by
September 26, 2022
Did you know that eCommerce is already a $5 trillion industry? That's right, that's five, followed by 12 zeroes.
It's a huge market, and it will only continue to grow.
What's even more fascinating is that eCommerce represents about 22.3% of all retail sales worldwide.
However, there are still many unknown truths about eCommerce.
Here are eight surprising facts about eCommerce that you probably didn't know.
What many of these businesses don't realize is that e-commerce is not just about selling products or services online.
If you want to be successful in eCommerce, you need to focus on content marketing. This means creating content that is not only relevant to your target audience but also useful and engaging.
You need to consider what kind of content will help you achieve your business goals.
Do you want to increase brand awareness?
Drive traffic to your website?
Increase sales?
Once you have a clear picture of what you want, you can create a content strategy that will help you get there.
Content marketing should be a top priority if you want to succeed with eCommerce.
Here is why:
Do you want your customers to come back more to your website? You need to have fresh and relevant content.
This is especially true if you sell frequently updated or replaced products like fashion items or technology gadgets.
Update your website regularly with new blog posts, articles, videos, etc., so there is always something new for customers to check out.
Not only does your content keep your website fresh, but it can also help you rank higher in search engines.
Search engine algorithms are constantly changing, but one thing remains the same – Google or any other search engine loves fresh, relevant content.
In fact, search engines often see quality content as a sign of a high-quality website.
There are literally millions of eCommerce websites out there. So, why do people have to buy from someone they don't trust?
This is why building trust and credibility with your audience through your content is important.
When you provide helpful and relevant content to your target market, it helps to build trust and credibility with them.
This is critical for any company, particularly one selling products or services online.
In a world where content is king, it should be no surprise that quality content is one of the essential factors in driving social media engagement.
In fact, quality content is the key to unlocking the full potential of social media.
After all, if your content is interesting, informative, and relevant to your audience, they're much more likely to want to share it with their friends and followers. And when your content is shared, it not only reaches a larger audience but also helps to build brand awareness and credibility.
With the ubiquity of smartphones, it's no surprise that mobile commerce is on the rise.
More and more people are using their smartphones to do everything from checking the weather to banking, and shopping is no exception.
Simply put, if you want to stay ahead of the competition, it's important to have a mobile-friendly website as well as a mobile app.
Mobile commerce is growing in popularity because it offers several advantages over traditional eCommerce.
- Convenient for customers as they can shop anywhere and anytime.
- Easier to make impulse purchases on mobile devices.
- Mobile commerce provides businesses with a new way to reach and engage with their customers.
As mobile commerce continues to grow, eCommerce businesses need to focus on creating a mobile-friendly shopping experience, from optimizing their website for mobile devices to offering features such as mobile payments and push notifications.
Mobile commerce is still expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, so it's not too late to start thinking about optimizing your eCommerce business for this growing trend.
One of the great things about eCommerce is that you don't need a large budget or a lot of experience to get started.
All you need is a great product or service, a well-designed website, and basic marketing knowledge.
Of course, as your business grows, you may need to invest more money and time into your eCommerce operation. But the beauty of eCommerce is that you can always start small and grow at your own pace.
Several ways to get started with eCommerce without breaking the bank:
- Use social media to drive traffic to your website.
- Get started with eCommerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce that offer low-cost plans, or even Google Form for free.
- Focus on a niche market, allowing you to stand out from the competition and build a loyal customer base.
By starting small and growing gradually, you can also minimize risk and maximize your chances for success.
In eCommerce, customer engagement is the key to success. Email marketing to the rescue!
Email marketing is a great way to stay in touch with your customers and keep them updated on your latest products, services, and promotions.
It's also an effective way to build relationships, increase brand awareness, and drive sales.
When it comes to email marketing, there are a few key things to keep in mind.
So, take your time to segment your list and send targeted emails that speak to the individual needs of your recipients.
You can segment your list in a number of ways, including by language, location, purchase history, or even interests.
Once you've segmented your list, you can start creating relevant content for each group. This could include product recommendations, special sales or promotions, or even information about new products or services.
You can't just blast out a bunch of blocks of text and hope that people will read them.
The key is to keep your email short, sweet, and straight to the point.
Why is that, you may ask. People are bombarded with email messages every day, so if you want them to actually read yours, you need to make it quick and easy for them. That means no lengthy paragraphs or complex concepts.
Get straight to the point, and you'll be more likely to grab people's attention.
If you're not using engaging visuals in your email marketing, you're missing out on a key opportunity to connect with your audience.
Human beings are visual creatures that are naturally drawn to bright colors, interesting patterns, and attractive faces.
When it comes to email marketing, engaging visuals can help
- Capture attention
- Convey your message more effectively
- Encourage recipients to take action
Let's say you're promoting a new product.
So why not include a few pictures rather than simply listing the features and benefits in your email? This could be photos of the product itself or images that show it being used in different situations.
Or, if you're announcing a sale or special event, including a relevant infographic can help to generate excitement and encourage people to act quickly.
Think about the last time you saw a call to action that caught your eye. Chances are, it made you want to click, sign up, or buy something.
That's what a good and strong call to action can do. It can take an ordinary email and turn it into something that gets results.
Your email should have a clear purpose, and your call to action should be blatant and easy to follow.
Make it easy for recipients to take the next step, whether clicking through to your website or making a purchase.
A/B testing is a great way to fine-tune your email marketing strategy. Try different subject lines, calls to action, images, etc., and see what works best for your audience.
Additionally, email marketing can help eCommerce businesses boost their SEO efforts by increasing traffic to their website.
So, if you're not already using email marketing to engage customers, now is the time to start.
While price is undoubtedly an essential factor in eCommerce, it's not the only thing that matters.
Shoppers also care about convenience, selection, customer service, and shipping methods.
For example, convenience is a key selling point for many online shoppers.
Imagine, with just a few clicks, shoppers can have their parcels delivered directly to their doorstep. This way, they can avoid the crowds at the mall.
In addition, online retailers often offer a wider selection of products than physical stores, making it easier for shoppers to find exactly what they're looking for.
And with features like user reviews and product ratings, shoppers can get a better sense of an item before buying it.
So while the price is certainly essential, it's not the only thing that matters when it comes to online shopping.
Customer loyalty is another key to success for any eCommerce business. It's essential to keep your customers happy and engaged if you want them to keep coming back.
There are a number of ways to build customer loyalty, such as offering discounts and rewards, providing excellent customer service, and creating a brand that customers can trust.
It's also important to focus on the customer experience and ensure it's positive.
This includes creating a user-friendly website, offering fast shipping, and making it easy for customers to return items if they're unsatisfied.
People tend to buy from eCommerce businesses that sound like them: Businesses whose copy and marketing materials use the same language, syntax, and vocabulary as the potential customer.
This is because people want to feel like they understand what they're buying and that it's coming from a trustworthy source.
When eCommerce businesses use language that sounds like their potential customers, it builds trust and creates a sense of connection.
As a result, people are more likely to make a purchase. So if you're looking to boost your eCommerce sales, try using language that sounds like your target customer. You may be surprised at how much of a difference it makes.
It's no secret that eCommerce shoppers are always looking for the best deal, and free shipping is one of the most popular deals around.
According to a recent study, 77% of online shoppers are far more likely to buy from a business if it offers free delivery.
There are a few reasons why this deal is so enticing for shoppers.
- Offering free shipping can increase your average order value
- Free shipping is often used as a marketing tool to attract new customers
- You can use free shipping to encourage customers to buy more from you
- Free shipping can also help you increase customer loyalty
However, to offer free shipping and still make a profit, your eCommerce businesses might want to carefully consider pricing strategy, product mix, and delivery options.
That's why many businesses have minimum order requirements for free shipping or charge a flat rate.
With so many facets to this ever-growing industry, it can be hard to keep track of all the trends. This article highlights eight key insights into eCommerce – from content and mobile commerce to email marketing and customer loyalty.
Delays, backorders, and other shipping problems can quickly turn a satisfied customer into an angry one.
If you're looking for a reliable order fulfillment company that can help you boost your eCommerce sales, look no further than Stork Up.
With over 35 years of experience in the freight forwarding and logistics industry, we know what it takes to get your products to your customers quickly and efficiently.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you take your business to the next level.
