Data shows that strong early SEO and digital marketing drives customers to order directly from retailers’ websites and proprietary apps.
In an attempt to understand the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing, particularly when launching a new proprietary online ordering and delivery service, Vroom Delivery ran a study across hundreds of delivery stores around the US. three month of launching a new delivery program, 61% of customers find the service through organic search traffic and digital marketing through platforms such as Google, Facebook and Instagram. Only 4% of this early traffic comes from the retailers’ apps as customers are not yet familiar with their digital offerings.
As a delivery program matures and customers become accustomed to using the service, those customers begin to seek out the retailer directly through its proprietary channels. Chains using Vroom that have been offering proprietary e-commerce for over 12 months see 65% of orders come through their own websites or native app, with only 23% coming from new search traffic or digital marketing.
This suggests that online ordering is a major driver of retailer app downloads as well as customers seeking out the retailers’ brands specifically, rather than searching for a specific product across other e-commerce providers.
“We’ve found that search engine optimization is a big predictor of the early success of a new online ordering program,” said Jeff Nelson, chief technology officer of Vroom Delivery. “By passing Google and other search engines locality and SKU data on behalf of our retail partners, we can ensure that when customers Google ‘Red Bull Delivery Near Me,’ their stores quickly move to the top of the organic results. Over time, most of these customers transition to utilizing the retailer-branded sales channels such as proprietary apps or websites.”
An earlier study by Vroom Delivery showed that over 80% of online delivery orders were from customers who would not have otherwise made a purchase at that store had online ordering and delivery not been available. When paired with this new data, it demonstrates that through the right combination of delivery, online ordering, SEO and a strong website and mobile app, retailers can both strengthen their brand and attract new customers.
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Chicago, Vroom Delivery is a full-stack e-commerce solution for convenience stores, providing every technical aspect required for chains of convenience stores to operate and manage their own e-commerce and delivery services. Vroom can set up an entire network of stores for e-commerce and delivery within a matter of days.
