As eCommerce becomes an increasingly popular way to shop, websites are always looking for ways to stay ahead of the curve and keep up with the latest trends. Understanding what is popular among consumers can help you make strategic decisions about your online sales strategy. Here are online shopping trends that will revolutionalize eCommerce.
Make sure your website is ready for these changes, so you can continue to thrive in this competitive market.
Contents
1. E-commerce Is Overwhelmed By mCommerce
To begin with, eCommerce refers to the buying and selling of products and services by using electronic systems such as the Internet, while mCommerce (eCommerce’s subcategory) happens only through telecommunication devices. There are 2 main reasons that mCommerce will gradually take over eCommerce in the future:
Social Networks help to boost mCommerce
First, nearly 75% of the total time online customers spend on social networks. Second, many popular social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are adding shopping functions to their apps. Therefore, the number of online sales from users using smartphones or other similar devices is increasing significantly with the help of social networks.
The Younger loves Mobile
Roughly 60% of current online shoppers now are young people. In the future, this proportion will definitely grow much higher since this generation will get married, become the breadwinner, and decide on family spending. As the result, there will be a strong development of mCommerce.
2. Live Streaming Video is Everywhere
Selling through live streaming video has emerged as one of the online shopping trends recently with the help of Facebook. This method is suitable for most types of businesses, from small to large-scale. It is predicted that the trend will, even more, explode in the near future because of the following reasons:
The businesses can reach exactly their target audience
The video viewers are the followers of that Facebook account plus the number of viewers’ social friends who might share common interests.
Video streamers generate huge volumes of direct sales
One of the unique points of streaming selling is that it might bring about immensely more direct online sales than any other channel. The first thing is that the purchasers can see their wanted products in the real life in comparison to the perfect product images on the website (under the magical change of photoshop). Also, by communicating directly, the viewers can ask anything they still wonder about that item and receive feedback immediately.
Not much money is spent on video live streaming
When the seller starts a video, the system will automatically notify the followers, which means that there is no cost to promote the video. What actually costs you might be the fee for renting a good seller, who is good at communicating and persuading customers to buy instantly.
3. Voice Search Will Continue To Grow In Popularity
Voice search is growing in popularity as people become more comfortable with technology. The ability to speak into your phone and have it understand what you’re saying is becoming more common, and as a result, voice search is becoming an increasingly important tool for marketers.
There are a number of reasons why voice search has become one of the crucial online shopping trends. For one thing, it’s convenient. You can easily use voice search while you’re driving or cooking, without having to take your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the stove.
Voice search is also faster than typing, which can be especially useful when you’re trying to find information on the go.
Another reason for the increasing popularity of voice search is the rise of virtual assistants like Siri and Google Now. These assistants are always listening for commands, and they can provide helpful information like weather forecasts, traffic updates, and news stories.
As voice search becomes more popular, it’s important for marketers to adapt their strategies accordingly. Here are a few tips for optimizing your website for voice search:
- Make sure your content is relevant and up-to-date.
- Use long tail keywords that are specific to your niche.
- Focus on providing clear and concise answers to questions.
- Use natural language rather than formal keyword phrases.
- Optimize your website for mobile devices.
4. Augmented Reality Will Become More Prevalent
As Augmented Reality becomes more popular, businesses are starting to take advantage of the technology to increase sales and improve customer experiences.
For example, IKEA has created an app that allows customers to see what furniture would look like in their home before they buy it. This is just one example of how businesses can use Augmented Reality to improve the customer experience.
Another way that businesses are using Augmented Reality is by using it for marketing purposes. For example, Pepsi has created an Augmented Reality campaign that allows people to scan cans of Pepsi with their phones to see a 3D model of a celebrity. This is a great way to engage customers and promote the product.
As Augmented Reality becomes more popular, we can expect to see more businesses taking advantage of the technology. This will result in better customer experiences and more innovative marketing campaigns.
5. Social Media Platforms Will Continue To Dominate Online Sales
Among major online shopping trends, social media platforms are continuing to have an enormous effect on eCommerce. A study by Shopify found that social media platforms were responsible for more than one-third of all online sales in 2017. This number is only expected to increase in 2018, as social media platforms become even more popular.
There are several reasons why social media platforms are so effective at driving online sales. The first is that social media platforms allow businesses to reach a large audience quickly and easily.
Facebook, for example, has over 2 billion users, and Twitter has over 330 million users. This means that businesses can reach a large number of potential customers with little effort.
Another reason why social media platforms are effective at driving online sales is that they allow businesses to create customized ads. This means that businesses can ensure that their ads are reaching the right people, which leads to more conversions.
Ultimately, social media platforms are proving to be incredibly effective at driving online sales. As more and more people continue to use social media platforms, this trend is only expected to continue.
6. More Brands Will Start Selling Directly To Consumers
As technology evolves, so does the way businesses reach their consumers. Traditionally, businesses would use middlemen to sell and promote their products to consumers. However, an increasing number of brands are now cutting out the middleman and selling directly to their customers.
There are a number of reasons why this shift is happening. First, the internet has made it easier for brands to reach out to consumers directly. With a website or social media page, businesses can communicate with their customers instantly and directly.
Another reason why direct selling is becoming more popular is that customers are looking for a more personal connection with the brands they buy from. They want to feel like they are buying from someone they know and trust, not from a faceless company.
Finally, direct selling is often more cost effective for businesses than using middlemen. It eliminates the need to pay commissions or advertising fees to third-party sellers. This can save businesses a lot of money in the long run.
7. More Personalized Customer Service
When it comes to customer service, nothing is more important than meeting the customer’s needs. With the increasing trend of personalized customer service, businesses are starting to realize that each customer is unique and should be treated as such.
Thanks to advances in technology, businesses can now collect and track data about their customers in order to personalize their experiences. By using this data, businesses can create customized experiences that are relevant and meaningful to each individual customer.
Personalized customer service can take many forms, from tailoring product recommendations to providing custom-made solutions. It’s all about understanding what the customer wants and needs and delivering on those expectations.
Thanks to the ever-growing popularity of online shopping, businesses that provide great customer service stand to gain a serious edge over their competition.
8. The rise of subscription services
In recent years, there has been a surge in subscription-based services. From meal delivery to clothing, people are increasingly paying for items and services on a monthly basis. There are many reasons for this trend, but three reasons stand out in particular: convenience, cost savings, and customization.
Convenience is one of the biggest drivers of the subscription trend. With so many things available on demand, people are looking for ways to simplify their lives. Subscription services allow them to do just that by delivering everything they need right to their doorsteps.
Cost savings is another big reason for the popularity of subscriptions. When people subscribe to a service, they typically pay a lower price than they would if they bought the same items or services a la carte. This is especially true when it comes to recurring services like cable and internet.
Customization is another factor that is driving the growth of subscriptions. With so much choice available today, people want the flexibility to choose the products and services that work best for them. Subscriptions allow them to do just that by giving them access to a wide range of options.
The rise of subscription services is changing the way we live our lives. By making things more convenient, cost-effective, and customizable, subscriptions are quickly becoming the go-to choice for consumers everywhere.
9. The Deployment Of Blockchain Technology
Blockchain technology is a distributed database that allows for secure, transparent, and auditable transactions. It is this security and transparency that has made it an attractive option for eCommerce businesses and become one of the most important online shopping trends.
There are a number of ways in which blockchain can be deployed in eCommerce. Here are some of the most common applications:
Supply chain management
Blockchain can be used to manage the supply chain process from start to finish. This includes recording the origin of the products, tracking them as they move through the supply chain, and confirming that they have been delivered to the correct destination.
This helps to ensure that products are not counterfeit and that businesses are able to track their inventory accurately.
Payment processing
One of the main benefits of blockchain is its security and transparency. This makes it a desirable option for payment processing. Transactions processed through blockchain are quick, secure, and efficient. They also provide a high level of fraud protection, which is essential for eCommerce businesses.
Customer Authentication
Blockchain can also be used for customer authentication, which is essential for online retail businesses. When customers make a purchase, they need to be authenticated so that their details can be securely stored and used for future transactions.
Blockchain can be used to create digital identities for customers, which helps to keep their information safe and secure.
Wrap Up
While we can’t predict the future, we can make some educated guesses about what will shape online sales in the years to come. We’ve outlined nine of the most important online shopping trends that are likely to have an impact on how people buy and sell products and services online. Businesses should scrutinize the market’s tendency to meticulously adapt to upcoming changes.
See Also:
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