eCommerce is one of those things that’s in constant flux. That’s just the nature of commerce in general and the “e” part just acts as a multiplier. With tech advancing at a lightning pace it can be tough to keep up with what’s on trend now let alone having the time to research what’s coming down the pipeline.
Luckily, you’ve got some friends in the right places because we’re gonna clue you in on a few of those future thangs.
New Trends to Look Out for in 2021
The thing about trends, particularly in marketing for eComm, is that while there are some outright new ones, many are an evolution of something you either are already doing or have some touchpoint. The point being, jumping on board with them doesn’t require massive restructuring.
So, without further ado:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI spending by retailers is predicted to hit $12 billion by 2023. From smart checkout to chatbots on your eCommerce site, machine learning is all the rage because it presents massive opportunities to aggregate data that in turn makes your customer’s experience more personalized. Things like utilizing past shopping history to make individualized recommendations. A more personalized and bespoke experience can lead you straight to higher sales.
Augmented Reality (AR)
AR is another one that’s breaking through, with compound annual growth expected to be 77% through 2023.
We’re not talking just the domain of Snapchat filters here (although hit us up about that, we know a thing or two…or ten about Snap), AR is very useful for eCommerce beyond the social media stuff. Think about the idea of being able to show your customer how a product would look in their home before they even purchase it.
Sounds like a pretty powerful tool for marketing, no?
TikTok
Alright so this one is probably familiar but it absolutely exploded in popularity in 2020 which means 2021 is the time to get in on the eComm fun. The table has already been set for a good time as TikTok just recently partnered with Shopify for commerce.
Nice.
Very nice.
Micro Influencers
We’re not gonna lie, influencers are our bread and butter, we’ve been making this work for companies since before the word “influencer” had any social capital.
That said, you might be wondering why we’d include it in trends for next year. Fair enough, it’s a good question.
Well, the game has changed, or more accurately, it has expanded.
Micro Influencers offer a lot and have been under the radar for a while now. For starters, there are the obvious cost savings working with someone with a smaller audience and a refined niche, so far so normal. What puts it over the top though is the significantly better engagement rates.
Trust + higher engagement = wins
Flexible Pay and Payment Options
In addition to your product or service, customers want convenience. Period.
Payment is a place you can be shooting yourself in the foot and not even realize it. It’s exceedingly possible that a potential buyer could get all the way to the cart and simply close the browser if their preferred payment method isn’t there.
Make sure you’re offering the ability to use digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, etc. in addition to the standard credit and debit card. Also, be on the lookout for crypto potentially coming in (likely not a 2021 thing).
New eComm Markets
Last but not least, new markets!
The global middle class will add more than 1 billion people by the end of this year with more than 85% coming from Asia Pacific. Huge addressable markets are all of a sudden coming online and are ripe for the picking in terms of new customers and sales.
Hit up The Snow Agency for Help with eCommerce
There’s plenty more to get ready for in 2021, if you need help sorting through the noise and locking into the trends that will click for you, reach out to us at The Snow Agency and let’s talk.