7 reasons to abandon your store and invest in selling online

E-commerce sales in the United States in the third quarter of 2021 exceeded $214 billion, and accounted for 13% of total sales there.

In a report published by the American "Entrepreneur" website, writer Christian Bustos said that these numbers reveal that e-commerce has now become a typical part of the shopping experience for people of all ages. Shoppers can now receive merchandise at the click of a button without having to leave their homes.

MasterCard CEO Michael Mibach said the years of digital acceleration have been reduced to months thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to keep pace with the competitive digital marketplace, today's entrepreneurs will have to make sure to stay up-to-date on trends.

Selling on social media

Studies show that shoppers are more likely to make purchases online, based on recommendations from their friends about a particular site, than any other method. This explains the influx of funds over the past decade into the field of social selling.

Bigcommerce co-founder Eddie Machaalani stated that “the increasing use of social media platforms on smartphones and their participation in retail sales has contributed to the emergence of social selling, and anyone who wants to improve their online sales should take advantage of recent trends.” .

The writer added that customers no longer have to make purchases directly from the website; Social media platforms provide multiple channels for e-commerce, for example, applications such as Instagram and Facebook allow purchases directly through the platform, transforming from social networking sites to smart platforms that enable consumer companies to strategically market their products.

Personalize the product and marketing experience

From simply sending a welcome email and mentioning your “first name” to every customer who signs up for the company’s newsletter or chooses to receive notifications, customers have come to expect a seamless, omnichannel experience; Thanks to technological advancements such as machine learning, online tracking, and smart website features, customers are able to experience a highly personalized and personalized shopping experience. Even platforms are able to personalize products - at scale - which enhances sales opportunities and increases profits.

Adopting corporate transactions instead of traditional advertising

Corporate transactions have proven to be more than just a trend and have become a huge commercial sector. A common marketing strategy is to use influencers who have a high level of influence, authenticity and an impressive level of experience in a sector, and that influencer must have a valued consumer opinion in order to be successful. “If you deliver a great experience, customers tell each other about it,” said Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. “And that opinion has a very powerful influence.”

Multi-channel customer support

Customers, past, current and prospective, may need to communicate in some way with the Company to inquire about customer service. While some prefer live chat options, others prefer phone calls, email, social messaging, or text.

By integrating chatbot tools, business owners can ease some of the customer service burden, while continuing to improve the overall customer experience by integrating chatbots directly into e-commerce platforms as well as into social media messaging.

Augmented reality has become a pivotal factor in changing the rules of retail trade;

Customers can now try the product before buying it

Multiple Payment Options

Several online retailers have recently integrated tools that allow consumers to choose payment plan alternatives without any additional fees. And by providing shoppers with multiple payment options, digital stores are likely to see an increase in conversion rates while continuing to gain customer loyalty. However, retailers with headquarters and face-to-face services also need to plan to adopt remote payment methods, by employing more advanced card-reading systems.

Augmented reality as part of the shopping experience

Augmented reality has proven to be a pivotal factor in changing the rules of retailing for online stores and consumers alike, as this advanced technology allows shoppers to see the product they want to buy, which helps them in the decision-making process.

This method helps eliminate one of the biggest differences between these stores and traditional stores, as customers are now able to try the product before they buy it. Augmented reality is very popular in the fashion and home décor industry, thanks to the personalized experience it provides, enabling customers to see what products will look like when they wear them or in their homes.

Faster distribution channels and newer markets

Several large markets have emerged thanks to retail giants like Amazon and Walmart, but that can be both a blessing and a curse for smaller e-commerce platforms. Although these companies provide an additional distribution option that caters to a wider audience, they put sellers in a pricing bind due to additional fees and costs.

However, this trend appears to be burgeoning and e-commerce companies should reconsider whether those markets are suitable for their products. This means that small online stores will have to find creative ways to beat the big players.

In this context, former Walmart CEO Joel Anderson said that “you can’t just create a website and expect people to flow into it, if you really want to succeed, you also have to create movement in it.”

Conclusion

The meaning of digitization is associated with innovation, convenience and efficiency. In a world where time is a precious commodity, e-commerce has proven to be the solution to providing a more convenient and flexible shopping experience. Not only does it make the global market more accessible, but it also gives customers the opportunity to shop at their convenience with the added advantage of having products delivered right at their door.