What Does The Future of Ecommerce Look Like?

September 21, 2021 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

2020 was an unprecedented year for all businesses, especially retail. As more businesses shifted to online channels, the future of eCommerce looks brighter than ever. Each year, we see more and more eCommerce businesses emerge, allowing entrepreneurs the opportunity to finally sell their products without having to set up a physical retail location while providing them with benefits such as a remote workforce.

In this article, we’ll discuss where eCommerce is heading and what you can expect in the future.

Voice Assistance

With Alexa, Cortana, and Google Home taking over the world by providing consumers with convenience, you can expect to see changes to the way people shop online. Voice shopping is already popular among those with Alexa and Amazon accounts. As soon as you realize you’ve run out of something, you can ask Alexa to purchase it for you without having to lift a finger.

Voice shopping will continue to become more popular as more people adopt this technology into their homes. Instead of only allowing consumers to purchase from large marketplaces like Amazon, eCommerce stores can integrate voice assistance with their stores to provide customers with better options and even more convenience.

Omnichannel Commerce

Many shoppers use multiple channels during their shopping process. For example, let’s say someone is looking for comfortable workout shoes. They would likely start with a Google search and end up on a few different websites, from the brand’s Facebook pages to their eCommerce websites. With voice assistants and smartphones being used daily, omnichannel shopping will become more prevalent. eCommerce businesses need to optimize their websites and social media pages so they can sell their products where they can reach their customers, including Facebook and Instagram.

While eCommerce brands already know the benefits of using social media to market their brands, they might not be using the recently added commerce component that can facilitate shopping on each platform. Rather than asking a customer to leave their scrolling behind to purchase something on a website, shoppers can shop from an Instagram post without leaving the platform, making shopping much more convenient, which increases sales.

Enhanced Customer Experience

Customer experience is everything in the retail world. Without providing customers with a great experience, you’ll likely lose out on a sale and even future sales. eCommerce businesses have a great opportunity to provide an enhanced customer experience with Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI can be used to recommend products based on the customer’s shopping, browsing behavior, and past purchases, while AR allows customers to view how a product would look in real life before deciding to make a purchase.

While many businesses can opt to use both AR and AI, you might be better off prioritizing one over the other. For example, if you sell weight-loss medication and services, you might choose to prioritize AI so you can learn about your audience while providing them with a personalized experience on your website. In this case, AI could help you in the form of a quiz that not only captures important information you need to know about potential customers but gives them valuable information based on their answers.

More Payment Options

Designing an eCommerce website with a great user experience means the good experience should begin with a shopper’s first click to the website and end with their purchase. With multiple payment options, you can get more purchases and provide convenience for shoppers.

Without multiple payment options, you may be losing out on valuable customers. For example, your eCommerce store should always allow people to pay with a card. What you may not know is more people are opting to use digital wallets like Google Pay along with PayPal to make checking out quicker.

Dynamic Pricing

eCommerce stores need to price their products correctly, but pricing them dynamically means you can sell products at the right price to boost sales and make a profit. Dynamic pricing software allows business owners the tools to learn about market prices, demand, and production values in real-time, which can help them update their pricing.

Mobile Commerce

Mobile commerce is increasingly popular as fewer people hop on desktops and laptops to shop, do research, and communicate with their friends. Fewer people than ever use laptops and desktops at home when they’re away from their jobs because their mobile devices can do everything a laptop can do.

Abandoned cart rates are high for eCommerce sites that aren’t responsive or mobile-friendly, so it’s important to make sure you work with a developer that can make the mobile shopping experience convenient.

Better Data Collection and Analysis

Online brands need to collect data on their customers to learn about them and find ways to get them through the sales funnel. Collecting data can help eCommerce businesses better target their customers and retain them. Data will only continue to grow eCommerce sales in the future because marketers will be able to make more strategic decisions using real data instead of guesses.

B2B eCommerce

B2B businesses are finally undergoing the necessary digital transformation they need to stay relevant. B2B businesses will continue to think about their online presence and ways to understand their buyers. They will even begin taking relationships and purchasing online. For example, a business that sells products to a retailer may create an eCommerce portal for customers that allows them to purchase their inventory online instead of through email or a salesperson.

As more and more B2B companies move online, they’ll also begin building an online brand narrative with content marketing, customer engagement, and more.

The Future of eCommerce

As technology advances, eCommerce companies will have to determine which advancements will help their businesses grow. While there are a lot of emerging trends in this industry, you’ll need to prioritize them based on the needs of your customers. For example, if your customers are asking for a better way to check out, you’ll need to allow them multiple payment methods instead of jumping right into AR.

Depending on the size of your organization, you won’t have time to capitalize on every future trend, so make sure you determine which ones are right for your business based on the industry and your goals. For example, B2B businesses that sell refrigerators to retailers likely won’t have as much success selling products on an Instagram post as they would enhancing their customer experience.

As always, make sure you listen to your customers. If you’re not sure what they need from you, send them a survey so you can make their shopping experience better and use that information to grow your business.

Matt Casadona

Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys San Diego life, traveling, and music.

How Making Charitable Donations Can Help Your Business

September 21, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

When we think of ways that we can benefit our business, we tend to look inwards, don’t we? We think about growth, about how we can expand, about how we can cut costs and corners. But there is so much to be said for the act of giving back. We don’t need to tell you how brutally difficult things have been for people of all walks of life since March 2020. Even now, when it seems like people and businesses are getting back on their feet in a lot of ways, we are starting to understand just how deep the wounds of the pandemic run. Charities are desperate for donations, no matter how small. Making charitable donations is something that can have a real positive impact on your business. Here are just a few reasons why.

Charity Improves Staff Morale

If you have been wondering how you can have a positive impact when things are so difficult for so many people, you are not alone. We can guarantee you that most, if not all, of your employees have been wondering how they can have a positive impact. Making charitable donations through your business allows them to be part of something that is unquestionably positive. You could also talk to them about what kind of charities they would like to donate to and consider allowing different people to pick the chosen organisation each month.

Donating Through Your Business Can Be Easy

For most of us, making a charitable donation often needs to be a spur of the moment type thing. We are so easily distracted, and we are so stressed and busy that the organisations or causes that we donate to often need to catch us at exactly the right time. But setting up a donation scheme through your company is easy. What’s more, if you set up payroll giving, the donations are made before tax from the gross pay, which means that the charity in question does not need to claim gift aid to get the tax back. If you want to learn more about the benefits of charitable donations for businesses and how you can get set up with payroll giving, visit PayCaptain and read their article “The Importance of Charitable Giving.” They also have a range of payroll solutions to help you cut through those tricky processes.

Donating Through Your Business Is A Good Look

While this is hardly the first benefit that you think about when you consider making charitable donations, it is important to note that it is the kind of thing that will stand you in good stead when it comes to your brand. These days, it is important for businesses to publicise the positive steps that they are taking to improve the world around them, whether that is through finding and helping local green initiatives or giving back to their local community.

Getting the word out about your efforts isn’t just a good step for your PR, it’s a great way to spread the word about your chosen causes and to get other people involved. Considering challenging other businesses to match your donations or showing your social media followers how they can help too.

Make A Killer First Impression With New Clients

September 20, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

First impressions count in the world of business. If you don’t hit the right marks with the first impression then you won’t get a chance for a second. So, how can you ensure that you do impress new clients. Here are some of the best suggestions.

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Here’s My Card

First, you should think about investing in business cards when you are running your business. The right business cards will give you that extra touch you need to stand out to customers and clients. It also makes a meeting far more memorable. You can send a variety of messages with the right business card. For instance, if you choose an electronic business card, you can show that your company is ready for the future and any challenges that might be on the horizon. These also come in the form of bracelets that can be scanned and will immediately provide clients all the information they need on your brand.

Step Into My Office

Not every business needs an office these days, but it can certainly help you make the right impression with your customers and clients. You do however need to make sure that you are choosing the right business office. It must have curb appeal with a beautiful display that matches the ideals and goals of your business. If your business has seen better days, then it could be worth applying some maintenance to improve the aesthetic. If you are running your business largely online, you could explore using a virtual office space to create the same type of impact.

Best Dressed

Appearances are everything in the world of business. If you don’t get appearances right then you will struggle to attract any new clients, particularly in a social setting. One of the ways that you can handle this is by making sure that you do get your haircut regularly and take pride in your appearance. A stylish suit that fits well will go a long way to helping you impress any clients that you are interested in taking on. You might also want to think about choosing the right accessories that will help you stand out such as a smart watch.

Meet My Team

Finally, you need to make sure that you are thinking carefully about your business team. Don’t forget, your team is going to have far more face time with your clients and customers than you ever will. They need to be ready to impress with the right approach. To ensure this is the case, you need to guarantee that you are hiring the right people from day one. It’s important to perfect your hiring practices and ask the right questions. You should also pay attention to the appearance of employees as this certainly matters.
We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you can take to ensure that you do make a fantastic first impression with new clients who are exploring your business. If you explore the right steps here, then you will find it far easier to lead them towards a purchase decision on the market.

Top Tips For Opening Your Businesses Doors for the First Time

September 17, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

While many successful companies begin online, there may be a time during your growth when you consider opening up a physical store too. There are many benefits to this; you can interact with your customers face-to-face, increase your brand’s reputation and simply learn more about what it means to be a store owner in the modern world. If managed correctly, you may also be able to lay down plans to franchise your company – and open up storefronts in multiple different locations.

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However, moving from online sales into the ‘real world’ of retail can be difficult – as you can’t simply display your products and hope for the best. With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to run a successful store!

Find the right location. When running a store, your location is paramount to your success – as you need to make it as easy as possible for customers to find you. While previous customers may search up your address and locate you this way, if you want to gain organic foot traffic, you need to be in a busy area. Ideally, you should look into areas where your target audience frequents, such as a local high street – and avoid being tucked away into hidden corners where nobody ventures.

Keep your property at its best. If you entered a restaurant and found that a lot of the facilities were broken, or that the plates were dirty – it’s likely that you wouldn’t order a meal. You must take this same approach when it comes to keeping your store looking its best – as a poorly managed space will turn customers away as opposed to drawing them in. As a result, you should ensure that the space is cleaned regularly and to a high standard. You should also ensure that you have considered any maintenance issues that you may encounter so that you know how to avoid them. For example, if security is an issue, you may want to look into Maintenance for Commercial Storefront Doors in Michigan.

Continue to market yourself online. Right now, your online presence is the key to your success – even if you run a physical business alongside your online store. This is due to the simple fact that it can help put your brand on the map. For example, you can send out sponsored social media posts to members of your target audience who live within the vicinity of your business, making it easier for them to find your brand and store.

Focus on customer service. While you may already consider yourself a customer-service whizz, the way in which you interact with customers online is vastly different from the way you will correspond in person. This is due to the fact that you cannot get away with rolling your eyes at that one customer who always complains. As such, you should ensure that you brush up on your customer service and communication skills where possible in order to provide them with the best possible service. The happier your customers are, the better your store will perform.

You and any employees you have need to be 100% focused on the customer experience. It starts with customers’ first impression of your company until they are completely satisfied. Choosing the right customer success software can help employees maintain an excellent standard of care and reinforce your customer experience positively. There are different types of software on the market depending on your sector and what you require.

Sustainable Materials That Every Modern Construction Business Should Use

September 17, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

When you are starting a construction business, there are so many things you need to consider. The chances are, you haven’t thought about sustainability but it’s important that you do. The construction world is changing and there is an increased demand for environmentally friendly buildings. That means thinking about your processes but also your materials. It’s vital that you make some changes and start using materials that are degradable and easily recyclable. You also need to avoid any harsh chemicals that could cause damage to the environment. These are some of the best sustainable materials that your construction business should be using.

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Steel

Steel is the most recycled product in the world and there are plenty of benefits to using it in your construction business. Not only is it easily recyclable but it will also last a lifetime and is extremely strong and durable. It’s very cost effective too, especially when compared to materials like plastic and glass, which is why more and more people are turning to steel for all their needs. It’s also a very versatile material because you have lots of steel wire products as well as standard steel beams for structural integrity. It’s likely that you are already using steel for some applications but you should explore different options and use it as much as possible.

Sheep Wool Insulation

Insulation is a wonderful way to make buildings more sustainable. It’s an easy way of keeping energy costs down and, with the correct materials installed, proper insulation can be very effective. Sheep wool insulation has been around for decades but you might not have considered it before. It’s naturally non-toxic and this makes it very safe for the environment. It’s also very cost effective, especially when you compare it to other types of insulation like rock wool or glass wool.

Wood

Another way of making your construction business more eco-friendly is to use wood in your designs. Wood is a sustainable product that can be grown quickly and easily. More and more people are turning towards wooden structures because they provide a natural feel for the building. They also look beautiful and lend a handcrafted touch to any project you’re working on. It’s completely biodegradable, making it the ideal sustainable material.

Cork

Cork is incredibly versatile because it can be used in insulation, flooring and even your roof. It’s biodegradable so it will decompose naturally over time which means you won’t have to worry about removal at the end of a project. Not only that but cork is also fireproof so it’s perfect for any area where you need warmth and safety. It also provides natural acoustics, which makes it the perfect material for flooring.
Using sustainable materials is a great way to grow your construction business in the 21st century. There are mountains of benefits to using these products, not least because they are environmentally friendly. Not only that but they can be used in lots of different ways and they can be incredibly cost effective.