The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many parts of life for people all around the globe. As social distancing has become standard, shopping in brick and mortar stores has declined substantially. Consumers are turning to online shopping to fill that void, with many spending up to 30% more online in recent months. With that amount of an increase in ecommerce, it’s crucial for businesses to open up shop online and adapt to the new normal.

How can I adapt?

You need to be where your customers are, and since people are confined to their homes, they're going online, which means you need to beef up your website. A website is an invaluable tool for any business right now, but especially for those who sell goods or services. Your website never closes, even during a pandemic. It doesn't get sick or take vacations and never leaves. It gives you the ability to take your store online and reach more potential customers.

But how do we know this will last?

The success of ecommerce isn't a new thing. Ecommerce has been steadily growing and gaining more and more success. There are 2.05 billion online shoppers as of 2020, with 75 percent of people shopping online at least once a month. Online shopping isn't going anywhere, and with people stuck at home, it's growing in exponential numbers. E-commerce is expected to make up 22 percent of global retail sales by 2023, meaning if you're not already online, you need to get there and quickly.

But that's not all. The growth of ecommerce is important, but you also need to understand where people are shopping from, and the answer is simple: cellphones. 49.2 percent of ecommerce sales are made through mobile devices. That’s almost half! This is expected to rise to 53.9 percent in 2021, just six months away.

Okay, but why is that important?

As they say, knowledge is power and power is money. Knowing how your customers are shopping online allows you to tailor your marketing and ecommerce strategies to them. If the majority of your customers are shopping from their phones, you need to make sure your website will work on mobile devices. A mobile-friendly website isn't just good to have; it's essential to keep your customers active and engaged with your website.

Mobile-friendly?

AWeber describes mobile responsiveness as "a website or email displayed on a mobile device that automatically adjusts it's sizing, layout, and proportions to display legibly on the device." Basically, it just means that the website is designed to fit the screen that you're looking at it on. This generally involves readable text without zooming, proper spacing for buttons, and no horizontal scrolling. (Psst... all Atwill Media websites are made to be mobile-friendly!)

Having a website that automatically resizes to fit the device your customers are using and looks good on mobile is crucial to your store's continued success. Forty percent of users have gone to a competitor's website after a poor mobile experience.

In conclusion...

While things look different now for many companies and consumers, businesses have a wide array of tools at their disposal that can help them during this time of uncertainty and change. Start utilizing your website and see how your business grows and succeeds.

Are you looking for a website provider? Look no further! Contact us today!

Dani James is a Marketing Specialist and writer for Atwill Media. She has a bachelor's degree in Strategic Communications from Arkansas State University with focuses in Public Relations, Advertising, and Social Media Management.

When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading a good book, and watching The Office.