SMEs are missing out on sales through post-checkout, apps and email
Research conducted by performance marketing specialists Expressly revealed that less than 7% of small-medium businesses advertise on post-checkout pages, purchase confirmation emails or mobile app screens.
Unlike multinationals, SMEs overall are yet to harness upselling and cross-selling opportunities that post-checkout advertising messages present whilst the customer is still in ‘shopping mode’. Pay-per-click, cost-per-mille (per thousand impression) and other performance marketing standards are popular ways to acquire new customers, but smaller brands have bypassed less accessible avenues of customer reach.
A quarter of e-commerce managers felt that the current practices in online advertising could be more effective for both business and consumer.
Understanding their frustrations, and explains how industry giants such as Google’s AdWords and Facebook are lacking innovation in this area, ex-McKinsey consultant and co-founder of Expressly, Fabrizio Fantini, said:
“SMEs are missing a trick in their marketing strategy. The limitations of popular PPC and affiliate marketing programmes make it costly and complex for smaller enterprises to unlock the full potential of post-checkout, in-app and confirmation email ads in an intuitive way.
“Even when these channels are used, businesses can’t target the ads to a sufficient level.”
The study also demonstrated how less than a fifth (18.75%) of SMEs had partnered with another store for cross-selling purposes.
Non-competing, independent businesses have historically partnered in order to boost trade. But in the digital world, just 6% of small e-commerce businesses are part of an online affiliate marketing network. Large competitors such as Amazon, meanwhile, are major players in affiliate marketing.
Security problems (such as hijackers), and the difficulties of sourcing merchants with a relevant target market, are reasons for the slow uptake by SMEs.
Predicting a change in the tide, Fabrizio continues:
“Online alliances and affiliations allow two merchants to advertise to a parallel customer base with similar interests and demographics. They deliver a superior quality of leads compared to PPC, but complexities and trust issues hinder progress for smaller entities. It’s no surprise that corporates such as Amazon or eBay dominate the affiliate marketplace.
“There absolutely is room for revolutionary technology that cuts the legwork and costs involved in partnerships. That’s why we developed Expressly, so that SMEs can now forge strategic partnerships and agree on a fair cost-per-click to mutually increase their sales figures.
“Expressly invites e-commerce managers to try Expressly with their ‘500 free customers’ offer, extended until 28th February. Businesses register at www.buyexpressly.com, and embed a Powerlinks ad to their post-checkout page or email receipts, the 500-customer bonus will then appear in their account. The space will be populated with offers relevant to your customers, and each click will earn you credits towards free customer acquisition in the future.”
