The new normal is no longer a fancy phrase that experts coined during the COVID pandemic. It has become a significant part of our lives. The choice is simple: Either stay ahead of the curve or go home.
With that being said, it’s critical to keep an eye on the latest eCommerce trends so that you can get the most out of the eCommerce space. This blog will talk about nine top eCommerce trends that are insanely popular right now. Without spending much time beating around the bush, let’s dive in.
9 E-Commerce Trends that are Very Popular in 2022
1. Shift in the Consumer Behavior
I have noticed a drastic shift in purchasing behavior after the COVID pandemic. Earlier, I spent most of my time going on outings with friends, watching movies, and traveling places. But post the pandemic, I spend most of the time buying equipment for my home and kitchen.
It’s not just me. Many online consumers are now slowly gravitating towards smart home devices and home office equipment. So, it will be wise to consider this eCommerce trend and adopt it.
2. Mobile Commerce is On the Rise
Most online consumers now spend a significant time of their day on their smartphones. Especially the Gen-Z and Gen-alpha shoppers are always glued to their phones – which gives an immense opportunity to market and sell your products.
Hence, it is crucial to ensure that you optimize your eCommerce website for mobile if you haven’t yet.
Here’s how optimizing your website for mobile will help:
- You can easily captivate and convert your potential customers
- Since not everyone is optimizing their website for mobile, you can gain an edge over your competitors
- A mobile-optimized website can prevent website bounces and abandoning purchases.
3. Social Media
Around 97% of Gen Z buyers use social media as a source of inspiration. If you’re not active on social media, you will miss out on 9 out of 10 potential buyers.
Social media commerce is no longer an afterthought but a dire necessity. Hence, it is no surprise that most websites offer seamless integration with social media so that shoppers can easily buy products. Follow the same route if you want to boost your sales this year.
4. Video Content & Live Shopping
Video has been one of the most popular forms of content. According to the Video Content Report from Wyzowl, there has been a 25% increase in companies using video content from 2015 to 2022.
Video has become so popular that eCommerce platforms have leveraged them to market their products to potential buyers.
Another popular eCommerce trend is live shopping which is expected to touch the $25 billion mark by 2023.
Here are the reasons why live shopping is becoming so popular:
- Live shopping establishes a real human connection between brands and potential customers.
- Young people prefer and use live shopping, which means the trend has a great future.
5. Voice Search
Juniper Research reports that voice search would amount to $80 billion in sales by 2023. But what does it mean for the eCommerce sector?
For the eCommerce world, it brings immense opportunities to entice and convert customers. Brands with a deep understanding of NLP and context-related searches will lead.
If you want to remain in the game, pay attention to the voice search. Look for what people are searching for and make sure you can cater to these queries.
6. Omnichannel Selling
With the number of eCommerce stores rising, relying on a single channel is insufficient. If you want to stand out, you must ensure that you’re always visible to your target audience. Offer them an omnichannel experience where they can connect with you by any medium. It is the only way to ensure customer satisfaction and maximize revenue.
7. Green Business Practices
Millennial shoppers are vocal about the environment. They’ll never buy from brands that employ practices that harm the environment. Hence, it has become essential for businesses to ensure eCommerce brands are using green business practices like packaging, climate-neutral delivery, and environmentally friendly fulfillment.
Here’s how you can employ green business practices for your eCommerce business:
- Try storing your products as close as possible to your customers. This way, you can reduce shipping distances and minimize the harmful impact on the environment.
- Talk openly about your efforts. It shows you in a positive light and attracts new customers.
8. Supply Chain
2021 was a testimony to the fact overburdened supply chains often impact delivery times and lead to rapidly growing costs. Sometimes, the deliveries even come to a complete halt. As a result, many eCommerce businesses understand that it is essential to manage the supply chains efficiently. For this reason, many drop shippers changed their business model and paid particular attention to supply chains.
Things are not going to change much in 2022 either. The supply chain will play a crucial role in combating bottlenecks and long delivery cycles. If you also want to quicken your delivery cycles, make sure you jump the wagon.
9. Discovering a Sweet Spot between Planning & Flexibility
Usually, planning and flexibility are anomalies, i.e., they seem to contradict each other. However, in 2022, these two things together will help you climb the ladders of success in the eCommerce space.
Only those eCommerce brands that can plan accurately with flexibility will be successful. You don’t just need to have a plan but also have alternatives if the existing plan fails. These best-case, worst-case scenarios will keep you on track and help you make rational and informed decisions.
In Conclusion
As you can see, 2022 will both be a golden year full of opportunities and full of tough challenges. It’s up to you how you perceive it and what strategies you implement to stay ahead of the competition and make a mark for yourself. So, I wish you luck and if you need any guidance regarding top eCommerce trends, feel free to share in the comments. I would be happy to help.