This is part one in a two-part series. You can read part two here.
eCommerce is continuing to expand, with $385 to $440 billion in sales projected for 2017.
Even though the market is growing, it’s vital to keep up with trends in eCommerce so you can remain competitive in such a huge field. What worked at the beginning of 2016 isn’t necessarily what will work in 2017, but here are a few areas to keep your eyes on:
- Content marketing. According to Smart Insights, growing competition is creating a greater need for high quality content. Although today’s web-based content consumption is still above the rate of content production, that’s about to flip, so you can’t be lazy with your content efforts. They suggest using an 70:20:10 distribution for content planning, where 70 percent is largely known-to-be-effective content, 20 percent is innovative types of content and 10 percent are truly risky projects that will either pay off big time or fall flat.On top of that, you’ll need good writers and editors on your team, since visitors will continue to judge you closely based on how well your content marketing is composed.
- Bigger data. We talk about Big Data from time to time, and although it’s an Internet buzzword, it’s still not being well or properly implemented. When you can use your key performance indicators and other data from your shoppers to truly predict and streamline your eCommerce order management, you’ll be in a position to be really competitive.Defining goals, using predictive data to power your site and being able to order enough stock, but not too much, are excellent ways to use your Big Data in 2017.
- Asian eCommerce. The United States has been a huge driving force in the growth of eCommerce for years, but that trend may be changing. As the U.S. reaches a saturation point for eCommerce shoppers and stores, China is taking the reigns of expansion. Total sales there are predicted to double by 2019, adding over a trillion dollars worth of additional transactions to the industry.
- Marketing tools. Along with the continued growth of eCommerce, the tools it takes to properly develop and market an eCommerce shop are gaining lots of steam. In 2011, there were approximately 150 platforms that were considered vital to eCommerce, today that number is approximately 3,500 across six specialty categories.
These are just four small business eCommerce trends to watch for in 2017. In part two of this two-part series, we’ll discuss even more current and upcoming trends that are watch-worthy!
