Why Responsive Website Design and Mobile Apps are Essential for Buyer Relevancy

Of course, people who purchase any product must search for it in some way. Yet today, we summon our “cash cow” almost effortlessly through simplified click-and-send schemes that have increased in speed and potential reach.

This is mainly due to the never-ending advancement of high-tech devices that are the functional equivalents of portable mega-retail outlets. You can literally shop anywhere, anytime, anywhere on planet Earth, thanks to handy smartphone apps!

Some of the purchase facilitators include, but are not limited to, the following:

• User-friendly mobile eCommerce websites

• Interaction and active qualifications in social networks

• Mobile payment systems through smartphones

These and other high-tech tools should also be the new mantra of any trading strategy. But this begs the question: What technology has your company implemented lately that meets the needs of the omniscient, digitally-enabled shopper?

For example, consumer behavior is rapidly changing with the use of mobile payments versus retail POS devices resetting expectations and replacing old habits. According to an article published by Retail Customer Experience, which cited a 2015 MasterCard study, The thrill of safety and security survey“56 percent of Americans use mobile digital payments through apps or websites or plan to try them soon.”

If your business relies on e-commerce to drive sales of any kind, it’s time to consider responsive web design, which bridges the usage gap between stationary PCs and mobile devices. And if your business doesn’t accept mobile payments, keep in mind that it’s the fastest-growing payment scheme in the next five years, according to a recent article in Forbes.

In fact, an all-too-common mistake of omission many e-commerce companies make is the strong tendency to forget that their online efforts, like all places of business, are also changing drastically. The most likely cause of such widespread and potentially fatal thinking is the intangible nature of virtual companies.

How many stores can you name that stay open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, rain, shine, sleet or snow? Except for a few big-name retail chains that can be counted on less than one hand, such establishments are non-existent. Why? Few can afford the exorbitant overhead of maintaining uninterrupted business operations.

However, that is precisely where a competitive advantage in e-commerce lies: 24/7 convenience! The reality of successful 24-hour operations is a boon to many businesses. The trick, however, is knowing what works and what doesn’t. A main culprit that never fails to sabotage all other efforts is poor website design that doesn’t facilitate a great customer experience. This is what and why Amazon is doing so well. Think about it.

Here are some basic facts about the habits of buyers.

E-commerce site visitors don’t like to spend a few minutes let alone a few seconds looking for what they want, or even what they desperately need. On the contrary, potential buyers prefer electronic platforms that are easily navigable with user-friendly designs that make it easy, or rather a click, to locate everything they are looking for.

They also don’t want to play guessing games about pricing or product specifications and features. A clear and detailed list of all that data is the ideal format. Even better, the universally appreciated side-by-side comparison allows for a quick assessment of which options best fit each prospective buyer’s unique needs and budget.

Live chat is another highly appreciated website feature among potential visiting buyers. The ability to immediately consult informed sources for answers to questions and clarification of any concerns is a valuable asset for e-commerce operators.

With many consumer products, product reviews are often the best way to drive word-of-mouth sales. Not only does this feature real customer testimonials, but it can also create positive buzz for products that can be widely shared by consumers, becoming a more global phenomenon called word of mouth. This is the best type of marketing when people say good things about your product or service.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. CEO and Chairman Doug McMillion offered strong confirmation of shopper behavior in a recent Walmart news portal quote that revealed, [Walmart’s] “plan… is: [being]… the first to offer a seamless shopping experience at scale.” He went on to state that, “However, customers buy [in stores, online, mobile, or any combination thereof]- it will be quick and easy.”

Did you get it? Give your full attention to the last two words in the quote above: “quick” and “easy.” Both terms represent the operating idea and ultimate goal of all e-vendors.

In fact, a primary goal for any wise e-marketer is to make shopping quick and easy, and that may be good enough to give you a competitive advantage, but if possible, make it a bit fun, entertaining, and educational for customers. customers. , also.

This predicted outcome is highly realistic, as vividly illustrated by a quote attributed to Wal-Mart Stores President and CEO of Global E-Commerce, Neil Ashe, “24 million consumers use the Wal-Mart app each month…and the app ranks in the top three retail apps. Ashe went on to reveal that, “[Walmart] is providing services that constantly remove friction to make shopping in our stores easier and more convenient.”

If I had to reduce this article to a sentence, here it is: digital is the new normal. I leave you with this thought to ponder. Is your marketing stuck in “analog mode” as your customers increasingly use digital tools to search and find what they need?