What are the hottest e-Commerce trends for 2022?
If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you’re probably always looking for new ways to stay ahead of your competition.
Below are four e-commerce trends that are certain to skyrocket in the coming years.
The Evolution of eCommerce
Online shopping today is easier than ever — purchases can be made with just a few taps on a smartphone.
While eCommerce was already growing before 2020, the pandemic pushed businesses to rethink their strategies, invest in digital transformation, and strengthen their online presence.
In 2021, online shopping surged as consumers shifted their spending habits to online platforms. This trend is expected to continue in 2022, with online sales projected to exceed $5.02 trillion in the U.S. alone.
Physical stores are not disappearing — in fact, they are adapting. Consumers have changed their buying habits and are seeking a balance between in-store and at-home shopping experiences.
It’s crucial for businesses to stay up to date with the latest eCommerce trends, as the field is constantly evolving.
Imagine scrolling through Instagram, catching up on your feed, when suddenly a sponsored post from a well-known clothing brand appears – a model is wearing a shirt that’s just your style.
Luckily, the post includes a “View Products” button. Clicking it takes you directly to the product page, where you can view all the details – price, size options, and an instant Buy Now feature. Within seconds, you’ve made a purchase without ever leaving the app.
That seamless experience? It’s called social commerce – the fusion of social media and online shopping.
Let’s take a look at the types of online shopping trends that are expected to dominate from now on.
eCommerce Trends for 2022
Social Commerce – Shopping via Social Media Platforms
Social commerce is a form of eCommerce that allows businesses to sell directly through social media platforms.
Augmented Reality (AR) Commerce – Shopping through AR Technology
Augmented Reality (AR) commerce uses 3D mapping technologies to help customers preview or try products before completing their purchase, enhancing confidence and user experience.
Read more here.
Conversational Commerce – Shopping via Chatbots
Most users now communicate through messaging apps, and this is exactly where conversational commerce fits in. For businesses, it’s an effective way to engage customers directly and build stronger, more personalized relationships.
Livestream Shopping – Selling via Live Broadcasts
Livestream shopping combines social commerce with live streaming. Unlike traditional online shopping, it offers real-time interaction between the host and the audience, creating a more engaging and authentic buying experience.
eCommerce on Social Media – Platforms & Features
Many platforms have developed and now offer tools and solutions for businesses engaging in social e-commerce. Let’s take a look at which social media platforms provide the most advanced tools for social commerce, and how they work.
Facebook was the first platform to introduce tools for social commerce and still remains a strong first choice (mainly because you need a Facebook Shop to set up an Instagram Shop).
Here’s what Facebook offers:
- You can customize your shop according to your needs. Choose which collections or products you want to showcase, and adjust descriptions, images, and colors to match your brand. You can import your catalog from your website or create it from scratch.
- When it’s time for communication, you can allow customers to check out directly within the app, start a Messenger chat with your business, or be redirected to your website.
- There’s an On-Page Shop feature that lets users browse and purchase directly from your page.
- Your Product Catalog can sync with Ads Manager to create Dynamic Ads.
- You can tag products in both posts and videos.
- New to the platform? You can create a test Facebook Shop to learn how to manage orders, add products, and adjust settings.
- Facebook also offers Live Video Shopping, allowing you to make real-time sales during live broadcasts.
💡 60% of users discover new products on Instagram, which means your products should be among them.
ΥHowever, there’s one prerequisite: you need to set up a Facebook Shop first.
Your Instagram Shop will pull data directly from your Facebook product catalog.
Instagram’s Shopping Tags allow businesses to tag their products in Stories and Posts. U.S.-based brands also have the option to highlight products in captions and bios.
Here’s what Instagram offers:
- An in-app Shop with dedicated product pages that expand to display all details and allow direct checkout. The Insta Shop is accessible via an icon in the main menu of your profile page.
- The ability to tag products in posts, Reels, and sometimes captions. Small shopping-bag icons can be added to content to show that an item is available for purchase directly from the app.
- Shoppable Stickers in Stories, which help increase reach and engagement.
📢 Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, has stated that social commerce is one of the platform’s top priorities for the coming years.
Instagram also features a dedicated Shop tab, where users can explore products from various stores, browse algorithmically recommended items, search for specific products, or discover entire product categories.
TikTok
TikTok Shopping is another social commerce option that enables creators to promote and sell products directly through the platform.
This feature is relatively new and currently available only to selected Shopify merchants in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, with plans to expand to more countries soon.
Through TikTok Shopping, businesses and creators can add a shopping tab to their profiles. The page syncs product data from the Shopify catalog, allowing users to browse, view items without leaving the app, and easily proceed to checkout on the creator’s website.
TikTok Shopping capitalizes on the viral trend “TikTok made me buy it”, targeting an audience already primed to purchase trending products.
While Facebook and Instagram dominate social commerce, don’t overlook Pinterest; it’s a discovery-driven platform that goes beyond simple transactions.
Pinterest users visit the platform for inspiration to find the perfect product, image, or idea, even before knowing exactly what they want.
Studies show Pinterest users are 7x more likely to be influenced to make a purchase compared to users on other social media platforms. In fact, 83% of users have bought something after discovering it on Pinterest.
For small businesses offering eco-friendly or sustainable products, Pinterest is an ideal match, as searches for “zero waste products”, “eco-friendly living”, and “support small business” have surged by 93%, 108%, and 351% respectively.
If you already run an eCommerce business, integrating Pinterest is simple. Using Pinterest catalogs, you can upload your product feed and instantly create shoppable pins that can significantly boost sales directly through social media.
eCommerce on Social Media – Tips & Tricks
1. Affordable Products Sell Faster
If your business offers luxury or high-end items, you might not see the same performance on social media as brands with lower-priced products.
If you have a range of products at different price points, promote the more affordable ones through ads. This lets you collect emails from customers after their first purchase and later target them with higher-priced items, especially if they’re satisfied with their initial experience.
2. Integrate Social Shopping into Your eCommerce
Find a way to connect your eCommerce platform with your social commerce channels.
Data synchronization between platforms has never been easier – 51% of marketers already do it, so why not you?
Ensure that any updates or changes in your product catalog automatically reflect across all platforms where your brand is active.
3. Engage with Your Followers
To build a memorable social commerce experience, remember the “social” part. Don’t just showcase your products, build relationships.
Answer questions, provide value-driven content, and show that there are real people behind your brand. Use chatbots to help users move smoothly through their shopping journey without friction.
Above all, be authentic and let your brand’s personality shine through!
4. Listen… Strategically
You’re surrounded by potential buyers all day; make the most of it!
Monitor comments, likes, shares, and every form of interaction. Reply quickly, ask questions, and understand your audience. Social media also allows you to “listen” to your competitors’ audiences, even to your competitors themselves.
5. Ask for Reviews
Το 93% των αγοραστών μέσω internet λένε ότι μία κριτική μπορεί να καθορίσει την απόφασή τους. Αν έχεις ένα προϊόν και οι καταναλωτές είναι ευχαριστημένοι με αυτό, βοήθησε τους να το δείξουν και σε άλλους.
- Χρησιμοποίησε ένα αυτοματοποιημένο email μετά από τις αγορές τους που θα τους ζητάει να γράψουν μία κριτική για το προϊόν.
- Βάλε μία ευχαριστήρια κάρτα μέσα στο προϊόν και ζήτα τους να μοιραστούν την εμπειρία τους. Αν τους δώσεις και ένα κίνητρο (πχ. 3 κριτικές/μήνα να κερδίζουν δωροεπιταγή), τότε αυξάνεις ακόμα περισσότερο τις πιθανότητες να γράψουν κριτική!
- Παρότρυνέ τους μέσα από κάποιο διαγωνισμό, ώστε να μοιραστούν την εμπειρία τους.
Μόλις αρχίσεις να έχεις κάποιες θετικές κριτικές μοίρασε τες στο κοινό σου στα social media με όμορφο και δημιουργικό τρόπο.
93% of online shoppers say reviews influence their purchasing decisions.
If customers are happy with your product, help them spread the word!
- Send an automated follow-up email asking them to leave a review.
- Include a thank-you card inside the package, encouraging them to share their experience (consider adding an incentive like a discount or gift card).
- Run contests that invite users to post about their experience.
Once you start getting positive reviews, share them creatively on social media.
You can:
- Repost user-generated content featuring your product.
- Go live with happy customers.
- Create a carousel of positive comments.
There are countless ways to do it, and none should feel like bragging.
Strategies for Social Shopping
There are plenty of creative and effective ways to promote your products through social shopping:
- Let your audience participate in decisions about production, packaging, or even product selection through polls; people love to feel involved!
- Use eye-catching visuals that grab attention instantly.
- Create videos showing how your product can be used in real life.
- Share photos from your customers, along with their comments or reviews this is called UGC (User Generated Content).
- Collaborate with brand ambassadors to boost visibility and sales.
- Offer small bonuses to those who share your products on their feed, but be careful! You don’t want people posting just for the reward (#giveawayhunters).
Trends in eCommerce evolve constantly. Keep monitoring them and leverage technology to create a smoother and more personalized shopping experience.
Tο Social commerce, το AR, το livestream shopping και το το conversational commerce είναι όλα ecommerce trend που ωφελούν τόσο τους πελάτες, όσο και τις επιχειρήσεις.
Hi, I’m Sophia, and I want to personally thank you for reading my article! I’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, or ideas. Feel free to share them with me.
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