10 eCommerce Marketing Ideas to Revive Lost Sales in 2024

The US eCommerce market is expected to reach a market volume of US$1,534.00 billion by 2028.

That’s a staggering number, isn’t it? But let’s face the other side of the coin – with great opportunities comes a difficulty to stand out in the crowd.

I mean, the chances of old eCommerce marketing ideas (cold calls, emails, ads, etc.) boosting sales are close to zero – they’re mostly ineffective today.

So, how do you manage the same predominant issues – cart abandonment, customer churn, falling sales, etc.?

Guess you need new ideas for eCommerce business. And in this blog, that’s exactly what I will help you with.

10 Practical eCommerce Marketing Ideas to Try in 2024

Down below are some of the top marketing ideas for eCommerce suggested by industry experts. For better understanding, I’ve also included real-life examples and my personal thoughts.

1. Expand Your Email List

Email marketing is like a direct line of communication you have with potential customers. It enables you to nurture relationships, build trust, and drive sales. But how do you get those customers to sign up for your email list in the first place?

Well, I’ve tried traditional methods like asking customers to sign up at checkout. And the results were pretty obvious – disappointing.

Most customers are likely to have this question in mind –

That’s where I think lead generation popups pop in. These popups can be customized to match your brand’s look and feel and triggered based on user behavior.

You can offer visitors a valuable incentive (discount codes, free gifts, exclusive access to new products, etc.) with a popup in exchange for their email address. This could be a discount code, a free gift, or exclusive access to new products.

Read More: Email Popups: 40+ Examples & Strategies to Explode Your List

2. Offer Prizes Through Contests

Everyone loves a good contest. And when there’s a prize involved, even more people are likely to participate.

Creating prize-based contests not only helps you capture attention but also drives engagement – two of the most invaluable things for eCommerce businesses.

The key to a successful contest is to make it relevant to your target audience and offer a prize they’ll want to win.

You may have seen Amazon’s prize-based contests. The likes of “Daily QuizTime” and “Spin & Win” contests encourage participants to participate and win exciting prizes.

(Image Source: DALL-E 3)

So, how do you do it?

Well, I suggest you use popups with special offers and show them on your website.

For example, you can ask customers/visitors to enter their emails to participate in an email contest. You can also share them via social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram for better results.

3. Personalize Deals & Discounts

Customers today are bombarded with generic discounts that often go unnoticed. This makes offering personalized deals and discounts one of the best eCommerce marketing ideas.

That’s more because customers love it when they find your company cares about their needs and preferences. I think it effortlessly does two things in one shot – increase engagement and revive lost sales.

It also does one more thing – help you reduce cart abandonment rates. How?

The best way is to use targeted popups.

Showing the right message to the right folks at an appropriate time goes a long way in bringing better responses.

For instance, you can use Picreel to change up your discount offer based on what page your customer is looking at. You can also offer personalized discounts based on your customers’ browsing history or purchase behavior.

4. Host Product Giveaways

Hosting product giveaways is the red-carpet moment your brand deserves. It creates a buzz that not only boosts visibility but also turns curious onlookers into dedicated customers.

Here’s an example for you –

Image Source: MacRumors

See how the post instantly grabs your attention? The interesting thing about giveaways is that even a lot of passers-by will participate in the giveaway, despite not being a reader of MacRumors’ content, but may eventually…become one.

That is why hosting giveaways is one of the top tried-and-tested eCommerce marketing ideas when done right. I know you’ll probably ask next – so how do I do it ‘right’?

Well, in my opinion, I think popups (time and again) can be one of the best ways to go. You can strategically time them on your website announcing a grand giveaway.

Image Source: DALL-E 3

Here are some important tips to keep in mind when hosting a product giveaway:

• Choose a desirable prize that aligns with your target audience’s interests.
• Clearly communicate the rules and entry requirements to participants.
• Promote the giveaway through various channels, including social media, email marketing, and your website.
• Create a sense of urgency by setting a deadline for entry.
• Follow up with participants after the giveaway to maintain engagement and promote future offerings.

5. Showcase Social Proof

Social proof is a powerful psychological phenomenon that influences people’s behavior. When we see that others are doing something, we are more likely to do it ourselves.

In eCommerce, it’s the reassuring nod from others (existing users/buyers) that says, “Yeah, this brand is worth your time and money.”

Take a look at this example below from Semrush. It instantly creates a positive impression even for those who haven’t used online marketing tools, ever.

Image Source: Semrush

You can show client reviews or case studies on your website – one of the top eCommerce marketing ideas!

So, how do you do it? If you ask me, I find these common ways some of the best to provide social proof –

• Using customer testimonials and reviews
• Displaying badges and awards
• Highlighting customer success stories
• Featuring social media posts and mentions
• Showing the number of people who have purchased your product

Besides these, you can also use popups to showcase social proof and encourage visitors to take action. For example, you can use Picreel’s exit-intent popups to display customer reviews or testimonials.

Read More: 12 Best Social Proof Apps to Boost Sales

6. Create Urgency With Flash Sales

Flash sales and short-lived promotions offering significant discounts are powerful eCommerce marketing ideas. They create urgency and entice buyers to act quickly.

Creating this sense of urgency motivates potential customers to purchase quickly before the sale ends. It taps into the fear of missing out (FOMO) and compels buyers to take immediate action – boosting your sales and revenue.

eCommerce sites like Amazon push flash sales on different product niches almost every day. This helps them to clear stocks and stay relevant versus the competition it receives from Walmart, eBay, etc.

Image Source: Amazon.com

If you want to create a sense of urgency with time-limited deals and discounts, Picreel’s popups can be your best companion. You can trigger them at the most appropriate moments for the best results!

7. Upsell & Cross-Sell

Upselling and cross-selling is an art that maximizes customer lifetime value (CLV) and average order value (AOV)…but only when done right.

I consider it an ‘art’ because most sales teams and marketers forget the basics – be empathetic towards your customers and DON’T be annoying. That’s because today’s customers are intelligent enough to understand when an eCommerce store is tricking them to buy more.

Here’s a popular example from Walmart below. I was checking a headphone, and this was how Walmart chose to promote similar products without being intrusive –

Image Source: Walmart

For e-commerce businesses, using Shopify upsell apps can streamline the process, offering suggestions in a way that feels natural and relevant to the customer’s needs.

Here are some ways you can implement these techniques for your company –

• Product recommendations: Utilize product recommendation engines to suggest relevant items based on the customer’s browsing behavior and purchase history.
• Popups: Use strategic popups to highlight upsell, cross-sell, or down-sell opportunities during the checkout process.

• Personalized recommendations: Employ customer data to personalize product recommendations, enhancing their effectiveness.
• Clear messaging: Clearly communicate the benefits of each recommended product to encourage consideration.
• A/B testing: Continuously test different upsell, cross-sell, and down-sell strategies to identify the most effective approaches for your products and target audience.

8. Invest in Onsite Search Optimization

In the digital shopping world, the agony of not finding what you’re looking for is a real struggle. Customers don’t want to sift through endless pages; they crave efficiency, relevance, and a search function that understands their intent.

Onsite search optimization (OSO) is pivotal in driving sales and enhancing customer satisfaction. To optimize your onsite search functionality, I’d suggest you consider the following strategies –

• Keyword research: Identify relevant keywords that align with your target audience’s search terms and product categories.
• Content optimization: Optimize product descriptions, titles, and meta tags with relevant keywords to improve search relevance.
• Search relevance algorithms: Implement search algorithms that prioritize relevant results, considering factors like product popularity, customer reviews, and pricing.
• Search analytics: Utilize search analytics to track user behavior, identify common search queries, and refine your search strategies.

9. Automate Email Marketing Campaigns

Even in a world dominated by social media platforms, email marketing reigns supreme.

According to a study by Litmus –

“More than 90% of survey respondents say email marketing is at least somewhat critical to the overall success of their company. 41% say it’s very critical.”

However, manual email marketing can be a hell of a job. It’s like trying to juggle a dozen balls at once – exhausting, time-consuming, and the risk is high.

To overcome these challenges, you can automate email marketing campaigns by creating triggers.

For example, you can set up welcome emails for new subscribers, abandoned cart emails for customers who leave items in their cart, and post-purchase emails to encourage repeat purchases.

10. Monitor Competitors

Among all eCommerce marketing ideas, staying ahead of the competition is the real deal. Keeping your eyes on the competition isn’t just a tactical move; it’s a survival skill.

Monitoring competitors can also help you identify potential threats to your business, such as new entrants or changes in consumer behavior. It lets you identify opportunities to refine your approach and gain a competitive edge.

Let’s have a quick walkaround at some of the best strategies to monitor competitor activity –

• Track their pricing: Monitor your competitors’ websites and social media platforms to track pricing changes, promotions, and discounts.
• Analyze their marketing campaigns: Observe their advertising campaigns, email marketing efforts, and social media engagement to understand their messaging and target audience.
• Assess their customer reviews: Read customer reviews on their websites and third-party platforms to gather insights into their strengths and areas for improvement.
• Utilize competitor monitoring tools: Employ dedicated competitor monitoring tools that provide comprehensive data and insights into their activities.

Fuel Business Growth With the Best eCommerce Marketing Ideas

Seeing your eCommerce business grow to your expectations is not an overnight thing. Especially when the market is saturated with competition.

That said, it’s also true to say that you don’t need to have a 360-degree website makeover to boost sales or generate more leads when a simple popup tool is getting the job done for FREE!

Tools like Picreel also have plenty of templates for those who are new to using popup tools. With a simple and clutter-free user interface, it’s arguably one of the best tools for startups and small businesses.