eCommerce had quite a year in 2020.
The coronavirus pandemic forced brick and mortar businesses to close and kept shoppers confined to the four walls of their home, escalating the necessity and popularity of online orders and sales.
By mid-April of this year, eCommerce spending had increased more than 30% compared to 2019 with astronomical surges in online demand for books (295%), cleaning products (235%) and even groceries (113%).
More than eight months after the introduction of lockdowns, this upward swing for eCommerce transactions continues. 63% of customers are still avoiding physical retail stores and buying online. In the first 10 days of the holiday shopping season alone, Americans spent $21.7 billion online – a 21% year-over-year increase!
What does all of this have to say about the future of eCommerce? For starters, it’s busy and bright.
Here are 3 eCommerce tips to help businesses thrive in 2021:
1. Social Media is Your Friend
We’ve talked about the importance of social media and eCommerce before, and we’re about to do it again. Why? Because it works now more than ever. Good social content not only can put a growing retailer on the map; it can also help take established brands to the next level. More than 30% of social media users (500 million daily), want to buy products directly from social media. This trend is likely behind the recent launch of Facebook Shops, and other initiatives set to make shopping via social media easier.
Prime your social media for 2021’s inevitable eCommerce boom by:
- Creating engaging visuals, including motion graphics and short videos
- Integrating shoppable social feeds
- Focusing on user-generated content for social proof
- Incorporating ads and organic posts into your strategy
2. Optimize for Mobile
Mobile user experiences can make or break a sale. A recent Statista report predicts that more than 70% of eCommerce sales will be via mobile orders, so don’t forget to optimize your site for mobile devices, including phones and tablets. Optimizing for mobile requires a lot of work and consideration on your customer demographics and web configuration, which can feel daunting. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few ideas on how to make the most of your mobile eCommerce site.
- Get Personal and Go Local. Use GPS tracking and saved information to make shopping a more convenient and engaging experience.
- Keep it Responsive. Slow page loads can be detrimental. Keep image sizes optimized for mobile and be strategic about content.
- Digital Wallet Integration. Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, PayPal, Venmo and Visa Check Out make paying as simple as the click of a button and help minimize cart abandonment.
- Keep it Secure. Ensure your information database and shopping cart systems are secure – then use those security seals to instill confidence in every customer that their information is safe with you.
- Strong CTAs. Nothing beats compelling copy, and this includes CTAs. Keep it short. Keep it sweet. Keep it converting.
3. Remembering That You’re Selling the Experience, Too
eCommerce isn’t just about selling goods and services. It’s also about building positive experiences to keep customers coming back. Everything you do, from building your social presence, to order tracking capabilities, builds a strong brand experience.
Make your web and mobile sites are accessible, ADA compliant, responsive and easily navigated to ensure your customers are taken care of from the awareness stage to the purchasing stage.
Anyone can sell a t-shirt, or a book, or a baby Yoda puppet. Not everyone can make clicking a few buttons a memorable experience… but Roger West can. And with our help, you can too.
If you need help refreshing your website with beautiful design and robust functionality, give us a call. We can get your eCommerce site in tip-top shape for the coming year and beyond.
Roger West Creative & Code is a full-service digital marketing agency that helps companies build brands, generate leads, and keep customers inspired and engaged. The agency provides a dynamic environment for marketing pros to innovate and team up with clients to drive traffic to vibrant places and send messages that pack a punch.