The future of online shopping is changing rapidly! Sometimes it is hard to keep up with the most recent trends to know where to focus and get the most out of your efforts. Here are a few online shopping trends to watch for and how retailers are adapting to the future of online shopping.

Amazon.com became the standard for Internet retailers and other companies have been forced to adapt and offer benefits like free shipping, generous return policies, extensive product selection and customer reviews in order to stay relevant. Now larger companies realize the need to implement services like in store pickup, curbside service, home delivery, and drive through pickup. The choices offered to consumers continue to expand online, and people know that they can easily find the products they need online and shop for the best deals from the comfort of their own home.

Mobile apps are still abundant, making providing information to shoppers easier than ever. Consumers can find price comparisons, reviews and coupons any time they want. The focus has shifted from flashy modern apps to functionality and easy to use services. Consumers still appreciate an honest customer review over high tech virtual shopping apps in some cases.

Social networking isn’t going anywhere either. Facebook and Twitter are still the top players for companies to increase their likes or followers. Companies are constantly competing for attention and we will continue to see smaller companies reach out into their social networks, taking advantage of ads and the growing power of social media.

Savvy customers know the power at their fingertips. Shopping online allows you to compare products all over the world, across different retailers and sources. Deal aggregators take advantage of this aspect by offering the specific coupons and deals for which customers are looking. Everything has been streamlined and simplified to beat the competition.

Thankfully, the increase in competition online will cause consumers to see improvements at the in-store level. As online shopping grows, brick and mortar stores will be forced to create a better shopping experience, including a more knowledgeable staff, hard to find products and competitive prices.

“On one thing all our experts agreed. There will be more choices for consumers. More things to buy, more ways to compare products and prices, and more methods to evaluate goods” (Forbes, 2011). All of these changes lead to more choices for consumers and an increasingly difficult time getting noticed. If you are wondering how to make your company stand out, contact us. We can help!