AI is Here: 3 ways to use ChatGPT for Your E-Commerce Site

How many times have you heard “The Future is Here?” Well, this time, it’s really here, and any business with an e-commerce site can now take advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) in a number of ways.

If AI still feels somewhat mysterious and robots seem like something you may only see in “The Jetsons,” the still-recent introduction of AI-content generators make AI attainable and actually affordable, even for the smallest business.

Why a topic on e-commerce coming from Certum Solutions? Certum Solutions now has a partnership with Shopify to help you with all of your e-commerce needs. Deciding on an e-commerce and POS system is a big choice, so we wanted to give you an overview of how Shopify can support your business and why it's the go-to solution for many small businesses worldwide. Check out this Shopify 101 video and this recent blog article.

When I decided to write this blog on using ChatGPT for your e-commerce site, a colleague suggested I use ChatGPT to actually write the content. Great idea, but I’m not going to rely on AI to generate my thoughts any time soon. However, ChatGPT can be used in a number of ways to help you sell more products and services.

Here are a few tips.

1.     Give Specific Case Uses of a Product

Who doesn’t need help refreshing or adding content to their website? Maybe you’re stuck about how to describe something to make it more sellable, or perhaps you just need some fresh content.

You can use ChatGPT to help with a product description. Let’s say you sell bath and beauty products and you’re stumped about how to describe how a customer can use a new line of soaps.

I asked ChatGPT: How will using lavender soap make me feel?

Here’s part of the answer—it generated almost 300 words!

Using lavender soap can have various effects on individuals, as scent preferences and reactions can vary. However, lavender is commonly associated with a range of potential benefits, including soothing and calming effects. Here are some ways using lavender soap may make you feel:

Relaxation: Lavender has long been known for its relaxing properties. The scent of lavender can help calm the mind and promote a sense of relaxation. Using lavender soap during a bath or shower can create a soothing atmosphere and help you unwind after a long day.

Stress relief: Lavender is often used in aromatherapy to alleviate stress and anxiety. The fragrance of lavender soap may help reduce feelings of tension and promote a sense of calmness, allowing you to feel more relaxed and at ease.

Ok, so you get the idea. Now, take what was generated, write it how you want it portrayed and use it on your website. Pretty nifty, right?

2.     Respond to Customer Reviews

Any business that has ever got the dreaded one-star Yelp review understands how important customer reviews are to e-commerce. Just a few bad reviews can do a lot of damage. However, even negative reviews can be turned around to something positive—based on your response.

Example: I asked this question: “What are some ways for me to respond to a negative Yelp review?”

What I got in return were eight tips from “Stay calm and composed” to “Offer a solution.” Yes, that’s helpful, but not very specific. So, I asked a follow-up question: “Tell me 3 solutions I can offer if one of my customers has a bad experience with one of my products.”

The response was much more usable, with three recommendations:

1.     Apologize and offer a refund or replacement: Begin by expressing a sincere apology for the customer's negative experience. Offer to provide a refund or a replacement product to rectify the situation. This demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction and may help rebuild their trust in your brand.

2.     Provide personalized assistance: Offer personalized assistance to the customer to resolve their issue. This could involve assigning a dedicated customer service representative to work closely with them, listening attentively to their concerns, and offering guidance or troubleshooting steps. By providing individual attention, you can show that you genuinely care about resolving their problem.

3.     Offer a future discount or incentive: In addition to addressing the immediate issue, consider offering the customer a discount or incentive for their next purchase. This gesture shows your willingness to make amends and encourages them to give your product another chance. It also helps foster customer loyalty and demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction.

So why is this better? The real value is in the “why” each solution might work: trust, care and loyalty. What seller doesn’t want those three things?

3.     Rank Higher in Search Engine Results

I’ve never had a customer who didn’t want to rank higher when customers or prospects search for products or services they sell, but wouldn’t it be helpful to have some data-driven advice on how you can write better headlines for the articles on your site, or even for social media?

Here’s what I did to test this. I took the headline on this article and asked this question: “How can I better optimize this headline for SEO: AI is Here: 3 ways to use ChatGPT for Your E-Commerce Site?”

ChatGPT came back with this: "Maximize Your E-Commerce Site with ChatGPT: 3 Powerful Ways AI Can Transform Your Business"

It also gave the reasoning behind the changes, including keyword placement, action-oriented language and the avoidance of “stop words” such as “is,” “here” and “for,” because these words are ignored by search engines.

While I stuck with my original headline for this article—mostly to demonstrate this specific example of ChatGPT—you can see how the headline could easily be improved.

Use Your Judgement

No one knows your business better than you, so when it comes to AI and helpers such as ChatGPT and similar programs, you need to decide when the time is right to use them. Just as you would with anything new, test, test and test again. You can also run some A/B tests with your messaging and see what resonates best. Good luck!

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Shopify is a robust, feature-rich e-commerce platform that can help small business owners run online stores more efficiently. By offering a wide range of tools and integrations, Shopify is excellent for businesses that need a comprehensive e-commerce solution. If you're ready to take your e-commerce business to the next level, the team here at Certum Solutions can help. Reach out to us via email or by booking a consult. We’d love to get you set up for success!