According to the latest research, eCommerce growth is projected to continue in 2024. Shopify, one of the top eCommerce platforms, has released its annual commerce trends report for 2023, highlighting trends that businesses should consider. In this blog, we will discuss the top trends to set up Shopify store that merchants should be aware of in 2024. We will explore the top trends, such as voice search, AR/VR technology, and influencer marketing, and provide tips on adapting to these changes and staying ahead of the competition.
Benefits of using Shopify to build your online store
If your main objective is to set up a shopify store for a small or medium-sized business, then Shopify is a platform that you should consider.
Easy to set up and use
Shopify offers an easy way to establish an online store without the fuss over servers and development charges. The admin interface is clean and logically intuitive. You can also find huge documentation and video guides on the Shopify site. Then, all you require is a product to sell.
No technical expertise needed
You do not need technical expertise to build a Shopify store. The admin interface is user-friendly; if you have any issues, they have various video tutorials to guide you.
In addition, you can set up Shopify store using templates and customize them based on your requirements without having web development experience.
Secure and reliable
If you have an eCommerce online store, you will deal with consumers’ information regarding credit cards and impatient customers. Therefore, your website needs to be fast, secure, and online.
Shopify will maintain all servers and upgrades to keep your online store and shopping cart available at all times, ensuring that pages load fast.
24/7 customer supports
Shopify is big on consumer support. They are available 24 hours, and the response time is quick. You can get in touch through mobile phones, emails, or web chats. In addition, there are various community forums and many advanced Shopify University guides.
Mobile ready
Nowadays, mobile visitors are higher than desktop, so making a mobile-friendly site is important. Luckily, Shopify understands this. Shopify’s themes are mobile responsive, and the platform has a free built-in mobile commerce shopping cart, meaning your store looks perfect on all devices, and your consumers can shop wherever they want.
Customizable
There are hundreds of themes to pick from the Shopify theme store. All are mobile responsive and available on sites such as ThemeForest. So, making a unique online shop that fits your brand identity is easy!
A payment gateway
The essential part of running an online store is receiving consumer payments. One of the best advantages of using Shopify is it offers its own payment gateways. This means you can accept all payment methods, such as debit and credit cards. Also, it does not need a merchant account to use.
Top 10 Shopify trends to follow in 2024
Below, we will explain the top ten Shopify trends you can use in 2024:
1. Use Voice Search And Augmented Reality Features
Voice search and augmented reality (AR) features will influence ecommerce trends in 2023. For instance, Shopify has already introduced a voice-enabled search tool called Phebi to improve your customer experience. This feature allows your consumers to search for products using voice commands, making the shopping experience more convenient and efficient. In addition, AR features, such as virtual try-ons, can also help customers make more informed purchase decisions by allowing them to visualize how a product will look before purchasing.
2. Develop Customizable Pre-Built Themes
Developing a custom theme to set up Shopify store can be time-consuming and expensive. To address this issue, Shopify has introduced customizable pre-built themes that you can use to build a Shopify store quickly. In addition, online Store 2.0 allows you to leverage add-on components to augment free or paid themes instead of developing everything from scratch. This can save you time and money, enabling you to focus on other elements of your eCommerce strategy.
3. Enhanced Mobile Checkout Experience
The mobile checkout experience is critical for ecommerce businesses as more and more customers are shopping on their mobile devices. Shopify has recognized this trend and has introduced features to enhance the mobile checkout experience. The Checkout UI Extensions and Shopify Functions allow developers to create more efficient and powerful apps that can be packaged for sale in the Shopify App Store. This will enable you to offer your consumers a seamless mobile checkout experience.
4. Use Micro-Influencer Marketing
Microinfluencer marketing is becoming a popular Shopify trend that you can use to drive more sales and enhance brand awareness. In contrast to traditional influencer marketing, which generally involves partnering with social media stars, micro-influencer marketing involves collaborating with individuals with smaller but highly engaged followers on social media. These influencers are often seen as more authentic and relatable, making their endorsements more impactful.
You can use micro-influencer marketing by identifying influencers with your brand and target consumers collaborating with them to make content and promote your brand.
With the increase in social media and the importance of word-of-mouth recommendations, micro-influencer marketing has become a cost-effective strategy for driving sales and creating brand loyalty.
5. Being Mobile-Friendly Will Go A Long Way
The use of mobile phones for online shopping increases day by day. This is why the mobile-friendly eCommerce store is becoming increasingly essential.
This refers to designing and optimizing sites for mobile phones instead of adjusting desktop designs to fit small screens. This strategy ensures optimal user experience for mobile users, leading to increased engagement and conversions.
Generally, the mobile-friendly product pages have big images and easily read information, and the simplified checkout process and mobile app make shopping easier.
In addition, the brand’s responsive design offers a seamless and perfect shopping experience, leading to improved sales and customer loyalty.
6. Consider Customer Reviews
Customer reviews play an essential role in online purchases. Positive customer reviews make it easier for your Shopify stores to stay on top. In addition, a customer can make better buying decisions with these reviews.
If your product gets a bad review, you can remove that product from your website. This approach will help consumers to make purchasing decisions. In addition, it enables you to gain your target customer’s trust, boost your online store’s foot traffic, create social proof, and enhance SEO. So, follow this trend to have a thriving Shopify online store.
7. Create Photorealistic 3D Visualization
One of the vital aspects of developing an online storefront is to make attractive photos of your products. It can be accomplished by making 3D product models that attract consumers from all niches. You can choose a Shopify developer to create models to help you sell your products.
Various brands that use online 3D product configurations to fulfill customer needs are Nike, J.Press, Kashiyama, and many more. With such a strategy, consumers will have more freedom to research products online. In addition, it will create an interactive product visualization and allow consumers to see and know the products. So, to set up shopify store, you should follow this trend.
8. Going Omnichannel
This Shopify trends bring a variety of fulfillment options to your consumer for a great delivery experience. Here are some points to consider:
- First, offer local delivery options, which significantly enhance personalization.
- Check out ‘pop up’ stores by open retail spaces for eCommerce stores looking into local click-and-collect centers.
- Third, make your returns hassle-free to enhance consumer trust and satisfaction.
9. Provide Personalized Shopping
After its surge, the Shopify online shopping trends are here to stay. But with many competitors emerging, you must step up your game and offer a personalized shopping experience for your consumers. Here are some suggestions:
- Better search and filter options.
- Improved chat support and guides.
- Efficient return and exchange policy.
- Give away rewards.
- Offer loyalty and membership cards.
- Provide exclusive access.
- Improve referral bonuses.
- Identify customer buying references and use them to develop personalized promotions.
- Make use of Big Data.
10. Sustainable Business Practices
Customers are becoming increasingly eco-conscious these days, and businesses are required to adapt to this trend. Shopify has recognized this trend and has introduced features to help businesses adopt sustainable business practices.
Likewise, companies should turn toward sustainable business practices, including “recommerce,” to meet the evolving societal expectations of consumers. So, focus on quality and sustainability and work with customer desires to create an environmentally friendly product.
Conclusion
Shopify continues to be a leading ecommerce platform, and staying on top of modern trends is essential for businesses to succeed. The top trends to set up shopify store include voice search and augmented reality features, improved mobile checkout experience, customizable pre-built themes, cross-border expansion, and many more.
By implementing the above-mentioned trends, you can improve your customer experience, boost conversions, and expand your reach globally. As eCommerce continues to evolve, it’s essential to stay ahead of the competition and provide an optimal shopping experience to customers. By embracing these trends, you can position yourself for success in the years ahead.