2020 Ecommerce Strategy:
For many of our startup clients that we are onboarding, we are recommending Shopify. With some additional tools we can create a solution that makes sense without the costs of a complex shopping cart.
Multimedia
High-quality photos is a must and many times when a client shows up a site that they think it amazing, it is usually due to beautiful photos. An additional benefit is having video, this may increase the cost, but can increase returns and boost customers’ perceived value. This helps them convert more quickly and increases the likelihood that they’ll buy again.
It needs to have top-notch production quality and helpful content. Consider doing a product unboxing, sharing an unbiased third-party product overview, or showcasing the product in the real world. Shopify Plus allows merchants to upload these videos directly to product pages.
Personalization
Did you know that personalized homepage promotions persuade 85% of shoppers to buy? That’s pretty powerful. When you personalize a product to a customer’s interests, they’re more likely to buy. It’s a perfect way to increase value per order, too.
Use the Personalized Recommendations app to show related products to your customers. This will help you up-sell and cross-sell with the power of AI. Simile is another intelligent Shopify app that uses customer browsing and purchase history to display personalized content.
Strategy
Voice search optimization
50% of all search queries will come from voice-only users this year. With more customers shopping through Alexa and Google Assistant, Shopify stores should pivot to serve these customers.
Voice queries are different than text queries. Take a new approach for your Shopify SEO, targeting more conversational, long-tail keywords. You can check out Shopify’s voice optimization guide for an in-depth tutorial.
This is still new territory for Shopify stores, but the new Voice Search app shows some promise as a plug-and-play solution.
Strategy
Create a brand experience strategy
A clean, mobile-friendly website is just the beginning. For 2020, customers care about the mood on your site. What vibe do they get from your store? It’s just as important in-store ambiance. You know as soon as you walk into the store (or even at the door) whether you are even going to spend the time browsing the products. Customers need to be sold on the brand before they will even bother with the product.
Great products and quality content are no longer enough to keep customers from bouncing at first click. To make it in ecommerce, you have to present your site in a visually-pleasing package. Now isn’t the time to rely on shoddy in-the-box templates. For a brand experience that delights customers, invest in good graphic design and storytelling.
Strategy
AI Tools
AI was once unimaginable for most businesses, but it’s 2020 and we are here for all of the technological advances that now make AI tools attainable for the merchants that need them most. Use this tech to keep your Shopify operations lean, productive, and profitable. There are AI tools available for many different aspects of your Shopify store, like AI-powered marketing or analytics.
One of our favorite AI tools for Shopify is Octane AI, the FB messenger bot made for ecommerce merchants just like you. This tool is customer service on auto-pilot, with the ability to provide customers basic information about products, their orders, shipping, and more. Save time and boost customer satisfaction.
Strategy 6: Influencer marketing
Are influencers talking about your ecommerce store? If not, 2020 is your year to embrace influencer marketing. Don’t think influencers are in your budget? Think again. Smaller influencers (called micro-influencers) are more affordable and have engaged, niche audiences that are primed to buy. It’s all about finding the right influencer for your brand.
If you sell niche products on Shopify Plus, influencers are a slam-dunk for your bottom line. Consider hiring an Instagram influencer to promote your products organically. You can connect Shopify to Instagram so the influencer’s followers can shop your store directly from Instagram, too.
Ecommerce brought in $3.5 trillion in 2019.
