The retail world is expanding. Since the advent of the internet, retailers have seized the opportunity to reach more consumers and get their brands in front of a larger, global audience. Social media further changed the game, making broader access and more meaningful engagement between brands and consumers possible. 

Talk now hovers around topics that, at one time, likely sounded far-flung or futuristic. Companies are moving into the metaverse, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) to help consumers have a more personalized shopping experience specifically tailored to their wants and needs. 

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, shoppers were shifting from a retail industry largely dependent upon brick-and-mortar storefronts to a heavier reliance on e-commerce and online shopping. This move to online retail has only become further solidified by a concept referred to as “shopification.” Now, consumers can purchase things from nearly every social media platform, directly from their favorite influencer’s feed, and via links from almost every corner of the internet. According to leading coupon platform CouponBirds, there has been a 234% increase in online retailers adapting their platforms to accommodate new trends driven by shopification since the pandemic began.

The Digital Commerce Revolution

In 1989, the first digital commerce site, Compumarket, came to be. Six years later, in 1995, Amazon was launched. For over 30 years, great strides have been made in bringing fast, easy, and enjoyable shopping to the masses via the internet. 

Once social media was introduced to the internet, innovators began developing ways to merge the connectivity and community of these platforms with commerce to shopify them. “Innovations in this space have driven trends such as AI and VR shopping, apps that allow for one-touch buying, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) structures, and influencer marketing,” explains CouponBirds.

In 2021, an astounding 2.14 billion people shopped online. To meet this rising trend in consumer behavior, retailers are now pulling out all the stops to tailor the e-commerce experience to their customer’s needs and wants. 

Expanding the Online Presence 

With the retail world seeing the writing on the wall — that e-commerce is here to stay and here to dominate — more businesses in the industry are wondering what they can do to prepare for future shifts in consumers’ online behavior. “The onslaught of changing trends, along with the rapid-fire way they emerge before seeming to burn out and fade away in little time, can be challenging for retailers to stay ahead of,” says CouponBirds.

Here are some ways that retailers can best enter the online retail space or expand their existing presence:

Create a Product/Service that Customers Need 

“Even with all of the advancements in shopification, the old standard in retail rings true,” CouponBirds says, “your product or service needs to be something customers will purchase.” Retailers need to offer something people want or need as they hop on to online shop. 

Create Incredible Promotions

Promotional pushes are a hallmark of shopification. For example, to many online retail customers, Amazon Prime Day is looked forward to just as much as some national holidays. Creating memorable promotions, such as a “points” system that will enable shoppers to earn free products with every purchase, allows shoppers to benefit from their purchases and keeps them returning. Retailers can also announce special sales celebrating events like Cyber Monday or Small Business Saturday — both of which have become well-known shopping days. 

Forge Strong Relationships

“The great thing about the shopification of social media is that it remains social,” says CouponBirds. “Influencers have cornered the market on this.”

Influencers have tapped into the secrets of forging solid relationships and trust with their followers, and regularly utilize this to sell them products. Retail brands can do the same, learning the same tricks and secrets to create massive success for their online stores.

What the Future Holds 

Shopification is — and will continue to be — a core component in the future of commerce. While brick-and-mortar stores will continue to exist, all signs point to more consumers using the internet to shop. The onus will be on retailers to create unique, inviting, and innovative consumer shopping experiences. This can be achieved in a number of ways:

Pay Attention to Technology Advancements 

AI, VR, and moves to the metaverse are all weaving their way into e-commerce and the shopification of social media. Keeping on top of the latest tech trends can help retailers be the first through the gate with new technology innovations.

Build a Solid Retention Strategy

With the e-commerce market so densely populated, the rise of one-time shoppers is expected. “Retailers cannot abandon the importance of marketing and customer retention when they take their commerce platforms online,” Couponbirds explains. “This is where the shopification of social media comes in: turning ordinary, everyday shoppers into loyal fans and followers of a brand.”

Customer Personalization

More and more retailers are building platforms that allow for custom shopping experiences personalized for each individual customer. Technology is allowing retailers to cater to their customers like never before, such as algorithms that can predict items a shopper may like based on what they have purchased or searched for.

Make Sure It’s Mobile Friendly

With shopification comes mobility. Stores and other retailers need to make sure that people can shop on the go, from their phones, and the minute they see something they like on Instagram or TikTok. 

Custom Payment Options

One of the best things about e-commerce is that it’s cashlessness. We are quickly turning into a completely cashless society, and people expect different payment options when they shop online. They want to be able to use credit cards, Paypal, BNPL systems, and apps to pay for their items. 

Shopification is merely the newest way of making purchases. By creating an easy, innovative, and customer-friendly e-commerce platform, retailers can take advantage of the shopification wave.