Over the last few years, the ecommerce scene has shifted tremendously. Companies had to grapple with greater change than they had in the preceding two decades as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. Shipping and acquisition expenses are skyrocketing, but internet advertising returns are dropping.
Consumer behavior is changing quickly at the same time. Customer expectations are skyrocketing as more money is spent online than ever before. People are becoming more picky about the firms they buy from and are less tolerant of long delivery periods (unless it’s for the correct brand), while merchants are being forced to adjust their fulfillment tactics on a regular basis due to continuing supply chain challenges.
How can you overcome these obstacles and ensure that your business and your clients’ businesses succeed in the coming year? If you follow these advice, you’ll be better prepared to meet the needs of merchants in the months ahead.
1. Exceed and meet the needs of your customers.
With ecommerce revenues in 2021 expected to surpass those of 2020, we may anticipate even more experienced and intelligent online consumers in 2022.
“Customers have high expectations,”. “Merchants will need to meet people where they purchase via omnichannel, provide on-demand customer service via automation and agents, and deliver orders in 48 hours or less.” That’s the new standard for excellence.”
2. Tell your client’s brand’s narrative.
Ecommerce retailers will need to nail their brand identity by 2022. All marketing communications are built on the foundation of the brand identity. Brands, according to Ben Jabbaway, founder and CEO of ecommerce marketing platform Privy, need to convey their stories. “Telling that tale and basing marketing on it establishes a bond with the buyer.”
3. Using social commerce to authentically engage customers.
From brand marketing and product discovery to customer service and shoppable advertising, social media offers new commercial options. In the United States, 30% of internet users make purchases directly through social media platforms, and social media revenues are predicted to almost treble by 2025. In 2022, more over a third of Facebook users want to make a transaction directly through the network. Merchants must sell where many clients spend the majority of their time, which is on social media.
4. Create real-time shopping scenarios.
Live shopping, which consists of video streaming events akin to QVC-style product presentations, is quickly becoming the emerging star of social commerce. According to the study for The Future of Commerce, the number of app installations for livestream selling increased by 61% globally between January and September 2021. Live shopping is a concept that originated in Asia, and brands like Uniqlo and Tommy Hilfiger have been pioneering it for some years. Live shopping’s success, according to Dan Conboy, general director of Shopify Plus agency Statement, stems from the ability to not only exhibit items but also link directly to a brand’s ecommerce platform to boost purchases.
5. Create engaging content to boost client retention.
As third-party cookies become less common, businesses will need to find new strategies to attract customers and maintain long-term connections. Designing a post-purchase experience and enhancing it with content is one method to achieve this. “Make sure there’s a lot of coherence between the front-end design, the customer journey, and the marketing,” says Kelly Vaughn of Taproom.
The Bottom-Line
Everything revolves around the client.
While ecommerce has several obstacles at the present, it also has more opportunity than ever to innovate and differentiate itself from the competition.
The number of avenues via which businesses may sell and connect clients has exploded, but how you communicate will be critical to your success in 2022. Ensure that the customer experience is uniform and smooth across all platforms. Make it quick and simple, and provide flexibility and convenience. Pay attention to the whole client journey, not just the transaction. Experiment with technology, but make sure it’s appropriate for the target audience.
Merchants must have a strong, recognizable brand image, be vocal regarding their beliefs and what they strive for, and have a thorough understanding of their target customer. Ecommerce is rapidly evolving, but if you’re prepared, you may assist retailers in providing better consumer experiences and cultivating deeper, long-term partnerships.