Have you recently decided that your business could benefit from the support of an ecommerce consultant? Choosing the right person for the job can be daunting, especially if you're unsure what to look for in a professional. We've compiled a list of five key features to help you select the best ecommerce consultant for your project.
Detailed Technical Knowledge.
When hiring an ecommerce consultant, it's important to ensure they have extensive technical knowledge and are well-versed in the platforms, tools, and technologies you wish to integrate into your digital business. This will ensure that the consultants can provide accurate advice that follows industry standards, as well as best practices for implementation.
An ecommerce consultant should deeply understand multiple payment gateways, shopping cart solutions, order management, and inventory systems. They should also be knowledgeable about web hosting solutions and the various marketing options available (including search engine optimization, pay-per-click, email campaigns, etc.). On top of that, they must have an in-depth experience with product fulfillment options to make sure orders are delivered safely and promptly. With this technical knowledge, the consultants can better advise which e-commerce solution or platform best suits your business objectives.
Business Planning Experience.
A good e-commerce consultant should have experience in business planning, budgeting, and forecasting. This will help them identify the needed resources for your project, such as staff, hardware, software, and services required to implement your project successfully. They should also be able to advise on business models, helping you select one that best fits the scope of your ecommerce aspirations.
Your ecommerce consultant should also have experience working with a digital marketing team to develop and execute effective digital campaigns that meet your business goals. This includes creating keyword-rich content, optimizing onsite search features, developing paid campaigns, leveraging social media accounts, managing email campaigns, and using analytics to track success and improve efficiency. Your ecommerce consultant should also be knowledgeable of user experience best practices to ensure a positive customer journey throughout the site.
Lastly, they should understand conversion optimization techniques to provide helpful advice when it comes to improving key metrics such as average order values, return rates, and more.
Effective Communication Skills.
The ability to listen and understand, as well as speak and articulate clearly, is critical when working with an ecommerce consultant. Being able to communicate effectively ensures that both parties are on the same page and understand each other's needs. This can help boost productivity and prevent unnecessary delays due to miscommunication or lack of understanding.
For an e-commerce consultant to be effective, they need to be able to easily and efficiently transfer knowledge from one person to another. They must be able to break down complex topics into easy-to-understand concepts and utilize technological tools such as video conferences, webinars, and different forms of communication, including written documentation. This will ensure that everyone involved in the project has the most up-to-date information and is on the same page.
Additionally, strong listening skills are necessary so that the industry professional can fully understand their clients' needs, wants, and expectations.
Expertise With Online Marketing Strategies.
An e-commerce consultant should be knowledgeable in several areas to help you take advantage of current trends and opportunities. They should understand the basics of search engine optimization, content marketing, and paid promotional activities in addition to their expertise with e-commerce platforms. A good consultant will have a firm handle on analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, and AdWords. They'll be able to utilize these tools to understand your customers' behaviors better and provide insights for future campaigns.
A top e-commerce consultant will also suggest other marketing strategies, such as email campaigns and retargeting tactics, for increasing your customer base. By offering insights into the most successful strategies being used by your competitors, they'll be able to create a campaign that suits your needs and budget. Additionally, they can work with you to develop original promotional ideas that stand out from the competition. When done correctly, these efforts can help you achieve long-term success in the e-commerce arena.
Knowledge of Current E-commerce Trends and Best Practices.
Your e-commerce consultant should have an awareness of the latest technologies and trends in the e-commerce industry. You want to be sure that they're able to leverage emerging trends to create an effective strategy for your project. Further, a good consultant should have knowledge of industry best practices to maximize profits from your store by increasing ROI and embracing cost-cutting initiatives.
An experienced consultant will be well-versed in all areas of ecommerce, including multichannel strategies, customer segmentation and targeting, analytics and business intelligence, website optimization, and checkout conversion rate optimization. Additionally, your consultant should provide a comprehensive review of online marketing techniques such as SEO, SEM, content marketing, and social media marketing to ensure you maximize your visibility on the web and reach more customers.
The right e-commerce consultant should also have expertise in platform selection and implementation of third-party integrations as needed for your project.
The Alternative to hiring an Ecommerce Consultant
As a knowledgeable business owner, you know that consultants can be a great asset to your company, that is, if you have the proper budget. More often than not, ecommerce consultants tend to be pricey and also can raise their quotations during specific times of the year, like the holidays or Black Friday.
If you are looking for a great solution to hiring a consultant, choose one of our virtual assistants! New Age Cubicle's virtual assistants are experts in their fields who want to help your company succeed. These trained workers do not need office space or equipment, plus you will not have to worry about giving them benefits or perks like you would with a regular employee. A VA's skillset and knowledge are one of a kind and can quickly replace an e-commerce consultant for half the cost of hiring one.
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