The 2020 pandemic changed a lot about the way we live, including how we shop. With covid-era restrictions in place, online shopping boomed (and it was already popular). Companies like Amazon saw exponential increases in sales and many other businesses had no choice but to join the world of online commerce.
Things have not slowed down and as each business works to improve its online position and branding, these are the trends helping e-commerce find success.
Expanded payment options
Gone are the days of the three payment methods being cash, check, and credit/debit. Technology has exploded, particularly in the finance sector, to give consumers a multitude of ways to pay for goods and services.
Applications like Venmo, CashApp, Apple Pay, and Paypal mean that your website needs to be designed to accommodate any of these methods. Even more recent is the introduction of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) which allows a buyer to purchase a product and pay for it at a later date or break the total cost into a series of payments. To be competitive and retain customers, your website should include all these methods, if possible.
Personalized marketing If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times. Consumers are seeking personalized experiences, especially when it comes to e-commerce. Everything from curated content based on behavioral data, retargeting paid media, and using names in emails can make a brand feel more like a friend. The better you know your customers, the better your personalization and marketing can become. For e-commerce, things like “also recommended” or “pairs well with” guides the user down a custom experience based on things they’ve already shown interest in. Click here to read a bit more about personalization and other 2023 trends in marketing. Brand ambassadors Everyone is doing paid media and SEO/SEM to help them stand out in the marketplace. And with ads experiencing tremendous price increases (up 47% on Facebook alone), many companies need to get creative. Online storefronts can especially benefit from redirecting those same dollars to hiring brand ambassadors. Social media’s profound usage by Millennials and Gen Z makes influencers with large followings relevant to your product/service invaluable. Not only does it expand your audience reach, but it’s very simple to track the efficacy of the brand ambassador by simply using customized discount codes. When working with an ambassador, it’s okay to be picky. Select one that reflects the values of your brand and would be most likely to use your product even without a contract. To learn more about influencer marketing, click here.