That smartphone you are holding is worth more than just checking out the latest cat video on YouTube. That little device not only runs many aspects of your life from calendars and email to calling for an Uber - it controls your wallet too.
A recent report from Forrester states that while only 11.6 % of sales come from ecommerce, that a whopping 49% of US Sales come from some sort of “digital touchpoint”. Think about it. What do you do when you find something new and cool and you can’t wait to show all of your buddies. You grab your smartphone out and look it up to show it off. This is just one example of a “digital touchpoint” and why it is so important to have a digital presence in order to compete in today’s global marketplace.
When it comes to digital touchpoints and ecommerce don’t discount m-commerce. In my experience with my clients more than half of their online traffic comes from a mobile device. Forrester reports that approximately 30% of all online sales are made using a smartphone. Making sure your site is mobile ready is a great way to make sure that you are not missing out on sales or new brand impressions.
Last year m-commerce increased 65% over the previous year and it isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon. 54% of brands in the Forrester study listed mobile commerce (m-commerce) among the top 3 initiatives of 2017 and said they plan to use the tool to “enhance customer experiences” online.
According to Artemis Berry, NRF Vice President for Digital Retail, “Smartphones are driving retail sales more than ever, and retailers have found that even modest investments in mobile initiatives can result in huge returns”.
Lucky for small and medium sized brands, an investment in m-commerce and enhancing your customers experience through a mobile device doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It can be as simple as adding Facebook’s Messenger to your online store as a means for a potential customer to complete a sale, or adding instant chat and the ability to track an order through a shopping cart plug-in like LincCare. To succeed, retailers just need to think about how they can make their customers experience easy and pleasant at every touchpoint in this instant gratification world.
Are you unsure of how you can use mobile to enhance your customer's experience online and increase repeat purchases? I can help with that. Let's start with an evaluation of your current site and social experiences and build a custom plan for your brand to make sure you aren't missing out on any digital opportunities.
What's your biggest obstacle when it comes to mobile commerce? Let me know in the comments below!