Mobile eCommerce, or mCommerce, is one of the fastest growing market. According to Goldman Sachs, global mobile eCommerce will reach $638 billion by 2018, which equals to global eCommerce sales of 2013. Mindboggling, isn’t it? Looking at these numbers, there’s only one conclusion: if you are a retailer looking for exponential growth, you have to offer mobile eCommerce to your customers. There are no two ways about it. When we talk about mCommerce, the next thing that will come to your minds is, how to do it? That too is easy.
Just read on to see how.
1. Responsive design: The first thing you need is the responsive web design. This will make sure that your website or online store is rendered flawlessly irrespective of the device that’s being used by the users. However, if the majority of your users use a particular device, it will make better sense to have a special website for that device. For example, if majority of your traffic is from iPhone, having a special mobile site for iPhones will be a great business decision.
2. Search function: Your website or online store definitely needs a search function, and that too above the scroll line. This will ensure that your customers are able to look for the items of their choice without any problem. Also, when you offer advanced search functions such as sorting according to price and categories, it will enhance their shopping experience. Remember to make search results, including images and text, easy to read.
3. Location finder and contact information: Today is the era of unified shopping experiences. You need to offer functionalities that enable users to enjoy a seamless shopping experience between your brick-and-mortar store and an online store. Through location finder, you are offering your users an option to visit your physical store. When you display your contact information, you are making yourself accessible to your customers – improving your customer service.
4. Product customization: Certain products need customization, especially products such as apparel. Make product customization easy for your mobile users by offering them options such as color combinations, design options, sizing, pricing and delivery options. The most relevant example of this feature is Gap. It allows mobile users to mix and match different apparels on their mobile device to help them visualize how their purchases might look.
5. Ratings and reviews: According to Search Engine Watch, 85% of consumers read reviews for local businesses; while Dimensional Research reported that 90% of consumers say that positive online reviews had a direct impact on their buying decision. After considering these numbers, do you think it’s a smart decision to ignore ratings and reviews of your satisfied customers? If yes, think again.
Do you have any more mCommerce mistakes to share with us?
Yeah very true.. The future of eCommerce lies in modern day mCommerce. People from teenagers to adults are relying on their cellphones these days to buy different products. Hence, it becomes mandatory for different online ventures to optimize their sites for mobiles. This will make their products and services available to their target audience and in the process generate more sales.
Many businesses are opting for optimizing their websites with mobile eCommerce so that they can reach a wider network of audience. Above methods will indeed help a business to boost its sales as many people today use their mobile phones to make purchases.