Online Shopping Holiday Projections, Content Marketing and Amazon Sales Tax
by admin - September 18th, 2012 5:15 am
In ecommerce this week, the gap between social media and ecommerce is decreasing as vendors look for new ways to integrate an interactive experience for their users. Ecommerce and publishing are becoming more intertwined as publishers look for new revenue streams and ecommerce continues at an unprecedented rate of growth. Sales tax increases could affect major retailers that were previously able to offer a 10% discount to consumers by eliminating sales tax. Content marketing is proving to be extraordinarily important for ecommerce vendors this holiday season, and spending is expected to increase by 17% from last year’s sales figures.
Online Shopping is Projected to Increase by at least 17% this Holiday Season
According to projections from a trusted internet marketing resource, eMarketer, online vendors can expect an increase of 17% in their holiday shopping sales, which is up approximately $8 billion from last year. The holiday season will mark the fourth consecutive year of spending increases for ecommerce during the holiday season. The ecommerce industry has seen unprecedented growth over the past few years, with each quartering posting significant gains to the industry. In particular, the holiday season will present another marked increase in online spending, which will continue to propel future growth in the industry.
Source: http://www.internetretailer.com/2012/09/17/online-holiday-shopping-will-increase-17-year
Content Marketing Proves a Great Resource for Ecommerce Vendors
eMarketer released a report this month that suggests that ecommerce spending will continue to grow significantly into the December holidays. As more Americans search for online shopping alternatives, content marketing is becoming a stronghold of the thriving online retail industry. Infographics, articles, and other resources are helping customers find the information that they need before they make a purchase, and successful content marketing initiatives are helping to build credibility, trust, and loyalty for ecommerce vendors. By integrating brand messaging into ecommerce vendors’ content marketing initiatives, companies are able to improve the experience that customers have with their online store.
Lines Blurring Between Ecommerce and Social Media
Some ecommerce vendors are exploring ways to merge social media with their ecommerce platform to create a more interactive experience for users. TheFancy.com gives shoppers the opportunity to “discover amazing stuff, collect the things you love, unlock crazy good ideas,” which is a new and intriguing way to engage with customers. The idea behind their innovative approach is that people may need things that they don’t think to search for. Users search for intended items and then can add them to their separate personal page. With a Pintrest like feel the user post items they “Fancy” on their page.What makes them different is that users can purchase items directly from the site unlike other social media sites. The idea is sweeping the ecommerce industry with more businesses thinking of new and creative ways to encourage customers to discover products that they may not know they want or need.
Sales Tax Hits Big Vendors as Summer Comes to a Close for Ecommerce
Amazon is one of the world’s largest online vendors, and the company will now be charging sales tax on all purchases made through the store to customers in certain states. The ecommerce pioneer was able to offer customers the advantage of a tax-free purchase prior to September 15th, 2012, but they will now start collecting sales tax in California and other states as well. Due to Amazon’s ability to avoid maintaining a retail location, the ecommerce giant was able to offer products at a 10% discount. Amazon has also expressed the desire to be able to deliver packages on the same day and has created a distribution network that may make that vision a reality in the near future.
Source: http://www.wired.com/business/2012/09/amazon-sales-tax/
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