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The United States of America’s e-commerce market is vast and ever-changing. It’s easy to feel intimidated or lost trying to navigate it. Don’t worry, we’ll be right next to you, holding your hand every step of the way.
Overview of the U.S.
Helpful Facts for E-Commerce in the United States of America
Market Potential
The great thing about the U.S. market is that it’s huge and open for anyone to join.
The difficult thing about the U.S. market is that it’s huge and open for anyone to join.
What we mean is that this particular market is full of competition fighting for customers’ attention.
We don’t say this to discourage you, we just want to make sure you’re aware of the time and effort it will take to establish yourself. Marketing and advertising are key! Once you do, you’ll be reaping the benefits.
The U.S. market is constantly growing. Look how much it’s changed from 2017 to now, and how much it will grow in the future.
Other Important Market Facts
Let’s talk about your competition. There are competitors you can compete with and competitors you can’t. For example, you can compete with other independent businesses, but it will probably be too difficult to compete with big-name brands.
That doesn’t mean you can’t learn from them. You can study how they handle marketing, how they price their products, and what sells the most.
The top e-commerce companies in the U.S. as of February 2020 are:
What You Should Do Before Jumping into the U.S. Market
There is some preparation you should do before joining the U.S. market. Luckily, you’re already taking your first step by reading this guide. Researching and learning about what your potential customers want is key to a successful business.
Learn about Your Customers
Who buys the most items online? Here is a breakdown, by age, of American digital buyers
It’s also important to know how they shop. The most popular ways of shopping are from smartphones and desktop computers. This means your store needs to be easy to navigate on both devices.
Customer Service
Americans expect to have quality customer service. They’re all about respect and will leave a store if they feel they’re being disrespected. To them, good customer service is a right, not a privilege.
94% of Americans use customer service as a way to decide whether to buy from a brand or not. 58% of customers will go to a competitor if they give them better service.
On the bright side, 91% of customers are likely to make another purchase after a positive customer service experience.
Luckily for you, GearLaunch offers amazing multi-channel customer service! Your customers will always be getting help quickly and with a smile.
Americans believe that part of good customer service is having free shipping, free returns, and free exchanges available. Most U.S. consumers understand they have to reach a certain threshold before getting free shipping.
Language
American English is different from UK English. The differences can seem subtle, but it’s important that you’re spelling things correctly. Not only would it be spelled wrong for your target audience, but it will be obvious that you didn’t pay attention to who they are.
Make sure to research spelling and terms when using text in your designs. Use Grammarly, a free app, and choose American English.
Figure Out Top Selling Products and Niches in the U.S.
You can’t gain Americans’ attention if you don’t know what they like to buy. It’s essential that you research what the most popular products and niches for e-commerce are.
The most popular e-commerce products in the U.S. are:
Popular Niches Include:
Important Things to Note When Setting Up a Store for the U.S.
We’ve already talked about customer service and the love free shipping gets, but now we need to get to the core of e-commerce: the exchange of goods and services for money.
Americans typically use cards, mobile wallets like PayPal, or buy now, pay later programs. Cards are used the most often, around 47% of online purchases are paid by debit/credit cards. Make sure to display which cards you take prominently so your customers don’t have to go look for them.
If you live in another country, make sure you see how your prices translate to the American dollar ($).
Important Information for Running Ads in the U.S.
Social media will be the best way for you to reach potential U.S. customers. There are around 233 million social media users in the U.S.
Depending on your targeted audience’s age, some social media platforms are better than others.
The best time to post on social media depends on which platform you use. Though, it’s been said that overall the best time is 10 AM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
But we can do better than general times.
Don’t be afraid if these times don’t work for you. They’re the result of studies of various audiences.
It’s best to start with these times and then look at your followers’ activity to see if you need to make changes. See what your most engaging posts are and when you posted them. Make a list of the times and types of posts so you can make similar posts in the future.
Also, keep in mind your audience’s time zone and if it’s different from yours. The U.S. is made up of six different time zones:
Ad Guidelines
Americans don’t need a lot of extras when it comes to ads. They want to know what the product is, how it will benefit them, and how much it costs.
Product Description:
Our indoor pet bed is perfect for furry friends to snuggle into thanks to its soft fleece covering. The best part for you, as the pet parent, is that the covering is machine washable, so easy cleaning after a mess.
CTAs for Major Holidays
American Independence Day
Celebrate Independence Day with our special patriotic collection!
Halloween
Trick-or-treat! We have a delicious discount on all our Halloween merchandise.
Black Friday
It’s finally here! The best deals of the season are happening NOW!
Cyber Monday
Get ready to shop, we’re offering some special Cyber Monday only discounts on everything!
Christmas
Only (#) days until Christmas! Have you gotten everything on your list yet?
Staying Current with the U.S. Market and Trends
The best way to stay up to date with U.S. trends is to listen to your customers, look at social media and see what’s trending in the U.S., and reading The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
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