E-Retail Online Sales Increase
The industry body for global e-retailing has produced their latest report which reveals that ecommerce spending continues to increase. The IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index figure shows that there has been a 13% increase in online consumer spending in February 2010 compared to February 2009. To put this into actual figures, it is estimated that £4.1 billion was spent online this February, compared to the previous year.
Ecommerce website owners should continue to market their website and their products to tap into the increasing market. Although the actual numbers of online shoppers is increasing, it is also reported that they are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their shopping habits. Some consumers go straight to a particular website to make a purchase, whereas other shoppers will use increasingly complex search engine queries to find the best products at the best prices.
What does this mean for ecommerce site owners? I would suggest that website owners continue to look for new and emerging methods of promoting their online stores. Some methods have been around for a few years now, but here are some to provide food for thought:
- Google Base – upload your products so they are searchable in Google product listings
- Twitter – Increasingly useful to connect to your target market, and also indirectly advertise your products
- Search marketing / SEO – Continue to analyse your search marketing strategy to make sure your site isn’t slipping. Search marketing and optimisation should ideally be part of an ongoing campaign to ensure you maximise your exposure.
- Facebook / Linked In / My Space etc.. – depends on your target market as to what may be relevant.
Written by Chris Pangburn.
