The United Kingdom is home to some of the world’s most amazing and unique online shops. From luxury goods to clothing and accessories, if you can’t find it online then perhaps it doesn’t exist at all. When it comes to marketing a business online, the UK is one of the largest markets in Europe. With over 7.2 million people using Google Analytics, it’s a great place to start a business and know what metrics to focus on.
Key Online Marketing Stats
A great place to start if you’re just getting started with online marketing is to understand the key online marketing stats. What type of traffic are you getting? What are your conversion rates? How is your ROI? The answers to these questions will give you a foundation to build your business upon.
The Growth Of Online Shopping In The UK
It’s no secret that online shopping has taken over the world. While many countries have banned or restricted online shopping, the UK has led the way in embracing it. Between 2006 and 2010 alone, online shopping in the UK grew by 71%. If you’re just getting started with online marketing in the UK, it’s important to understand the landscape. Not only does it give you a greater chance of succeeding, but also it sets the bar high.
Why Online Marketing Works In The UK
With so much competition in nearly every market segment, online marketing is a great way to gain an edge. When potential customers can find what they’re looking for online, it reduces the amount of times they have to turn to others. In markets where there is no competition, this is even more important, as it allows you to charge higher prices. In the UK, there is so much competition that businesses have to be extremely mindful about how they position themselves within the marketplace. Even if customers are finding what they want, somewhere else on the web might be offering the same product or service for a lower price. In these situations, the key is to constantly update your pricing and offer discounts to attract more customers. Even better, you can use loyalty programs and special offers to keep them coming back for more.
Ready To Take Off?
Now that you have a good understanding of online marketing in the UK, you might be wondering, “Is this all there is?” Well, in some sense, yes. While there is lots of potential for growth, there are a few things you need to know. Firstly, the UK isn’t a totally open market. While it has a highly receptive audience, certain industries and categories are much more likely to succeed than others. For example, adult toys, fetish wear, and certain types of fragrances are much more likely to perform well than, say, a plumbing business. Secondly, like with any other market, performing well in the UK doesn’t guarantee you’ll succeed elsewhere. International marketing and expansion is a critical part of any business’ growth strategy.
With all of this in mind, it’s time to explore the different ways in which you can utilize online marketing to grow your business. The first step? Create a marketing plan. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your business and come up with a game plan to address these issues.