Month: November 2023

Save Your Abandoned Shoppers with an Automated Rescue Operation Designed to Capture and Convert

The online retail space is extremely competitive, no matter the sector, without adding the complexities of abandoned shopping carts. Most eCommerce companies are heavily invested in attracting new customers to their websites, with a strong emphasis on growth. However, the common issue that has lured Instant’s many clients is that while consumers shop on their sites, they have struggled to convert them into loyal shoppers. In fact, many eCommerce brands experience high rates of abandoned carts, the proportion often exceeding 70%.

Instant is exclusively dedicated to helping eCommerce businesses increase revenue by implementing faster automation that increases checkout conversions. Their solution, Instant Checkout, streamlines the checkout process into a single step, significantly boosting conversion rates. For instance, while a typical ‘generic’ checkout process converts at 25%, Instant Checkout achieves an impressive average conversion rate of 65%. 

The combination of hiring an eCommerce specialist to develop a targeted strategy alongside the power of Instant provides personalised shopping experiences for your customers that capture and convert. 

In addition, Instant SMS complements Checkout by enabling eCommerce companies to identify and convert abandoned cart shoppers, offering the Checkout solution directly via SMS.

KICK CART ABANDONMENT TO THE KERB WITH INSTANT’S SUITE OF TOOLS

Don’t just take their word for it, look at what some of Instant’s customers have to say: 

“We were so devoted to creating top-tier apparel and acquiring new customers that we didn’t consider the business impact of cart abandonment. We were allocating marketing resources to attract shoppers, only to see them leave without completing a purchase.”

– Sean Inkley, IT Manager at Zhik

“When the Instant team told us about their new SMS feature, we immediately jumped on board following the success of using Instant Checkout. Since implementing Instant SMS, we’ve seen incredible results for acquiring new customers and driving more revenue.”

– Katie Chisholm, eCommerce Manager at NOVO Shoes

INSTANT’S DATA GATHERING GAINS FURTHER REACH INTO BUYING BEHAVIOUR 

In line with their mission to boost revenue for the eCommerce industry, Instant has introduced exciting new products, such as Instant Audiences. This tool allows merchants to identify anonymous shoppers, helping eCommerce companies expand their database of high-intent shoppers. 

The insights gained from Instant Audiences allow merchants to create a tailored approach to convert first-time customers on their eCommerce sites. Structured buying parameters can help power re-engagement strategies to ensure that friction points are removed for anonymous customers, increasing the likelihood of seamless conversions. 

The results so far have been exceptional, with significant revenue increases for participating merchants.

CAPTURE A LARGER AUDIENCE WITH INSTANT’S HIGH-CONVERTING CHECKOUT

Instant’s customer success stories are largely due to their three key focus areas: providing a seamless integration process, exceptional customer service and, of course, substantially increasing a merchant’s revenue – their mission to power the most innovative brands, driving their revenue and retention on autopilot.
You can see this in action, and check out how Instant increased Wine Direct’s revenue by 37% in its first month of implementing Instant Checkout here: https://www.instant.one/case-studies/winedirect-increased-online-revenue-by-37-with-instant

Here at LION Digital, we only partner with organisations and services that help you amplify your offer. We take pride in hand-selecting quality partnerships for our customers so your brand can go from strength to strength.

If your eCommerce brand is experiencing a lull, Instant is the obvious solution to convert more shoppers with a checkout designed to drive profitable ROI. Instant specialises in turning browsers into customers for life with shopping experiences that captivate and convert.

If you’d like to know more about how LION Digital’s team of eCommerce specialists can help you implement Instant within your eCommerce stack, reach out today!

Overview

In today’s interconnected digital world, Australian businesses cannot ignore the impact of the stringent security guidelines of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), adopted by the European Union in 2018. While originating in the EU, GDPR applies globally. This blog post explores the minutiae of GDPR, and its implications for Australian businesses. Keeping you aligned with the key steps to ensure compliance, LION Digital is your one-way ticket to thrive in the digital era, and to help you understand and adhere to GDPR.

Data is king. It drives businesses forward, shapes customer experiences, and fuels innovation. Yet, with great data comes great responsibility, and in Australia, as well as internationally, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an intelligent piece of legislation that businesses must understand and comply with to navigate the complex data landscape for best practice.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into the whole GDPR projectory, how it affects Australian businesses, and help you understand whether or not you’re compliant…

Understanding GDPR and Australian Businesses

GDPR and Australian Businesses

The GDPR is a set of data protection regulations that were implemented by the European Union (EU) in 2018. While it’s EU-centric in origin, it impacts businesses in Australia as it is an international guideline. This is because the GDPR applies not only to all organisations within the EU but also to any entity that processes the personal data of EU residents. In today’s interconnected world, that’s a minefield of data regulations you don’t want to be shy of.
In addition, we are increasingly seeing Australian businesses from medium to enterprise scale experiencing data breaches at the expense of their customers’ sensitive personal information. Unsurprisingly, this heightened risk is making consumers more selective about who they give their information to and how it will be handled.

GDPR and How It Affects Your Business in Australia

So, how does GDPR affect your business Down Under?

If you collect or process data from individuals in the EU, the guidelines state you must comply with GDPR rules that govern European customers or those that run marketing campaigns targeting EU citizens.

GDPR Compliance for Australian Businesses

So, yes, there is relevance of GDPR for Australian businesses, but what does compliance mean for you?

Understand What Data You Collect and Why

The first step towards GDPR compliance is understanding the data you collect and why you gather it. Conduct a thorough audit of your data practices.

Ask yourself: What information do we gather from customers and employees? Why do we collect it? Knowing what data you have and its purpose is fundamental to GDPR compliance.

Adopt a Robust and Secure Customer Data Platform (CDP)

A Customer Data Platform (CDP) is a centralised system that collects, organises, and analyses customer data from various touchpoints, such as websites, email campaigns, social media, and more.
This thorough gathering of comprehensive information enables businesses to securely deliver personalised and targeted marketing campaigns, thereby enhancing customer engagement and driving sales.
Klaviyo has recently rolled out its Customer Data Platform (CDP) Solutions, promising to revolutionise customer data management and drive marketing strategies for businesses.

Obtain Explicit Consent

Under GDPR, you must have clear and specific consent from individuals before collecting their data. Review your consent forms and opt-in processes to ensure they meet GDPR’s stringent requirements. This step is crucial for any Australian business engaging with EU residents.

Implement Robust Data Security Measures

GDPR places a strong emphasis on data security. Make sure your data handling and storage practices are up to date. Encrypt sensitive data, regularly revise security protocols, and train your employees to be vigilant about data protection.

Appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO)

Depending on your organisation’s size and the scale of data processing, appointing a Data Protection Officer might be beneficial and having a dedicated DPO can ensure your compliance is always up to speed.

Educate Your Team

GDPR compliance isn’t just an IT issue; it’s a company-wide responsibility. Educate your team about GDPR principles and train them on best practices for data protection. Awareness and knowledge among your staff are key to helping you avoid unintentional breaches.
It is not necessarily relevant whether your business is trading within the EU or not. We can predict that with the increasing regularity of data breaches, there will be a call for stricter data protection standards globally within the near future to protect consumers.

Be Prepared for Data Subject Requests

GDPR gives individuals more control over their data. You must be prepared to handle data subject requests, such as access, rectification, or deletion of personal data, in a timely manner.

Monitor and Adapt

The digital landscape is ever-evolving, and therefore data protection regulations are constantly under review. Stay informed about changes to GDPR and adapt your practices accordingly. Regularly review and update your privacy policies and procedures to stay compliant and ensure no intervening action is required.

GDPR and Australian businesses are inextricably linked in today’s globalised digital world. Understanding the implications of GDPR and taking proactive steps to ensure compliance is part of your trust-building connection with your customers. It is also the first step in safeguarding their data.

Article by

ERIKA MAGPILI – DIGITAL EXECUTIVE & MARKETING MANAGER

Overview

Shopify has recently launched more than 100 updates for the mid-year 2023 season. So, what does that mean for the eCommerce landscape? Looking to see how these improvements will impact your business? As a Shopify Plus Partner Agency, our LION Digital team have explored the latest innovations of all new Shopify features and functions for you. We’ve covered everything that end-user merchants and eCommerce business owners need to know – from theme updates to advanced analytics and expanded payment options – to empower you to create exceptional online shopping experiences for your valued customers.

Brands must be open to innovating and constantly learning to stay ahead in the fast-paced world of eCommerce. For Shopify merchants and eComm operators, this means adding Shopify’s latest updates and improvements to your toolkit.

To help you stay in the loop, we’re excited to bring you a comprehensive overview of the most recent Shopify updates for 2023. These updates are designed to deliver the tools and resources you need to create outstanding online shopping experiences for your clients.

LION Digital + Shopify Updates = Success

As one of the few performance marketing focused Shopify Plus Partner Agencies, LION Digital is at the forefront of the latest Shopify updates. We understand how to harness the improved features and functionality to drive growth and success for your eCommerce business.

Discover how LION Digital, as a leading Shopify developer and Shopify Plus Partner, can take your projects to the next level.

• Increasing the average order value
• Delivering curated value and convenience for your customers
• Providing discount shopping for your customers
• Clearing outdated inventory
• Driving greater product visibility.

Shopify Subscriptions App: Shopify’s free subscription app helps you set up and manage subscriptions easily. Customers now gain the flexibility to pause, skip, or modify orders. You can also enhance customer loyalty by suggesting hassle-free, relevant recurring purchases.

Marketplace Connect App: By using the Shopify Marketplace Connect app, business owners can connect product catalogues to multiple marketplaces, including major platforms such as Amazon and eBay. This allows you to gain key access to new customers while syncing and managing all your listings, inventory, and orders in Shopify admin. Along with product prices automatically converting to local currencies on your chosen marketplaces, any changes to products or orders are automatically synced across all platforms for seamless fulfilment through this centralised Shopify app.

Improved B2B Features: You can now manage both wholesale B2B and D2C sales in one intuitive admin, with tools optimised for flexibility and customisation for all your buyers. The updated B2B functionality simplifies the entire wholesale buying process with seamless volume pricing and accepted PayPal payments. You can customise the end-to-end experience for all your buyers for products, pricing publishing, quantity guidelines and payment options without the need for coding or multiple apps.

Shopify Credit Card: Enjoy hassle-free purchasing via the Shopify Credit Card exclusively for Shopify merchants. The card offers up to 3% cashback on eligible purchases, no fees, and scalable credit limits based on sales.

Expanded Payment Options

Shopify is constantly growing its payment options to cater to a global audience. In 2023, you can expect even more options, including:

• Localised Payment Methods to accept payments in various local currencies through popular regional payment gateways.
• Buy Now, Pay Later to increase conversion rates and offer flexible payment choices for your customers.

With these expanded payment options, you can easily expand into new markets to increase sales worldwide.

Shopify 2023 Theme Updates

Themes are the cornerstone of any successful eCommerce store. In 2023, Shopify introduced several theme updates that, with the help of the LION Digital team, you can use to create visually stunning and highly functional online stores. Some highlights include:

• Theme Sections 2.0: A revamped system that enables even more flexibility in customising the layout and design of your clients’ stores.
• Responsive Images: Better image handling to ensure optimal performance across all devices, enhancing the overall shopping experience for customers.
• Improved Accessibility: Making online stores more accessible to all users, adhering to the highest accessibility standards.

These updates empower us to help you deliver exceptional, user-friendly designs that convert visitors into customers.

Enhanced eCommerce Analytics

Understanding customer behaviour is key to making data-driven decisions. Shopify’s enhanced analytics gives our team access to deeper insights into your business. New features include:

• Customer Segmentation to easily categorise and analyse customer behaviour, allowing for targeted marketing campaigns and personalised experiences.
• Enhanced Funnel Analytics to track the customer journey from landing on your website to making a purchase, identifying drop-off points and areas for improvement.
• Inventory Insights to gain a better understanding of inventory trends, optimise stock levels and reduce waste.

Your Trusted Shopify Plus Partner Agency

When it comes to implementing the latest Shopify updates to harness their full potential, partnering with a premium eCommerce digital marketing agency is essential to get the most benefits. As a distinguished Shopify Plus Partner Agency, LION Digital has a demonstrated commitment to excellence in eCommerce development and a deep understanding of the Shopify platform.

Leveraging the Power of Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is Shopify’s enterprise-level platform tailored for high-growth businesses. Our partnership with Shopify Plus means we can seamlessly scale your eCommerce operations to new heights. Here’s what sets LION Digital apart:

• Customised Solutions: Our specialist team is well-versed in Shopify Plus’s advanced capabilities, allowing us to create tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of your clients.
• Optimised Performance: We can fine-tune Shopify Plus stores for optimal performance, ensuring speed, reliability, and scalability, even during peak traffic.
• Seamless Integrations: Our in-depth knowledge of Shopify’s APIs and integrations ensures smooth and efficient connections with third-party tools and systems.
• LION Digital is a specialist eCommerce solution, SEO, paid media and Klaviyo agency, so we understand the retail landscape best.

Partner with us and tap into our wealth of experience and expertise to make the most of these updates. Whether adopting new theme features, optimising eCommerce analytics, or integrating expanded payment options, our team has the know-how to ensure a seamless and effective Shopify implementation for your business.

Contact our specialist LION Digital team today.

Article by

ERIKA MAGPILI – DIGITAL EXECUTIVE & MARKETING MANAGER