Pave a path toward ecommerce success in 2015
The past 12 months have been filled with gains in the ecommerce arena, as companies from around the globe have become a bit more competitive in the digital realm. No longer are retailers capable of truly competing without having at least some foundation in the World Wide Web, while the complexities and challenges of doing so in such a way that separates the business from others in the market are intensifying as the years roll on.
In a word, the time is now to iron out ecommerce strategies before the new year begins, as studies have indicated that consumers will continue to flock toward these platforms and websites to make purchases on products and services. When these platforms are efficient and intuitive, strategies are aligned with best practices and marketing programs are fueling traffic to the websites, retailers will be able to position themselves for success.
How to make it fly
CIO Magazine recently suggested several steps all ecommerce retailers should take soon to ensure that they perform more prolifically in 2015 than this year, affirming that this begins with taking a close look at the website and evaluating where it is in need of improvement. Considering the fact that the firm has 12 months to look back on, leaders would do well to also look for issues that caused website disruptions and outages.
According to the news provider, when evaluating the accessibility, seamlessness and reliability of their website, decision-makers might want to also look at the design and layout of various pages, ensuring that every component is going to catch the eye of the viewer. Not surprisingly, the source urged companies to make their ecommerce websites accessible via mobile devices, as smartphones and tablets continue to take up a larger market share of all revenues online.
This was further illuminated during Thanksgiving weekend, when mobile devices accounted for much higher rates of purchases on Black Friday and Cyber Monday than was the case in 2013. All signs point to continued growth in the frequency of mobile-driven purchases and commerce.
Finally, CIO Magazine went on to explain that the metrics and tools used to evaluate performance and other activities should be ironed out, with analytics solutions being deployed as soon as possible for maximum intelligence in real time.
Keep it cohesive
Another strong move ecommerce retailers should consider making is to adjust marketing plans to ensure that brand image is cohesive across all platforms in use, and that the highest possible traffic volumes are hitting the actual product and service pages. When marketing and ecommerce platforms are disjointed, consumers will be less likely to see a consistent and preferable brand voice and image, leading to fewer conversions in many situations.
By leveraging a comprehensive strategy that governs activity from lead generation all the way through client relationship management down the road, 2015 can be a highly successful year for all retailers.
