Econsultancy.com just released its annual Christmas e-commerce predictions round up, and this year, the focus is mobile.
The research from eBay, Google, and Marin Software suggests a significantly higher consumer preference for mobile browsing, shopping, and price comparison than last year. We can use these predictions to anticipate how our shoppers will use our retail business channels this Christmas.? The main takeaway: optimize for mobile.
Let?s review the hardest-hitting predictions, and summarize key takeaways for higher conversions during the holidays.
1. ?The Internet is seen as the most useful information source for holiday shopping (80%), followed by store fliers (60%), and in-store displays (51%).?
In these busy months, your website becomes the home base for product information, price comparison, and/or purchasing. Customers tend to abandon sites if the content takes too long to load, and with hoards of new traffic bombarding the site during the holidays, this can be a damning reality.
Speak with your website hosting provider to ensure that your server preferences are optimized for high traffic.? Your hosting company might suggest temporary upgrades or server adjustments.? Now you?re prepared for the masses.
Key Takeaway: Prepare your retail website to handle higher traffic during the Christmas season
2. ??More than half (55%) of consumers plan to use their mobile device more than they did last year to browse the web, while 39% say they will use their device to check prices or product details.?
Feel free to use the holidays as an excuse to get your site primed for mobile viewing immediately. Like, today.
Here?s why: In the past two years, mobile search has grown 500%, while the average smartphone usage nearly tripled in 2011. And right now, 29% of smartphone consumers use the device for shopping (see ?The Takeover of the Mobile Web? infographic).
Users have developed new expectations for mobile browsing. Tiny text, pinching, and scrolling, and wonky navigation are huge turn-offs.
Deliver a memorable mobile browsing experience, and your Christmas traffic should stick around way past the holidays.
We suggest developing a responsive web design to meet mobile user expectations. With responsive design, one adaptable site fits to multiple screens. Users access your content via smartphone devices, tablets, desktops, and game consoles, and enjoy a size-adjusted view.? It?s affordable and future-friendly.
Key Takeaway: Now?s the time to optimize your mobile web presence.
3.??? 44% of smartphone users plan to use the device to find a nearby store.
When customers search for products and services online, they often include a geographic keyword to make it easier to find solutions close to their location.? You want your business to be right at the top of these search queries during the Christmas season.
Start by registering with Google Places for Business. You include key data here, such as hours of operation, contact/address information, and company photos, to a listing that appears at the top of local searches.
Ensure that your geographic information (address, phone number) aligns with all of your web presences. This includes social media profiles and online business classifieds. Google bots give preference to accurate and consistent information across channels.
These steps provide a starting point for higher local search visibility. In an upcoming post, we?ll explore more local ranking factors.
Key Takeaway: Get your website to rank locally in search results so customers can find you easier online.
Do any of these statistics surprise you? What other ways do you plan to prepare your business for the holiday season? Let?s start the conversation in the comments section below!
References
Moth, David. ?Christmas 2012 e-commerce predictions round-up.? 12 November 2012. Econsultancy.com
Webb, Sophie. ?The Takeover of the Mobile Web (Infographic).? 12 November 2012. Sixrevisions.com
How to Discover What Your Customers Really Want
About the Author ?
Working alongside dedicated web specialists and graphic designers at Navigator Multimedia, I?m committed to discovering the latest SEO content writing techniques and digging deep into social media trends and tech news. It?s a constantly changing game that I?m fascinated to explore, and writing Navigator?s blog gives me the chance to share all my findings with our awesome clients! With a BA in English Literature and an obsession with the written word, I?m prepared to take on your content writing needs. If you?re looking for professional web editing or blog maintenance, contact me at sarah@navigatorweb.ca. I?m the go-to around here for fresh, researched content!
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Source: http://gillistern.com/1288/christmas-2012-e-commerce-statistics-kelowna-web-designs/
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