According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the global eCommerce sales in 2018 were $25,648 billion. To add to this, the total number of online shoppers increased by 9% between 2017-18.
There is something seriously amazing going on within the eCommerce trades. Perhaps, evolving technology, growing awareness, and ease of access could be some of the reasons for its incredible growth. And not to forget, the current pandemic has also given a tremendous boost to the industry.
Nonetheless, we are not here to discuss how eCommerce trades are growing. Indeed we are here to understand the technologies behind this growth. Collectively speaking, these technologies are, perhaps, marketing strategies and web development studio blended with computing abilities.
Take a look at these key pillars.
Web Design For eCommerce
A close observation of some of the leading eCommerce platforms should reveal a striking similarity between them. For instance, all eCommerce platforms have stellar banners and display ads. Then there's usually a cart somewhere in the header. Categories for easy navigation could also be found right next to the header.
Perhaps, there's almost very little textual content to be found on eCommerce websites. Most of the content hosted on these websites is either infographic or video content.
The design of a website is fundamental to the user experience it creates. And, notably, this notion fits aptly true to online retailing stores and sellers, aka, eCommerce websites. For online businesses, creating longer-lasting relations with their customers is only possible by offering them a good experience. Several studies also reveal that online shoppers bounce back from pages with unattractive layouts and designs. So hiring a user experience design company is a wise investment.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Creating a design that attracts customers is only beneficial after they visit a website. But, before that, there are plenty of other tasks that need careful optimization. Precisely, these tasks help in improving online visibility and website traffic.
To put this into perspective, prominent search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo rank web pages based on several criteria. The foremost thing that helps with SERP rankings is the choice of keywords. However, they alone cannot succeed in boosting online traffic.
An SEO expert like Denver seo firm would suggest looking into technical, on-page, and off-page elements of a website. Proceeding like this, eCommerce websites could be optimized for search engines. And, evidently, reap significant returns on their investment as convertible leads. 45 Best Law Firm Web Design Examples You’ve Probably Never Seen.
Paid Promotions or PPC Campaigns
It is noteworthy that SEO and web design are great for online marketing. However, these practices bring in slow returns, although significant. For eCommerce websites, or for that matter, any online business the initial days are crucial. And for business to be sustainable at some point in the future, it is also important to generate revenue. As quickly as possible.
Paid promotions and PPC campaigns are proven digital marketing practices. Both these practices are effective when it comes to reaping quick returns. Not just that, these tactics are also quite economical as compared to other advertising and branding options.
eCommerce websites use these practices, especially during the initial days. It helps gain traction when nobody knows about the brand. And in addition to this, the data from paid promotions help with understanding the user's needs.
Social Media For Every Other Target
Last but not least, eCommerce websites are highly dependent on social media platforms. According to a study, 1 out of every 3 online shoppers comes from social links. Well, that's impressive.
It is noteworthy that a majority of the young population (gen-Z, -Y, and -X) are active on social media. And, a social media user comes across 10-12 sponsored ads every day. Moreover, 3/4th of these ads are either online shopping websites or sellers.
Besides, social media also helps with online reputation management. The brands get to communicate and engage with their customers directly, and in some cases, one on one conversations. Thus, helping brands to earn their customers' trust and loyalty.
Logistics And Inventory Management
This might seem arbitrary amidst all the familiar marketing tools and tactics, but indeed it is the farthest-reaching tool in the garage. Every eCommerce website relies on its network of warehouses and logistics fleet. And these are the only physical connections between sellers and buyers in the digital shopping world.
Product packaging and handling are the first physical contact between an online seller and its customer. And this creates a rather deeper impact on the customer. Selecting appropriate packaging for eCommerce is vital to protect products during transit and enhance the customer experience by delivering items in good condition.
To be precise, customers presume a sellers' intentions by assessing these two factors only. Thus, the logistics team and the warehouse network together help keep an eCommerce business afloat.
The Outlook...
In a nutshell, the first impression is the last, but not for eCommerce businesses. These websites need to keep rolling for as long as they intend to grow and scale beyond their reach.