Are you wondering how to succeed in PPC advertising? Would you like to gain a greater share of the global ecommerce growth we’re seeing in 2018? Would you like to increase the amount of sales made on your website via smartphone?

If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Park Slope Softworks, we’re watching the 2018 ecommerce trends and helping our clients to ride this amazing wave.

Let’s take a look at some of the year’s most important ecommerce trends for 2018 and how you can harness them to fuel growth in your business.

Better Videos

Over the past few years we’ve seen a significant uptick in the usage of videos on ecommerce sites. Some retailers use them to show how their products are used. Others show off product features or include a 360-degree image of a model wearing a product. What we’re seeing in 2018 is that the quality of these videos is improving substantially. Better cameras and video editing software are making it possible for businesses to produce and publish high-quality videos without breaking the bank.

Social Shopping

The highly visual social media platforms –particularly Instagram and Pinterest–are becoming shopping meccas in new and important ways. On Instagram, for instance, programs are being tested that would allow shoppers to click on a particular area of an image that brings up a modal window, allowing them to purchase the product right then and there. With this kind of functionality, shoppers never even have to leave their social feed while they shop. This kind of integration can lead to significant sales for your business.

Animation

More and more animation tools are being created all the time, allowing marketers to create animations that used to be very expensive. Animation makes the online shopping experience seem more alive and interesting, and more ecommerce sites are using it in 2018. Some sites are adding interesting features like animated iconography when a product is almost sold out. Think about how animation could improve your shoppers’ online experiences.

Automation

Are you ready to scale your ecommerce business in 2018? Then you’ll be pleased to hear that automation has arrived to save the day. Many ecommerce tasks can be automated now, and this will save you time that you can spend on growing your business in other ways. Check out automation tools such as automated email marketing, virtual assistants, and targeted social ad campaigns on Instagram and Twitter.

Voice Search

With Google Assistant and Alexa becoming more commonplace, voice searches are entering the real of ecommerce in 2018. In fact, for many shoppers, voice purchasing is already here. Some studies have shown that over 40 percent of millennials have used voice search to buy something online, and this trend will certainly increase. As you explore voice search for ecommerce, take time to study your target audience, their social media channels, and the language they use when they talk about the kinds of products and services you offer.

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

More and more online retailers are accepting cryptocurrencies in 2018. Etsy, Microsoft, and Shopify are already accepting Bitcoin, and some experts think this is a very smart move. For one, cryptocurrencies offer virtually zero risk of payment fraud; by accepting these currencies you will be able to take advantage of advanced transactional security.

Blockchain, which is the peer-to-peer encryption technology that underlies cryptocurrencies, is not catching on quite as quickly in the ecommerce world, but there are some huge retailers experimenting with Blockchain. Alibaba, for instance, is using Blockchain to reduce the amount of counterfeit products sold on their site. Look for more innovative ways to use cryptocurrencies and Blockchain in 2018 and beyond.

Are you ready to take advantage of the game-changing ecommerce trends for 2018? Get in touch with us at Park Slope Softworks for a free SEO analysis and to talk about what you can do to improve your ecommerce and content marketing this year. There have never been more exciting tools and strategies at your disposal. We look forward to talking with you soon.