The world of ecommerce has changed drastically over the last couple of decades, and the landscape that exists now is completely different to the one that Amazon helped to create. That’s thanks to the evolution of the internet, and the technology involved with delivering high-quality websites to end users.
Sprawling entertainment platforms have been among the internet’s greatest success stories, with people enjoying the variety they offer. Ecommerce sites could seek to replicate these platforms now and integrate entertainment aspects on their sites.
Entertainment Platforms Can Teach Ecommerce Sites About Customer Retention
One problem that ecommerce sites face is the issue of customer retention. There’s nothing stopping users from going from one site to another to order different things. The entertainment industry could provide some ideas about how to encourage customers to return, as it deploys various successful methods for this.
The real money slots at Paddy Power, for example, highlight how important it is to offer a vast range of games for different people. These come in a variety of genres, from options like Reel King Big Money to Bigger Bass Splash. Players return because they know they are going to get top quality titles and have access to the newest games on the market. There are also loyalty rewards, such as daily and weekly bonuses for returning players.
Including gaming elements on an ecommerce site could be a recipe for success. Instead of simply looking for products to buy, people could take part in games related to the items to make their shopping experience more interactive and engaging. This could be tied into shopping deals, where players have to complete games to get discounts on certain items.
Entertainment-Driven Shopping Could be the Future
There has already been a recent increase in live streaming integration on ecommerce sites, where influencers advertise products to people in real time. This includes the live shopping platform Amazon Live, which gives every seller the chance to interact with customers via streams. Sellers can answer questions about the items they’re selling, and buyers have the chance to purchase directly from the stream.
This is already a form of entertainment, with some live streamers using their charismatic skills to sell to people. However, it could be advanced further to appeal to the Netflix crowd. For instance, ecommerce sites could include special miniseries about their products, giving people a new way to get invested in them.
Will Engaging Ecommerce Sites Rule the Roost?
The modern internet landscape is all about engagement. With customers spoiled for choice, ecommerce sites need to give people a reason to keep coming back for more. Turning shopping into its own form of entertainment could be the perfect way to do this.
There could soon be a new wave of ecommerce sites that use innovative entertainment features to attract more customers. Shopping and entertainment could become intertwined, changing the face of both sectors.
Ecommerce business owners need to think about the future, where engagement and retention will be key. Using facets that have worked well for entertainment sites could be a surefire route to success.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
