The year has begun! Do you know what the e-commerce trends for 2018 are?
Brazilian e-commerce is one of the sectors that continues to expand across the country. It's no surprise: the internet is reaching more and more people, and new consumers generally have plenty of experience shopping online. For entrepreneurs, it's an excellent way to promote the products and services of brands aiming to reach the top of the market.
Being part of this dynamic is essential for securing a strong position. However, simply creating an e-commerce store isn't enough. You need to stay up to date with the latest developments in the sector to maximize results. We put together this article to help you keep up with e-commerce trends and learn how to create a successful online business!
Let's get started!
3 E-commerce trends for 2018
1) Mobile
In keeping with the times, people around the world have greater access to mobile devices than they did in the past. This means people spend most of their time connected, and according to research, 24.2% of Brazilian e-commerce sites are adapted for mobile. This figure points to the fact that mobile devices account for most online traffic. As a result, e-commerce businesses looking to stay relevant are adopting and improving the mobile experience, an important trend for online stores.
Read this article:
The power of mobile to increase e-commerce sales
2) Social media
Social media is a valuable tool for building closer relationships with customers and creating a strong, trusting bond. It's also considered an excellent communication channel. According to research, e-commerce businesses' use of social media reached 72.43% in 2017, making social media an excellent communication tool. It enables stores to develop effective promotional strategies suited to their size. Campaigns are a great way to promote brands and reach customers.
3) Creating your own app
This trend is especially well suited to food retailers. Online food businesses are increasingly making use of this resource, with positive results. Having your own tool is extremely important for providing customers with a great experience, thanks to its convenience, practicality, and efficiency. Apps give customers easy access to the products your business offers.
Launch a successful e-commerce store
There are many advantages to creating an e-commerce store, especially when it comes to cost-effectiveness. The sector has grown considerably, by around 20% a year, and represents 5% to 7% of retail in the country. Although there is still plenty of room for improvement, considering e-commerce as a business opportunity is a great option for entrepreneurs.
An up-to-date and prepared entrepreneur can launch an online store for around R$ 100 a month. Keep in mind that getting into the business may be very easy, but staying in it and, more importantly, standing out among so many other e-commerce stores can be a little more challenging.
To get off to a successful start without risking being unable to carry on, here are 5 tips for a successful e-commerce store.
1 - Take your business seriously
Many people create an e-commerce store to earn a second income, and that's not the problem. The problem is failing to give the business the attention it needs to grow. Running an online store takes time, especially if you want to stand out from the competition and keep attracting new customers without losing the ones you already have.
Digital entrepreneurship means knowing there's no set time to solve potential problems. It means answering emails, tracking purchases made on your site, staying up to date, looking for inspiration, keeping an eye on social media, and much more. Entrepreneurs who take their business seriously can stand out in the digital market.
2 - Be the solution
To build an interesting business, whether it offers a product or a service, you need to understand what your customer wants to buy. Your product needs to be the solution your customer needs. People who search online generally already have an idea of what they need. You just need to point them in the right direction, make all the information available in one click, and show them why you're the right choice for providing that kind of product.
3 - Create content
People are increasingly looking for information. Photos with prices alone don't convince anyone anymore. You need to be prepared. A good e-commerce store should also create content, offering useful information to its customers.
This is very important for engaging customers with your brand. It can also help your site rank in search results, making your online store easier to find.
4 - Automate as much as possible
This is an excellent option for anyone who wants to run an online store but has limited resources. At first, it's very common to do everything yourself, use a small space to store products, and handle countless other tasks. Sometimes this can become a headache, because managing everything without help isn't easy. There are companies that specialize in logistics and even management. Outsourcing can sometimes be much cheaper and is still a good option.
5 - Develop specific marketing strategies
It's normal to want to spend all your money on advertising at first, since it's an immediate way to get more clicks. However, an investment that hasn't been carefully considered can cost you dearly in the future. The ideal marketing approach is one that fits your type of business, your target audience, and your goals. In other words, ads may deliver immediate results, but what about your long-term strategy?
Specific strategies demonstrate focus and generally deliver much more concrete results for your type of e-commerce business.
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Inbound Marketing: attraction marketing for new consumers
Trends that will make all the difference
Every day, the digital market brings new developments and trends that expand business opportunities and make things easier for entrepreneurs and customers. Keeping up with these developments can help ensure your e-commerce store succeeds.
Applying a few of these ideas can make all the difference to your online store and help you achieve a highly profitable year while standing out in search engines.
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