• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, January 22, 2018

According to AmazonPay/BigCommerce 2018 eCommerce resolutions, now is a good time to pause and look inward at what did and didn’t work with your online business. As you resolve to make changes, building out your 2018 roadmap, the report provides a few resolutions for your consideration in the New Year. Start organizing this year’s “To Do” list now so you can proactively check off items to keep your business thriving in 2018, suggests the report. Resolve to:

• Dive into Social Commerce… More and more user attention is shifting towards social media as a gateway to exploration. With 800+ million users on Instagram alone, businesses are extending the buying experience through social platforms to meet shoppers where they are. Shorten the customer journey from discovery to purchase by integrating natural payment experiences into your existing social platforms.
• Retarget “Low Hanging” Carts… The holiday shopping frenzy may have left behind a slew of abandoned carts, but this could lead to an opportunity in the new year. Instead of spending your new budget attracting new customers, take the time to reach out to customers who view your product pages. Offer relevant information by adding retargeting pixels to your website. Advertising to retarget lists can cost a fraction of advertising to a new audience, having demonstrated interest in your products.
• Listen To Your Customers… 90% of shoppers say UCG influences their purchase decision. Some of those same shoppers are willing to pay more and endure longer wait times for products paired with user generated content. Consider how you can activate your customers with photo contests or social challenges to curate content through your channels or amplify theirs.
• Go Mobile or Go Home… Mobile behavior is evolving. On Cyber Monday this year, mobile conversions increased by over 10% compared to last year, and mobile accounted for 33% of total revenue. Consumers are no longer predominantly researching, but transacting on mobile, says the report. Prioritize mobile!

Leading with the customer can sometimes require focusing on long-term benefits over short- term gains, concludes the report. Make sure you start by listening to your customers in 2018, then work backwards to ensure your plans are solving their pain points, as well as finding new ways to delight them.

More from Amazon here.