By the end of 2019, the total value of e-commerce retail sales will reach 43.4 trillion! In the highly competitive e-commerce sector. One day you are, and one day you are out. Online businesses need to constantly be aware of the ways in which their brand and products are placed in the eyes of their customers.

One of the best ways to do this is to stay alert and accelerate with e-commerce trends. However, there is always the risk of trying out the newest illusions.

Finally, when experimenting with trends, you need to make sure that any changes you make are always good for your customers.

With that said, there are some important e-commerce trends that every online entrepreneur should know (and think of taking advantage of).

Let’s talk about six big ones.

1. Google is Becoming an Online Marketplace

If your brand is not popular, most of your customers are likely to come to your website through organic or paid searches for the products your store offers. So, to get your products in front of more customers, you need to optimize for Google Shopping. This is a very powerful sales channel — and can be an incredible SEO hack for online stores.

Integrating your e-commerce platform with Google Shopping creates a PLA (Product Listing Ad) that automatically tops SERPs in the Shopping tab when a customer searches for a product that matches your store. This is exciting news for e-commerce stores that sell niche products.

In fact, a recent case study found that Google shopping helps increase conversions by over 17%.

The setup process is very simple. If you need to go to the Google Merchant Center to sign up and meet your online store advertising needs, you can start advertising through this lucrative channel.

2. Customers are Shopping Through Social Media

Social media is so much more than favorites, shares and cute dog photos these days. Most social channels become their own mini search engines — and 55% of online shoppers buy a product directly through the brand’s social post.

With built-in embedded links these days it is easy for most platforms to sell directly to e-commerce stores through their social pages. This means that when customers can click on specific products in a post and lead directly to the product page, it is much easier to increase impulse buying through online advertising.

3. AR and VR are Becoming More Commonplace

One of the greatest challenges that online stores always face is that their customers don’t see the product before they buy it. This makes it difficult to sell items like clothing, furniture, and other accessories that people want to preview before buying.

AR and VR are helping to solve this problem by allowing customers to actually try products without physically touching them. Companies like Warby Parker have launched an app that uses AR, so customers can try on different glasses before ordering.

Amazon and Ikea also use similar technology, so shoppers can test what pieces of furniture look like in their own homes.

E-commerce stores should consider ways in which technology can revolutionize the customer experience, and consider investing in these digital systems.

4. Customizable Products are a Big Hit

Personalization is going to go to the next level with products that are entirely customized for the individual. Many online stores are taking advantage of interactive content — like quizzes and surveys — to build entirely customized products that cater to each individual’s needs or preferences.

One area where this trend is specifically prevalent is in health and wellness. Stores like Curology and Gainful create totally customized product lines based on the individual’s health needs and goals, while brands like Native use an interactive quiz to create a custom scent profile that people can buy as a deodorant or body wash.

5. Flexible Payment Options for Big Purchases

If your store’s products are on the most expensive side, it can be difficult for new customers to consider making that purchase as a risky investment. An e-commerce trend that helps counter this is offering flexible payment options through systems such as Afterpay, Final and Affirm.

These services automatically break large purchases into smaller equal payments over a period of several months — making it a little easier to swallow large purchases. In fact, retailers offering aftermarket rates can increase conversion rates anywhere between 20% and 30%.

6. Companies and Consumers are Becoming More Environmentally Mindful

Caring about the earth isn’t just for tree huggers or Millennials anymore. Most consumers these days are far more conscious about their environmental impact, and they want to support businesses that are doing their best to reduce carbon footprints.

87% of consumers agreed that they would be more likely to buy a product from a brand that offered a social or environmental benefit — giving companies yet another reason to go green.

Many e-commerce brands are doing their best to reduce shipping waste by using recycled or biodegradable materials — such as packing peanuts that dissolve in water. Some businesses are getting super creative here — such as Banish Skin Care which sends products wrapped in branded socks (rather than bubble wrap) to reduce waste.

Conclusion

Although trends inherently come and go, it is important that e-commerce businesses pay attention to ones that are having significant impacts on the customer experience and conversions. While these trends may change and evolve in time, many online stores are seeing incredible returns by capitalizing on them.