The 9 best practices to improve your digital shelf performance by 20% in a month

 Have you ever looked at your digital shelf and thought, "Man, I could do a lot better than this?" If so, you're not alone. In fact, according to Forrester Research, approximately 78% of online retailers say they aren't satisfied with their digital shelf performance. But don't worry - there are plenty of ways to improve your performance without hiring a consultant or making any major changes. In this blog post, we'll share nine best practices that should help you see an improvement of 20% or more in just one month. Let's get started!

1. Make sure your product data is accurate and complete

This may seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many retailers have incomplete or inaccurate product data. This can lead to everything from incorrect pricing to products being listed in the wrong category. Inaccurate product data is a major turn-off for customers, so it's important to get it right.

To ensure your product data is accurate and complete, start by conducting a regular audit of your data. This can be done manually or with the help of a tool like Data Quality Management from Stibo Systems. Once you've identified any inaccuracies, make the necessary corrections in your product information management (PIM) system.

2. Use high-quality product images

Product photos are one of the most important elements on your digital shelf, so it's important to use high-quality images that accurately represent your products. Your product photos should be clear, well-lit, and taken from multiple angles. Customers should be able to zoom in on your photos and get a good look at the product.

If you don't have the budget to hire a professional photographer, there are plenty of tools and resources that can help you take great product photos on your own. Check out our blog post on how to take product photos for tips and advice.

3. Optimize your product titles and descriptions

Your product titles and descriptions play a major role in determining whether or not customers add your products to their carts. To improve your digital shelf performance, make sure your titles and descriptions are clear, concise, and easy to read. Use keyword-rich language that accurately describes your products and their features.

4. Take advantage of customer reviews

Customer reviews are a valuable asset that can help you improve your digital shelf performance. According to a study by eMarketer, nearly 90% of consumers say they read online reviews before making a purchase. What's more, customer reviews can help improve your search engine ranking and conversion rate.

To take advantage of customer reviews, make sure you're actively collecting them from your customers. You can post customer reviews on your website, social media channels, and third-party sites like Amazon and Google Shopping.

5. Implement product videos

Product videos are another great way to improve your digital shelf performance. In fact, studies have shown that product videos can increase conversion rates by as much as 80%! Product videos give customers a quick and easy way to learn about your products and their features.

To get started with product videos, start by creating a few short, informative videos that highlight your products. You can post these videos on your website, social media channels, and third-party sites like YouTube.

6. Offer incentives for customer reviews.

Incentives are a great way to encourage customers to leave reviews for your products. You can offer customers a discount, coupon, or free shipping in exchange for their review. Just be sure to clearly disclose that customers are receiving an incentive in exchange for their review.

7. Leverage user-generated content (UGC)

User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool that can help you improve your digital shelf performance. UGC is any content that's created by customers, for customers. This includes things like customer reviews, social media posts, and product videos.

UGC is valuable because it gives customers a chance to voice their opinion about your products. It also helps create a sense of community and connection between you and your customers.

To get started with UGC, encourage your customers to leave reviews and post about your products on social media. You can also create a hashtag for your brand and encourage customers to use it when posting about your products.

8. Make sure your product data is up-to-date

Your product data is the foundation of your digital shelf, so it's important to make sure it's accurate and up-to-date. This includes things like your product titles, descriptions, price, and availability.

Accurate product data is important because it helps ensure that customers can find the products they're looking for on your digital shelf. It also helps to prevent customers from becoming frustrated with your brand.

To make sure your product data is accurate, regularly review your product listings and make sure they're up-to-date. You can also use a tool like Google Merchant Center to manage your product data.

9. Use high-quality product images

High-quality product images are essential for creating a successful digital shelf. In fact, studies have shown that product images can increase conversion rates by as much as double!

To make sure your product images are high-quality, start by using professional-grade photography. You can also use editing tools to improve the quality of your images. Additionally, make sure your images are clear and well-lit.

10. Optimize your digital shelf for mobile

More and more shoppers are using their mobile devices to shop online, so it's important to make sure your digital shelf is optimized for mobile. This includes things like making sure your product images are responsive and that your product data is easy to read on a small screen.

To optimize your digital shelf for mobile, start by reviewing your product pages and making sure they're mobile-friendly. You can also use a tool like Google Analytics to see how much traffic your site is getting from mobile devices.

11. Use A/B testing to improve your digital shelf

A/B testing is a powerful tool that can help you improve your digital shelf. A/B testing is a process of testing two different versions of a product page to see which one performs better.

To get started with A/B testing, create two different versions of your product page. Then, use a tool like Google Analytics to track the performance of each page. After a few weeks, you should be able to see which page is performing better and make changes accordingly.

12. Keep an eye on your competitors

It's important to keep an eye on your competitors and see what they're doing to improve their digital shelf. This way, you can stay ahead of the curve and ensure that your digital shelf is the best it can be.

To keep an eye on your competitors, start by setting up Google Alerts for your competitor's brand name. This will send you an email whenever your competitor's brand is mentioned online. You can also use a tool like Alexa to track your competitor's traffic and see how their digital shelf is performing.

13. Use data to improve your digital shelf

Data is a powerful tool that can help you understand what's working and what's not on your digital shelf. To get started, use a tool like Google Analytics to track the performance of your product pages.

Additionally, you can use heat mapping tools to see where people are clicking on your product pages. This information can help you understand what's working and what's not so you can make changes accordingly.

14. Have a plan for when things go wrong

No matter how well you plan, there will always be a chance that something will go wrong with your digital shelf. That's why it's important to have plan for when things go wrong.

To create a plan for when things go wrong, start by identifying the most likely problems that could occur. Then, create a contingency plan for each problem. Additionally, make sure you have a way to communicate with your team so everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.

15. Regularly review your digital shelf

It's important to regularly review your digital shelf to ensure that it's performing as well as it can be. To do this, start by reviewing your traffic and conversion data.

Additionally, you can use tools like heat maps and A/B testing to see how people are interacting with your product pages. This information can help you identify areas for improvement. Finally, don't forget to keep an eye on your competition so you can see what they're doing to improve their digital shelf.

Digital shelf optimization is an ongoing process, so it's important to regularly review your strategies and make changes as needed. By following these tips, you can ensure that your digital shelf is always performing at its best.