Web-Based Purchasing ConversionContinuing changes in the shopping habits of online consumers has resulted in good news for internet-based retailers.
US online shopping sales figures for 2014 were nearly $305 billion, with online sales growth estimates forecasting $414 billion in domestic online purchases by 2018. This is a significant percentage of the worldwide $22 Trillion online market.
These growth figures reveal increased consumer confidence in making online purchases due largely to ease of making the transaction, online shopping security as well as competitive pricing and returns policies.
2013 figures released by ShopperTrak show a dramatic impact on retail outlet purchasing, which decreased by more than 14.5 percent.
Online purchase activity is showing increases in the product lines previously associated with in store purchases. Online consumer data released by Invesp shows that with respect to their internet purchasing habits, online consumers are expanding their shopping habits to everyday use items in areas including food, groceries and pet supplies, 20%, household goods, 38%, clothing and apparel, 63% and consumer electronics, 69%.
The new generation of online consumers actively seek online product reviews on social media websites including Facebook.com, Twitter.com, blogs, Youtube.com videos, Yelp.com, Wikipedia and seller and product ratings on privately operated websites.
The popularity of cell phones as a product research tool has exploded, with Google recently reporting that nearly 50% of the traffic to its search engine originates from mobile devices. Storing online shopping website login id's and passwords on mobile devices, coupled with easy tap and slide Paypal.com and Amazon.com payments services are making online shopping a highly ubiquitous task.
Tools available to small businesses are increasing their access to online consumers and their abilities increase their revenues from online sales.
In a 2013 article, British-based Guardian news site noted that online marketplaces, such as Amazon.com, and auction sites, which include internet auction giant, eBay.com have increased in use and popularity as business selling tools. The online sites' attractiveness is attributed to their flexibility, low start up costs and an enhanced sense of control over business operations.
The largest gains are reported by those small businesses with products in niche markets. However, realizable benefits across the board for businesses are extended to nearly every online product line including vintage and hard to find merchandise, jewelry, clothing, hobby sporting and electronics goods.
Internet market estimates, supported by the changing online purchasing habits of consumers makes revenue growth by internet based sales an attractive option to today's small businesses.
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