What separates a successful eCommerce business from a failing one? Is it the product or the marketing? Is it the customer or the sales team?

Chances are if you are trying to run an eCommerce business you have asked yourself these questions. And the answers to those questions can be found in this article. So, if you're ready to establish or grow your clothing brand online, keep reading!

Here are 8 traits of a successful eCommerce business.

1. Know Your Audience

Starting a clothing brand is the easy part. From there you have to find new customers and build loyalty among the customers you have. The key to new and repeat customers starts with knowing your audience.

When you set out to start building a clothing brand, who did you think was going to be your ideal customer? Here are a few questions you can answer to narrow your audience profile:

• How old are they?
• Why and where do they shop for clothes?
• What is most important to them in a clothing brand?
• How do they find your site and why would they choose it over a competitor?
• What would bring them back to your site again?

Do you have answers to all these questions? Good! Don't be afraid to make the identity of your ideal audience specific. Think about tailoring to the audience rather than casting a wide net and hoping for the best.

2. User Experience

If you owned a physical clothing store you would want your customers to have a good experience from when they walk through the door to when they check out and bring their clothes home. The same principle applies to the best eCommerce businesses. Your website should be designed to make every part of the shopping experience easy and enjoyable. 

Take a look at your website homepage. Is the menu easy to find and navigate? Is it clear where you want the customer to click next? If not, consider adding a clear call to action (CTA) button so the customer knows where to go and what to do (i.e., SHOP NOW).

Also, check out your product pages. Do they have appropriate descriptions and images to help consumers find what they need? Be critical as you review your eCommerce site and make changes to improve customer experience.

3. Search Engine Optimization 

Search engine optimization (SEO) will help your eCommerce site rank higher when people use particular keywords to search for clothing online. Basic SEO for clothing brands might include keyword optimization, backlinks, and guest posts. 

Not sure what any of that means? It's okay! Check out this article on basic SEO tips. The major goal of SEO is to drive organic traffic to your site without spending a lot of money on paid advertising. 

4. Social Media

You didn't think we'd leave out the ever-illusive social media marketing, did you? Social media can seem overwhelming if you come from a background in traditional retail or fashion but don't let it intimidate you. 

You can use social media accounts to advertise your product or connect with existing and potential customers. Social media is also a great place to conduct research on your audience. Use those platforms to engage people, ask questions, offer information, and establish your authentic brand voice.

Most of all, social media is the newest form of customer service. And if you can provide exceptional customer service via social media you're on your way to establishing brand loyalty and separating yourself from the other eCommerce clothing stores.

5. Be Smart With Data

It's amazing the amount of data you can collect from your users online. But the data is only as good as the analysis and willingness to pivot.

For example, if you are noticing a lot of abandoned carts, there could be an issue with the checkout process. Or maybe customers need an extra nudge via email to go back in and check out with their items. You can test your theories, look at the data again, and solve the problem.

6. Stay Authentic to Your Brand

Let's say you own a clothing company that sells clothing made from bamboo. Your brand is eco-friendly and tailored towards millennials and gen Z customers that are environmentally conscious. You wouldn't all of a sudden start selling non-recycled plastic accessories, would you?

Of course not. Because you know that it doesn't align with your branding. Anything you sell, blog about, or post online should reflect the values and voice of your brand.

7. Delivery

It's no secret that people in the modern world want things fast. After a few clicks, they want to see that their new clothes will be arriving in a matter of days. But it's not only a matter of shipping speed but also cost and reliability.

Customers may be deterred by high shipping costs. So if you have to sacrifice delivery speed for shipping cost or reliability, think again. Your brand depends on a positive customer experience and reviews.

8. Mobile Site

Is your eCommerce site easy to use on a mobile device? Test it yourself and see! Many consumers are using cellphones and tablets to complete online shopping and you want them to have as great of an experience as laptop or desktop users.

Consider working with a web design company to optimize your mobile site. It could help you boost your sales and improve the customer experience.

You Are Ready to Run a Successful eCommerce Business

After reading these eCommerce tips you are ready to take your clothing company from good to exceptional. Remember that even with an eCommerce site, the customer is the most important thing. 

If you read this article and are still feeling overwhelmed about website design, lead generation, and your ability to run a successful eCommerce business, we can help you! At BitBranding we work with companies just like yours to build and grow their eCommerce business. 

Contact us today to learn more about our services!