KEY 2018 E-COMMERCE TRENDS

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2018 is finally here! We at Aretosystems would like to wish you a happy new year and a prosperous 2018. We are humbled you have chosen us to be your most trusted e-commerce partner that far. Thank you for being part of our happy community that is taking every e-commerce opportunity by horns. With us, your desire and ambitions to grow are securely empowered.

With the turn of New Year, comes superb e-commerce opportunities. We are devoted to delivering best of the best insights to help you make the most out of every opportunity and succeed. So what are your plans for 2018? What is your strategy for e-commerce success? If you’re yet to make a decision or are at a crossroad, let’s hold your hand and walk you down the lane to excellence. This is your year to make it.

The e-commerce industry has already recorded a tremendous rise. With the pace at which the industry is evolving, only the smartest entrepreneur will survive. We have evaluated key e-commerce trends and technology with you in mind. We have also researched widely and consulted experts to give you the best strategy to align your business with these trends. Ready to go?

1. Growth is slowly shifting to Asia/e-commerce booms in China

There is no denying; e-commerce has become a global phenomenon. The US market has played a key role in driving the growth of this sector for long. Over the last 15 years, e-commerce in the US has recorded a consistent growth rate of approximately 10%.

Although this has been the norm, the US market is slowly approaching its saturation point. Sales are starting to plateau, and the growth rate is slowly declining. On the contrast, the Asian markets (China) is recording unparalleled growth. According to statistics, the growth of e-commerce sales in China is showing every sign of driving the global growth. The growth is so rapid that, it’s predicted between 2018 and 2019, the sales will double.

Strategy to success

The huge swing towards China has massive implications for e-commerce brands. To be successful in 2018, you need to go international with your brand. This is the year to trash every aspect of complacency. Shipping rates are on the decline, websites are eliminating the relevance of country boundaries, and international delivery is slowly becoming the order of the day. Take advantage of this trend by coming up with well-designed websites, adopting no VAT charges, and strategies that align to the local expectation.

2. Mobile users/mobile marketing to play a key role/move towards mobile/will contribute more

Mobile usage is slowly becoming the go-to channel for many e-commerce brands. Mobile-driven e-commerce sales are shaping a quiet revolution that is eclipsing the use of desktops by buyers. The use of mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) accounts for over 50% of the total web traffic. The rate at which these devices are taking over the e-commerce sector is predicted to increase in 2018.

Strategy to success

As an e-commerce entrepreneur, you need to treat desktop and mobile users with identical seriousness. You should invest in a superb mobile UX to increase the number of conversions on mobile devices. In addition, for high-value products focus on delivering a seamless experience across both devices. This will enables users to make decisions on mobile devices and convert easily on their PCs.

3. Subscription-based models holds the key to success/gains popularity

The rampant growth in e-commerce technology has brought unprecedented change and opportunity. Every business aspect is moving away from the on website implementation to the reliable cloud-based computing. Everything as a service XaaS is becoming a mainstay in the e-commerce world. Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), etc. are becoming key players in e-commerce.

For instance, Software as a Service has engineered the subscription-based model. This is a highly-effective business model that is offering flexibility to consumers. In addition, it’s allowing massive recurring revenue for business thereby creating a win-win scenario for both parties. Additionally, PaaS has exploded to become one of the hottest trends in the e-commerce business. Just look at an online business like Uber, Airbnb, and Uber.

Success strategy

Adopting a subscription-based model of selling product in 2018 is wise. If you sell products that are regularly consumed, this model will help increase the number of sales.

4. Using Artificial Intelligence to guide customers

This is a genuinely new trend which is tricky to predict. The trend is crowned by the huge strides made in the technology and internet arena. In the e-commerce context, the trend relates to the customer engagements and how it helps to achieve predicted growth. It is being implemented in the e-commerce business where an intuitive online assistant engages users.

The success of any marketing strategy is to capture the attention of potential customers. But once the goal is achieved, your potential customers will visit your site for more information. How effective your answers are, will reflect the rate of conversion. If you have a built-in intuitive online assistant, your customers will find answers quickly. It helps them to make decisions quickly which leads to more sales conversion.

Success strategy

Any organization looking to succeed in 2018 must examine the effectiveness of AI technology to their business. How can this groundbreaking technology help with personalization strategy and ad targeting? Leveraging this trend will make your digital ad targeting smart.

5. Messenger app and chatbots

This is another superb marketing technique that helps your e-commerce operate on the front gear in 2018. A bot is defined as software that impersonates the user. In the business world, bots have been implemented to automate repetitive tasks. However, technology advancement has allowed for the transformation of bots into complex systems.

Success strategy

Chatbots offers an incredible way to address some of the complex pain points for your customers. This will eliminate the frictions you experience in your customer services. Although the technology is still at the Juvenile stage, 2018 might be the year its use explodes to popularity. Growth in technology will enable chatbots to perform beyond the rudimentary tasks.  Can you incorporate chatbots into your business systems? Can the trend bring desired results?

THINGS TO AVOID 2018

1. Stay away from duplicate content

Duplicate content is a killer of any business. If you are still using the product descriptions provided by the manufacturer, you are doing more harm than good to your business. You might end up copying thin content from rouge affiliates websites.

This year, focus on creating original content and aim at using NONINDEX tag on your product pages. If you cannot create original content on your own, seek the help of a reliable content marketing service. This will enable you to draft enticing content that will grab the attention of your potential customers.

2. Slow site speed

Are you aware that slow site speed can hurt the bounce and conversion rates? An improvement in site speed by a few seconds can mean a massive difference in user experience. If your site speed is not okay, improve today and enjoy increased sales conversion.

3. Operating without a logo

When visitors come to your site the first thing they look at is the logo. A good logo provides a stunning first impression and can entice customers to convert quickly. Operating without a logo will mean your title is displayed in standard text. This will turn away your customers. Find a reputable designer and have them design a good logo for you.

4. Lack of or poorly done about us and contact us page

Do not underestimate the potential of the “about us” page. Statistics show that this page falls in the top three of the most visited pages. This means the about us page is paramount to the visitors. The page could be the last resort for customers looking to make buying decisions. If you skimp on this page, you will probably lose many businesses.

Do you use a generic email to your contact us page? This is detrimental to your success. Take your time to create a catchy domain name and a proper email address for your business.

5. Lack of customer service

Although your target customers are online and require no face to face engagement, customer service is important. Structure your systems and ensures your potential customers get prompt answers to their questions. Also, be well prepared to handle refunds and related returns with ease.

6. Complicated Check out process

If your checkout process is complicated be prepared to deal with plenty abandoned carts. If you want to record a phenomenal rate of conversion, structure your checkout process well. Once the customer makes the purchasing decision, they should be able to purchase with a few clicks of the mouse.

CONCLUSION

The e-commerce had recorded a rapid growth in the last decade. Although the US market; which has been the major driver, is slowly approaching its saturation, the shift to the Asian market is a beacon of hope to all e-commerce entrepreneurs.  It’s a good signal that e-commerce solution still holds enormous potential for the businesses.

There are many entrepreneurs the arena fighting to win a fair share of the customer base. In addition, customers have the opportunity to change providers effortlessly. To stay relevant and acquire more customers, you need to pay attention to the latest technology. It’s time to take into account the most recent market trends and adapt to the modern customer behaviors.

In addition, you have a task to consider the path followed by the big names like Amazon. This will help you stay updated and easily identify the beneficial emerging trends. This will give you a competitive edge and open your mind to superb innovation that will inspire new business strategies.