With online shopping becoming an increasingly popular choice. With this trend likely to remain post-pandemic, retailers must find ways to adapt their business models to stay profitable and competitive. Adding a local delivery system to your online store could be beneficial if you still need to offer it.
What is Local Delivery?
You may be wondering why local delivery is different from eCommerce shipping. The answer is simple – the way it’s handled. Local delivery doesn’t need to rely on a significant national or international carrier and can be done by yourself. But if you don’t want to handle the deliveries in-house, you could ask your existing employees to help, hire new people, or partner up with a local delivery service.
Local delivery offers a compromise between in-store shopping and shipping that is especially useful during this limited access to stores and large shipping companies with extended delivery times.
It can substitute either option or be used as an additional method alongside traditional shipping methods. By avoiding the hassle of in-store shopping and alleviating strain on larger shipping companies, local delivery provides shoppers with an ideal solution.
Why You Should Incorporate Local Delivery in Your Online Store
Incorporating local delivery into your online store can benefit your business in many ways. Localization will help increase your customer base, foster growth, and bring success to your business. Here are five advantages of including local delivery in your eCommerce venture:
Get Products to Customers Faster
Large shipping companies are straining to keep up with an influx of orders since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as more frequent changes in regulations. Such issues can cause delays in deliveries from national and international carriers. Fortunately, local deliveries may not be affected by such problems and often take less time than larger ones.
Whether it’s done in-house or outsourced, local businesses may be able to get their products to customers much more quickly than usual. This is excellent news for shoppers who want their items promptly and benefits local businesses.
Lower Shipping Costs
Utilizing the delivery services of major companies can have a significant impact not only on timeframes but also on costs. Working with large-scale carriers may be pricier than local delivery and could require different managing rates depending on the terms set by your carrier.
Opting for local delivery can benefit customers since they won’t have to pay shipping costs. If you offer free shipping, the cost would likely be included in your product’s price anyway, enabling you to save money on each locally-made delivery – a win-win situation.
Make More Sales
Buying online has become the norm, but many still prefer to shop locally. Doing so has significant consequences that are beneficial to the community, environment, and local economy. By offering local delivery options, businesses can open up a new market of customers and potentially increase their sales.
Grow A Local Community Around Your Business
Emphasizing local businesses can help establish a distinct identity for your brand and cultivate a dedicated, local clientele. Utilize local deliveries as an opportunity to create closer connections with customers and foster a sense of camaraderie. This can be done by crafting a more intimate experience for consumers in the area. Offer exclusive discounts or products specifically catered to locals, or incorporate personalized messages with the deliveries. Building a community around your brand can be achieved without needing a physical store; nowadays, it’s possible to do so virtually.
You can foster a sense of community with your local customers by setting up a Facebook group, subreddit, or forum on your website to discuss local issues. By establishing an engaged and committed user base, you can develop repeat customers and brand advocates that will significantly impact your business.
Adapt Your Business To The Future
The current times are bringing new changes, and the most effective thing business owners can do is modify their operations to meet these new demands. Introducing delivery services tailored to the individual’s needs and location helps customers and businesses while forging a connection with the local community could increase sales over time. This way, businesses can better endure the current crisis while boosting their profits.
Local businesses are here to stay, and the current crisis has only made it more necessary to rely on them for everyday needs. According to estimates, the local service market is poised to grow significantly between 2019 and 2027 – a trend that savvy brands should take advantage of now to be well-positioned for the future.
How to Plan Your Local Delivery Operation
Before introducing the option of local delivery for your online store, it is essential to plan out the details. Once you have made this option available, your customers will need to be given precise information about their orders.
To ensure a thriving local delivery process, here are some key points you should keep in mind:
Set Up A Storage And Delivery Center
Before setting up a local delivery option on your online store, it is essential to plan the details of your delivery system. Customers need as much detailed information as possible before using this service. To get started, you will need to consider these basics:
The initial requirement for any local delivery system is having an appropriate hub. This could be a small storage room, shopfront, or even your home. Your chosen location will determine the areas in which you can offer local deliveries. With time, you can expand to multiple locations and provide local delivery services in various regions.
Decide On Your Coverage Area
You may be tempted to immediately cover as much territory as possible with your deliveries. After all, you want to reach out to as many customers as possible. However, expanding your delivery area too quickly can lead to delays or mistakes that will prevent customers from using your service in the future.
It would incur more costs for fuel and extra drivers or time spent on the road. To get more orders done with fewer resources, begin by limiting your delivery area to a local area surrounding your delivery center. The exact size of this radius depends on where you are located; for example, if you’re in an urban area, start with a neighborhood or two, while in suburban areas, you may want to cover a few towns further away.
Ensure that only people in your local area get access to this service by setting up zip code or radius parameters in the back end of your website.
Understand How You’ll Be Delivering
The logistics of your local delivery operation are vital for delivering your products to customers on time without any issues. This will depend on the type of products you sell, the number of deliveries, and the geographical area in which you deliver. You may need to hire employees to package and transport your products if your business is too large for you to do it yourself or if your items require extra care. Alternatively, some small business owners take on the responsibility of delivering their products.
Once you know who will transport your goods, you’ll need to decide on a delivery method. Depending on the location and size of your items, this could range from using a bicycle in an urban area to renting a truck for larger packages or large volumes of items. If managing deliveries seems too daunting, you may consider hiring a local delivery company to handle transportation for you. Before starting your business, make sure you understand the exact process of how your deliveries will be carried out.
Clarity and accuracy are essential when getting goods from point A to point B. With careful planning, you can ensure that your products arrive on time and in perfect condition.
Determine Your Delivery Times
Transparency is integral to the success of online retail stores. Customers ought to know when they can expect their packages to arrive before they complete their purchase. To deliver a satisfactory experience, you need to guarantee delivery within one or two days, depending on the type of products and business model you offer. Otherwise, customers may opt for businesses that provide quicker delivery, like same-day or next-day.
If you have a Shopiroller store, you can set different delivery timeframes based on the customer’s zone. This ensures that customers get the most accurate information about when they can expect their order to arrive.
Fast deliveries are vital in providing a positive customer experience. The quicker, the better!
Set Your Delivery Rates
Getting products delivered to happy customers on schedule is one goal, but avoiding losses from local deliveries is another. To determine the rates for these shipments, you must consider all the logistics we discussed. Calculate your expenses for local deliveries and determine a minimum price per delivery. Then factor in the main costs that should be taken into account, such as:
- Staff wages
- Car or truck expenses (or bike)
- Delivery center (if you rent out a space dedicated to deliveries)
- Gas (unless you are pedaling, of course)
As delivery costs may be determined by the distance involved, consider providing different rates for various locations. If you decide to use a shipping service, your expenses should be easy to track and predict. Be sure to set prices at a reasonable price. As an alternative to charging for shipping fees, you can provide free shipping only when customers exceed a certain amount in their cart, such as orders over $100—this way, postage can be covered through your markups.
How to Add a Local Delivery Option to Your Online Store?
Shopiroller makes it easy to implement local delivery options for your online store checkout: just a few simple steps, and you’re ready to go live!
To set up local delivery for your store, first create a shipping region in the Store Shipping section of your dashboard. You can then click the “+ Add Local Delivery” to configure your local delivery options. Enter an area name, so customers know if it’s relevant to them. Then provide an estimated delivery time and rate, or choose to offer free delivery for orders over a certain amount. You can add multiple zones with different timeframes and costs by clicking the “+” to set up more than one area.
How To Promote Your Local Delivery Services?
Local delivery is an excellent way to increase your business visibility, whether in eCommerce or a physical store. However, your efforts could be noticed with proper promotion of these services. Here are some ideas on how to advertise your local delivery services:
Promote On Your Website And Social Media
Utilize your existing online properties to promote your local delivery services. Create a dedicated landing page with the help of our landing page builder, or add a banner, lightbox, or badge to your website’s homepage. Additionally, use social media channels to spread information about this new service. Generate posts, graphics, and videos that celebrate the launch of the delivery options.
You can use social media to build relationships with the local community and generate interest. Think of innovative ways to involve your target audience in your posts.
Use Targeted Marketing
Targeted advertising is an effective way to get your services in front of the right people. With this method, you can specifically target individuals in your delivery areas.
Google Ads and Facebook Ads are two of the most popular options when it comes to targeted marketing. Once you set up an ad, you’ll be able to define who it will appear to according to factors like location, age, gender, and interests. Location is essential, but it’s not enough by itself – you’ll need to experiment with different parameters to find the best results.
Spread The Word With Email Marketing
As an e-commerce business owner, you undoubtedly have a mailing list of your customers’ emails. Use it to share details about your products and services with them at no cost. If you have data on your customers’ locations, use that information to target only those who reside within your vicinity. Even if you do not have such information, you can still send a promotional email to your entire contact list. This may only apply to some, but it will demonstrate that your business is aware of the significance of local commerce and thus create a positive impression on your brand.
Utilize local Outlets
Advertising your local delivery service can be done through various local marketing outlets. Consider placing ads in hometown newspapers and online magazines or promoting yourself through social media groups. You could even invest in a billboard if you have the funds. By utilizing every resource available and reaching out to as many potential customers as possible, you can ensure that your local delivery business remains profitable and successful.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: How Can I Promote My Local Delivery Services?
A: You can promote your local delivery services by utilizing online properties such as your website and social media channels, targeting potential customers with ads on Google Ads or Facebook Ads, using email marketing to keep customers in the loop about new services, and utilizing local outlets and resources to get your message out there.
Q: How Do I Target Potential Customers With Ads?
A: You can target potential customers with ads on Google Ads or Facebook Ads by defining who the ad will appear to, according to factors like location, age, gender, and interests. Location is essential, but it’s not enough by itself – you’ll need to experiment with different parameters to find the best results.
Q: What Are Some Ways To Advertise Local Delivery Services?
A: Some ways to advertise local delivery services include promoting on your website and social media, using targeted marketing methods such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads, utilizing email marketing, and taking advantage of local outlets such as hometown newspapers and online magazines.
Q: How Can I Target Potential Customers For My Local Delivery Services?
A: Targeting potential customers for your local delivery services can be done through Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other targeted marketing methods. You can use factors such as location, age, gender, and interests to define who the ads will appear to.
Q: What Is The Best Way To Ensure My Local Delivery Business Remains Successful?
A: The best way to ensure your local delivery business remains successful is to utilize every available resource and reach out to as many potential customers as possible. This includes using online properties such as your website and social media channels and taking advantage of local outlets like hometown newspapers and online magazines.
CONCLUSION
Local delivery services are one of the best ways to increase visibility and customer satisfaction, so promoting them effectively is essential. Utilize online properties such as your website and social media channels, target potential customers with ads on Google Ads or Facebook Ads, use email marketing to keep customers in the loop about new services, and don’t forget to utilize local outlets and resources to get your message out there. With some effort, you’ll soon be reaping the rewards of your successful local delivery business. Ready to start selling online? Create your online store with Shopiroller today!
