Direct to consumer (D2C) marketing has opened up many new opportunities for new and old retail brands in the digital age. Online shopping has become extremely convenient thanks to the internet. Despite the fact that some of the changes are obvious, like the ability to begin a business without needing a physical location. Thankfully, with the aid of the development of the internet, business elements are now capable of undergoing drastic changes. 

We are redesigning our supply chains, rethinking the customer experience, and using new marketing strategies to reach new audiences. It is likely that this trend will continue in the future!  

Online sales of direct-to-consumer (D2C) products grew by 45.5% in 2020, totaling $111.54 billion. As a result of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chains have been slowed, orders have been delayed, and in-person retail has been shut down. 

The more surprising aspect is that D2C sales are expected to continue through 2023 when ecommerce sales are predicted to reach $174.98 billion. 

What is Direct-to-consumer? 

A direct-to-consumer strategy eliminates the need for middlemen in order to sell the product. Using digital platforms such as social media and websites, you can directly sell your products to consumers. Going direct to consumer has many benefits, but to name a few, removing the barrier between the producer and the consumer gives the producer greater control over their brand, reputation, marketing, and sales. Additionally, it allows the producer to directly interact with their customers, and therefore learn from them. 

Ready to go direct-to-customer? 

D2C brands have to stand out right from launch to make a mark in their industry. Here are 7 ways to help you get started. 

Celebrity Influencers 

Using influencers is a great strategy for D2C businesses. Influencers boost the popularity of direct-to-consumer brands. A good product review can humanize a brand that is unfamiliar. Their content is immediately accessible to the loyal followers that they have. Their opinions matter. Using influencers in a marketing plan can lead to enhanced trust among consumers, as well as advocacy and long-term loyalty. The major benefits they offer are that it is cost effective plus it has a higher engagement rate. 

Content Marketing 

When you are a direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand with a small advertising budget and zero reputation, content is your key tool. Often, content plays a major role in SEO strategy and helps a website become more visible. The best content earns trust, engages customers, and answers their questions. Engaging and interesting content is what is winning hearts. 

Building great content that includes user-generated and influencer assets can help brands maximize budgets by targeting the right audience with their data. Advertising over the top will also benefit business growth.  

Social Commerce

A segment of ecommerce known as social commerce involves merchants selling goods directly to customers through social media platforms, allowing them to browse goods, interact with brands, and make purchases. 

Instagram and Facebook are leading the way in terms of social commerce, but other social media sites such as Pinterest, TikTok, and even Snapchat are expanding their capabilities. Every social commerce platform serves a unique purpose and caters to a niche audience, which shapes its approach to social commerce. Thus, this can be a good marketing strategy for startups and businesses who do not have any website. They can start their journey directly from social media platforms.  

Infographics and Memes for social media

Visual content like memes and infographics can be extremely powerful. When you successfully connect with your audience, you will establish a follower base for your brand. Memes and infographics hold good user attention in today’s time. People love to watch the content that is relatable to them and their situations. Creating trending memes and relating them with your brand’s services or features is something that most of the brands are already doing and getting a higher user base.  

Advertising  

Ads get so much of the customers’ attention in this busy world. A survey found that 60% of people prefer to watch videos rather than read a text. Furthermore, people remember video ads rather than textual-based ads. There are different types of Ads you can use for business. Some of the major and effective ads are: 

• PPC– Pay per click ads also known as Product listing ads are the most effective format of advertising as it is the quicker way of getting good traffic to your website. Pay-per-click ads means you will only be charged based on how many people click the ads, not how many times it is viewed. These Ads appear on search engines whenever you search for a product.  

• Display Ads- Banner ads, which are also called display ads, have been around for quite some time. This type of advertising involves purchasing a designated space on a website for placement of an advertisement. Display ads aim to gain brand exposure, and are ideal for attracting new customers who have never heard of the product before. You can also use banner ads for retargeting campaigns, in which you display your ads on the screens of users who have already visited your site, hoping to entice them back and increase conversions. Additionally, banner ads can be tailored to specific demographics, based on gender, age, or region, and time of day.  

We are aware of the retention power in people. People have 30% retention power, thus to rent a space in their heads it is important to move according to the behavior of your target audience. Ads are the key ingredient for your business.  

E-mail Marketing 

In an era of growing social media, email still maintains its relevance. You can encourage customers to purchase by sending out newsletters, discount codes, festive coupons, and personalized messages. Email marketing is also taking up a good space in people’s heads as mail pop-ups with interesting headlines are something that catches customers’ attention.  
For example- Imagine a Mail popup like-  

Spin it to WIN it!  

Spin the wheel to get the best score and get discounts on your purchase! 

Isn’t that something that will steal your attention?  

Search Engine Optimization

If your brand is direct-to-consumer, you should invest in a solid SEO strategy.  We’re planting the seeds that will later reap a long-term, sustainable reward.  SEO Helps you to get good reach and traffic to your website. This will ultimately lead to an increase in your sales. It is a long-term investment with multiple benefits. Make your business visible to your buyers.

D2c Wave Here to stay? 

Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) selling has been taking over Indian retail regardless of the category of products sold. This is advancing the trend of omnichannel retailing. Retail brands in India are increasingly adopting a direct-to-consumer model while eliminating the need for middlemen, such as third-party sellers, wholesalers, and retail outlets. In light of Indian brands’ approach to digital sales softening, India is well positioned to soak up the wave of D2C retailing that is sweeping the retail industry. However, what brands need to recognize is that they need to jump on the bandwagon as soon as possible or they will be caught in the competition and will not be able to emerge as a leader. 

Conclusion 

For direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, the best strategy is to find a path that allows you to build your reputation in the market with more consumers. Personalized communication and answering questions from your customers directly are an excellent way to give your business a personal touch.  

Any online business can make a leap and become an essential brand in the market as long as it has the right marketing strategies, the right software, and a proper roadmap in place. Building your brand is all about listening to your customers’ needs and providing solutions accordingly.