Online Trends To Prepare For In 2016

The first day of 2016 is here and each New Year brings fresh ideas to online businesses on how to better engage with their customers and improve sales. The good news is online sales are going to continue to grow in 2016. But is your business prepared to take on 2016 in full force? The following are a few online shopping trends to keep in mind when going into the New Year. These trends can improve your conversion rates and help your business stay competitive in 2016.

Real-time Analytics
Data is an invaluable resource that can help determine how your business is doing. However, with traditional analytics, it can take days or week to spot a trend of problem on your site. This is where real-time analytics can be a game-changer for your business in 2016. Real-time analytics gives you the ability to see in real-time what your customers are doing on your site. You can see where or when they are encountering problems or when they are leaving your site so you can offer assistance before losing a sale.

Video Marketing 
Videos are certainly nothing new but many businesses are now going the extra mile with branded, custom video content. Video marketing can boost your sites SEO, increase conversions, make your content more shareable and give your shoppers  a resource to utilize for additional information in less time. Even social channels like Facebook and Bing are already offering video advertising options. Plus, video is one of the best ways to engage with millennials and Facebook live streaming, Periscope, Snapchat, and YouTube are on the rise now more than ever.

Mobile
Mobile use has grown 76% year-over-year from 2013 to 2014. 2015 was a big year for mobile and when the final numbers are in that percentage will only increase. When it comes to marketing, businesses have to think mobile first. The number of people browsing on mobile passed desktop users a few years ago, and this is something an online business can no longer ignore.

Ad-Blockers
Ad blocking got a lot of attention in 2015. Many methods that digital marketers have traditionally utilized like pop-up as and banner ads were proven no longer effective in engaging consumers. People are no longer fans of “in your face marketing” and want more from businesses. 61% of consumers feel more strongly towards a business that delivers custom content. So, it is important to remember the relevancy of your ad and the audience it is being served to.

Content
Content Marketing seems to make the list of digital marketing trends every year and this year is no different. Relevant and engaging content creates a stronger organic reach for online businesses and is a perfect way to combat ad-blocking. 70% of marketers even plan to increase their content marking expenditure this year. Therefore, remember who your consumer is and target accordingly.

A New Year always brings changes especially in the digital world. Keep these trends in mind as we enter 2016 to give your business a better sense of how to plan for the New Year. If you are looking for ways to improve your business in 2016, BMT Micro is here to help too. We have a reliable, cost-effective solution that is flexible enough to meet your needs now and well into the future. We also have several plans for you to choose from, or we can customize our plans to suit your needs. Signing up with BMT Micro does not cost you a penny and with the numerous functions in our Vendors Area, managing your online sales has never been easier! If you have any questions or if you are interested in learning more about BMT Micro’s offerings please contact our vendor services at vendors@bmtmicro.com.