Why an e-commerce business is the best fit for the post-pandemic retail world 

Ever since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken the global retail world by storm and rewritten the rules of the game. Now businesses of all sizes are pulled into the digital sphere, trying to establish a solid online presence that reflects their brand and cater to the right audience. 

What has changed?

The biggest shift that occurred in the context of the pandemic is consumer behavior. As the world was forced to shelter in place at home, online shopping became one of the few viable options for obtaining goods and enlisting services, and a powerful tool that kept the economy running.  

Now, in the post-pandemic world, the growth of e-commerce doesn’t show sign of stopping or slowing down. If anything, it’s accelerating and reaching new highs every day. According to a report published by Insider Intelligence,  

“Following a major shift to online retail in 2020, retail ecommerce sales will continue to grow by double digits through 2023 and make up an increasing share of total retail sales worldwide. By 2023, we project worldwide retail ecommerce sales will total $6.169 trillion and make up a 22.3% share of total retail sales.”

With the increased demand for online shopping, geographical location has become less and less relevant. Local businesses are able to expand their audience significantly, achieving a wider if not national or global reach. 

Meeting new consumer expectations 

The change in consumer behavior is only one part of the story. It’s not just that people are more inclined to shop online now, they also have higher expectations when it comes to the e-commerce experience. 

In 2022, the right e-commerce platform is one that offers a seamless customer experience, from beginning to end. That means your website must be easy to navigate, your products and relevant information must be clearly classified and highlighted, and your brand identity should be reflected in the content and design of your website. 

Although the shift from physical, brick-and-mortar shopping to e-commerce has been years in the making, customers still (and probably always will) expect to find the human element when they’re accessing an online retail website.  

To satisfy that need, your e-commerce platform should pair good design with plain, accessible language that targets as many age demographics as possible. It should provide plenty of help, guidance and documentation wherever needed and offer around-the-clock customer service through chatbots or other mediums.  

An e-commerce website is the perfect stepping stone for young businesses, allowing them to reach a wider range of customers and build brand awareness fast. More established businesses may already have a strong client base and some brand recognition, but they also stand to gain a lot from having an e-commerce platform. 

If your business has an existing online presence, that doesn’t mean your work is done. Consumer research, competitor analysis, content tuning and updated keyword listings are just a few of the tasks that need to be done on a regular basis.  

Don’t fret though, a professional, experienced online marketing agency like Mejix can take care of all the hard work for you. Get in touch with us to get started on your e-commerce journey, or if you need any help along the way!  

What comes next?

For all intents and purposes, the past couple of years have been a catalyst for the digitalization of the marketplace. E-commerce is booming and it is here to stay. That means now is the perfect time to venture into the online sphere and make your e-commerce business accessible to a wider, if not global audience. 

With a robust, well-defined business plan and the help of a team of experts to guide, advise and collaborate with you every step of the way, you can use e-commerce as the ladder for long-term business success!