How to increase Marketing Efficiency Ratio (MER) on Shopify stores?

By
Luke Mondora
May 15, 2023
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As an e-commerce business owner, you are always looking for ways to maximize your marketing efforts and increase sales. One metric that can help you achieve both of these goals is Marketing Efficiency Ratio (MER). In this article, we will explore how to improve your MER on Shopify stores by understanding the concept, analyzing your current MER, implementing new strategies, utilizing Shopify-specific tools and apps, monitoring and adjusting your marketing efforts, and learning from successful case studies.

Understanding Marketing Efficiency Ratio (MER)

Before we dive into the strategies to improve your MER, let's first understand what it is. Simply put, MER is a metric that measures how effectively your marketing efforts are converting into sales. It takes into account the total marketing expenses and the resulting revenue generated by those expenses. A high MER indicates that your marketing efforts are efficient and effective, whereas a low MER indicates that you need to optimize your marketing strategies.

What is Marketing Efficiency Ratio (MER)?

Marketing Efficiency Ratio (MER) is a performance metric that measures the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. It helps you understand how much revenue you are generating from your marketing spending. In other words, it gives you an idea of how efficiently your marketing efforts are converting into sales.

One of the key advantages of using MER is that it provides a clear and concise picture of your marketing performance. By analyzing the data provided by MER, you can identify the areas where your marketing efforts are succeeding and the areas where they need improvement.

For example, if you have a high MER, it means that your marketing efforts are generating a lot of revenue for your Shopify store. You can use this information to identify the strategies that are working well and double down on them to generate even more revenue.

On the other hand, if you have a low MER, it means that your marketing efforts are not generating enough revenue for your Shopify store. You can use this information to identify the strategies that are not working well and adjust them accordingly to improve your marketing performance.

Why is MER important for Shopify stores?

MER is important for Shopify stores because it enables you to track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. By analyzing your MER, you can identify which strategies are working and which are not. This can help you optimize your marketing budget and focus on the strategies that generate the best results.

Another advantage of using MER for Shopify stores is that it can help you stay competitive in your industry. By monitoring your MER, you can identify the marketing strategies that your competitors are using to generate revenue and adjust your own strategies accordingly.

Ultimately, using MER can help you make data-driven decisions about your marketing strategies. By analyzing the data provided by MER, you can make informed decisions about where to allocate your marketing budget and which strategies to focus on to improve your marketing performance.

Analyzing your current MER

The first step in improving your MER is to analyze your current performance. This can help you identify areas where you are underperforming and where you can make improvements. By analyzing your MER, you can get a better understanding of how your marketing efforts are affecting your bottom line. Here are some additional steps you can take to analyze your current MER:

Identifying key performance indicators (KPIs)

Identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) is important because it gives you a benchmark to measure your marketing performance. Some common KPIs for Shopify stores include conversion rate, average order value (AOV), return on ad spend (ROAS), customer lifetime value (CLTV), and customer acquisition cost (CAC). By tracking these KPIs, you can get a better idea of how your marketing efforts are affecting your bottom line.

For example, if your conversion rate is low, you may need to improve your website's user experience or optimize your product pages. If your AOV is low, you may need to offer incentives for customers to purchase more items at once. If your ROAS is low, you may need to adjust your ad targeting or creative to improve your return on investment.

Evaluating your marketing channels

Evaluating your marketing channels is essential because it helps you identify which channels are generating the best results. Common marketing channels for Shopify stores include social media, email marketing, content marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and paid advertising. By analyzing the performance of each channel, you can determine which channels are worth investing in and which are not.

For example, if your social media channels are driving a lot of traffic but not many conversions, you may need to adjust your messaging or targeting to better appeal to your audience. If your email marketing campaigns are not getting many opens or clicks, you may need to improve your subject lines or segment your audience to better target their interests. If your paid advertising campaigns are not generating a positive return on investment, you may need to adjust your targeting or creative to better resonate with your audience.

Assessing your target audience

Assessing your target audience is crucial because it helps you tailor your marketing efforts to your ideal customer. By analyzing your demographic and psychographic data, you can understand their needs and preferences, creating more effective marketing messages for increased conversions.

For example, if your target audience is primarily young adults interested in sustainable fashion, you may want to focus your marketing efforts on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where this audience is most active. You may also want to highlight the eco-friendliness of your products in your messaging to appeal to their values.

Overall, analyzing your current MER is an important step in improving your marketing performance. By identifying your KPIs, evaluating your marketing channels, and assessing your target audience, you can make data-driven decisions to optimize your marketing efforts and drive better results for your business.

Strategies to improve your MER

Now that you have analyzed your current MER, it's time to implement new strategies to improve it. Here are some tips to help you increase your MER:

Optimizing your marketing budget

Optimizing your marketing budget is crucial because it helps you maximize your return on investment (ROI). By focusing on the channels that generate the best results, you can increase your revenue and decrease your marketing expenses.

One way to optimize your marketing budget is to conduct A/B testing, which involves testing two versions of a marketing campaign to see which one performs better. By analyzing the results of the test, you can determine which version is more effective and allocate more of your budget towards that channel.

Another way to optimize your marketing budget is to invest in social media advertising. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer highly targeted advertising options that allow you to reach your ideal customer at a lower cost than traditional advertising channels.

Leveraging data-driven marketing techniques

Using data-driven marketing techniques is important because it helps you make informed decisions based on real data. By analyzing your customer data, you can identify trends, preferences, and behavior to make more effective marketing messages and campaigns.

One data-driven marketing technique is to use predictive analytics, which involves analyzing historical data to make predictions about future behavior. By using predictive analytics, you can identify which customers are most likely to make a purchase and target them with personalized marketing messages.

Another data-driven marketing technique is to use customer segmentation, which involves dividing your customer base into smaller groups based on shared characteristics. By segmenting your customers, you can create targeted marketing messages that resonate with each group.

Enhancing your website's user experience

Enhancing your website's user experience is essential because it helps you convert more visitors into customers. By making it easy for your customers to navigate your website, find what they are looking for, and complete their purchase, you can increase your conversions and revenue.

One way to enhance your website's user experience is to improve your website's load time. Studies have shown that even a one-second delay in load time can result in a 7% reduction in conversions. By optimizing your website's load time, you can improve your customer's experience and increase your conversions.

Another way to enhance your website's user experience is to use responsive design, which ensures that your website looks and functions well on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. By using responsive design, you can provide a seamless user experience across all devices and increase your conversions.

Implementing effective email marketing campaigns

Using effective email marketing campaigns is important because it helps you nurture your leads, increase customer loyalty, and generate more revenue. By segmenting your email list based on behavior and preferences, you can send targeted messages that resonate with your customers.

One way to implement effective email marketing campaigns is to use automation, which involves setting up triggered emails based on specific customer actions. For example, you can send a welcome email to new subscribers, a cart abandonment email to customers who leave items in their cart, and a re-engagement email to customers who haven't made a purchase in a while.

Another way to implement effective email marketing campaigns is to use personalization, which involves customizing your emails based on each customer's behavior and preferences. By using personalization, you can create a more personalized experience for your customers and increase their loyalty to your brand.

Utilizing Shopify-specific tools and apps

Shopify is a powerful e-commerce platform that provides many built-in tools and apps to help you optimize your marketing strategies and increase your MER. Here are some additional details about the tools and apps mentioned:

Shopify analytics for tracking MER

Shopify Analytics is a powerful tool that provides you with real-time insights into your store's performance. With Shopify Analytics, you can track your MER and other important KPIs, such as conversion rates, average order value, and customer acquisition cost.

By analyzing this data, you can gain a better understanding of your customers' behavior and preferences, allowing you to make informed decisions about your marketing strategies. For example, if you notice that a particular product is selling well, you can increase your marketing efforts for that product to drive even more sales.

Top Shopify apps for improving marketing efficiency

Shopify's app store offers a wide range of apps that can help you improve your marketing efficiency. Here are some of the top apps:

Email marketing apps

Email marketing is a powerful tool for driving sales and building customer loyalty. Shopify offers many email marketing apps, such as Klaviyo and Omnisend, that can help you create targeted email campaigns and automate your email marketing efforts.

Social media automation apps

Social media is an important channel for promoting your products and engaging with your customers. Shopify offers many social media automation apps, such as Hootsuite and Buffer, that can help you schedule and publish social media posts, monitor social media activity, and analyze your social media performance.

SEO apps

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for driving organic traffic to your store. Shopify offers many SEO apps, such as Plug in SEO and SEO Manager, that can help you optimize your product pages, meta descriptions, and other on-page elements for search engines.

Influencer marketing apps

Influencer marketing is a powerful way to reach new audiences and build brand awareness. Shopify offers many influencer marketing apps, such as Carro and Grin, that can help you find and connect with influencers in your niche and manage your influencer campaigns.

By utilizing these Shopify-specific tools and apps, you can optimize your marketing strategies, increase your MER, and drive more sales for your e-commerce store.

Monitoring and adjusting your marketing efforts

Marketing is an ever-evolving field and it's important to stay on top of your game. Once you have implemented new strategies and tools to improve your MER, it's important to monitor and adjust your efforts regularly. This will help you stay ahead of the curve and continue to drive revenue for your business.

Regularly reviewing your MER

Regularly reviewing your MER is important because it helps you identify trends and areas for improvement. By tracking your performance over time, you can understand the impact of your marketing efforts and adjust your strategies accordingly. It's important to set benchmarks and goals for your marketing efforts so that you can measure your success and make informed decisions.

One way to monitor your MER is to use analytics tools such as Google Analytics. This will give you valuable insights into your website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. You can also use social media analytics tools to track engagement and reach on your social media platforms.

Adapting to changes in consumer behavior

Consumer behavior is constantly changing and it's important to stay up to date with the latest trends. Adapting to changes in consumer behavior is critical because it helps you stay relevant and responsive to your audience's needs. By staying on top of emerging trends, technologies, and preferences, you can adjust your marketing strategies to better meet your customers' needs.

One way to stay on top of consumer behavior is to conduct market research. This can include surveys, focus groups, and social listening. By understanding your customers' needs and preferences, you can tailor your marketing efforts to better resonate with them.

Scaling your marketing strategies for growth

Scaling your marketing strategies for growth is important because it helps you reach new audiences and drive more revenue. By optimizing your marketing strategies and investing in channels that generate results, you can grow your business and maximize your returns.

One way to scale your marketing efforts is to diversify your channels. This can include investing in paid advertising, influencer marketing, or content marketing. It's important to test and measure the effectiveness of each channel to determine which ones are driving the most results.

Another way to scale your marketing efforts is to focus on customer retention. This can include implementing loyalty programs, personalized marketing, and excellent customer service. By keeping your existing customers happy, you can generate more revenue and increase customer lifetime value.

Overall, monitoring and adjusting your marketing efforts is crucial for success in today's fast-paced business world. By staying on top of your game and adapting to changes, you can continue to drive revenue and grow your business.

Applying best practices to your own store

Now that we've explored some of the best practices used by top-performing Shopify stores, it's important to apply these strategies to your own store. One way to do this is by regularly reviewing and optimizing your marketing strategies. This includes analyzing your website traffic and sales data, testing different marketing channels and campaigns, and monitoring your MER to identify areas for improvement.

Shopify also offers a range of tools and apps that can help you improve your store's performance. These include apps for mobile optimization, UGC, customer experience, and retargeting ads. By utilizing these tools and apps, you can save time and resources while improving your store's performance.

In addition to these strategies, learning from successful case studies can also help you improve your own MER. By studying how other successful Shopify stores have achieved high MERs, you can gain insights into what works and what doesn't, and apply these lessons to your own store.

In conclusion, improving your MER is crucial for the success of your Shopify store. By implementing best practices such as mobile optimization, UGC, customer experience, and retargeting ads, and utilizing Shopify-specific tools and apps, you can increase your MER and drive more revenue for your business.

Conclusion

Improving your Marketing Efficiency Ratio (MER) on Shopify stores is essential for maximizing your marketing efforts and increasing revenue. By understanding the concept, analyzing your current MER, implementing new strategies, utilizing Shopify-specific tools and apps, monitoring and adjusting your marketing efforts, and learning from successful case studies, you can optimize your marketing strategies and drive more sales for your business.

Luke Mondora
Chief Experiment Officer, Adaptiv Media