Five benefits of an omnichannel online marketing strategy for small businesses

When I decided to start an online business selling wholesale and custom branded packaging, I saw the value in the approach that customers – not my brand – would be the core of my business. This meant that we were always ready to reach customers in any way that they choose, designed for their needs only.

Research implies that companies that prioritise customer experience generate 60 per cent higher profits that their competitors. An integrated approach to marketing that recognises that people spend lots of time online and offline is helpful to small business, with little outlay and administrative time needed. 

Here are some of the benefits of implementing an omnichannel marketing strategy into your small business. 

1. Omnichannel allows you to showcase your brand on multiple channels to drive traffic and sales

The more potential customers see your brand, the more likely they're to convert to a customer. Commonly known in the industry as the rule of seven, it refers to a customer usually having seven interactions with your brand before purchasing. And, as long as you have an online presence, why not make extra money by selling online too? Businesses can use omnichannel to connect with many marketplaces and online stores such as eBay, Amazon, MyDeal, Catch during the day and more. The technology allows your inventory and purchasers generated from the platforms to sync instantly, so the issue of selling a product you don't have in stock isn't a worry. This allows your small business to feature on larger eCommerce mammoths which have a larger audience base and therefore are more likely to appear in organic search results because of their ongoing search engine optimisation efforts. This not only builds trust with Google but additionally with new customers, as many marketplaces offer buyer protection should they have any issues and cannot resolve them with the merchant directly. 

2. Reaching new clients through marketplaces' existing customers

Online marketplaces like eBay, MyDeal and Catch of the Day have huge customer bases that they'll tailor their email marketing campaigns around. Facebook and Instagram opened endless opportunities that i can showcase my store to more than a billion people for free on a platform they trusted. 

3. Simple to use technology

Integrating your small business into these large eCommerce platforms is simple because of the many channels they offer. Even if your platform doesn't have a native integration, there are many third-party apps that can be used to connect sites like eBay for your store. The technology is cheap and many of the work only involves syncing your product catalogue and orders in real time. Say goodbye to manual listings! 

4. Developing trust with search engines and potential customers

Large-scale channels and marketplaces like Amazon have great SEO which makes visibility, reach expansion and link with your target audience more effectively. 

5. You can take advantage of being small

Customers are looking for an event where efficiency and real time access to support is important. Coupled with an eCommerce omnichannel strategy, a small company can do what they do best!