The surge of e-commerce has changed the way people shop and do business. As more consumers become comfortable buying online, e-commerce is expected to continue its upward trend into 2022. It’s estimated that e-commerce sales have reached $900 billion in sales and are expected to reach $1 trillion in the coming years. But what will that growth look like? As a business owner or entrepreneur, it’s essential to understand the potential changes and opportunities that come with this ever-growing industry. So let’s look closely at how e-commerce will shape people’s shopping in the coming years.
The Impact of Social Media on E-Commerce
With over four billion users, social media has been an integral part of the e-commerce industry for some time. This year, however, social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, and Snapchat are predicted to have an even more significant impact on e-commerce growth. By creating virtual storefronts and enabling customers to purchase products directly from their newsfeeds easily, these platforms are making it easier for customers to buy what they want without leaving their favorite social networks. However, that’s not the only way to take advantage of social media and e-commerce. Consider these two other options.
Influencer Marketing
Influencers and social media go hand-in-hand. Influencer marketing is a great way to reach potential customers on social media and increase your e-commerce sales. Influencers have many followers who trust their recommendations on products and services, often in the hundreds of thousands or millions. By partnering with an influencer who has shared interests with your target audience, you can increase brand awareness and drive more traffic to your e-commerce store.
Content Marketing
If you want something to compliment your e-commerce store, consider content marketing. By creating high-quality content for your website or blog, you can increase traffic to your site and improve your ranking on search engines like Google.
The Rise of Mobile Shopping
Mobile shopping is also expected to play a significant role in continued e-commerce growth this year. According to studies, around 75% of all internet traffic comes from mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. As a result, businesses that don’t have a mobile-optimized website may miss out on valuable sales opportunities. To capitalize on this trend, companies need to ensure that their website is optimized for desktop and mobile users so that customers can easily access their products, regardless of device. Here are two ways you can do that:
Create an App
Considering your e-commerce platform has enough features and functions to support an app, consider investing in one. Mobile apps allow businesses to create a more engaging customer experience by offering them mobile-exclusive offers and loyalty programs. They can also be used as digital storefronts that increase the number of products and services you offer while increasing sales simultaneously.
Incorporate Mobile Features
Mobile shopping requires a mobile website. By incorporating mobile features into your existing website, you can improve the user experience and drive more sales on desktop devices and smartphones. Some examples of mobile features include click-to-call buttons, product images that enlarge when tapped, and side menus for easy navigation.
Having a mobile-accessible website can make a massive difference in e-commerce. If you want a professional to help, consider hiring an experienced custom website development service to help you. They can create a mobile-friendly site that will engage customers and increase sales, and because of their experience, they can do so quickly and affordably.
The Future of AI in E-Commerce
Another trend that is expected to shape the future of e-commerce is artificial intelligence (AI). Businesses can use AI in many ways—from automating customer service tasks to providing personalized product recommendations based on customer preferences and past purchases—which can help increase sales while providing customers with better service experiences. AI can also be leveraged for predictive analytics, allowing businesses to anticipate customer needs before they even arise. However, that’s not the only way AI can affect e-commerce. Chatbots can also affect e-commerce in various ways.
Chatbots
One of the fastest-growing uses of AI in e-commerce is chatbots. Chatbots are automated customer service agents using natural language processing to answer simple questions and solve customer problems. By using chatbots, businesses can increase customer satisfaction and reduce the costs associated with hiring an extensive customer support team through the automation of simple tasks.
As you can see, many trends are shaping the future of e-commerce—from the rise of social media platforms and mobile shopping apps to the use of AI for predictive analytics. Businesses that want to stay ahead of their competition should keep an eye out for these trends and start leveraging them as soon as possible.
