10 Out-Of-The-Box eCommerce Marketing Ideas

Disclosure: This blog is audience-supported. When you buy through an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission. Learn More

Are you feeling like your eCommerce marketing strategy could use a little boost? With so many businesses competing for the attention of customers, it can be tough to stand out in the crowd, especially when it comes to digital marketing.

But fear not! I’ve put together a list of 10 creative eCommerce marketing ideas for business owners. These creative marketing campaigns should help you reach new potential customers and increase your conversion rates.

Without further ado, here’s 10 creative marketing ideas to scale your eCommerce business:

1. Host Virtual Events
2. Use Augmented Reality
3. Invest in Chatbots
4. Personalized Video Quiz
5. Voice Search
6. Interactive Content
7. Personalized Suggestions
8. Partner with Micro-Influencers
9. Look into Affiliate Marketing
10. Use 360-Degree Product Photography

1. Host Virtual Events – Live Sales and Webinars

In-person events were off the table for a few years in 2020 and 2021, which led many business owners to rely on virtual events and live sales to promote their business.

If you haven’t yet tried it, host a live sales event where you showcase your latest products or services. During your live events, offer exclusive deals to attendees. You can also provide a behind-the-scenes look at your online store.

Alternatively, host a webinar where you provide valuable information related to your industry or products. These events are a great way to engage with your audience, build brand loyalty, and generate leads.

Don’t forget to use email marketing, SMS messaging, and various social media platforms to generate leads and remind your audience about the live event to help increase your event attendance.

2. Use Augmented Reality – Let Customers Virtually Try On Products

Although eCommerce businesses have many advantages over the location limitations of brick-and-mortar businesses, they are at a disadvantage when it comes to customers being able to try-on products like they can at their local mall.

Thanks to augmented reality (AR) technology, customers can now try on products virtually, without ever leaving their homes. This can be especially useful for online businesses selling items like clothing, jewelry, makeup, or furniture.

By allowing customers to try on products virtually, or see what they would look like in their homes, you remove the need for them to visit a physical store. This makes it more convenient for them to make a purchase. It can also help ensure your customers will be happy with their product purchase before buying, thereby lowering your product returns and refunds. Plus, it’s just really cool!

3. Invest in Chatbots – For Better Customer Support

Chatbots are becoming increasingly popular in the world of eCommerce, and for good reason. These automated tools can provide quick and efficient customer support. This allows your business to handle more inquiries without the need for additional staff. Plus, chatbots are available 24/7, making it easy for customers to get the help they need at any time.

Some popular chatbot options are HubSpot Chatbot Builder, Intercom, SalesForce Einstein, and Drift.

4. Personalized Video Quiz – To Help Customers Choose the Perfect Product

Customers love personalized, engaging experiences. Adding a personalized video quiz is a fun and interactive way to help them find the perfect product.

By answering a series of questions, customers can be directed to the products that best fit their needs. Making it easy for your customers to locate the exact solution to their problem increases the chances of a sale. Plus, it’s a fun way to engage with your audience and make their shopping experience more enjoyable.

5. Voice Search – For a More Hands-Free Browsing Experience

Voice search is quickly becoming the next big thing in eCommerce, with a growing number of people using voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant to search for products and services. In fact, it’s estimated that in 2023, voice search will account for more than half of all online searches.

The future of voice search for eCommerce brands is promising, with the potential to revolutionize the way customers browse and shop online. By optimizing your website for voice search, you can make it easier for customers to find the products they’re looking for, even when they’re not in front of their computer screen. This can lead to a more seamless and intuitive shopping experience, and ultimately, increased sales.

One of the biggest advantages of voice search for eCommerce brands is the ability to provide a more hands-free browsing experience. With voice assistants, customers can search for products and make purchases without ever having to touch their computer or mobile device.

How Do I Make Sure My Business Is Found By Voice Search?

https://res.cloudinary.com/dk8hlsvhl/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1683534776/How-Do-I-Make-Sure-My-Business-Is-Found-By-Voice-Search-1-1024x1024-1/How-Do-I-Make-Sure-My-Business-Is-Found-By-Voice-Search-1-1024x1024-1.webp?_i=AA

If you want to ensure that your business is found and comes up in the results for Google voice search, there are a few key steps you can take:

  1. Optimize your website for voice search: Use natural language and long-tail keywords in your content. This will help Google’s voice recognition software to better understand the context of your website and match it with relevant search queries.
  2. Claim your Google My Business listing: Make sure that your business is listed on Google My Business and that all of your information is up to date, including your business name, address, phone number, and hours of operation. This will ensure that Google’s voice search algorithms can easily find and present your business to users.
  3. Create a FAQ page: Creating a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on your website can help your business show up in voice search results. By using natural language and including commonly asked questions and answers, you can improve your chances of being found by voice search algorithms.
  4. Get listed in local directories: Make sure that your business is listed in relevant local directories and review sites, such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Facebook. This can help Google’s voice search algorithms to find and present your business to users who are looking for local products and services.
  5. Focus on mobile optimization: Since most voice searches are conducted on mobile devices, it’s important to make sure that your website is optimized for mobile. This includes having a responsive design, fast loading times, and a user-friendly layout.

By following these steps, you can improve your chances of being found and appearing in the results for Google voice search, and ultimately drive more traffic and sales to your business.

6. Interactive Content – Polls and Games

Interactive content like polls and games are a great way to engage with your audience and make their shopping experience more enjoyable.

Consider running polls and quizzes on your website and social media channels. Another fun and engaging marketing idea is to ask your audience for their opinion on what product they like best through a “This or That” Instagram Story post.

By adding fun and interactive elements to your website or social media channels, small business owners can create a more memorable experience for your customers. This increases the chances of repeat business.

7. Personalized Suggestions – Thanks to Machine Learning

Machine learning is rapidly becoming an integral part of eCommerce marketing strategies.

By using advanced algorithms to analyze customer data, eCommerce brands can now provide personalized product suggestions that are tailored to each individual’s needs and preferences. This can lead to a more personalized and engaging shopping experience, and ultimately, increased sales.

The future of machine learning for eCommerce brands is promising, with the potential to revolutionize the digital marketing industry. As technology continues to evolve, machine learning algorithms will become even more advanced, allowing brands to analyze even more data points and provide even more personalized recommendations.

One of the most exciting benefits of machine learning for eCommerce brands is the ability to leverage customer data to provide more targeted and relevant marketing messages. By using data such as past purchase behavior, browsing history, and demographic information, brands can create highly personalized marketing campaigns that are more likely to resonate with each individual customer.

This can be done even with email marketing platforms like Klaviyo. You can segment your audiences based on products they previously purchased and send them more personalized suggestions. Klaviyo even has the ability to predict a person’s gender, when their next purchase will be, and what their lifetime customer value will be.

8. Partner with Micro-Influencers – They Know How to Captivate Their Audience

https://res.cloudinary.com/dk8hlsvhl/images/w_878,h_2560/f_auto,q_auto/v1683534770/Small-but-TerribleThe-Power-of-Micro-Influencers-1200x3200-1/Small-but-TerribleThe-Power-of-Micro-Influencers-1200x3200-1.webp?_i=AA
Partnering with micro-influencers can be a game-changer for eCommerce brands looking to increase their reach and engagement.

Unlike traditional influencers who may have millions of followers and charge high rates for sponsored posts, micro-influencers have a smaller but more engaged audience. This can be a major advantage for eCommerce brands looking to target a specific niche or demographic.

Micro-influencers also can have a more loyal and trusting relationship with their followers. They’ve built up their following based on their specific niche or interest, so their followers are more likely to trust their recommendations and engage with their content.

In fact, a study by HelloSociety found that micro-influencers have a 60% higher engagement rate than their larger counterparts.

Working with micro-influencers can also be an affordable marketing strategy for eCommerce brands. Since micro-influencers have a smaller following, they often charge lower rates for sponsored posts than large brands pay for traditional influencer marketing campaigns. This means that you can partner with multiple micro-influencers for the same price as one large influencer.

Overall, partnering with micro-influencers can be a highly effective and cost-efficient way to expand your eCommerce brand’s reach and build a loyal following. By working with influencers who have a specific niche or interest, you can reach a highly targeted audience who is more likely to engage with your content and convert into customers.

9. Look into Affiliate Marketing – To Get the Most Out of Your Collaborations

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where you pay affiliates a commission for driving sales to your website.

By working with affiliates who have a similar audience to your business, you can reach a larger audience and increase your sales. Some examples of common affiliates can be coupon sites, product review sites, content marketing and niche sites that publish a lot of industry-related blog posts, “Top 10” and “Best Of” listing sites, directories, content creators, YouTube vloggers, and more.

When you work with affiliates, you work on a revenue share agreement where you only pay for results. Usually affiliate marketing is easily and automatically tracked through UTM parameters in the links you give them. This makes it both a cost-effective and easy way to market your business.

If you are interested in learning how our Affiliate Marketing Services often generate a 10X return for our clients, CLICK HERE.

10. Use 360-Degree Product Photography – To Make Your Products Come Alive

360-degree product photography is becoming increasingly popular in the world of eCommerce, and for good reason. It provides customers with an interactive and immersive shopping experience, allowing them to see every angle of a product and get a better sense of what it will look like.

Any online business selling a physical product can use this technology to create a more engaging and memorable shopping experience. By allowing customers to see every detail of your product, you’re making it easier for them to make a purchasing decision. They can get a sense of the size, shape, and color of the product, and can even zoom in to see the texture or finish up close.

Not only do 360-degree product views make it easier for customers to make a purchasing decision, but they can also increase conversions. When customers have a better understanding of what they’re buying, they’re more likely to make a purchase. In fact, a study by Shopify found that products with 3D models had a 27% higher conversion rate than those without.

In addition to increasing conversions, 360-degree product photography can also improve customer satisfaction. When customers receive a product that looks exactly as they expected, they’re more likely to be happy with their purchase and less likely to return it. This can help reduce the number of returns and exchanges, saving your business time and money.

How do you take 360-degree photos of a product?

Taking 360-degree photos of a product is a great way to provide customers with a more immersive shopping experience. To take these photos, you’ll need a 360-degree camera or a regular camera and a tripod.

First, set up the product on a clean and well-lit surface. If you’re using a regular camera, take a series of photos from different angles and use software to stitch them together into a 360-degree image. If you’re using a 360-degree camera, simply place it in the center of the product and let it do the work.

Once you have your 360-degree photo, be sure to upload it to your website or eCommerce platform to give customers a better sense of what your product looks like from every angle. With this simple process, you can add a new level of engagement and excitement to your eCommerce product listings.

Conclusion

https://res.cloudinary.com/dk8hlsvhl/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1683534764/Out-Of-The-Box-Ecommerce-Marketing-Ideas-1200x1600-1-768x1024-1/Out-Of-The-Box-Ecommerce-Marketing-Ideas-1200x1600-1-768x1024-1.webp?_i=AA
Marketing your eCommerce business doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, I’m a huge fan of making marketing fun. When you use unique marketing ideas to promote your business, you increase your brand awareness and reach new customers. Coming up with marketing ideas that haven’t been used by your industry can also help give you an edge over your competitors.

By thinking outside the box and trying some of these creative and one-of-a-kind marketing ideas, you can double down on your marketing efforts, increase sales, and finally get the attention your business deserves.

Don’t be afraid to take some risks and try something new. You never know what might be the next big thing in eCommerce marketing.

Grab the
freebie

17 MINUTE FREE TRAINING

How we grew a Facebook group to 52,000 members in 10 months

...and made over $100,000 from a 2 hour event

The course

SOCIAL SAVVY

Become a Facebook AD Expert

ACCESS MY FREE TEMPLATE

Social content pillars and promo planner template

Ace your goals by effectively planning your content and promotion through this template.

More posts from the blog