eCommerce is one of the fastest-growing segments in marketing and retail. Thanks to technological developments and ease of access to the internet the eCommerce market is growing at an exponential rate.
Online stores are predicted to contribute $5.545 billion in the year 2022. eCommerce brands and consumers have become closer than ever before.
But we know that the internet is a perpetually changing space. New trends, tools, and techniques are coming out every day. It can be hard to keep track of everything and to know how to apply them. Even harder is knowing which trends will be significant or not.
This blog will look at 7 noteworthy eCommerce marketing trends to look out for in 2022.
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1. Stepping into the metaverse mall
The metaverse is making major leaps and strides when it comes to eCommerce. Big names like Amazon and Walmart are geared to roll out technology that provides the perfect real-life shopping experience from your home. We already have Augmented Reality (AR) shopping tools like the Room Decorator that allow users to shop for furniture and home decor through their phones and tablets.
Similarly, there are try-on apps for apparel, eye gear, jewelry, and so many other products. If your eCommerce company wants to stay on top of trends in 2022 you should consider adding AR as an essential function of your website. This will also result in more conversions as the consumer can be fully confident about their purchase from the convenience of their home.
2. Leveraging the power of IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT) is evidently present in every aspect of eCommerce. You can see RFID tags for inventory management and smart sensors in supply chains and airmail shipping. These devices are essential for marketing as they are intelligent enough to collect data from millions of other devices that are linked together.
IoT-based gadgets use multiple sources like smart TVs, computers, smartphones, and cell phones to trace a series of searches with similar intent.It enables e-commerce entrepreneurs to forecast basic human behavior and so design a more effective cross-sell and upsell strategy.
Alongside such vast expansion, coming-of-age technologies like the 5G network also facilitate the rise of the IoT. Last year, 39% of the companies providing IoT products and services planned to support 5G technology in these gadgets. With faster and better-connected networks, the IoT devices will be able to operate in surprising and fascinating new ways in the upcoming decade.
3. Making progressive web apps
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) make it to this list as they have become very popular and are one of the most useful trends on this list. It is of interest for eCommerce marketing as they are based on putting mobile user experiences at the center of interest.
The technology brings forth the best of both worlds – web and native apps – in a single instance. This is because you don’t have to pay for creating an expensive mobile app or constantly maintaining a mobile-friendly, responsive website. PWAs have the capability to implement the latest web technologies to deliver a native app-like experience to the users.
You get equal if not more engagement through the push notifications. Alongside, you can reach your user and the target audience without having to put in the extra effort to collect their email addresses.
4. Using podcasts for marketing
Podcast marketing is one of the newest kids on the content marketing block. Podcasts have become a staple part of the day for individuals in recent years. Therefore, it only makes sense to reach your target audience through their preferred mode of content.
Since it’s a fairly new aspect in the eCommerce marketing arena you won’t find a lot of competition in this space. This trend is catching on and will make it big in 2022. This is because it is easier to find a niche audience for your products. Podcasts are the best way for your brand to showcase authority and expertise through quality content.
5. Livestream the sale of products
Live eCommerce is pacing up to be one of the most popular trends in 2022. eCommerce companies sell services and products through live online video streaming. The videos can be hosted on a multitude of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. All of these apps have features that allow you to go live.
The essence of this practice is that a presenter demonstrates and discusses the details of the products and answers related queries in real-time. Items bought directly via live stream shopping have 50% fewer chances of getting returned as the consumers are making well-informed purchase decisions. You can hop on this bandwagon through a standalone broadcast or rope in a niche micro-influencer to multiply the dales through social commerce.
6. Collaborating with micro-influencers
Influencer marketing has become widely popular. You will find every brand, small or big, collaborating with an influencer for greater reach. However, the eCommerce companies seem keen on choosing authentic influencers and building long-term partnerships. Enter Micro-Influencers!
The micro-influencers have a following between 1,000 to 10,000 followers. But these numbers stand for a meaningful community that is loyal to the influencer. These micro-influencers produce very specific content and hence have a tight-knit community.
When you collaborate with them, it raises the credibility and ingenuity of your brand. Therefore, you see greater engagement with the audience and an evident increase in your conversion rate with time. It is one of the best ways to ace social media marketing campaigns.
7. Creating shoppable ads
The time spent on social media platforms has progressed from 56.23 minutes in 2019 to 65.44 minutes in 2020. In this scenario, many eCommerce companies are turning to social commerce to grab their target audience’s attention. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok allow you to post shoppable ads on your business page.
You can tag the products within your posts. The customers can just use these tags to quickly obtain all the necessary information about the product. In addition to that, social media platforms are usually flooded with reviews and comments about the products. These act as social proof and testimonials making which leads to more eCommerce brands adopting this practice.
Summing up
What will the eCommerce landscape look like in 2022? It is constantly changing, which might make keeping up with the newest trends difficult. It’s impossible to forecast the rapid changes in the world of eCommerce. This list, on the other hand, should be able to give you a good idea of what developments and trends to expect in the year ahead.
Guest author: Tim Robinson is Digital Marketing Manager at PACK & SEND, a 25+ years old and respected brand in ecommerce, logistics, and freight delivery solutions. Tim has 20 years of combined experience in sales and marketing. Logistics, D2C, franchising, business planning, and operations management are his core expertise. Connect with Tim on LinkedIn.