While modern technology and tools like website builders might make it seem easier than ever to start an e-commerce business, any entrepreneur knows that it's no simple task. Just starting your business is daunting. With so much competition online, you have to search for a niche to sell your products and services and fill a gap better than any of your direct competitors. For example, if you were planning to sell supplements online, you might try to partner with a manufacturer like Makers Nutrition to offer the best products to your users.  

Of course, establishing your business is only the beginning. You need to grow and expand your customer base. You may offer better options than competitors, but no one will know unless they see them. Here are some ways you can make sure your business stands out.

Run an SEO Campaign

It's impossible to overstate the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) for an online business. Without high rankings in search engines, potential customers aren't finding your site, even if they're searching for things you offer. You need a dedicated SEO effort to make sure you're reaching as many people as possible.

You don't necessarily have to spend much money to make this happen, either. You can research keywords your audience is likely to search for on your own and work them into the content. Try writing blog posts and other onsite content related to your niche-you could even make videos about your products and how you can help your audience.

You can also create a free Google My Business account to take advantage of local SEO and other benefits. If your business has a physical storefront in addition to your online presence, having an account will direct local users to your store. Even without that, you can still display Google reviews and other useful information.

Use Customer Analytics

Customer analytics basically refers to techniques used to gain insight into customers to retain current ones and attract new ones. Customer analytics can help you determine your most popular products and your most successful advertising campaigns, so you can replicate positive results in the future. You can also better determine what customers you're likely to lose and have an opportunity to take a different approach with them. You can even divide current customers up into groups to make special offers to them to secure repeat business.

Provide Exceptional Customer Support

Customers will inevitably have questions about products and problems using them. The support you provide can determine everything from keeping or losing a customer to the kind of message that customer will spread about your business. Customers will remember good and bad experiences alike, but they are especially likely to share bad ones with family and friends.

It's understandable if you can't afford to run a fully staffed customer support center, but you still need to be accessible. You should be reachable by email and phone at the least, and having an active social media accounts certainly won't hurt. Taking a clear interest in each customer's concerns can create a better customer journey, even if it doesn't come to the desired resolution, and earning some positive word of mouth goes a long way.

If you really want to take things to the next level, you might consider taking some courses to improve your business and marketing knowledge. With an online learning self-assessment, you can determine how prepared you are to take such a step. This way you can learn about new technologies, enhance your techniques, or learn more creative marketing strategies to improve both your business and yourself.