Years ago, only 17.8% of sales were made from online purchases. That number is expected to grow and reach 20.8% in 2023, that’s a 2 percentage point increase in e-commerce market share and this growth is expected to continue.

Consumer buying behaviours have evolved as online shopping has rapidly grown. As our technology continues to develop e-commerce companies need to adapt and innovate to stay ahead. By staying on top of these trends, companies can position themselves for success.

Social shopping

87% of shoppers online use social media to make shopping decisions, with 55% of smartphone users purchasing a product after seeing it on social media. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are now developing the platform to make it easily accessible to buy these viral trending products.

Multichannel personalisation

Multichannel personalisation can be tailored to a shopper’s preferences, creating personalised interactions that boost customer loyalty and sales across devices.

Personalisation involves much more than recommending a relevant product. It requires a recognisable and enjoyable shopping experience, regardless of which device a consumer may be using.

E-commerce platforms can continue to enable anyone to sell their products and sync their catalogues across their branded online store, physical stores, social media, and marketplaces, and this list will continue to grow.

Conversion tools will be critical

There are many tools that you can use to optimise your conversion. You might be using some already? Google Analytics, heat maps on your e-commerce store, user testing, data mining to name a few. In order to succeed 2023 is the year it is vital for a business to stay alert and keep up with the latest trends to optimise sales opportunities.

A good customer relationship management (CRM) system is essential, other solutions are looking at engagement to help businesses connect with customers and prospects. Consider using analytical tools, click trackers, and testing solutions.

Customer retention

Another key trend in 2023 will be businesses focusing on building relationships with new and existing customers. Why? This is because businesses are becoming more customer-centric and it is easier and cheaper to build on customer loyalty than to try and invest in new customers.

If you haven’t built a relationship with a consumer and they can find what you sell for cheaper elsewhere, you’ll likely lose them. On the other hand, if you’re consistently providing value for the customer and a positive shopping experience, personalisation, and genuinely satisfying customer service, you are likely to keep this customer and in turn keep sales.

Ways to keep customer retention at a high and also going back to personalisation – how you can increase a customer’s shopping experience below…

• Display reviews on your website
• Offer your customers their favourite payment options
• Personalise the customer journey
• Offer discounts or reward programmes

If you need help with your own marketing activities the expert team at Brighter Directions can help with any PR, social media, email marketing, or content strategy.

Get in touch today on hello@brighterdirections.co.uk or call us on 01246 586 330.

The post E-commerce trends in 2023 appeared first on Brighter Directions.

Join us as we take a look at some social trend predictions for 2023!

Authenticity

Over the past few years, “authenticity” has been a popular used word within social media. Consumers have grown to expect a level of honesty and sincerity from the brands they love.

88% of consumers claim that authenticity is key for what makes them choose a brand to support. What’s more, that number is only expected to increase over time. In fact, consumers have now become more vocal about their disapproval of brands who fail to meet this new authenticity demand.

Podcasts will grow as a marketing platform

In the UK alone, more than 19.1 million Britons listen to podcasts regularly. They’re an easy, accessible, handsfree way to consume media. But podcasts are growing in popularity so much due to their engagement with audiences and communities. Brands that initiate podcasts focusing on relevant content can expand their audience reach. It can deepen their relationship with consumers around the world. Brands can use podcasts to their advantage by having product placement and ads incorporated within.

Social media shopping will increase

Online shopping is popular yes, but few brands and businesses are really prepared for how much this era of consumer behaviour will continue to grow. TikTok is growing rapidly as a search engine allowing for its users to search and also buy thing easily. Other social media platforms such as Instagram boast large consumerism as people enjoy browsing and shopping on these platforms because they get an accessible and in-depth, perspective on different brands from their feed.

If you or your company need help with your own social media marketing activities, the expert team at Brighter Directions can help with any PR, social media, content and strategy.

Get in touch today on hello@brighterdirections.co.uk or call us on 01246 586 330.

The post The Role of Social Media in 2023 appeared first on Brighter Directions.