The tremendous hold that the internet has on today's sales world is undeniable. The internet, via e-commerce, is an essential make-or-break tool for businesses. Utilising an e-commerce store maximises the brand's reach, increases profits, and boosts brand awareness. 

Developing an e-commerce website is one step in successful online marketing. The second step is extensive, accurate marketing strategies. Here's a secret: there is a free platform that allows business owners to link their e-commerce sites. YouTube! Yes, the third most-visited website in the world is the secret weapon employed by online marketing gurus. Furthermore, there are numerous free YouTube video makers that help novices create unique, captivating videos to drive organic traffic to their websites.

This article details everything to know about e-commerce and discusses the ins and outs of implementing YouTube videos to boost e-commerce engagement and, ultimately, profits.

E-commerce definition.

E-commerce, formally known as electronic commerce or internet commerce, involves the purchase and sales of goods and services online and the exchange of money and data during these transactions. 

The term e-commerce is often confused with e-business. The distinguishing factor is that e-commerce is not limited to the sale of physical products on the internet, but encircles all commercial transactions performed online. E-business, on the other hand, has to do with all aspects of running an online business.

E-commerce has definitely evolved over time. In 2020, retail e-commerce sales worldwide exceeded 4.2 trillion US dollars. The value of internet commerce sales continues to grow as more and more businesses join the online world hoping to stand out against their competitors and share in this valuable sector. 

Anyone can learn how to navigate the e-commerce world and come out on top. There are several strategies explained below on how to integrate YouTube videos to transform your e-commerce engagement. But first, it is crucial to gain a deeper understanding of what e-commerce models exist.

E-commerce models and examples.

Do the terms B2B and B2C sound familiar? These acronyms have become buzzwords for online marketing gurus. Here's a simple explanation.

The four major e-commerce models depend on who the seller and buyer are. They include B2C, B2B, C2C, and C2B.

• Business-to-Consumer (B2C) refers to a transaction in which a business sells goods or services to a client. 

• In Business-to-Business (B2B), one business offers its products to another. 

• The Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) model is demonstrated as one consumer selling something to another consumer on an e-commerce site such as eBay. 

• The Consumer-to-Business (C2B) model refers to a system in which the clients provide products or services to an organisation.

The examples of e-commerce differ from its models in that they are concerned with two major areas of the transactional foundation. These are the type of relationships between the buyer and seller as well as the products or services involved. Therefore, examples include retail, wholesale, dropshipping, crowdfunding, subscription, physical products sale, digital products sale, and services. 

The truth about e-commerce in 2022.

According to Forbes, there is a crucial trend that business owners should know to master the online retail world. E-commerce is growing. Hearing that this sector is expected to make up 20.4% of global retail sales by December 2022 is not a far-fetched idea. Besides, numerous business analytics forecast that this sector's sales will exceed 7 billion by 2025. 

There is also greater competition now. Brands are encouraged to invest in unsaturated platforms that aren't flooded with countless ads from multiple companies. This is where YouTube comes in.

YouTube marketing for e-commerce.

YouTube surpasses other marketing platforms as it allows the business owner to interact with their target audience and increase brand awareness. Business owners should learn to leverage YouTube to maximise traffic to their website. It is, essentially, a free marketing tool for anyone with a product or service to use. FlexClip is one of the best YouTube video makers worthy of trying.

The value of YouTube in e-commerce.

Guess how popular YouTube videos are? A Statista report found that 694 video hours were watched on YouTube per minute in August 2021. This means that a new business owner who opts to create a YouTube channel dedicated to their brand has higher chances of reaching a wider audience and finding their target client. Depending on the strategies utilised, someone may watch a video related to your company, share, and subscribe increasing awareness. YouTube automates the selling process in that it attracts potential clients to a relevant e-commerce site.

Tips and tricks when using YouTube as an e-commerce marketing tool.

Maintain authenticity.

Why is YouTube a double-edged sword? The platform increases brand outreach as its user base is very large. However, there is stiff competition within this platform. Novice business owners may be tempted to duplicate what their competitors are doing, especially if it works. That's not how to go about things, though.

Success on YouTube is determined by several factors; the most important being authenticity. Define your brand and translate this information into videos. There are several ways to do this which will be discussed below. 

The downside of copying a competitor is that it dilutes the brand's image and runs the risk of unintentionally promoting the competitor as the prospective client associates the video with the other organisation. Come up with new ideas for the brand and determine the niche and target audience. 

Post regularly.

YouTube is work! Creating SEO-optimised videos regularly boosts them on the algorithm. Decide on the types of videos to make and plan on shooting them. These videos may range from how-to videos, customer testimonials, and live streams, to slideshows. 

People who run out of ideas for videos are encouraged to use live streams where they showcase their products and interact with their audience organically. Furthermore, a simple trick for business owners is to create a slideshow of relevant pictures that display the product or service offered with a professional voice-over. Using a YouTube timestamp generator can help organize you video content, making it easier for viewers to navigate and find specific information, thereby enhancing the user experience.

Less promoting, more entertaining.

Experienced salespersons know that for a successful pitch, it is essential to give the people what they want. And people want to be entertained. Promotional content 24/7 drains the audience. They may acquire a negative connotation with the brand and believe that it is only money that they are after. 

Make 'mindless' content to capture the viewer's attention. This content may include funny or outrageous videos. These videos help the business owner to build a rapport with clients and garner a positive attitude toward the brand. Moreover, because there is an e-commerce store to market, remember to mention the store, provide a link, or display the product in the background.

CTA drives consumer behaviour.

Call-to-Action (CTA) refers to a request made by the speaker on YouTube to their audience asking them to perform a particular action. Every YouTube subscriber knows the phrase: don't forget to like the video, subscribe, and share with friends. When promoting an e-commerce store, the speaker can also say, "You can get all this information if you visit the link in the description." Or "This item is available on the link provided in the description box below."

Include a wide genre of videos.

Keep the audience entertained by featuring various types of YouTube videos. Here are multiple video types that help grow an e-commerce store naturally:

• How-to videos are the go-to trick.

Educate the audience on how to use a product. Today, YouTube shorts are terrific platforms for these types of videos. Business owners have an opportunity to share quick information on a product with little hassle in editing. 

• Make videos centred on client testimonials and product reviews.

Prospective customers are more likely to purchase a product or service if they are recommended. The best way to communicate how a product or service would be valuable to the potential client is by including client testimonials and product reviews in videos. Making a slideshow featuring well-edited slides of this content is extremely simple with free YouTube video maker.

• Include informational videos about the product or service.

Aside from how-to videos, educate the audience on the product and service. Create shorts focused on answering FAQs. Additionally, address any queries and give more information raised during live broadcasts. 

A false assumption that e-commerce is impenetrable has taken root in today's society as more businesses explore the online world. Yes, there is greater competition as more people join the internet in the hopes of selling their product or service and reaching their target audience. However, this does not disqualify new business owners from achieving success. Anyone can navigate the online sphere and come out on top if they learn the right strategies and understand what e-commerce is. Identifying the model and example of e-commerce relevant to a brand is key in formulating a marketing strategy. Furthermore, YouTube is an indispensable marketing tool for e-commerce beginners.