Growing Interest in Mobile Payment Features

According to surveys taken by Internet Retailer, 30 percent of 400 different owners of smartphones indicated that they already own a wearable device. 75 percent indicated that they plan on purchasing one this year. Surveys have also shown that there is a growing interest in wearable technology that allows consumers to make payments for in-store purchases; 48 percent of consumers who participated in the study said they would use their wearable technology more often if it featured mobile payments.

The Future of Commerce Has Arrived

Osterhout Design Group (ODG) made an announcement at this year’s CES that Android-powered sunglasses will soon be available for purchase for under $1,000. The AR Smart Glasses will emphasize augmented reality by mimicking the tablet experience and allowing consumers to browse the internet. Imagine the impact the ODG could make if they combined technology like this with mobile payment features – it could forever change the way we make online purchases.

Other companies are honing in on the consumer demand of online shopping and taking it to the next level. Take, for example, the Intel Jarvis headset, a voice-activated Bluetooth-enabled device that works in both online and offline modes. Practical Ecommerce predicts that “it has greater likelihood of consumer adoption (compared to other wearable devices).” It is probable that Jarvis will primarily be used to shop utilizing voice commands, a feature that consumers are clearly craving. Since Jarvis can be used in offline mode, the product potentially has an edge over Google Now and Apple Siri, which can only be used while in online mode.

Practical Ecommerce also anticipates that contextual commerce is the next big thing in wearable devices, targeting a consumer’s unique environment and assessing their associated needs. For example, the new glasses developed by XOEye Technologies has the capability of tracking a person’s specific movements during the day. This can provide related products that would benefit the consumer in a unique way. Specifically, if an employee works in packaging, these glasses can sense how many times they have to bend over during their shift and provide them with a list of products that can protect their back. Ultimately, this creation and related wearable technology are leading to better productivity and the employee’s overall health.

Wearable technology is a new concept but companies that meet the demand for online shopping this year will take the edge in the market. In other words, this year we should anticipate wearable technology making the shift from a novelty toy into a powerful, usable tool.

Factors That May Cause Mobile Payments to Spike in 2015

Mobile commerce has been on the rise for several years now across many different sectors, changing the way we book flights, check in to a hotel, rent a car, search for the best retail deals and navigate to our favorite restaurant. Readwrite.com predicts that mobile commerce is on the rise as a result, and that mobile sales will account for $204 billion in sales this year. However, there are specific things consumers are looking for in their buying experiences, which could affect the true outcome of mobile payments. Consumers are looking for straight-forward buying solutions like never before, as companies like Trunk Club, Uber and YPlan have set the new standard.

Obstacles That Stand in the Way of Mobile Sales

Bill Ready, CEO of Paypal unit Braintree suggests that there are still major hurdles that could prevent the ease of transaction consumers are craving this year. For example, many online shopping sites still do not fully integrate into a sufficient mobile viewing experience, and almost all across the board, customers are still required to enter their contact, billing and credit card information in order to make a purchase. Ready believes if there is not a tremendous push for digital wallets this year, mobile sales may unexpectedly dwindle. Convenience and security may be two important components for the mobile payment trend to become as successful as other web-based payment methods.

Wearables May Make the Biggest Shift in Mobile Payments in the Future

The wearable technology phenomenon is quickly growing, mainly due to the convenience factor. Mobile Commerce Press believes that convenience could be taken to a completely new level as smart watches and wearable devices evolve in the near future. The organization expects to see smart glasses that enable an individual to make a purchase online by activating a feature with eye movement. While some believe this concept is futuristic in nature, imagine how unbelievable it would be if a person could simply look at a product and make a purchase by blinking their eye!

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Instead of looking at potential dilemmas that might affect mobile payments in a negative light, consider research provided by Retail Science:

• Amazon announced that mobile shoppers made up for almost 60% of last year’s holiday sales
• On Christmas Day 2014, Apple users purchased average orders of $97.28 and Android users purchased average orders of $67.40
• Phone screen sizes have increased 88% since 2007, resulting in consumer’s resorting to their phone for shopping rather than their laptops

The organization believes that mobile commerce will grow this year, just as phone screen sizes continue to grow. With numbers like that, it’s hard to imagine we won’t see the biggest mobile payments numbers to date this year.

The Most Important Types of Content

Even though marketing strategies are forever changing, Econsultancy believes that video is the most important form of content, followed by a well-written blog and editorial. Zappos has concluded that products that feature a demo show increased sales by 6% to 30%. An effective video can teach a potential consumer why they need the product, which type of product will be the most beneficial and how to use the product after purchase.

The Rules of the Game Have Changed

In days past, keyword density and honing in on specific keyword sets were crucial to the success of a brand’s relevance in the search engine. Although, consumers still use search in order to find and research a product, the way search works is changing. Google consistently updates its search algorithms to focus on content relevance, and businesses that write quality for end users will succeed. A report compiled by EPiServer shows that 60% of companies believe that content engagement is increasing and 30% are implementing plans to spend more time creating unique and original content to improve their SEO and brand visibility. Companies are starting to realize there is a direct correlation between content and merchandising and many are aiming their content to their consumer’s lifestyles in order to draw them in. For example, imagine the difference between a salon that features different pictures of popular hairstyles on their site verses a salon that offers the ability to upload a client’s photo and see what the hairstyle will actually look like on them. Personalizing the customer experience is king in the ecommerce game. It makes the consumer feel as if the company is catering specifically to their personalized choices, rather than the consumer experiencing an experience that is much less intimate.

Personalizing the Consumer Experience

Understanding the need to personalize a customer’s experience and knowing how to effectively implement that goal are two different things. Inc.com suggests some key ways to put your clients at the center of attention:

• Identify a potential problem and provide a relevant solution, either by creating a demo about your product or explaining why a consumer would benefit from it.
• Start a thread about a popular question about your product, allowing customers to engage with both your company and each other.
• Be informative yet engaging by creating content that is enjoyable to read but also makes your consumer want to come back for more information later.
• Draw consumers in by sharing a story or experience that is easy to relate to.

Creating useful, engaging content will only be as successful as the way it’s presented. Focus on creating a good structure that is easy for a consumer to navigate by using headings, bullet points and paragraphs when appropriate. Allow your readers to navigate, they will most likely skim the page at first and be able to identify with one of the points on the page – this is the first step to a highly engaged blog audience which equals a successful content strategy.

In days past, fewer watches spoke luxury, quality and design like Swiss-made watch brands. Tissot, Montblanc and TAG Heuer have dominated the niche in this industry for quite awhile. According to the Financial Post, Switzerland has produced over half the world’s watches in value while only making a small fraction of watches in quantity. However, this trend was interrupted in the 1970s and 1980s as Japanese brands like Seiko introduced battery-powered quartz watches, which provided for more accuracy. Analysts attributed the estimated 60,000 job losses in Switzerland during this time period to their underestimating the demand for the newer Japanese models. While they made a recovery with the unveiling of the plastic-based Swatch, some experts are predicting that Switzerland is dangerously close to repeating the same mistake as many in the Swiss watch industry are referring to the smartwatch as a mere gadget.

Apple Watch Threatens to Dominate the Swiss Market

Just as iTunes has driven consumers away from CDs, it is highly probable that the Apple Watch will challenge the $38 billion watch industry in Switzerland, according to Elmar Mock, one of the frontrunners who helped develop the Swatch in the 1980s. He estimates that the Apple Watch will reach sales of 20 to 30 million units annually in only its first few years.

Apple Watch Overlaps Several Features That Will Impact Similar Devices

CNET analysts estimate that because the Apple Watch combines wristbands, other fitness monitoring devices and a smartwatch, it could cause a dip in similar industries, such as Jawbone Up and heart rate monitor chest straps. They estimate that half of consumers who would have purchased a fitness wristband will instead purchase a smartwatch. Angela McIntyre, analyst for Gartner predicts, "Companies will ship 40 million smartwatches in 2015, quadruple the number expected this year. Apple Watch has the potential to make up as much as half of the shipment volume next year."

First Three Apple Watch Designs Seem Promising

Apple announced plans for its smartwatch line more than a quarter in advance, creating the advantage of showing off its first few design options. This includes its stainless-steel cased Apple Watch, the 18-karat-gold-cased Apple Watch Edition and an aluminum-cased Apple Watch Sport. Apple has done a remarkable job at offering extreme versatility; instead of only catering to consumers who prefer a lower price point, they are also tackling more of the luxury watch sector. The 18-karat gold watch is set at a $10,000 and up price point. According to Forbes, while this strategy might pay off, it is more likely that the cheaper versions will be the ones we see truly disrupting the marketplace this year. After all, it’s hard to imagine who would want to purchase such an expensive watch for a sweaty workout routine.

While it is highly probable that Apple will dominate the niche in 2015, it is possible that other wearable technology companies could make a rebound in 2016, as lower-cost models and more design options become available to consumers. We’ve seen this supply and demand trend before in the technology arena, as rivals like Samsung, LG and Motorola have vigorously competed with the iPhone.

Despite the popularity of mobile, many sites still haven’t made the transition to a mobile friendly design. Google has included mobile design as part of their search algorithm in the past. Now, it’s more important than ever. A large part of SEO now lies with effective mobile and responsive site design.

Is Your Site Mobile Friendly?

This is the first question to ask yourself. You may have a mobile design, but is it easy to use? More importantly, does Google think it’s good enough to rank highly? Google has created an online mobile check tool to analyze your site. The tool lists what’s wrong and tips for how to improve. It’s a must for ensuring your site meets all of Google’s latest algorithm updates for mobile.

The Main Factors

SEO for mobile doesn’t mean keywords, though those are still important. It’s more about design and improving the user experience on mobile screens. The following factors are the top issues to consider:

• Content must fit the screen (no matter what the screen size)
• Text should be easy to read without zooming or needing to scroll horizontally
• Links must have ample space between them to prevent users from clicking the wrong links
• Avoid adding software to the site that Google can’t read, such as Flash

All of these are easy to fix. The best solution is a responsive design. It may cost more initially for development, but it helps with your rank and of course, that leads to more visitors.

Two Sites Or Responsive?

Some sites have a mobile version and standard version. That is one solution, but part of Google’s SEO mobile recommendations is sites should have a single URL for their site. Google sees a single URL as easier for users to interact with. Plus, Google only needs to rank one site versus two.

Responsive sites auto adjust content to a user’s screen size. Develop a site once and use the same site for all your visitors, no matter whether they’re on a small smartphone or massive desktop screen.

Meeting Google’s Expectations

Google understands every site is different. To help, they’ve provided an extensive guide covering different types of devices, working with search engines and common mistakes. The highest ranking sites will be those that stick to Google’s guidelines religiously. A few of the things you can do to make your site more mobile friendly include:

• Speeding up page loading times by removing unnecessary content, software and plugins
• Check all links
• Ensure all audio and video content is mobile friendly

One of the best ways to keep your site optimized for mobile is to test frequently. Test on different devices to check loading times, links, playable content, redirects and overall design. The easier it is to navigate, the better. Google’s main purpose with the mobile algorithm updates is to ensure users only get the best results for their mobile devices.

A good rule of thumb is to think of mobile the same as you would a standard site. Focus on creating an easy to use layout and optimizing page loading times. Do this and you’ll rank high no matter what device users are searching from.

As with any technological trend, the components that make for successful conversion rate optimization are ever-evolving. With the boom in e-commerce many are convinced that 2015 will be the year mobile conversion rate optimization soars its highest.

According to AWA Digital, revenue generated by mobile retail commerce reached an estimated 17 billion dollars by the end of 2014 in the United States – that’s up a whopping $9 billion from just two years ago. Smartphone growth continues to expand as consumers see faster connection speeds with the 4G network, making it easier than ever to make purchases on a cell phone. 2014 showed some impressive CRO tools that catered specifically to the mobile arena, including Crazy Egg, Ethnio and Qualaroo. So how will mobile CRO in 2015 measure against the previous years?

Relevance Will Take the Spotlight

Website Magazine predicts that context will play a crucial role as marketers continue to focus on providing personalized experiences to consumers. More data about consumers is expected to become available in real time and the ability to capture what is most relevant to visitors by viewing their digital footprints will allow for major changes in the way merchants view CRO.

New Opportunities Will Be Created by Mobile Use

Mobile usage has forever changed the landscape of CRO as smartphones, tablets and e-readers have become more popular. The convenience factor of being able to quickly locate an item online and make a purchase without ever having to leave the house creates a world of endless possibilities for the world of CRO. Perhaps the rise in mobile traffic combined with the increasing consumption of video will drastically affect conversion in the next year.

Interactive Experiences Will Continue to Rise

Consumers are attracted to relevant, useful content. The co-founder and CEO of Ion Interactive predicts, “In 2015, CRO will find its greatest successes in useful, interactive, un-gated content experiences.” Consumers want more transparency and more access to quality information and companies now have more opportunity than ever to provide the kind of content that builds trust. Providing interactive experiences to consumers is the avenue that will achieve the greatest results because it demonstrates transparency in ways that other content simply can’t. It’s essentially the difference in reading a book or watching a movie – websites that can provide both will stand above the rest this year.

You can quickly and very easily create a storefront, which is suitable for mobile devices, so users can shop even when they aren´t near their computers.

Magento 1.7  uses HTML5 technology, which is supported by iPhone , Android, Opera Mini, iPod, Blackberry and many more.

HTML5 technology includes many out-of-the-box features, which give you many advantages such as:

• Specific video and audio media capabilities
• Simple search and results display
• Your display will be clean of product detail pages
• Swiping product images is very easy
• You can zoom in and zoom out
• Cross-sell and up-sell capabilities
• Drag-and-drop capabilities
If you want to activate the HTML5 mobile theme for Magento 1.7, you need to follow these instructions. There are only four steps in how to setup a mobile theme on your web site. These are the steps:

Step 1

Go to: System > Configuration > Design > Current Package Name

Your package must be set exactly like your theme. If it isn´t, your next step is to click on "Add Exception", which is under the "Current Package Name". After this you´ll get a form with several fields.

The most important is the "Matched Expression". It´s a string you want Magento to match in the User Agent of the browser. That´s why this field is so important.

In the "Value", you enter a valuation (what you want it to be) of that field when the expression comes back true. For example, in this case, value = package name.

One of the problems can be if the theme is beyond the default package. To solve this problem you must enter “default” as the value (mobile theme is at default/iphone).

The next move is to enter different "Matched Expressions" for any platform. You need to type one of the examples which are located below:

iPhone|iPod|BlackBerry|Palm|Googlebot-Mobile|Mobile|mobile|mobi|Windows Mobile|Safari Mobile|Android|Opera Mini

Step 2

In the Themes area (System > Configuration > Design > Themes - Templates, Skin, Layout) you should repeat everything which is described in Step 1, except for one thing. In the field "Value", you need to write the name of the theme folder (for example "iphone" or "android").

Step 3

The next thing is to click on the field “Save Configuration”.
When you are done with that, you´ll need to do one more step, which is easy, and you´ll do it very quickly. After that your installation will be finished.

Step 4

Step 4 begins when you clear your cache. Whatever mobile device you use, you´ll be able to  see your website from it. You should now see the mobile theme, and your computer should still show the main theme.

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Congratulations! You have successfully completed your installation.

As you can see, the installation process is short and very simple, but it means a lot to the customers. After all, with the advantages that Magento gives you, you´ll improve your web site and raise your business to the next level.

1. Use short pages that are easy to scan. This is good advice for any online store, but it's especially important for mobile customers. No one wants to spend a lot of time scrolling down long lists or looking through big blocks of text, so make all the information on your site easy to scan and take in within a few seconds. And that's particularly important when it comes to headlines and product photos, where the most important details should be easy to see and recognize.

2. Employ a cleaner search and navigation structure. In order to have shorter, crisper pages, you might need to have more of them that are easy to find. Whether you are sorting items by product category or some other criteria, make it very simple for customers to search for what they want or move to other parts of the site quickly. From embedded links and breadcrumbs to an easily accessible search box, getting from any point on your mobile e-commerce site to another should require a few seconds or less.

3. Make allowances for portrait and landscape viewing. You might want to experiment with different fonts, zoom sizes, and even the layouts for the different ways that customers might interact with your mobile website. Although you may not be able to control how they shop with you, you can make sure that your pages and product descriptions are as compelling as possible in either orientation. Some pages are going to naturally lend themselves to one shape or the other, but make sure it's simple for customers to view your mobile e-commerce site in the way that's most convenient.

4. Keep issues of size and bandwidth in mind. With the increased availability of high-speed Internet almost everywhere in North America, most web designers and e-commerce retailers stopped paying too much attention to things like image sizes and page loading times in the past few years. With mobile e-commerce, however, those are concerns again, since users might face slow loading times and data plan restrictions. With that in mind, it's important to test your pages to ensure that a lack of speed isn't killing your mobile e-commerce sales.

5. Keep typed fields to a minimum. Typing text on a mobile device can be a frustrating, time-consuming exercise. Why not give buyers the option of saving account information, using check boxes, and otherwise taking advantage of convenient tools to avoid typing in long bits of text? Other than their name and address, there shouldn't be much for your customers to have to type on a mobile website. The more that buying from you feels like sending a very long text message, the more customers are going to be tempted to complete their purchase elsewhere.

Mobile e-commerce might be relatively new, but that doesn't mean there aren't big profits to be made, and established trends to tap into. Get in touch with the expert team at Mage Developers today if you want to make the most of any e-commerce opportunity, mobile or not.

E-commerce and conversion rate optimization isn't exactly a science, where you can simply add or include a few new elements to your pages and expect that sales will automatically increase. Still, there are definite steps you can take to increase the conversion rates in your online store, proven over time by lots of different online retailers, large and small.

Here are four of the best e-commerce conversion tips:

1. Make a better match between your ads and landing pages. When a customer clicks on one of your ads, what would they expect to see? Is it anything like what they're finding on your site? If the two aren't congruent, then you're going to see increased bounce rates. It's good for ads to attract traffic, of course, but your landing pages have to deliver on the same message if they're going to be successful.

A mismatch between the two – no matter how good they are individually – is almost always going to hurt your e-commerce conversion rate, as it can leave customers expecting one kind of message and finding another. Make an effort to solidify your marketing approach, and then look for a good match between PPC ads and landing page copywriting.

2. Remember the "F" shape. It is been demonstrated fairly conclusively that customers scan your landing and product pages in an "F" shaped pattern. That means they look across the top at your headlines first, then down the left-hand side of the page to scan for major details, and then quickly look across to see if there is anything that catches their eye. By including important images, benefits, and headlines within the most-viewed parts of your pages, you can easily increase your conversion ratios.

Remember that information and treat your product pages like a map, placing the most important pieces of real estate where they can have the largest potential effect. This means more work and effort, but the increased conversions are worth it.

3. Put time on your side. When you increase the odds that your customers will act now, you also greatly increase the odds they will act at all. That's because, no matter how strongly they may intend to come back to your site and complete the purchase later, the odds are strong that they won't. And so, using things like limited-time offers, or showing a decreasing real-time inventory can greatly boost your conversion rates.

As with everything else in an online store, different time-sensitive offers should be tested. And it goes without saying that you don't want to say anything that isn't true on your e-commerce site. Still, if you can find a way to build urgency into the transaction – especially with sale prices or other expiring deals – you're almost guaranteed to see more completed orders.

4. Use split-testing. There isn't any such thing as the perfect landing page, pay-per-click ad, or marketing message. If you aren't testing everything on your site regularly, then you also aren't taking advantage of the best CRO opportunities. Engage in split-testing frequently, because that's the real key to maximizing conversions over time.

What kinds of things can be split-tested on your e-commerce site? Nearly anything from pay-per-click ads to copywriting, product images, headlines, bullet points, and even page links. The point is to take nothing for granted, since you never know what small tweaks will lead to bigger sales.

Conversion rate optimization is a big topic, and it helps to have a team of experienced experts on your side. Why not contact us today for a free consultation and see what the right e-commerce partner can do for your online store?

At Mage Developers, we post a lot of advice on the importance of usability when it comes to e-commerce sites and your ability to maximize conversions (and ultimately, the profits from your Magento online store). That isn't just because we are experts in this area, but also because it's a simple thing for customers to click away to another e-commerce site – even if they like your products and prices – if they find your store to be frustrating or hard to navigate.

For that reason, usability should be a primary concern for every online retailer. Anything on your site that seems confusing, inefficient, or hard to find is ultimately going to cost you money. We strongly advise that you look at some of our past articles on e-commerce and usability if you aren't already familiar with them. And if you are, here are five ways to take things further and move beyond your competitors:

1. Make your navigation easy to see... not just easy to use. If customers can tell where they are, then they'll have an easier time moving around your site. That's not a matter of just having a clear, straightforward navigation setup, but also one that's very visible. Why? Because customers might want to back out of their current page and return later, or may have mis-clicked and found themselves looking at a product or page that wasn't what they intended. A visible navigation structure in your e-commerce site makes it easier for them to find the right direction.

2. Make search and contact information prominent. No matter how well you use headings, product descriptions, and other on-page copy, there are going to be some shoppers who have trouble finding the answers they need. In that case, an instant answer – in the form of a search box or contact information – can mean the difference between a sale and your shopper clicking away to another site. At the risk of repeating ourselves, small things like seconds and details matter a great deal. That's why every page in your site should feature search and contact information, so it's easy for buyers to get the help they want.

3. Make your shopping cart more interactive. A surprising number of online stores use shopping cart systems that are hard for shoppers to update. The goal should be to allow buyers to see things like final prices, shipping times, amounts, and other options in real time, along with the ability to make changes and updates. This doesn't just increase your overall sales by providing more accurate information, but also makes your online store seem competitive and up-to-date with others (like the ones at Amazon, for example) that your customers are used to seeing and using.

4. Let shoppers save their carts or create "wish lists." Not everyone who comes to your e-commerce site is going to be ready to make a purchase right away. By giving them the ability to save things for later, you increase the odds that they will return to eventually complete their purchase. This is especially true in situations where they may want to shop the competition, double-check features and product details with a friend or colleague, or simply save up money for the purchase. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the price tag on an e-commerce item, the more important a wish list or saved shopping cart is.

5. Keep your order confirmation pages clean. It can be tempting to add products for additional sales right before your buyers confirm orders, but you are better off just allowing them to finish their transaction. That's because anything that clutters the page at this crucial step can introduce doubt and second-guessing to the equation, and the answer is always going to be more abandoned shopping carts for you. The one exception to this rule might be certificates of verification and safety, which ease customers’ minds and make it easier for them to finish a purchase.

Like every aspect of conversion optimization, usability is something you should look to improve in small steps month after month. Why not call our team today and get an edge over the other e-commerce sites in your industry?