When it comes to retail and e-commerce sales, we all know how important the upcoming holiday season is. But you may not be aware of how much mobile shopping now impacts those sales.
More people are using mobile apps, especially when it comes to their favorite retailers. Additionally, more mobile commerce transactions now happen on apps than on mobile sites. According to Google Analytics data, 30% of all online shopping happens on mobile devices and mobile searches related to shopping jumped by 120% in 2015.
How are apps helping to increase sales? Since they have to be specifically designed for mobile devices, they automatically come with a “mobile-first” functionality that prioritizes speed and a highly functional and easy-to-use search capability. Additionally, apps allow retailers to add features, such as push notifications, that serve as effective reminders that encourage people to shop. These features may be even more beneficial during the holiday season, when shopping is already at the top of everyone’s minds, giving retailers more opportunities to capitalize on Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions.
Consider integrating the use of a barcode-scanning app that gives users access to inventory from thousands of retailers. The only caveat is that merchants interested in listing their products with this type of app must have Universal Product Code (UPC) so shoppers can scan barcodes to compare prices. These apps can also aggregate deals and send sale alerts based on shopper interests and location, creating an effective mobile platform.
To succeed this holiday season, a mobile presence is a must. You can make the most of it by:
Ensuring your brand and products are well-represented on mobile shopping apps, in online marketplaces and on social media. This means your user experience is excellent, your site’s load times are quick, you’re using high-quality product images and clear and concise product descriptions, and most importantly, any products advertised are in stock. It also helps to offer fast, free shipping and an easy return policy to compete with brick-and-mortar stores.
Optimizing the speed and searchability of all of your mobile websites. Going mobile can be accomplished in two ways: either by making your site responsive or building a mobile app. Responsive sites support mobile shopping across a wide variety of devices, including smartphones and tablets, while mobile apps require app store downloads. Without question, any business trying to succeed online needs to optimize for mobile, and this is especially important for retail.
Considering ways that you can connect with consumers in a more meaningful way. Build brand loyalty and collect contact information through holiday promotions that incorporate gifts with purchases, upgraded shipping, mobile “VIP” push notifications and social media campaigns.
These elements provide a consistent multichannel experience that keeps customers happy and avoids lost ad spend from clicks wasted on out-of-stock products or customers who won’t wait that extra second for your site to load. If done well, you can leverage mobile success during the holiday season as a way to boost your sales throughout the year.
Courtesy of Forbes
