The world of ecommerce is constantly changing, just like the world of fashion or culture but with technology being the center point of change. eCommerce store owners need to be on the lookout for new changes and decide how to embrace the new trends or work around them. The same principles of keeping up with fashion to stay relevant also applies to ecommerce & technological changes. 2016 is the year of new trends in ecommerce, below are a few key ecommerce trends to watch for.
1. Automated sites
Online stores are turning to automated marketing in their websites. This includes customized emails, customized discounts, and web pages that have easily accessible shopping carts and various secure payment systems. The good old email marketing approach is being taken to the next level where you can now send customized email to each customer. This means customer 1 will not receive the same email as customer 2 if they are of different demographics.
2. Improved social media marketing
Social media sites have had updates that are so beneficial for online marketers. The audience optimization tool on Facebook for instance helps publishers improve the relevancy of their posts to their intended audience. This tool is vital especially for companies operating in different localities for instance multinational companies whose audiences are people of varied cultures. This tool can make specific posts visible only to users within a given location or users of certain demographics. All users see only messages relevant to them when they visit your page.
3. Mobile shopping frenzy
With the increased uptake of Smartphone in all counties around the globe phones have found new use. People no longer just use their phones to communicate alone but also to do shopping. In 206 mobile phone developers have planned to include the m-commerce feature in phones as a requisite inbuilt feature. Surveys have revealed that over 33% of all ecommerce shopping today is made via smart phones. Several shoppers now use their mobile phones and tablets to browse product information, research and make purchasing decisions. What this means for businesses is that they need to optimize their websites to suit mobile devices too.
4. Content- based marketing
With trends in such as updates on search engines that favor good content for key words retailers have to revamp their sites. Google’s humming bird for instance enables conversational search queries giving prompt direct answers and affects 90 percent of searches globally. Google can now search full questions and not searching the question word by word. Google now answers the browser’s question by logic and not by keyword. Online retailers now have to design their websites and constantly update with great content if they have to stay relevant.
Online marketers have realized that when potential buyers browse their websites they look for great information about their products. They want detail specs of products presented in a nice way for example use of HD photos and videos to highlight a product.
This trend in ecommerce buyers is positive to online retailers because through feedback and engagements with their customers they can design ways of better customizing their products. Through actively engaging with clients on social media and discussions an online retailer can be able to maintain customer loyalty and trust.
5. Globalization challenges
The expansion that has been brought by globalization even in ecommerce comes with challenges. Such include multiple currencies, varied customer needs and adjusting the marketing mix. Online retailers now have to think about how discounts are affected by currency exchange, shipment costs to distant locations and the associated regulations and taxes.
6. Improved customer data analysis
There are now algorithms for customer grouping and mapping of customer browsing and shopping patterns. Extensive use of such type of analysis can help retailers realize their target market and how best to approach marketing. Analysts use not only secondary data but also analyze the Meta data to figure out consumption patterns.
7. Better delivery
Competition for online retailers now does not just lie in product quality or price, discount coupons & codes or affordability but also in timely delivery to customers. Shipping options are improving for ecommerce retailers. Retailers have started to offer same day deliveries. Larger retailers are now experimenting with drone delivery services all in a bid to attain a higher notch of customer satisfaction.
All trends in ecommerce today are designed towards great customer satisfaction. The ancient business wisdom that customer is king is finding true meaning. With many alternatives, available customers can switch brands and retailers by a click or swipe of a smartphone screen. It is thus important for online retailers to be agile in adapting to trends that can put them ahead of the game.
