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How to future-proof your business in a digital world driven by AI

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:04:21 GMT

When AI delivers 70% of the work, the competitive edge lives in the final 30%.

The real question we should be asking ourselves is:

ARE YOU BUILDING THE 30% THAT AI CAN’T?

This is where judgement, influence, reputation, taste and accountability show up.

So what does the 30% look like? This is what matters most when we talk about future-proofing your business. We need to start, or continue, to invest in ourselves in order to stay ahead of the game.

Personal Branding (PB)

This is your reputation, your voice and value, that only you can bring. This makes you more memorable and trusted. Trust is your currency. In short, this is YOU.

Intellectual Property (IP)

These are your unique ideas, processes, creations and stories. This is your differentiator or your USP. Again, in short, this is YOU.

Problem Solving

Lean into the what, when, where and why. If this isn't your strength, begin to "learn to learn" to improve your problem solving skills. Remembering that AI is great at given general suggestions, but the context is what people can bring to the table.

Solutions

We can add that human touch by making issues relatable, we know how to read a room, for example. AI is strong with giving ideas but it can't decipher emotions, reactions and so on.

Accountability

By adding ownership to deliverables, this becomes invaluable, more so that any bot!

Persuasion

We build trust, empathy, credibility and reputation - we can tell the stories and close the deals. Use AI to generate the data, but use your influence to grow the business.

Combined, these are just some of the ways that you can future-proof yourself and your business. And to remember, that just because AI can do something, it doesn't always mean it is the right thing to do. This is where being human wins hands down!

Streamlining Your Weekly Operations for Peak Efficiency & Productivity

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 19:18:59 GMT

Mastering Your Weekly Task Management for Optimal Business Success

For many business owners, MDs or CEOs, each week is filled with the “doing” – all the hands on work which is no doubt, essential. It is also a balancing act with finding time to focus on the strategy and vision – where does the business want to be in 3, 5, 10 years’ time?

How can you focus on all this, all the time, 24/7, 365 days of the year? After all, it is your baby! Whilst you need to review your operations, long-term planning, goals and strategy; it is also important to reflect on how well you manage your day to day. With some simple changes, structure and continuity, this can transform your working week, ensuring it is optimised fully for maximum impact , giving you time back to focus on the big picture.

So how can business owners, MDs, or CEOs stay on top of all these tasks?

Our 3 tips below help identify what can be reviewed:

Time

Identify those tasks which use the most brain power and plan these for the mornings when you are most productive. For deep strategic thinking ensure you are not under any time pressures – this is a creative process and requires more input. Colour code your appointments in the diary so you can see at a glance each week, what you are doing; be it performance reviews, supplier negotiations, expanding into new territories, networking, finance meetings or more.

Outsource

For those tasks that you don’t enjoy, and let’s be honest, you can’t love them all, then outsource to a Virtual Assistant. VA’s have evolved from straight forward admin – they offer support in operational duties, finance, admin, marketing, customer service or more. Some VA’s even have specialisms – technology, retail, manufacturing, finance. Your time is then clear to take the business forward into the next chapter.

Prioritisation

By identifying which tasks will have the most significant impact on your business, as the CEO or MD, you can then prioritise where your efforts are most suited. If you struggle to identify and think all the tasks are equally important (which we often think when we are consumed in the day to day!) then write the tasks down, and rank them out of 5 for those which are urgent and those which have the biggest impact. Side note – we also recommend doing this exercise when you want to consider what to outsource: write the tasks down and highlight what you like doing and the rest of the work that isn’t highlighted, is often those items which can be outsourced!

Get in touch with us if you’d like to find out more about what services our VAs or OBMs can offer you and your business.

Maximising Retail Potential: The Growth of Retail Media Networks and AI for Enhanced Customer Service

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 13:17:24 GMT

The retail industry has changed significantly, there’s no denying it. Retailers have transformed from an industry driven by transactions, cash, credit cards etc, to data-driven digital media. Retail media networks (RMN) eg Amazon, Wayfair, Walmart etc, are the big players with 70% of brands having dedicated budgets to spend on these platforms. Some retailers and brands even estimate that ad sales alone will surpass merchandise sales within the next five years. Yikes – that is just crazy!

It is estimated that due to the rapid growth of the market reaching $30 billion in revenue, retail media networks will eclipse traditional television advertising by 15.4% - which historically has proven to be the most successful when it comes to advertising.

So what can retailers do to remain visible in such a crowded market?

Expand into new territories
Brand collaborations
Enhance personalisation for targeted advertising

Let’s also not forget AI. Ah yes, the dreaded artificial intelligence. Whilst there will always remain a place for human interaction, personal shopping experiences and more (which I personally feel that you cannot underestimate the power of connection and strong customer service), we can’t ignore that AI is rapidly growing also and, if ignored, brands could get left behind.

The opportunities for AI for 2024 and beyond include:

AI Customer Services for all retailers :
- Using Generative AI for more “humanised” chatbots creating a personalised experience to handle emotional queries from customers.
- Continue to explore AI in growing sectors across beauty, interior design etc.
AI for clothing & department stores :
- Research shows that 63% of shoppers start their product search on Amazon, whilst only 3% shop on the brand’s website – a shocking stat that demonstrates the power of RMNs. Brands need to invest time and money into tech solutions, such as plug-ins, to entice customers at the start of their shopping journey back onto their own retail platforms.

Wouldn’t you agree that owning a retail business can be a ROLLERCOASTER! From mega busy periods and high sales to low seasons and limited customer interaction – so many challenges. And let’s not forget everything else that goes into it – the price negotiations, manufacturing, quality control, product design and approval stage, competitor analysis, promotional periods, trading the business to maximise its full potential.

Need I say more?

And then there’s everything else that goes into running the business – accounts, invoices, POs, MOQs, credit control, customer service, operations, marketing, sales.

If you feel overwhelmed with all of this, then reach out to us at IVA – we are an experienced team of ex-corporate retail professionals across buying, merchandising and design – we’ve got your back! We can embed ourselves into your systems as an extension of your existing team so that you have the full support available to grow your business and brand.

Festive Planning - Working Parents & Top Tips for Busy Business Owners

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 15:37:02 GMT

Festive Planning - Working Parents & Top Tips for Busy Business Owners

Why is it that we always tend to struggle with the build up to Christmas and yet it is the same date EVERY YEAR! Why do we not always plan for it?

The Christmas holidays can be hit and miss for certain businesses - some can be very quiet, eerily even. Whilst others ramp up activity and can be super busy, especially those in retail! Juggling work commitments and entertaining the children, especially young ones, can be challenging over the festive period. Read our top tips below on how best to manage this:

Look ahead

We all know when the holidays are - look ahead and plan for it! If you have trading history, how did you manage it last year? What worked well, what didn't? Can you repeat the same successes this year? Also sync your school calendar to your personal and business calendars so that you know when the children go back to school (those dreaded inset days crop up all the time!)

Diary management

To ensure you can be the best parent and best business owner, organise holiday clubs, sleepovers, play dates –this festive time of year it is all about family - so lean on them! Then block out time in the early AM and late afternoon PM to work – this leaves the middle of the day to be with your family on those days where you don’t have anything pre-booked for the children – this is what works best for the mums on our team. But please do tell us what currently works for you? We’d love to know.

Delegate

Consider who will be working over the festive period and start to delegate to the team. If the team are international, remember that their holiday period may differ to yours slightly. Be sure to respect boundaries at this time of year also. If you don't have a team to delegate to, then plan, plan, plan to help you maintain focus and clarity. You can always reach out to us as well, we'd love to help!

Communicate

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it has reminded us that we all have lives outside of the office. Why should you have to hide your family commitments from your work colleagues or clients. If they don’t understand this then perhaps it isn’t the best fit or the best dynamic. Explain to your children, that you need to work (if they’re old enough to understand) and you’ll be with them after. This also teaches them patience, a great skill to have! Finally, explain to your colleagues that any background noise they may hear during a call is your children, and this will take the pressure off you to not always appear to be “perfect”. And remind yourself, being a parent is the hardest but most rewarding job in the world. Period.

Ask for Help

We are never too old to ask for support and yet we don’t often take advantage of this. Liaise with friends and family and if this isn’t an option, then outsource to your VA or OBM at Interactive VA Ltd – people outsource their domestic duties so why not outsource for your business. You will see that it is money well spent!

Unlocking Potential: The Strategic Advantages of Hiring a VA Alongside your Existing Team

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 18:57:24 GMT

Are you a profitable business with an established team already?

Have you considered outsourcing but questioned whether it is worth it?

Do you wonder how this would work with your company structure?

Outsourcing is a concept that often seems second nature to us, especially in our domestic lives, but the true value isn’t always clear within business. Why is that?!

The simple fact of the matter is that running a business includes a multi-faceted approach. It's a complex range of challenges from financials to workflows, customer service to operations, admin to marketing and more. For many businesses, these challenges can lead to decreased productivity, increased operational costs, lack of focus and lack of clarity.

By outsourcing to a VA, you can free up time to focus on sales, growth and strategy.

Here are four compelling reasons to consider outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant, regardless of your company's scale or your existing team.

1. Time

Let’s be honest, we never have enough of it – ever. It is a precious resource and by hiring a VA it can help you gain back time to focus on your strategy, targeting new clients, entering new territories, negotiating new deals for business growth and more. Your team can focus on KPIs to drive the business forward whilst your VA can offer an extra pair of hands, often specialising in certain areas, offering more than just operational support.

2. Productivity

Delegating tasks to a Virtual Assistant (VA) is like unleashing a superpower for your in-house team. It allows your team members to hone in on what they do best – the tasks that play to their unique strengths. With the burden of time-consuming, repetitive tasks off their shoulders, they can redirect their time and energy towards your core business objectives. This not only enhances their productivity but also fuels innovation and creativity.

3. Flexible

Working with a VA offers the flexibility to scale your operations without the daunting commitment of hiring a full-time employee, especially when you may not be at that stage just yet. Whether you need short-term assistance during a busy quarter or ongoing support for specific projects or tasks, a VA can step in precisely when and where you need them, ensuring that your business remains at the forefront of its competitors.

4. Cost Effective & Profitable

Hiring a VA is a strategic move that can bring significant cost savings to any business. Straight away, you are reducing overhead expenses including salaries, holiday pay, sick pay, medical benefits, pension schemes, and car allowances. While performing essential support for your business, a VA does so at a fraction of the cost compared to a full-time, in-house employee. This means that your business can access the vital support it needs without the financial burden of traditional staffing, making it a savvy choice for companies who are ready to scale up.

Sexy Software for Business Owners

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:47:11 GMT

In today’s world there is SO much choice out there. If you’re a new business owner, it can be daunting to even know which software is most suitable for you and which is best and where to start! And that is where a virtual assistant can come in handy!

The role of VAs has changed over the years, and more so recently. From straight forward admin - whilst essential to keep the cogs going round so that the business can function - the landscape has evolved where they are now becoming an integral part to any business of any size. The role of a VA can enhance efficiency and productivity, streamline processes, develop digital marketing plans and more. All to ensure that your business excels!

With combined years of experience across various platforms, we have pulled together a list of our best software suggestions to help guide you in making the right decision.

1. G Suite / One Drive - excellent for managing diaries and online filing. Don't forget to utilise the full capabilities of each platform such as colour coding, flagging emails, categorising appts, online filing and more. These are particularly good if you work with remote teams.

2. Xero / Quickbooks / Sage - nowadays, Xero is the frontrunner being ideal for many small business owners. It is easy, simple and seamless and is ideal for managing your bookkeeping, reconciling your bank and managing invoices, bills and receipts. Cloud based accounting offers more of a streamlined approach, giving business owners more confidence with digitalising their accounting system – no more excel spreadsheets! Here at IVA Ltd we have knowledge and experience across all three platforms.

3 . Photoshop, Illustrator and Canva - For all you creatives, we have Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator or Canva as an alternative - we have very in-depth knowledge of all three. If you’re in need of re-branding, design input, creating company assets, then outsource to our designers at IVA, we’d be happy to help!

4. Passwords! Why is it we can remember our childhood phone numbers but can't remember passwords we created only last week! We use 1Password as our preferred method to store sensitive information as it is hassle-free and is a great managing tool. The vaults in 1Passwod can be used for logins, credit card information and so much more.

5. Wix / IONOS / Squarespace - with a strong team of product designers and graphic designers, we love using these packages to create fabulous websites for our clients! Get in touch with Sophie if you’d like to find out more.

6. Asana / Pro Workflow / Monday / Notion / Trello - our team of VAs are experienced using all of these systems to help manage projects, timelines, scheduling and more. If you are feeling overwhelmed with the choice, then reach out to Sophie who can talk you through the most suitable software for you and your business.

Top Tip : don't forget, when streamlining your business, be sure to check ask the following questions when selecting the correct piece of software:

Does it integrate with other apps?
Do they offer a trial period?
Can you pull out of the contract at any time?
Is it user-friendly?
How much does it cost?
Do they offer a strong customer support service?
Does it tick as many boxes as possible and if not, is it customisable?

Or if in doubt, reach out to IVA and we can guide you with making the correct decision.

Wellness Strategy for Business Owners

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 21:38:17 GMT

How often does one feel overworked and that there are not enough hours in the day? How often does one feel stunted sometimes, with no clear direction or vision as you are too busy doing the "doing" and not concentrating on the "growing" of your business. How often does one have sick days as they have reached burnout?

Often, if we regularly remove ourselves from our workplace for 30-60 minutes, we come back feeling refreshed, re-energised and re-focused. At Interactive Media Services Ltd, we recognise the need to pull away from the laptop and focus on our physical and mental wellbeing. For Sophie, it is running and regular PT sessions, but for others, yoga plays an important part in looking after yourself. After all, how can you look after your business if you don't look after yourself, first?

Read our top 5 tips below on how our virtual yoga wellness sessions can benefit you and your business. Let's also remember that by offering yoga to your employees, even if it is just a handful of you, then this could help improve employee satisfaction as work culture becomes an ever increasing factor and criteria for individuals.

High Performing Staff - increased cognitive and levels of concentration are just a couple of areas in which yoga can improve our performance. Not forgetting that yoga encompasses not just physical workouts, but also mental and spiritual guidance which help improve breathing techniques, which in turn improves our concentration.

Avoiding Burnout - when we are stressed we reach burnout, so what better way to reduce stress than to join regular yoga and meditation classes to keep you calm, collected and focussed. Even the GP is now recommending this to their patients so you gotta give it a go!

Physical Wellbeing - we all know sitting at a desk all day is not good. We can feel sluggish, fatigue and have low blood circulation. Releasing those endorphins by moving your body helps you re-gain energy ready to hit the rest of the day with a bang!

Increased Focus - our mental clutter can often take over, especially when we are hit with tight deadlines, a full inbox or problem solving complex scenarios. By having regular yoga sessions, you can come away feeling more alert and more productive.

Improved Morale - when we feel calm, we tend to have a more positive outlook on life and less likely to be involved in counterproductive work. Whether you are a one-man band, a team of under 10 employees or an SME of 50+ employees, yoga improves team morale and can help build stronger connections.

If you are reading this and wondering how you can fit this into your busy week, then read on further to find out how the team at Interactive Media Services Ltd combines a wellness strategy into their diaries, to ensure both work and personnel are taken care of:

Set targets - this can be an excellent way to ensure you stay on track. It gives you something to aim for and stretches you to reach your goals.

Publish your targets - whether you write it in a fitness diary, post on social media or even check in for an accountability meeting with your VA, by writing them down and sharing them with others, it can help keep you focussed. As part of our VA services, we can offer you yoga sessions as well as regular accountability meetings.

Plan ahead - working with your VA, build time into the diary for regular weekly sessions.

Mindset - treat your weekly sessions as business meetings, in other words, they are not to be missed or ignored. We find that colour coding important meetings (be it work or fitness) works very well and in turn, the sessions never get pushed to the bottom of the pile.

Benefits of Outsourcing

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 18:36:11 GMT

How does work make you feel? Are you feeling:

Stressed
Overwhelmed
Exhausted
Anxious

Do you want to feel:

Relieved
Calmer
Positive

There’s no denying that the workplace has evolved over recent years, especially post pandemic. Outsourcing was previously used mainly in large corporations however recently people have identified that everyone deserves an extra pair of hands, be it entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, or SMEs.

By outsourcing to a VA or OBM, you can feel relaxed, comfortable and confident, knowing that certain tasks can be taken care of, enabling you to focus on the end goal.

Here at Interactive Media Services, we don’t just offer admin services. We are part of a diverse industry, full of different skillsets and utilising these to make a real difference to a company or organisation. We can assist with:

Growing your business with products or services
Build and develop your brand
Improve systems and processes for a smoother operation
Develop the strategy
Manage teams
And more!

If you are not sure what to outsource, then the best thing to do is write down a list of tasks. Then highlight the ones only you can do in one colour and highlight those items that can be outsourced or that quite honestly, you hate doing, in another colour. This is then a good starting point of freeing up your time to focus on the actions that excite you. The many benefits of outsourcing are as follows, to name a few:

Time : Let’s be honest - no one ever has enough time. It is a precious resource, and a virtual administrator can help you gain back that time to focus on delivering your goals.

Flexibility : A virtual administrator offers great flexibility whether it is ad-hoc tasks, weekly administration or even project work, hiring a VA can help in all aspects of your business.

Cost Effective: Hiring a freelance virtual administrator is very cost effective for a business as it reduces labour costs - reduces salary, holiday pay, sick pay, medical benefits, pension schemes and car allowances. A VA or OBM is an integral part of a company but at a fraction of the cost.

Profitability: Running the admin of a company can be time consuming and not very profitable - if your time is best spent targeting new clients, tackling new goals, meeting new suppliers, then let a VA take the burden off you, to enable you to focus on growing your company’s profits.

6 Steps to Running a Business & Running a Marathon

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 21:32:30 GMT

You might be asking yourself, what on earth do these things have in common?

Why are you writing about running and then running a business?

Well, the two are actually paired together beautifully like cheese and crackers, like a horse and carriage! Here’s why, it takes:

Dedication
Commitment
Perseverance
Endurance
Strength
Determination

You will not always be motivated, both in life and with work commitments, so you must always be disciplined. And as one famous actor said “dreams are built on discipline, discipline is built on habits, habits are built on training. And training takes place every single second of your life.”

When the founder, Sophie, first started running (she previously only used to run to the fridge!) her target was 5k. She then got the bug and aimed for 10k, raising money for Cancer Research UK. And shortly after Sophie’s mum died, she went in for her first half marathon (13 miles) and raised £1400, again, for Cancer Research UK. Shortly after a couple half marathons, Sophie decided to go for it, take the plunge and do a full marathon (26 miles) After all, what does she have to lose?

The training is hard, but the learning and achievement will last forever. When running a business, you aren’t in it for the sprint – you’re in it for the long haul. You may start off with a concept which then leads to brainstorming, and then this is where the magic happens. You then put people, processes and systems in place to deliver your business plan. And as people, we all go into business to succeed and success looks different for everyone. The same applies to running – we all measure ourselves differently, be it pace, time or distance. For Sophie, it’ll be a combination of all three!

There are days when you don’t want to work, and there are days when you don’t want to exercise, but you will never regret lacing up your trainers and going for a run. You will never regret turning on the computer and researching the competition, networking for new leads, signing new clients or reaching new markets to grow sales.

So how does Sophie manage running multiple businesses, marathon training and the never ending commitment needed to raise a young family? Here are Sophie’s top tips below:

Plan, organise, deliver.

Plan your diary, meticulously. If this is something that doesn’t come easy to you, then reach out to us – we are experts in diary management.

Organise your jobs or tasks and prioritise so you don’t feel overwhelmed. If there are jobs you can’t do (or don’t want to do) and they keep falling down the list, then outsource to a VA, we’d be happy to help.

Deliver your goals and strategy. Sophie has been working with a running coach to keep her accountable and keep her focussed – the same can be applied to working with a VA or OBM. We don’t just do the admin of a company, we work strategically with you to reach your goals and can hold you accountable to deliver.

Work Life Balance – Does it Exist?

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 21:32:27 GMT

This expression has been thrown around for years. To some, this is extremely important, for others not so much.

Working in an office is far different to working from home, where quite often the lines can blur between work and family commitments. Working from home can give you freedom however some can find this challenging as it can be hard to maintain focus.

Below you will find some top tips on what we feel are the perfect solutions to creating that work life balance:

Organisation

We cannot stress this enough how critical this is. When we are organised we feel in control. When we are not organised, it can lead to chaos and potential anxiety. At Interactive Media Services we love a list! They help to maintain focus, plus the feeling of ticking things off is always a positive! If this doesn’t sound like you and you don’t quite know how to get through your tasks or challenges, then give us a shout. If, however you love a list like us, but you aren’t quite ready to let go, then write down your to-do list and colour code it in order of importance. Anything that isn’t critical can often be outsourced, similarly, anything that is very time-consuming can also be handed over to your VA or OBM.

Consistency

This is key both with family and with work. Ensure time is blocked out for work, family and yourself. Diarising everything will help make sure nothing gets forgotten. Remember, it is important to look after yourself so you can look after others, eg your children. It is important to look after your business – after all you didn’t go into business to burnout straight away. You will see from The 6 Steps to Running a Business & Running a Marathon, that the founder, Sophie, blocks out everything. When training for her marathon, Sophie blocks out training in her calendar and highlights these in red – anything in red simply cannot move – be it a meeting or a training session.

Put Yourself First

Occasionally you will need to consider this, as selfish as it may sound, so you can be the best “you”. This could be to focus on your office space, focus on your exercise or focus on your mental wellbeing. By taking time out for yourself, you enable yourself to re-charge and then you are often fully prepared for what the day may throw at you.

School Holiday Top Tips – The Working Parent

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 21:32:25 GMT

Mum guilt (or should I say, parent guilt). We all have it. We all hate it.

But it is part of life, therefore we must work out the best way forward to reduce this guilt as much as possible.

The summer holidays, in particular, can be a struggle – juggling work commitments and entertaining the children, especially young ones. Read our top tips below on how best to manage this:

Look ahead

We all know when the holidays are - it is like Christmas and yet somehow we tend to leave it to the last minute to organise our diaries. At the start of the academic year, sync your school calendar to your personal and business calendars.

Diary management

To ensure you can be the best parent and best business owner, organise holiday clubs, sleepovers, play dates – the list is endless. Then block out time in the early AM and late afternoon PM to work – this leaves the middle of the day to be with your family on those days where you don’t have anything pre-booked for the children – this is what works best for the mums on our team. But please do tell us what currently works for you? We’d love to know.

Communicate

Ask for Help

We are never too old to ask for support and yet we don’t often take advantage of this. Liaise with friends and family and if this isn’t an option, then outsource to your VA or OBM at Interactive Media Services Ltd – people outsource their domestic duties so why not outsource for your business. You will see that it is money well spent!

Selling in the Digital Age – the 4 P’s

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 21:32:24 GMT

Selling in the Digital Age – the 4 P’s

There’s no denying the retail landscape has changed over the last decade. Disappointingly, bricks and mortar are soon becoming a thing of the past, whilst online dominate our lives.

If you are new to the world of retail, and are an aspiring entrepreneur wanting to offer a product or service to your target customer, then consider the following. The team at IVA Ltd have combined retail experience that span more than 30 years.

Product

Be it apparel or hard-lines you need to offer a commercial, balanced and profitable range for your target customer. Your online shop needs to offer the right product, at the right place at the right time. This means you need to think of the appropriate range for the time of year and the location – if we were talking about stores, we would be talking about making sure it is in the right store, but as we are talking about online, you need to check if the product is on the right page? Is it a hero product? – therefore, it should have a higher presence online with a banner or video, or on your landing page. Are your links working? Your SEO? There is so much to remember!

Price

You should have a clear structure offering a GBB system – this is Good, Better, Best.

The “good” is your EPP product – your entry price point. This gets your customer to buy into you and your brand
Your “best” is your highest price point – this is where you want to encourage customers to trade up. This increases your ABS (average basket spend).
Your “better” is everything in between.

Look at your competition and review your prices – are you competitive? When conducting competitor pricing research, consider using a traffic light system. Green means the competition are more expensive, red means they are cheaper than you, and amber means your competitors are level with you. This simple colour coding structure has been used across multiple big retailers and helps you identify quickly where you need to take action.

Place

With digital retailing, this will all come down to your website. Think about your brand and your range. If you were selling in a store, you would think carefully about your shop windows - online is no different. Consider your landing page as your store front - you need to make an impact, you need to make it memorable. Also remember to think about whether your product is on the right page, is it at the correct position within that page, do your links work, your buttons, and so on? Do you have a clear CTA?

Also review your product photography – is it the best it can be? With so much “noise” online you need to stand out in such a saturated market but remember that if your website doesn't load within seconds, then you have already lost that sale. If your images are too big, then this will slow down your site (more on this below).

Then finally there’s that all import SEO - remember to check this out, and your meta descriptions.

See below three top tips for online retailing:

Improve your load speed: A website with a load time of 2.4 seconds can see a conversion rate of 1.9%, while those loading at over 5.7 seconds can convert at only 0.6%. Google is focusing on how quickly websites load as consumers expect a stellar page experience, and quite literally every millisecond counts.

Focus on your user-experience (UX): Consumers expect a personalised experience and want the website to know what they are searching for with the help of cookie data. It also positively impacts your organic SEO while influencing all marketing comms. Also consider how you like to shop online. If the user-experience isn't good enough for you, why should it be good enough for your customers? Put yourself in their shoes!

Mobile first: By building your website on a small screen first, enables a seamless user-experience across all devices and since 2010, Google has been focusing more on mobile users. In 2020, the number of unique mobile internet users stood at 4.28 billion, indicating that over 90 percent of the global internet population use a mobile device to go online.

Promotion

By this, we mean marketing. Think about your brand proposition and where it falls in the marketplace. Where is it against other brands? How do you want to position yourself? Put yourself in the eyes of your target customer and consider how they shop, what their spending habits are and what the customer decision process is.

Then consider how you will reach your customers. There’s no question, that you need to consider social media marketing, be it organic or paid. In addition, you should send out regular newsletters – these can be used to showcase a new product or launch and at the same time it creates anticipation, desire and brand loyalty.

At IVA Ltd we have retail experience ranging from buying to merchandising, product design to development, manufacturing to supply chain, brand & own label development to marketing and more. If this is an area that interests you then reach out to us, we’d be happy to share our learnings across a diverse industry of products and retailers.