
• and more

Lastly, Falcon Fulfillment offers our API, allowing seamless custom integrations.

Common and Costly Shipping Mistakes

Shipping products is a necessary component of running a business. According to a new report from Pitney Bowes, parcel shipping exceeds 131 billion in volume globally and is likely to double by 2026. Companies must correctly manage shipping and delivery expenses to prevent negative effects like slowed productivity, dissatisfied consumers, and burgeoning shipping budgets. Unfortunately, these six common and costly shipping mistakes affect even the most diligent organizations. The good news is that all of them can be limited with a few simple changes.

Invoice errors or miscalculations are more common than you might expect. Nearly 2% of all shipping invoices contain errors. The most common inaccuracies include:

• Fuel and Shipping Miscalculations – Fuel prices fluctuate, so it’s no surprise that miscalculations happen regularly. Make sure shipping contracts clearly state acceptable margins of error on fuel charges. In addition, shipping miscalculations are related to inaccurate weights and dimensions of packages.
• Accessory Charges – relate to special instructions or tools required for delivery. For example, charges can be added to access a gated community or deliver a heavy load up or down stairs. Another common accessory charge is for unique tool usage, like lift gates, forklifts, etc. These charges are hard to know whether they are legitimate. Ensure you trust your carrier and have the relationship to question when something seems out of the ordinary.
• Detention – occurs when your shipment isn’t ready for pickup during the allotted time. Often these terms are set beforehand, but you can be overcharged for the time the carrier waits.

The best way to avoid common shipping mistakes is to audit invoices. Whether you take the time to review them or invest in automated invoice technology, it is crucial to double-check for accuracy. Given the numbers, you could save your company 2% on shipping costs annually.

Incorrect Measurements and Dimensions

Incorrectly measuring or weighing parcels is probably one of the easiest shipping mistakes, yet it is one of the most costly. Shipping charges are calculated based on actual dimensions, density, weights, and volumes of parcels. If an estimate is off by even a few ounces, it can result in thousands of dollars of surcharges, especially when shipping more than a few daily orders.

Depending on the carrier, they could even return the package to the warehouse and make you pay for redelivery at the correct amount! This delays the package, costs your company double the shipping, and doesn’t provide your customer with a good experience.

Ensure your packages have precise dimensions and weights, using a tape measure and calibrated scale. It is a simple step that busy entrepreneurs often miss.

Packaging your products in a box that is either too big or too small can cost you money. Improperly packaged products are prone to damage and breakage. Furthermore, you could be overpaying for shipping using an oversized box (albeit standardized). Here are four ways right-size packaging can boost profitability. Packages that are delivered that have sustained shipping damage also do not showcase your brand well. Utilizing packaging and materials that protect your product and showcase your brand saves you money long-term.

A common and costly shipping mistake is offering free shipping when it doesn’t make financial sense. Of course, customers want free shipping but do not offer it if it will place your business in a financial bind. A quick evaluation of your accounting records will tell you whether or not it is viable. Here are a few “free-shipping” options that might still allow you to offer it as a special event without breaking the bank.

This is an easy mistake, especially when you want to cut corners. Unfortunately, the sender covers any shipping damages or losses. This is why it is crucial to insure your products. Regardless of shipping insurance, you can recoup losses and damages when the unexpected occurs.

A silly but common and costly shipping mistake is inaccurate or incomplete delivery details. From incorrect addresses to vague delivery details like the floor or suite number can cause delivery delays, returns and cost you money. Double check address details and ensure if there are special delivery instructions that either the customer covers the expense or verify you can absorb the cost. Invest in online address verification technology. When a customer inputs their address it will confirm the details by cross-referencing them against known addresses. If there is a mistake, it can autocorrect at the input point.

5 Essential E-commerce Website Features

Whether you are a well-established brand or just getting started, a well-designed and executed website is essential to success. A recent forecast by statista.com reveals that e-commerce is expected to grow by over 50 percent during the next four years. E-commerce revenues could reach an incredible 7.4 trillion dollars by 2025. To capitalize on the growing market, e-commerce websites and features must cater to new consumer tastes.

Your website is your storefront. From the homepage to the product pages, each segment has specific elements that cannot go ignored if you want to minimize cart abandonment and increase sales. This article will share 5 essential e-commerce website features that contribute to conversion and customer satisfaction.

Now more than ever, consumers are using multiple devices to scroll, shop, and learn. Screen sizes vary from a watch to a 65” monitor. Furthermore, purchases from mobile devices are on the rise. Retail mCommerce sales (mobile purchases) hit $359 billion in 2021, a 15% increase over 2020.

Your e-commerce brand cannot afford to lose market share because your design isn’t optimized for mobile. Investing in responsive design will make your site mobile-friendly, improve the aesthetic of all screen sizes, and increase the time visitors spend on your site. Nixon.com has an excellent responsive design and great design overall. They cater to a youth lifestyle and have invested in ensuring their buying experience is easy across all devices.

There is nothing worse than having to search for what you are looking for and being unable to find the navigation menu. The navigation is like the foundation of your website. It is where every user will go to locate what they are looking for. Make sure the navigation is prominently placed and easy to use. Eye-tracking research shows people spend 80% of their viewing time on the left portion of your website and only about 20% on the right. Consider using secondary navigation on the left side.

An excellent example of solid navigation design is Rothys.com. They have anchored their navigation in the left quadrant with a responsive and extensive dropdown navigation menu for their unique sales verticals. User-friendly navigation enables your consumer to find what they are looking for quickly and effortlessly if a customer has to look too hard for something, they will simply find what they need from a competitor.

A return policy is often an afterthought for most e-commerce owners, but it can be an effective marketing tool. With more customers shopping online, the details, clarity, and ease of making a return can make the difference between a “sale” and a “save for later.” Ensure your return policy is easy to find and prominently displayed at the point of sale. Use easy-to-understand language. Lastly, make it as simple as possible for a customer to make a return. The more flexibility they have to change their mind, the more likely they will make the purchase.

In fact, 92% of consumers will buy again if the return policy is easy. A great example of a generous return policy is from Zappos.com. They are so confident in their return policy they have placed it in their top header!

Consumers want to be able to pay with whatever platform, card, or app is most convenient for them. Credit and debit card options are standard. In order to improve conversion and attract a broader audience it is important to offer multiple payment options. Payment options that are gaining traction include; Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Boleto, Stripe, Venmo, Square, and E-wallet. With so many ways to pay it can be hard to narrow which will cater to your specific audience. The essential e-commerce website feature to have is more than one way to pay at checkout. This gives consumers flexibility to give you their money easily. After all, you don’t want to prevent a purchase simply because you didn’t offer a payment gateway that was easy for them.

Omnichannel is the new buzzword in the world of e-commerce for good reason. An omnichannel platform, simply stated, is where a consumer has a seamless shopping experience across every location and channel that offers your product.

This means that the website, social channels, third-party retailers, and the brick-and-mortar stores create a singular brand experience. Omnichannel development requires unification across point of sales systems, inventory tracking systems, marketing efforts, and UI/UX design. A daunting task, especially if your sales efforts have become fragmented. It is worth the time and energy to refocus your brand and your technology integrations though. Expect to see more omnichannel fulfillment and growth in the future.