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Customers are not only becoming more aware of what they consume — but they’re also keen to buy products that help the environment
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
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73% of consumers worldwide say that they are prepared to change their consumption habits to diminish the impact of their actions on the environment. Customers are not only becoming more aware of what they eat, drink and put on their bodies; they are also keen to buy products that help the environment. Hence, sustainability is becoming an important business strategy to stay competitive. It is an approach that aims to create long-term value to the organization and to the products or services offered. In the area of online retail, there are several ways to improve the sustainability of your business, adding value to customers in the process.
Switch To An Eco-Friendly Web Host
One strategy to make your e-commerce business sustainable is to decrease your site’s carbon footprint. The internet produces a lot of pollution because servers are powered by fossil fuels. They also consume tons of energy. However, your website and app, if you have one, are essential elements of your digital presence. This is where you sell goods, receive payments, and interact with customers. For example, starting a blog to promote your vegan business is a great way to connect with your clients and increase traffic to your site by raising awareness of your brand. It enables you to share knowledge, resources and expertise to promote your business. Steady blogging can generate leads, translating to increased sales and revenues.
However, websites use up power, and often, the sources of energy are non-renewable. One way to reduce your environmental impact is to team up with a green web host. A hosting company that buys renewable energy credits like wind or solar power can offset or reduce your e-commerce’s carbon footprint. Customers will also appreciate that you are using renewable power to sustain your website.
Improve The Design And Content Of Your Site
User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) are vital components of your website. Make use of objective and qualitative metrics to measure UI and UX. For example, create surveys that include ease of use or satisfaction scores. Recommendations may also be included for insights. Attach set numbers so that you can track user errors and success rates.
There are also user services that measure UX. To illustrate, ‘heatmaps’ give an indication where people click on your site, offering clues as to the friendliness of your layout and design. In addition, you can track where the user clicks came from. Don’t forget to let people test your website’s usability. Ask friends and family to go through your site, complete forms, or even make a purchase to see what works and what does not. The point is that if navigating your website is seamless, users do not need to spend a lot of time going from one page to another and wasting energy.
Keep in mind that images also take up a lot of page weight. Try to minimize pictures that offer no value to the user. Reducing images can help lower energy consumption as well, without compromising user experience. It’s also a good idea to limit the use of videos because they are data intensive. However, if you need a video to promote your business or explain something, keep video content short, and remove auto-play.
Nowadays, consumers are not only conscious of their carbon footprint; they also support businesses that share their sentiment. Using a green web host and refining website design and content are key ways to make your digital business sustainable.