Most of us own a smartphone and we’re all familiar with shopping and browsing online. With more and more sales taking place on a mobile device it is more important than ever for businesses, large and small, to optimise their sites for mcommerce. So how can you make sure yours is ready to take advantage of the benefits of mobile commerce?

 

If you are looking for more ways to sell online, you may be looking into how mcommerce can benefit your customers. What is mcommerce and how is it different from ecommerce? How can mcommerce make a difference to your sales and help you to scale your business?

 

What is mcommerce?

 

In the Uk, nearly everyone between the ages of 16 and 34 owns a mobile phone, and mobile device ownership is increasing year on year for people over the age of 55. Mobile phones allow for a true omnichannel experience. Allowing consumers to research and purchase seamlessly across all devices.

 

Source: Statista

 

Is ecommerce different from mcommerce?

 

Firstly, ecommerce and mcommerce (also referred to as mCommerce and M-Commerce) are essentially the same in that they can both make customers' lives and the online buying experience more effective, which is great for you and your business and great for your sales.

 

Ecommerce encompasses all things buying and selling online, while mcommerce or mobile commerce focuses on browsing, viewing ads, conversing with sales reps via smartphones, and purchasing via a mobile device, such as a phone or tablet. It enhances the multichannel marketing experience and selling online. Brands with a strong presence in multiple places can reach more customers and demand more sales at any time.

 

What are the types of mobile commerce?

 

There is a little more to mcommerce than just making a purchase using your mobile device. Here are some examples of mobile commerce:

 

1. In App purchasing

2. Online browser purchasing

3. Research and/or purchasing via social media channels

4. Mobile Banking

5. Completing a purchase through the use of chat features

6. Purchasing through AR (Augmented Reality) sites, such as virtually trying on glasses or clothing for example.

 

What are the benefits of mcommerce?

 

The convenience and ease of browsing and shopping online have led to a huge increase in consumers using mcommerce to make their purchases. It is forecast that in 2024, the revenue from mcommerce will rise to a staggering 105.28 billion GBP. 

 

Source: Statista

 

Take payments on the go with mobile commerce.

 

Mcommerce allows the taking of payments anywhere as long as there is a connection to the internet. Users can make payments using their smartphones in just a couple of clicks and there is even no need to use a payment card to make a purchase. Apple Pay and Android Pay users can make payments using their smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets.

Mobile POS is also a huge benefit allowing stores to link a device to their smartphone to take payments on the go. Some ecommerce platforms such as Sellr can integrate with your POS system allowing you to manage your sales and sync orders from all the channels you sell in. 

 

Personalised targeting with mcommerce.

 

Mcommerce apps allow the tracking of users, meaning that it is possible to deliver a more personal shopping experience. GPS technology and WiFi can enable mcommerce apps to provide content based on the user's location and even offer recommendations and offers to target customers in specific locations.

 

Higher website page ranking with mcommerce.

 

With desktop computers, the faster the page load, the higher the Google ranking. Google now also favours websites that are optimised for viewing on mobile devices, so will show your website on organic searches, before your non-optimised competitors.

 

Is mcommerce secure?

 

No one wants to make payments online if they are unsure that their details are going to remain safe. With ecommerce, credit cards are the most common method of payment, and it is an ongoing challenge to keep online security and privacy watertight.

 

Mobile commerce offers more extensive security, in addition to the two-factor and multi-level authentication that is present in ecommerce, mcommerce can also offer biometric authentication, for example, retina scans face IDs and fingerprints, meaning that mcommerce offers a more secure way of buying than ecommerce.

 

Why is mcommerce good and bad for your business?

 

As with most things in life, there is always a good, and a less good, side to things. Mcommerce is great for getting your brand out there and seen by as many people as possible, and allows for a quick and seamless shopping experience, but the biggest pitfall for businesses is that you are in direct competition with others selling the same or similar products, and it is very easy for consumers to quickly check prices on the go to get the best deal. However, this is easily remedied by being aware of your competition and the prices that they are selling at, as well as their shipping costs, and raising or lowering your prices accordingly, to remain competitive.

 

Mcommerce tips for your business.

1. Don’t spend too much time on your website design. A slick-looking design is great to look at but won’t equate to more sales. Focus more on clean usability, organised products, and an easy checkout process, which is easy to navigate on a mobile device. Sellr websites are all optimised for viewing on mobile devices so there is no need for you to spend extra attention on the design of your website.

2. Sell in more places for maximum exposure and sales. With Sellr you can easily add more sales channels, allowing you to sell not just on your website but also on many other marketplaces, such as Ebay and Amazon.

3. If you have a brick and mortar as well as a website, offer a click and collect service.This allows your customers to enjoy browsing from the comfort of their home and collecting any purchases in store, avoiding extra costs of delivery or waiting for orders to arrive. It will also encourage a better customer relationship, increasing the likelihood of repeat orders.

4. Use your chat bot features in Sellr to interact with your customers, and offer guidance and advice. Shoppers expect a responsive customer service, and this will increase your chances of making sales and keeping your customers happy and coming back for more.

 

How to make your online store mobile friendly.

 

If you want to reach more customers and increase your profits then you are going to want to make sure your ecommerce store is optimised for mcommerce. With Sellr you do not need to worry about optimising your website for viewing on multiple devices, Sellr websites look great no matter where they are viewed. With Sellr websites you can easily list on multiple channels, expanding your reach and increasing sales, while managing your inventory from one place. Get in touch with Sellr to find out how to maximise your sales and reach more shoppers.