The digital landscape is shaping the future of business, and this holds true even for the $378.84 billion poultry industry. As per Gitnux Market Data, global egg production has surged by 100% since 1990. Projections indicate that the worldwide consumption of poultry meat will soar to 153.85 metric kilotons by 2031.
In light of this, those in the poultry sector can look forward to a lucrative future. However, being in the business alone is not a guarantee of profitability or operational efficiency. A proactive businessman knows the significance of adapting to evolving market dynamics. Leveraging online opportunities, like creating online listings of chickens for sale, can vastly increase visibility and reach.
Modern challenges demand modern solutions, and this is what e-commerce promises to deliver. Discussed below are useful e-commerce strategies that can help you future-proof your poultry business.
Table of Contents
Understand Your Customers
In 2023, most of your customer base will be using the Internet for almost anything, including grocery shopping. Understand how they use the Internet to reach them and provide them with solutions to their needs.
Ask questions like the following:
- Where do they get their poultry information online?
- Do they use an app to buy their groceries, including poultry products?
- Do they follow social influencers who influence their shopping choices?
These questions and more can help you customize solutions according to your customers’ needs.
For example, you may find that your potential customers are starting to gravitate towards organic produce. If you’re already an organic farmer, add an “Organic” label to your products to appeal to this customer base. If not, make sustainable business decisions to help you tap into this market.
- Create a customer persona.
A useful strategy for understanding the type of customers you have is to create a customer persona. A persona is a fictional profile or character that represents a particular type of customer. Understand how this persona uses the Internet, your app, or your website to help you successfully market your product or service.
To create a customer persona, fill in the following key pieces of information.
- Name
- Description
- Demographics (age, gender, location, etc.)
- Their needs
- Their motivations
- Their pain points
- An outline of their customer journey
There are different ways to fill out your customer profile. Below is an example.
Source: UPReports
- Improve your customer journey.
Now that you’ve created a customer persona, it’s time to put it to the test in the real world. How do customers interact with your business online? And how can you improve the whole experience for them so that they keep coming back?
Your ecommerce customer journey describes the five stages of your customer’s experience when interacting with your business online.
Stage 1: Awareness/Discovery. People learn about your products and services through various channels. This might include coming across your ads on social media or discovering your website via a Google search.
Stage 2: Consideration/Interest. At this point, their curiosity is sparked, and they begin exploring your online catalog of products or services to learn more or find something that appeals to them.
Stage 3: Intent. The customer spots something that catches their interest, but they’re not fully sure about making a purchase just yet. During this phase, they might choose to add an item to their cart for consideration.
Stage 4: Conversion/Purchase. This is the moment when the customer ultimately chooses to make a purchase from your business. A transaction takes place, transforming them into a paying customer with the possibility of becoming a repeat buyer.
Stage 5: Engagement. If your product or any other part of your business interests the customer, they will return and might think about making another purchase. They could also choose to follow you on social media or join your email list to get discounts or updates on promotions, and more.
Re-trace your customer’s steps throughout the whole experience to help you identify issues that might be preventing them from making a successful purchase.
Monitor your customer’s journey on your site by utilizing customer journey mapping and analytics tools like Google Analytics and Hotjar.
Establish a Robust Online Presence
Once you’ve studied your customer base, it’s time to work on your online presence. Having a website no longer cuts it. It’s important to invest considerable effort in managing and monitoring your business’ online channels. This includes your customer service desks, mobile app, emails, and social media accounts. Strong visibility and accessibility will help you reach more customers and scale faster in no time.
- Invest in a mobile app.
A survey done by Newstore in 2022 found that 31% of consumers prefer to shop using a mobile app than in-store. Sixty percent of consumers also prefer to shop using a mobile application rather than websites because of better user experience.
With over 90% of the world now owning a mobile phone, it makes sense for businesses to start setting up shop online, specifically accommodating the unique challenges of mobile technologies.
- Take advantage of social commerce.
Supercharge your social media presence. Social media offers a great way to keep your customers engaged. They also serve as critical touchpoints for all stages of the customer journey.
Post content regularly and ensure prompt and timely interactions with your customers. Many businesses nowadays connect with their customers directly via social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
Build and develop a brand for your business and keep it consistent.
- Offer omnichannel options.
To truly provide a seamless shopping experience, make it easy for customers to access your business both in-store and online. For example, your customers may want to shop online but wish to pick up their purchases in person, or they may want to be able to shop on their phone, but on a mobile-optimized website.
There are various ways to integrate omnichannel delivery for your business:
- Integrate in-store and online experience. Many customers who like to do their shopping online end up picking up their purchases in-store.
- Maintain consistent customer information regardless of the channel they use as a touch point. If you communicate with the customer via social media, your customer support should have access to that information when the customer contacts you via another channel, such as email.
Offer Attractive Packages and Home Delivery Services
Customers are constantly searching for deals, bargains, and discounts. Set up broader and more adaptable packages and services to distinguish you from the many sellers providing similar products online.
For instance, provide a complimentary delivery voucher after the customer buys a specific amount, present seasonal discounts, or create a loyalty program for your most devoted customers. All of these actions can aid in cultivating a strong and lasting connection with your customers over time.
Integrate Sustainability Into Your Business Model
According to a 2022 Forbes report, 82% of customers demand businesses to practice sustainability. However, the sustainability trend has been steadily decreasing in the past two years with most customers choosing affordability and value over sustainability. Still, customers expect businesses to be accountable for their environmental impact.
Shifting into a more sustainable business model might not give you immediate economic profit, but it will maximize your business’ economic and environmental stability in the long term.
Supercharge Your Email Marketing
According to McKinsey & Company, email marketing is 40 times more effective than social media marketing.
Email yields an average return-on-investment (ROI) of $39 for every dollar spent, making it among the most budget-friendly marketing methods in 2023. The advantages of email marketing are numerous:
- Creating personalized content
- Collecting surveys, polls, and feedback
- Improving customer retention
- Generating website traffic
- Providing added value to your customers
- Creating consistent customer engagement
Supercharge your email marketing strategies with the following tips:
- Build a quality email list.
- Personalize your emails.
- Create compelling subject lines.
- Create engaging and valuable content.
- Optimize your emails for mobile.
- Include eye-catching visuals.
- Write clear call-to-actions.
Tap Into Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the practice of promoting another company’s product or service on your business channels. Earn a commission when a customer purchases the promoted product or service using your affiliate link. Many businesses delve into affiliate marketing because it’s low-cost, low-risk, and a passive way to earn extra money. All you really need is a website.
In 2022, businesses in the United States spent a whopping $8.2 billion on affiliate marketing. If you’re looking to set up a successful affiliate marketing business on the side, here’s a guide.
Final Takeaway
Embracing effective e-commerce strategies is no longer an option, but a necessity for sustainable growth. Capitalize on the power of online platforms, targeted marketing, and customer engagement to position your poultry business for success in 2023 and beyond.
