While we have been ordered to stay at home and life as we know it has stalled, online shopping has boomed. The world of E-commerce has never been more exciting and fast paced. If you don’t keep up with the latest when it comes to E-commerce trends and tricks, you risk getting left behind. By embracing industry trends, you can drive more traffic to your site and convert visitors into paying customers.
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- Smartphone shopping is still on the increase
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The number of global smartphone users has now passed three billion. And with so many mobile devices out there, it’s essential that your online store is optimised so you can be confident that you are maximising your chances of reaching these users. In 2019, mobile devices accounted for 65 percent of all E-commerce traffic and this could be a lot higher, depending on your industry. For example, mobile traffic to fashion retail sites in 2019 averaged at 75%. Here’s an example from Schuh, where mobile usage has grown so rapidly over the last decade that it has now overtaken access via desktop – and now accounts for the vast majority of traffic to their website.
The number of smartphone users is projected to grow by several hundred million over the next few years and mobile optimisation will continue to evolve through 2021 and beyond so you need to ensure your website does too.
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- Social media drives purchasing decisions
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Social media has been an integral marketing tool for online stores. In 2020 we have seen many businesses grow through the medium of their social media channels. The way you promote your store on social media also makes the difference. When new functionality is introduced on your website, you might want to put it to the test by including your social media audience and by promoting the changes in your social media activity. This allows you to directly measure the impact on user engagement, conversions, and other key metrics.
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- Omnichannel selling
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Customer expectation is such that they will want to access, browse and make purchases across multiple platforms and it shouldn’t matter if it’s on their phone, on a tablet or via their desktop. It is absolutely crucial that your site syncs and runs seamlessly across all platforms and that you are able to reach your customers, wherever they happen to be at the time, for this reason.
Some online stores even have their own dedicated mobile app set up so again, it’s important to be in the know and to establish a presence on all available platforms, so that you can consider whether investing in app development (e.g.) is worthwhile for your business.
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- Increased focus on sustainability
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With growing concerns over global warming, human rights and the environment, sustainability is moving towards the forefront of consumer preference. There are many simple changes you can make within your business to ensure you are able to reduce your environmental footprint – and improve the ethical perception of your brand.
Packaging – use recycled and/or recyclable packaging materials.
Sourcing – make sure your raw materials and/or products come from green and ethical sources.
Shipping – certain courier companies are known for being more sustainable than others. DPD UK won a Green Apple Award for its environmental practices and for “achievements in reducing CO2 emissions and its innovative all-electric micro depots in central London” (for example).
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- Voice Search
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Voice search is another tool which is likely to be harnessed by E-commerce businesses in 2021.
Voice search additionally helps users to search in more detail, producing rapid results in order to connect online shoppers to their desired purchases.
Smart speakers such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home are a feature of may homes with smart speaker owners using them for shopping-related activities, including ordering items, researching what they might want, tracking shipped items & creating reminders. Use of voice tools, including that of smart speakers, will only rise in the coming years and could enable a significant increase in customer flow into your business.
Final thoughts…
It is undoubtedly the COVID-19 global pandemic which has forced many consumers to shop online and this has triggered the E-commerce revolution. Isn’t it time you prepared your business for the next step?
If you are looking to take your E-commerce business to the next level over the coming months, The Digital Studios offer both advice and support on E-commerce, as well as designing and building E-commerce websites from scratch.