7 Non-Advanced Grammar Tips for B2B Commerce Success
B2B commerce is the process of marketing and selling products and services between two businesses online. The goal is simple: expand customer reach and reduce cost-to-serve to drive more revenue for your business. But how do you write a compelling and effective content for your B2B ecommerce website? How do you attract and engage your potential customers with your words?
In this article, we will share with you seven non-advanced grammar tips that can help you create a better content for your B2B ecommerce business. These tips are easy to follow and can make a big difference in your content quality and readability.
Tip 1: Use active voice instead of passive voice
Active voice is when the subject of the sentence performs the action, while passive voice is when the subject of the sentence receives the action. For example:
Active voice: The manufacturer sells products to the wholesaler.
Passive voice: Products are sold by the manufacturer to the wholesaler.
Active voice is preferred in B2B ecommerce writing because it is more clear, direct, and engaging. Passive voice can sound vague, weak, and impersonal. It can also make your sentences longer and more complicated.
To use active voice, identify the subject and the verb of your sentence and make sure the subject comes before the verb. Avoid using forms of “to be” (such as is, are, was, were) followed by a past participle (such as sold, delivered, produced).
Tip 2: Use simple and familiar words instead of jargon and technical terms
B2B ecommerce involves transactions between different businesses, such as manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and resellers. Each business may have its own jargon and technical terms that are specific to its industry or niche. However, using too much jargon and technical terms in your content can confuse and alienate your readers, especially if they are not familiar with them.
To avoid this, use simple and familiar words that can convey your message clearly and effectively. If you have to use jargon or technical terms, make sure to explain them or provide examples to help your readers understand them. You can also use synonyms or alternative words that are more common and easy to understand.
Tip 3: Use short and simple sentences instead of long and complex ones
Long and complex sentences can make your content hard to read and comprehend. They can also increase the chances of making grammatical errors and losing your readers’ attention. Short and simple sentences can make your content more clear, concise, and impactful. They can also help you emphasize your main points and create a better flow in your content.
To use short and simple sentences, limit each sentence to one main idea and avoid using too many clauses, modifiers, or conjunctions. You can also break up long sentences into two or more shorter ones or use bullet points or lists to present multiple items or information.
Tip 4: Use parallel structure for consistency and clarity
Parallel structure is when you use the same grammatical form for words or phrases that have the same function or role in a sentence. For example:
Parallel structure: The wholesaler offers fast delivery, competitive pricing, and excellent customer service.
Non-parallel structure: The wholesaler offers fast delivery, prices are competitive, and they have excellent customer service.
Parallel structure helps you create consistency and clarity in your content. It also helps you avoid confusion and ambiguity in your meaning. Parallel structure can also make your content more appealing and persuasive to your readers.
To use parallel structure, identify the words or phrases that have the same function or role in your sentence and make sure they have the same grammatical form. For example, if you use nouns, use nouns for all; if you use verbs, use verbs for all; if you use adjectives, use adjectives for all; etc.
Tip 5: Use punctuation marks correctly to avoid errors and misunderstandings
Punctuation marks are symbols that help you separate or connect words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence. They also help you indicate pauses, intonation, emphasis, or tone in your writing. Punctuation marks can affect the meaning and readability of your content, so it is important to use them correctly.
Some of the common punctuation marks that you need to pay attention to in B2B ecommerce writing are:
- Commas (,) are used to separate items in a list, clauses in a sentence, introductory words or phrases, or non-essential information.
- Periods (.) are used to end a sentence or an abbreviation.
- Question marks (?) are used to end a sentence that asks a question.
- Exclamation points (!) are used to end a sentence that expresses strong emotion or urgency.
- Colons (:) are used to introduce a list, an explanation, a quotation, or a summary.
- Semicolons (;) are used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related or to separate items in a list that contain commas.
- Apostrophes (‘) are used to show possession or contraction.
- Quotation marks (“) are used to enclose direct speech, quotations, or titles of short works.
- Hyphens (-) are used to connect compound words or modifiers or to indicate a word break at the end of a line.
- Dashes (–) are used to separate or emphasize information or to indicate an interruption or a change of thought.
To use punctuation marks correctly, follow the rules and conventions of your language and style guide. You can also use online tools or software to check your punctuation and correct any errors.
Tip 6: Use headings and subheadings to organize and structure your content
Headings and subheadings are titles that indicate the main topic or idea of a section or paragraph in your content. They help you organize and structure your content into logical and coherent parts. They also help your readers navigate and scan your content easily and quickly.
To use headings and subheadings effectively, follow these tips:
- Use clear and descriptive words that capture the essence of your section or paragraph.
- Use keywords that are relevant to your topic and your audience’s search intent.
- Use different levels of headings and subheadings to show the hierarchy and relationship of your content. For example, use H1 for the main title, H2 for the main sections, H3 for the subsections, etc.
- Use consistent formatting and style for your headings and subheadings. For example, use the same font size, color, alignment, capitalization, etc.
- Use numbers or bullets to create lists or steps when appropriate.
Tip 7: Use proofreading and editing tools to check and improve your content
Proofreading and editing are the final steps in creating a high-quality content for your B2B ecommerce business. They help you check and correct any errors, inconsistencies, or weaknesses in your content. They also help you improve your content’s clarity, accuracy, readability, and effectiveness.
To proofread and edit your content, you can use online tools or software that can help you with grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, tone, plagiarism, SEO, etc. Some of the popular tools that you can use are:
- Grammarly: A tool that helps you check and correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, tone, clarity, engagement, delivery, etc.
- Hemingway: A tool that helps you check and improve readability, sentence structure, word choice, etc.
- Copyscape: A tool that helps you check and avoid plagiarism by comparing your content with other online sources.
- Yoast SEO: A tool that helps you optimize your content for search engines by providing suggestions on keywords, readability, meta description, title tag, etc.
You can also ask someone else to review your content and give you feedback or suggestions on how to improve it.
B2B ecommerce is a growing and competitive market that requires a high-quality content to attract and convert customers. By following these seven non-advanced grammar tips, you can create a better content for your B2B ecommerce website that can help you achieve your business goals.
The Future of B2B Commerce: Trends and Statistics
B2B commerce, or the exchange of goods and services between businesses via online platforms, is a rapidly growing sector that is expected to reach new heights in the coming years. According to various sources, B2B ecommerce sales in the US reached over $2 trillion in 2021, and will exceed $3 trillion by 2027 . This means that B2B ecommerce will account for more than 12% of all B2B revenue by 2020 . Moreover, B2B ecommerce sales are projected to outgrow B2C ecommerce sales by 2020 , indicating a shift in buyer behavior and preferences.
How B2B Buyers Shop Online: Preferences and Expectations
As more B2B buyers turn to online channels for their purchases, they also demand a better customer experience from their suppliers. According to a survey by Accenture, 86% of B2B CMOs believe that customer experience will be more critical in the industry in the coming years . Furthermore, a third of B2B buyers say that their expectations of customer experience have increased . Some of the factors that influence their purchase decisions are features or functionalities, pricing, reviews, deployment time or ease of use, and the provider’s ability to solve a pain point . Therefore, B2B sellers need to optimize their websites, offer a variety of payment options, provide relevant content, and deliver personalized service to meet the needs of their online customers.
B2B commerce is a dynamic and competitive market that requires constant innovation and adaptation. By leveraging technology and the internet, B2B sellers can reach more customers, increase their sales, and improve their customer satisfaction. However, they also need to be aware of the changing trends and expectations of their buyers, and provide them with a seamless and satisfying online shopping experience.
References:
https://www.infosys.com/about/knowledge-institute/insights/Documents/future-customer-engagement.pdf
https://www.forrester.com/report/US+B2B+eCommerce+Will+Hit+18+Trillion+By+2023/-/E-RES144391
https://www.the-future-of-commerce.com/2023/07/06/b2b-e-commerce-stats-2023/
https://ecommerce-platforms.com/articles/b2b-ecommerce
https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/interactive/b2b-customer-experience
https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/PDF-94/Accenture-Strategy-B2B-Customer-Experience-PoV.pdf
https://www.demandgenreport.com/resources/research/2020-b2b-buyers-survey-report
https://www.shopify.com/enterprise/b2b-ecommerce
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/btob.asp
