Original Article by TechSling Weblog:

Looking at modern businesses today, we can certainly notice how much all of them focus on using Mobile apps. Even though, when someone mentions a mobile app, the first things most people will think about are the gaming and entertainment industries. The fact is that nowadays you can find apps for pretty much anything that comes to mind. You can find ones that are used to operate particular gadgets, educational apps, as well as those made for social networking.

Therefore, it is hardly a surprise to realize how much mobile has had an effect on eCommerce as well. Just like everything else they do, new generations prefer to browse the internet on their mobile phones and look for the things that they want to purchase in the most convenient way. This has brought forth a rise in mobile-friendly websites, and certainly Mobile Apps for that use as well.

So, let’s take a closer look at how mobile users are reshaping the eCommerce industry in a big way.

Today’s buyers are largely made up of millennials

When you take a good look at your audience, you will realize that it is more and more made out of young people who prefer using mobile devices for the whole process of purchasing what they need. They all like having a convenient way to do some research on the products that they are interested in, compare features and prices, and contact sellers in order to complete their purchases and be fully satisfied.

It’s pretty simple – you need to adapt to the fact that the world has embraced the future that was once merely a dream. People will purchase items on Amazon and expect fast deliveries, or call an Uber to pick them up and take them to their destination. The very same convenience is expected from a more professional purchase from a business such as your own.

That is why website optimization and app creation with users with such a mindset (as well as different kinds of mobile devices) is crucial. It is also important to find the right eCommerce marketplace, which means looking for the right kind of platform that will enable you to be what the customers expect you to be.

Mobile apps and eCommerce

As we have previously ascertained, mobile apps have become a huge trend in almost every field, including eCommerce. Such businesses are making their own apps and getting a huge boost because of it. Next to the aforementioned convenience of being able to purchase items via apps just by lying in bed and browsing the shop’s inventory on your phone, there is also the fact that businesses make the smart move of offering a variety of promotions and cheaper deals that make using a mobile app to buy a product cheaper and simpler than going to the actual store.

Furthermore, you need to be aware that, according to research, about 66% of all sales are made via mobile devices. And the majority of these purchases was made via mobile retail apps rather than mobile websites. Unlike in the past, when making mobile apps was hard, today it’s a lot simpler and more cost-effective. This means that eCommerce and mobile apps make the perfect match.

What is very intriguing is the fact that mobile apps have actually pushed small businesses towards being on the same scale as larger companies. This, in fact, even includes the current industry leaders. Therefore, by creating an amazing mobile app, you have the chance to have an equal footing in the eCommerce industry and get to great lengths just like everyone else. If you provide your users with a great experience, they will certainly become your loyal customers who will come back for more.

Mobile websites and Google

Of course, the fact that mobile apps have become so popular, it doesn’t mean that you should ignore your website and its search engine optimization. In fact, Google has introduced its mobile-first index, which means that your websites simply must be configured for mobile devices. In other words, Google will determine the ranking of your site according to its mobile version.

You have the opportunity of opting for one of three possible solutions: responsive design, separate URLs, and dynamic serving. Responsive design is generally most recommended and has the greatest advantage, due to its HTML code being the same no matter what device a person is using. So, when it comes to indexing, you won’t have to worry much about this choice. Still, every website must follow certain mobile-indexing practices in terms of both versions of your website:

• All text, images (including their alt attributes), and videos need to be equivalent.
• You must make sure that Smartphone Googlebot can view your pages
• Your data must be structured.
• Canonical tags have to be correct, and you have to include the same title tags, meta description, as well as other metadata.

Mobile usability is crucial. People now expect not only top-notch experiences in terms of features and design, but also factors such as speed, navigation, legibility, proper positioning of items that they can click on, button size, simple and intuitive contact forms, and so on.

It is undeniable that we are living in the era of mobile devices. This has a huge effect on every industry, including eCommerce, which has to keep in mind its user base’s expectations, needs, and convenience. The fact is that mobile apps make a great combo with eCommerce, but it doesn’t mean that you should forget about the quality of your website. SEO is still an essential part of the story, so you need to make sure that you’ve got everything optimized for Google’s algorithm.

The post How Mobile Users are Actually Reshaping the eCommerce Industry first appeared on TechSling Weblog.