Have you heard?

UPS is delivering over 300 packages a second. Online commerce is at an all time high, and who would blame the consumer with all of the craziness that shopping retail has to offer? From high gas prices, mobs at Walmart to the mass debit and mass credit card theft at Target. With sites that are famous for amazing customer service (such as Zappos), there’s no reason for consumers to stick to traditional shopping habits any longer.

UPS is so busy, that they are renting U-HAUL trucks to help with the overload. This doesn’t even include numbers of packages delivered through USPS, Fedex, and other shipping carriers.

With this in mind, you absolutely must take your eCommerce business more seriously in 2014. That starts with making yourself stand out in the minds of consumers.

As an online merchant, your customers don’t have the benefit of meeting you in person. They cannot hear your voice when you are recommending your products, and they cannot see the emotions on your face when you are telling your customers how a particular product or service can help solve their problems.

The web provides a level playing field for every Internet marketer and merchant out there. The sheer connectivity means that you have the opportunity to reach every potential customer online. You are no longer limited by geographic constraints and anyone can be your customer or client.

This is precisely why you should go the extra mile and over-deliver with each and every order. When every competitor of yours has access to everyone in the market, your only way of standing out is to over-deliver, time and time again.

When you work to constantly over deliver, you present yourself as a professional with the consumer’s interest in mind. You become the trusted friend and not a greed-driven marketer simply out for their cash. Over delivering is the best way to differentiate yourself from your competitors.

Start over-delivering by providing superb customer service for your buyers.

How often have you been turned away with rudeness when you have asked about a particular product? Compare that with how often you have been given exceptional service, as if you’re being helped by a true friend.

By providing excellent customer service to your buyers and patiently answering their needs, you will gain extremely loyal customers because they know you have their best interest at heart.

When you provide excellent customer service and support, you’re already ahead of most of your competitors.

Try giving your customers a pleasant surprise when they make a purchase. IE: When a customer buys your phone parts, you might throw in a free charger or cable for them. Just don’t use it as a bonus or incentive for them to simply buy your products. Your products should be considered good enough to make them want to buy them in the first place, and the free gift will serve as an amazing element to help make their day.

Ultimately you want to build a long-lasting relationship with your customers. It’s much easier to sell to a customer that has already experienced your exceptional customer service. So for your top 20% of customers, go out of the way to send additional gifts, even if it’s just an email, postcard or phone call. Your customers should remember you as a friend, and not just an option. With this, they will be loyal to you over the dozens, and potentially hundreds of other merchants online.

What are you doing to increase sales in 2014?