Are you a one in a billion? People used to use the expression “a billion” to mean “a lot.” Now it’s official: There are more than a billion active websites. Active is the important word there because most websites get abandoned after around 100 days. Web users have come to expect many dead ends in the labyrinth of the web, so they tend to bounce quickly. You have to have more than a great site to stand out and grab the attention of new customers though. Here are five strategies for using your online catalog as a power tool to get noticed and drive referrals.
Go Offline
The National Institute of Health recommends no more than two hours of screen time for adults and children. That’s not possible for most working adults, but screen overload is driving a resurgence in print catalogs. That’s a positive sign for consumer health and it’s better for your business. Recent studies show that print catalogs boost conversions of first-time customers, who spend 150 percent more per shopping cart than those who haven’t seen the catalog.
Target Long Waits
Despite all the efficiency and productivity improvements the web has brought, Americans still spend 37 billion hours each year just waiting in line. People in medical offices, restaurants, financial advisory offices, beauty salons and government service centers typically expect long waits due to the uncertain duration of their core functions. Not all of these locations will be the right fit for your brand, but some will be. Seed these locations with your catalogs. This can make your brand a hero by shortening the perceived wait time.
Be More Social
You don’t have to choose between having a print or an online catalog. Both are valuable. A PDF version of your catalog is perfect for promotions on social media, especially when they contain discount codes or exclusive offers. Link your tweets and posts to unique landing pages for A/B testing. You’ll boost response rates and find out what matters most to your preferred customers.
Teach What You Know
What are some of your most popular items? Are they related? Many online companies expand their average shopping cart purchases by suggesting other items that the customer may need. You can do the same in a blog format. Use data collected on popular catalog items to write how-to blogs that discuss how customers are using bundles of items. For better mobile traffic, convert these how-to blogs into explainer videos.
Ultra-Customize
What if you could automate production of catalogs, brochures, price books and spec sheets? Thanks to the web, now you can. You can pull data and images from a central repository into flexible templates so you don’t have to start from scratch each time. This makes it super simple to craft customized materials for specific industries, customer types or even individual business partners.
A Small Percent of a Large Number
The good news is that there are literally billions of people out there searching for new ideas. If even a small percentage become your customers, you’ve got a steady source of income. They are counting on you to reach out to them. Keywords matter, but remember that most people are too distracted to go looking past the first page of search results. Don’t neglect SEO techniques make your website easier to find, but you have to go further if you want to stand out and be remembered. Your catalog in their hands or in their social media newsfeed moves your business into the spotlight of the customer’s attention.
Book a free demo of Catsy PIM Software today and see it in action.
