The rise of e-commerce has changed how people shop and get information. Your online business may have taken a hit if you’re a retailer because many people prefer to shop online. It’s not just about convenience either. Plenty of other factors can influence whether someone shops online more than in-store, too.
Here are some top reasons people shop online more than in-store:
- You can search for products using specific keywords. That makes it easier to find what you want when you want.
- You don’t have to go through all the different categories if you’re not specifically searching for something from those categories.
- You don’t need to spend time browsing through items that aren’t relevant to what you want to buy.
- Browse new products and outfits faster and find things you like faster. There’s no need to drive to multiple stores for a big selection.
- If an item costs less than what it would cost in-store, it becomes easier for customers to buy online more often than in-store.
Even if you live far away from a store, websites usually allow you to zoom in on an image so that it looks clearer from a distance rather than making customers drive all over town just to find out what they’re really looking at and if they want it or not before committing money and time towards buying it instead.
What Are People’s Shopping Habits?
The rise of e-commerce has changed how people shop and get information, especially millennials and younger generations that were born into the Internet era. In fact, the 25-34 age group makes up an oversized 20.2% of all online sales according to Sociallyin. While this demographic shift may be great for online retailers, it’s definitely a cause for concern to others.
Your offline business may have taken a hit if you’re a retailer because many people prefer to shop online these days. It’s not just about convenience either. Plenty of other factors can influence whether someone shops online more than in-store, too.
Here are some of the top reasons why people shop online more than in-store:
People can access products from any country or state worldwide. When shopping offline, customers need to go to stores nearby for different brands and items they’re searching for. When shopping online, customers can search for products using specific keywords, so they don’t need to go through all the different categories if they aren’t specifically searching for something from those categories. They don’t need to spend time browsing through items that aren’t relevant to what they want to buy.
Shoppers can browse new products and outfits faster and find things they like faster. If an item costs less than what it would cost in-store, it becomes easier for customers to buy online more often than in-store.
Search for Reviews Before Buying
Shopping online has become more convenient and efficient for many people but has become more dangerous. If you’re not careful, you could buy something that doesn’t work the way it should. To avoid this, search for reviews of a product before buying it. You can get an idea of what other customers think about the product so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not to purchase it.
Pay with a Credit Card
One of the biggest reasons people may choose to shop online more than in-store is because they can use their credit card to buy what they want and then save it later. They don’t have to worry about carrying cash or waiting to pay until they get home just in case sales are going on at the store.
Save Money Through Coupons and Promotions
Online shopping allows customers to save money as well. Retailers can offer discounts and coupons through advertising campaigns encouraging people to shop online more often. You can spend less on your marketing because you’re targeting people who will buy through the website anyway, so it’s a win-win situation. Promotions and coupons also help push up conversions. Customers will want to purchase more products when they see the discount they would otherwise not be able to get if they bought in-store, so the impact of promotions is enormous!
Finally, retailers can use seasonal promotions and sales, which help generate brand awareness. When times are tough, like during a recession or right before a holiday season, it’s hard for retailers to get customers into their stores. Still, online promotions make it easier for them to generate exposure for their business during these times when people have less disposable income available and need an affordable way to shop.
More Convenient Ways to Shop Online
Another reason why people prefer to shop online is they have more convenient ways to search for and buy products. If you’re looking for a new pair of shoes, you can use your browser to find the right size quickly, and if you still need more information, you can use videos on the website to see the shoe in person before buying it.
When searching for items, consumers like being able to look for an item using a specific keyword so that they don’t have to browse through all different categories. This way, they can easily find what they want.
Don’t Forget About in-Store Shoppers!
It’s important to remember that in-store shoppers still exist, too. Just because people are shopping online more doesn’t mean they don’t still visit your store. Many people still want to shop in person. They may want to touch and feel something before buying it or be interested in trying out items on the spot just to ensure they like them.
Bottom Line
To grow your business, you need to invest in e-commerce. With digital marketing, you can reach the ideal audience and persuade customers to buy from you without driving all over town. And with tools like keyword searches and online zoom functions, it’s easier than ever for customers to find what they’re looking for without spending too much time browsing through items that aren’t relevant to them. The rise of e-commerce has changed how people shop and get information. Your offline business may have taken a hit if you’re a retailer because many people prefer to shop online. It’s not just about convenience either. Plenty of other factors can influence whether someone shops online more than in-store, too.