Best Ecommerce Practices to Focus on Before 2025

Did you know that according to Forbes Indian ecommerce revenue is expected to reach INR 4416.68 billion by the end of 2024? The world of ecommerce is changing and your ecommerce marketing strategy needs to change as well. You can incorporate the following ecommerce practices into your business that can lead to success.

Here are 6 Best Practices to Consider

1) Create a Seamless User Experiences

Most online shoppers decide if they are going to find something worth their while within a few minutes of scrolling. The decision to leave or stick with a brand is mostly based on the user experience.

If you are creating an ecommerce brand, adopt these to improve the user’s experience-

Consider making your color scheme, logos, and overall branding are uniform- Whether users are browsing your website, mobile app, or social media page, it is important that these aspects are in uniform.
Add appealing features - FFrom consistent color scheme and easy to understand content, a responsive email or website page design, alt tags for website images.
Use simple, smart and high-quality images- Remember, high-quality images play a pivotal role in capturing attention and engaging your audience.

2) Mobile Responsive Websites

Nowadays, most e-commerce sales come from mobile devices. You may be losing a large portion of sales if your website isn’t mobile responsive. Mobile-friendly websites allow the clients to make purchases at all times. It’s like fitting your online store in your customers pockets.

Glossier is a beauty brand whose website is designed to be simple and mobile-friendly. Users can easily browse products, read reviews, and check out with minimal clicks. The clean layout and fast loading times make mobile shopping seamless.

Here are a few steps to make your e-commerce website mobile responsive:

Choose a Mobile-Responsive Website Builder: Use platforms like Smartbiz to create your website as they offer mobile-optimized templates.
Optimize for Touch: Ensure buttons are easy to tap, and menus are simple to navigate on small screens.
Compress Images: Reduce file sizes for faster loading times on mobile devices.
Mobile-Friendly Checkout: Implement one-click payment options like Google Pay or Apple Pay to streamline purchases.
Test Across Devices: Regularly check your site on different mobile devices to ensure it works smoothly.

Take a look at this comparison between these 2 websites

- Brand A's website is designed for mobile devices, featuring an intuitive layout, easy navigation, and quick loading times. Users can easily browse products and make purchases on the go.
- On the other hand, Brand B's website can be challenging to navigate on mobile devices, often requiring horizontal scrolling and zooming to access information, which can lead to a frustrating user experience.

3) Tailored Shopping for Every Customer

Personalized shopping experiences can increase your revenue by up to 15% according to McKinsey (Source). If you take a look at Amazon’s “Top Pick for You” section, it is a good idea to personalize the shopping experience and encourage people to buy things.

In addition to product recommendations, you can personalize email marketing by sending targeted offers or discounts based on a customer's shopping habits or cart activity. For instance, abandoned cart reminders or birthday offers with curated suggestions can help drive customer engagement and increase conversion rates.

You can use the "Bestsellers" feature available on SmartBiz website builder to enhance the personalisation of your website. This feature allows you to highlight your top-selling products prominently, making it easy for customers to discover what’s popular among their peers.

4) Adapt to the Rise of Social Commerce

The use of social ecommerce channels for shopping has grown tremendously. These channels allow businesses to sell directly through social media platforms. Every seller should consider using it as there are many people on such platforms who can be turned into buyers.

Instagram is one such platform that provides an incredible opportunity for sellers to convert casual browsers into loyal customers. Some advantages are:

Low Investment: Setting up shop on social platforms requires minimal cost.
Free Accounts: Creating a business profile is free and easy.
Direct Purchases via DMs: Customers can browse products and buy directly through private messages.

Example - Thrift stores are becoming extremely popular on Instagram. These stores sell pre-loved, vintage, and secondhand items, often at affordable prices. Sellers post pictures of available items, and customers can claim them by sending a DM to purchase. This model is quick, personal, and perfect for thrifty shoppers looking for unique finds. With the rise in eco-conscious shopping, Instagram thrift stores have become a one-stop shop for those who value sustainability and style.

5) Cybersecurity: Secure your Customers Data

Just as you would lock up a physical store after business hours, online stores too should be safe for customers. Cybersecurity is not something you can compromise with. Secure measures assure customers that their data is safe in your custody. You may consider:

SSL Encryption: Ensures secure connections between your website and customers.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adds an extra layer of security for user logins.
Regular Software Updates: Keeps systems protected from vulnerabilities.
Firewalls: Shields your network from unauthorized access.
Data Encryption: Protects sensitive data both in transit and at rest.

Ensure your ecommerce platform has the needed security certificates such as ISO 27001 Certification which demonstrates that your organization follows best practices for information security management. Also make sure that you are implementing secure payment gateways.

6) Customer Service Initiations

How can you improve your customer service? It is a never ending process. You can consider the following strategies -

Live Chat Support: Provides immediate assistance, enhancing the shopping experience.
FAQs: Addresses common concerns, saving time for both customers and support teams.
Personalized Communication: Tailors interactions based on customer preferences to build stronger relationships.
Feedback Channels: Shows that you value customer opinions and are committed to improvement.
Loyalty Programs: Encourages repeat purchases and rewards loyal customers.
Staff Training: Equips your team with product knowledge and service skills for better interactions.

Example - Here's how we at Smartbiz have a designated help center for all our customers.

Customer Service Initiations for D2C brands

By focusing on customer satisfaction, you can build trust and loyalty, which may lead to consumer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth referrals. These initiations to address your customer’s queries will keep your customers satisfied, which can ensure customer retention

Types of Ecommerce Channels- Choose Where to Begin Your Ecommerce Journey

Focusing on diverse ecommerce channels is one of the essential practices for staying competitive and relevant in the fast-paced e-commerce landscape, especially as we approach 2025. By leveraging multiple platforms, brands can improve customer engagement, boost sales, and ensure they are meeting the expectations of modern consumers.

Here are a few different types of ecommerce channels that you can look into-

Marketplaces like Amazon - Amazon has over 310 million active users worldwide. Such an ecommerce channel offers a wide range of potential customers and the convenience of starting your own business. If you want to reach millions of people without making a trip to that place, then list your business on such marketplaces.
Social Media Platforms Like Instagram or Facebook -As we discussed earlier, social commerce has gained immense popularity. Your target audience can purchase anything on Instagram stores nowadays. Fashion Nova, a popular fashion retailer, is known for its trendy clothing and active social media presence, where customers can shop directly from their posts.

With 21.6M followers on Instagram, Fashion Nova has made a name for itself in the fashion industry. You can do it too! Start today.

D2C Websites: This is where you rule. Having your own website lets you tell your story, display your products and grow a clientele without giving away a percentage of earnings to marketplaces. Smartbiz allows you to build a no-code website in minutes!

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What to Follow in the Future - On Your Marks, Get Set, 2025!

Figuring out upcoming ecommerce trends can help your online business be a success. Companies like IKEA, a multinational furniture retailer known for its modern, minimalist designs and ready-to-assemble furniture, use AR to enable customers to imagine how their furniture will look in their homes before buying it. Pretty cool, right? You can consider the checklist below

Your 2025 Checklist

Optimize for Voice Search: Shoppers will use such devices as Alexa and Google Home to search and order products.
By optimizing for voice search, e-commerce you can improve user experience, increase visibility, and boost conversion rates.

Why?
Voice SEO focuses on optimizing content for conversational queries, allowing businesses to connect with users based on their intent, such as “best pizza near me.”

Where to Optimize?
1) Website Content: Use conversational language to answer common questions.
2) FAQs Page: Create a section targeting voice search queries.
3) Local Listings: Optimize Google My Business for location-based searches.
4) Schema Markup: Implement structured data for better search engine understanding.
5) Research Voice Keywords: Identify common voice search phrases.

Environmental Awareness: More consumers are being aware of their purchases’ impact on the environment. As consumers grow more aware of their purchases' environmental impact, businesses can capitalize on this trend.

Example - Patagonia is an outdoor recreational clothing brand which uses recycled materials and promotes its "Worn Wear" program, fostering strong brand loyalty and increased sales through transparency in sustainability.

Another example is Lush Cosmetics which offers packaging-free luxurious cosmetics products and supports environmental charities, attracting a dedicated customer base appreciative of its ethical practices.

Both brands have received positive responses from customers, leading to increased loyalty and sales. Patagonia and Lush have effectively aligned their eco-friendly initiatives with their brand values, enhancing their reputation and community trust.

Here are some ideas to enhance your brand's eco-friendly practices:

1) Eco-Friendly Packaging: Use biodegradable or recyclable packaging materials.
2) Sustainable Product Lines: Feature products made from sustainable or upcycled materials.
3) Recycling Programs: Encourage customers to return used products for recycling with incentives.
4) Transparency in Sourcing: Share information about sustainable sourcing and ethical practices.
5) Carbon Offsetting: Allow customers to contribute to carbon offset initiatives at checkout.z
6) Green Delivery Options: Offer carbon-neutral delivery by partnering with eco-friendly logistics.

Free and Quick Delivery: The customers in this era of Amazon prime do not only want their goods in a timely manner, but they want them without additional charges.

To meet your customer expectations of for fast and free delivery, you brands can implement several strategies:

1) Partner with Local Couriers: You can choose to collaborate with local delivery services to cut shipping costs and improve delivery times.
2) Minimum Purchase Threshold: Offer free delivery for orders above a certain amount to encourage larger purchases.
3) In-House Fulfillment: Manage your own delivery for better control and reduced costs.
4) Optimize Inventory Locations: Store products closer to customers to minimize shipping times.
5) Leverage Technology: Use logistics software to streamline order processing and tracking.

Example- SnackCrate is a brand providing delicious snack boxes, they offer free shipping to customers that have taken their subscription boxes, enhancing customer loyalty.

Now is the best time to jump right in and start your online commerce business store. With Smartbiz by Amazon, building an attractive ecommerce website within minutes, you do even not need any coding skills. Smartbiz by Amazon ensure that your online store comprises the top features of ecommerce.

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