Maximizing your online Sales with Mobile Ecommerce: Strategies and Tips

In today’s digital age, mobile ecommerce is becoming increasingly important for businesses looking to grow their online sales. With more and more consumers using their mobile devices (smartphones to be exact) to browse and make purchases, it’s crucial for companies to optimize their mobile ecommerce presence in order to stay competitive. The purpose of this blog is to provide strategies and tips for maximizing online sales through mobile ecommerce. By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities presented by mobile ecommerce, businesses can take advantage of this growing market and drive more sales and revenue.

Understanding Mobile Ecommerce

Mobile ecommerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and services through mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. We can even call this eCommerce App Development. This can include anything from browsing products to making a purchase, and can be done through a mobile-optimized website or a mobile app. Mobile ecommerce is different from traditional ecommerce in that it is specifically designed for the smaller screens and touch-based inputs of mobile devices. This means that businesses need to take a mobile-first approach when designing and developing their online store, and ensure that it is mobile-responsive, meaning that the layout and design of the website adapts to the screen size of the device being used.

Traditional ecommerce vs Mobile commerce

Traditional e-commerce involves buying and selling goods and services online, via desktop computers or laptops. It is the most common type of e-commerce and accounts for the majority of online sales. In the United States alone, online retail sales accounted for 14.8% of total retail sales in 2022. Most traditional e-commerce sales are done via desktop computers (77%) and laptops (19%).

Mobile commerce is buying and selling goods and services through mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. It is more convenient than traditional e-commerce as it allows customers to shop anytime, anywhere. According to Statista, mobile commerce accounted for 33.5% of total global e-commerce sales in 2019. Most mobile commerce sales are done via smartphones (68%) and tablets (30%).

Which one is better? 

It depends on the specific context and business needs. Both traditional ecommerce and mobile commerce have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Traditional ecommerce allows for a larger screen size and more detailed product information, which can be beneficial for businesses that sell complex or high-end products. It also allows for a more immersive browsing experience, with larger images and more detailed product descriptions.

On the other hand, the convenience of being able to shop on-the-go, as well as the widespread use of mobile devices, make mobile commerce an attractive option for businesses looking to reach a wider audience. Additionally, mobile devices are equipped with features such as GPS and cameras, which can be leveraged in unique ways by businesses such as location-based promotions and QR code scanning.

To sum it up, traditional ecommerce is better suited for businesses with a more complex product offering and a desire for a more immersive browsing experience, while mobile commerce is better suited for businesses looking to reach a wider audience and take advantage of the unique capabilities of mobile devices. Some companies may also choose to have both options available to them, having both a traditional ecommerce website and a mobile-optimized one.

Top 4 Tips for optimizing your mobile ecommerce for sales and conversions

Tip 1# Optimize User Experience

When it comes to mobile e-commerce, user experience is key. Consumers expect a seamless and efficient shopping experience on mobile, and businesses that can deliver this will see the most success. One way to optimize the user experience is to improve navigation and usability on mobile devices. This means making sure that products can be easily found and that the checkout process is as simple and straightforward as possible. Clear and high-quality ecom product photography is also important, as they allow consumers to get a better sense of what they’re buying. Additionally, businesses should look for ways to reduce friction in the checkout process, such as by offering guest checkout or storing payment information for repeat customers.

Tips for improving navigation and usability on mobile devices

1. Keep it simple: Mobile screens are smaller than desktop screens, so it’s important to keep the layout and navigation simple. This means using a minimalistic design with clear and easy-to-read text, and limiting the number of menu items to the essentials.
2. Use large buttons: On mobile devices, buttons and links need to be large enough for users to tap easily with their fingers. Make sure that buttons and links are at least 44×44 pixels in size to ensure easy tap-ability!
3. Optimize for thumb reach: When designing for mobile, keep in mind that most users hold their device in one hand and use their thumb to navigate. This means that important elements, such as the main navigation menu, should be placed within easy reach of the thumb.
4. Make use of gestures: Gestures, such as swipe and pinch-to-zoom, are commonly used on mobile devices and can make navigation more intuitive. Consider incorporating these gestures into your design to improve usability.
5. Use responsive design: A responsive design automatically adapts to the screen size of the device being used, ensuring that the layout and navigation are optimized for mobile. This helps to improve the overall user experience and can increase conversions.
6. Test on different devices: Always test your mobile design on a variety of devices to ensure that it looks and works well on different screen sizes and resolutions.
7. Use clear calls to action: Make sure that it is clear what action you want the user to take, whether it be to purchase a product, sign up for a newsletter or contact you. Use clear and contrasting colors for buttons and calls to action to make them stand out.

Tip #2 Reduce friction in the checkout process

Sometimes the checkout process is confusing resulting in high bounce rate. Every e-store owner should also check if the check-out page is perfect from UI perspective on different devices and browsers. Here are a few pointers that you can use to optimize your checkout. 

1. Offer a variety of payment options: Make sure to offer a variety of payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more. This will help customers find a payment method that is convenient for them. 

2. Streamline checkout forms: Streamline the checkout form by only asking for the essential information. If you need additional information, such as billing address, make sure it is easy to find and fill out. 

3. Offer guest checkout: Allow customers to check out as a guest, without having to create an account. This will make the checkout process quicker and easier. 

4. Use one-click checkout: One-click checkout makes it easier for customers to complete their purchase quickly and without hassle. This can be especially helpful for mobile users. 

5. Offer discounts and promotions: Offering discounts and promotions is an effective way to reduce friction in the checkout process. Customers are more likely to complete their purchase if they feel they are getting a good deal. 

6. Provide progress indicators: Provide progress indicators so customers know how far along they are in the checkout process. This will help them stay on track and make sure they don’t miss any steps. 

7. Offer clear payment and shipping information: Make sure to provide clear payment and shipping information. This will help customers understand what they are paying for and when they can expect their order to arrive.

Role of Marketing and Advertising in the success of an e-store

Marketing and advertising are essential for driving sales in any ecommerce business, and mobile ecommerce is no exception. To maximize sales, businesses should focus on mobile-specific marketing campaigns that take advantage of the unique features and capabilities of mobile devices. Social media and influencer marketing are particularly effective for reaching mobile audiences, as they allow businesses to connect with consumers where they’re already spending a lot of their time. Additionally, push notifications and email marketing can be used to reach consumers directly on their mobile devices and remind them of products they’ve shown interest in.

Tip #3 Run mobile-specific marketing campaigns

Create campaigns specific to mobile only. Offer a reward or a discount for signing up through a particular device. Here are a few mobile campaign ideas you can experiment with:

1. Mobile-only discounts: Offer exclusive discounts for customers who shop on their mobile devices. This will encourage customers to use their mobile devices for shopping.

2. Location-based ads: Use location-based ads to target customers who are near your store. This will help you reach potential customers who may be interested in your products.

3. Push notifications: Send push notifications to remind customers about sales and promotions. This can be a great way to keep customers engaged with your business.

4. Mobile-friendly emails: Make sure your emails are optimized for mobile devices, so customers can easily open and read them on their phones.

5. Mobile-friendly website: Optimize your website for mobile devices, so customers can easily navigate and find the products they are looking for.

6. App-only deals: Offer exclusive deals to customers who download and use your app. This can be a great way to encourage customers to download and use your app.

Tip #4: Track and analyze key metrics

To truly maximize online sales through mobile ecommerce, businesses need to be constantly analyzing and improving their performance. This means tracking key metrics such as website traffic, conversion rates, and customer lifetime value. By understanding how these metrics are performing, businesses can identify areas where they need to improve and make changes accordingly. Techniques such as A/B testing and multivariate testing can be used to optimize different elements of the mobile ecommerce experience, such as product page layouts and checkout processes. Additionally, there are a wide range of tools and technologies available that can help businesses improve their mobile ecommerce performance, such as analytics and optimization platforms. Here are a few metrics that you should definitely track:

1. Conversion rate: Track the number of customers who complete a purchase after visiting your site on their mobile devices. This will help you understand how successful your mobile commerce efforts are.

2. Average order value: Track the average amount customers spend when they purchase from your mobile site. This will help you understand how much customers are willing to spend on mobile purchases.

3. Mobile bounce rate: Track the percentage of visitors who leave your mobile site without taking any action. This will help you identify problem areas on your mobile site.

4. Mobile traffic sources: Track the sources of your mobile traffic, such as organic search, paid search, referral, and social media. This will help you understand which sources are driving the most traffic to your mobile site.

5. Mobile device type: Track the types of devices customers are using to access your mobile site. This will help you understand which devices are the most popular.

6. Mobile usage trends: Track the time of day, day of the week, and month of the year when customers are most likely to access your mobile site. This will help you understand when to focus your efforts on mobile.

To track these metrics, businesses can use Google Analytics or other analytics platforms to gain insights into how their mobile commerce efforts are performing.

Conclusion

Mobile ecommerce development is becoming an increasingly important part of the online sales landscape, and businesses that can optimize their mobile presence will see the most success. By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities presented by mobile ecommerce, businesses can develop effective strategies for driving sales and revenue. By focusing on user experience, marketing and advertising, performance tracking and optimization, businesses can improve their mobile ecommerce and maximize their online sales. To continue learning about mobile ecommerce, there are many resources such as blogs, podcasts, and online courses that can help businesses stay ahead of the curve and stay competitive.