As we enter 2018, we reveal the most important and exciting e-commerce trends in the world. With the e-commerce industry getting bigger than ever before, a lot of consumers are now turning to online shopping. It is essential that online retailers need to know about the current trends in the industry and incorporate these into their business strategies. Consumer habits are constantly shifting from time to time, so it’s essential that online retailers get ahead of the game so that they aren’t left way behind their competitors. It’s hard to believe that there’s anything to look forward to this 2018, but as the e-commerce competition heats up, there’s definitely a lot to pay attention to.
E-commerce speaks a lot for itself. Businesses should pay more attention to its own online brand development and online presence. The implementation of new techniques and technologies will make your competitors stand out. But knowing the essential techniques to improve your conversion rates is vital to any ecommerce business. To help you prepare for the following year, let’s take a look at the biggest e-commerce trends that you should definitely think about adopting this 2018 to get ahead of the competition.
Chatbots and Artificial Intelligence
Chatbots have made our lives easier making it possible to quickly order items, food and other stuff in an instant. Any business can quickly get all the necessary information from each of their customers without going through a lot of process. Chatbots have simplified the communication process and will make constantly evolve in the next coming year. Consumer can ask questions about certain preferences and what the company has to offer. Chatbots will certainly become a popular hit in the e-commerce industry.
In 2018, Chatbots will provide an instant connection with customers on a an everyday basis. Chatbots that work through several apps will likely play a larger role where businesses can use them to send their customers several information, personalized content, suggested offers, and provide special deals. With billions of people online, marketers can now expect massive reach and increase in engagement rates.
Video Content
Video content has been an important channel of interaction with customers. It has provided an opportunity to increase conversion rates and has helped users to better understand your brand. Research shows that video content can increase sales by 60 to 80%. In 2018, every online store will no use video content to promote their product or services. This requires additional resources and a lot of marketing strategies.
We all live in the modern technology where video is the fastest growing advertisement format. It is estimated that by a few years, videos will make up to about 80% of all online consumers. As the technology improves, video will be one of the most essential tool for a face to face conversation with your audience. In fact, research shows that video marketing can boost click-through rates and can increase purchase twice as many. There are new apps and digital platforms that have allowed users to create high-quality videos in the market. Not only are videos a more affordable option, but they also drive more engagement than any other platforms.
Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality (AR) has provided an engaging way for marketers to reach their potential audiences through mobile devices. AR is quick, simple and quite interactive. It is likely that social media platforms will introduce new ways of integrating AR into their marketing strategy. You might have already seen app features that allow users to add themselves through the app’s camera features. This is also true for brands as they could project their products or services into the homes of social media users.
While a lot of people think voice shopping is rising, what consumers see on websites and social media still matter. With the increasing number of consumers browsing online to buy their purchases, providing visual ways to show off your product or services will be an important step to making a sale. Having a feature like AR is certainly one way to level things up.
Voice Shopping
In 2018, you have the power of using your voice to order and purchase items. For marketers, it provides a great opportunity to get a sale. Voice-assistant products give brands a chance to connect with the consumer in the easiest way possible. The rise of voice shopping has absolutely increased engagement, and with more consumers becoming more comfortable with the whole process, more will rely upon technology to their everyday tasks, which includes purchasing. Majority of the brands that create connections using voice shopping have engaged consumers.
Technology has allowed users to search and purchase online with their smartphones using their voice. Today, most voice searches are more on seeking answers to simple questions like searching about a local restaurant, finding the closest mall or ordering a particular type of food. Remember to think like your customer. Make sure that your content is relevant to the questions someone would use when they search for something.
Better Retail Experience
As the online competition heats up, brands need to be able to stand out against all odds. The ultimate key here is how fast you can get the delivery out the door once an order is received. But beyond shipping, remember that a great brand experience is their overall experience, right down to ordering and packaging. This may seem like unnecessary, but these will provide you with a plus factor that your customers will definitely remember. Whether it’s a small customized item or a large branded item, show customers that their overall experience matters to you.