Today, businesses of all sizes are moving to an online structure. Brick-and-mortar stores that weren’t online before are quickly adapting as the pandemic continues and consumers avoid physical stores as much as possible.
With the onslaught of e-commerce businesses coming onto the scene, it’s important to know the trends that will change for 2021 so you can make sure your business is on target too.
Voice Search
Today, people are always on-the-go or multi-tasking and they’ve grown quite fond of technology, like Alexa or Siri, where they can speak their questions or demands. That trend is falling over into the e-commerce world, where consumers want to be able to speak what they want to search for rather than typing it in. Whether you add voice search capabilities or even let buyers make purchases using their voice is up to you, but know that it’s an up and coming trend.
Personalized Shopping
Customers today want personalized options. They want their shopping experience to be as seamless as possible. When they log onto your site, they want to see the products they want in the sizes they want.
Customers also love personalized recommendations. “Since you bought this, we’d thought you’d like this” is a great way to upsell and keep loyal customers. They know that you’re watching out for them and care what they think. This goes a long way in the e-commerce world.
Getting Active on Social Media
Today social media accounts aren’t an option – they are a requirement. Consumers want to hear from retailers whether it’s about current promotions, their featured products, or just behind-the-scenes posts that make companies seem ‘real.’
Creating Brand Value
If 2020 was anything, it was a year of turmoil for many. Consumers love it when brands get behind certain movements and aren’t afraid to show it. If you are behind a specific movement or care about certain issues in the world, consumers want to hear about it. Promote your brand value and you may find that you grow your audience just for doing so.
More Payment Options
Consumers today want many more payment options than just credit cards. They want to use their mobile wallets, PayPal balances, and want layaway options for big purchases. Companies like Afterpay are growing by leaps and bounds, especially during the holiday season so families can have a happy holiday season despite not having the immediate funds to pay for items.
E-commerce continues to grow and 2021 promises to be a big year for businesses of all sizes. If your business isn’t online yet, it’s time to start. Companies need to be online to get a larger audience, interact with their customers, and showcase their brand’s values.
It’s time to embrace technology and give consumers what they want. We live in a world of instant gratification today and running an e-commerce business is a great way to give customers what they want when they want it.
Rather than redirecting a potential customer to a separate site, social media apps like Facebook allow buyers to click “shop now” and make purchases within the same app. Mobile payment processing technology integration with social media requires a flexible and dynamic processor to provide this convenience. Autofill coupled with chatbot checkout expedite the mobile commerce transaction, allowing shoppers to shop where they’re already looking.