The rise of ecommerce has forever changed the way that customers shop and businesses operate. eMarketer estimates an online sales jump of 8.8% in 2024. This growth is driven by a significant shift in consumer behavior, with more people opting for the convenience and variety of online shopping.
To keep up with digital-native brands like Amazon, companies are emphasizing their online platforms. Take IKEA, one of countless location-based retailers pivoting to an immersive online experience, or the beauty and fashion industry’s virtual try-on options.
Shifts like these reinforce the need for a similar transformation in advertising. Your ecommerce practices adapted to reflect changing consumer behavior. It’s time your marketing did too.
Marketing in the digital age
Customers shop differently online than in-store. Purchase decisions are less emotional. They make fewer impulse orders, browse more, and buy less than they would in-store. Maintaining and growing your online customer base in a fast-paced world requires strategic messaging and media that’ll keep consumers close to your website.
The issue is two-fold. First, although the ecommerce spike is considerable, what’s convincing your buyers to stick around? Consumers have moved online. Who’s to say they won’t also move to a competitor—now only a click away?
Connecting with customers
If brand salience wasn’t a priority before, it absolutely must be now. Second, there’s also an opportunity to reach new audiences who are still cementing their digital buying habits. To increase online demand long-term, more people need to see your brand regularly, especially as fewer consumers pass your product in shopping malls and department stores.
Many ecommerce brands rely on digital advertising to connect with consumers. And it’s true digital is essential for ensuring bottom-of-the-funnel sales thanks to its undeniable targeting precision. But it’s also only a first step towards achieving your brand’s full ecommerce potential. The truly impressive results happen when digital is paired with a quality TV campaign.
Digital falls short to TV when it comes to brand awareness and value. With natural credibility and the power to dramatically scale your share of voice, TV complements digital's targeted approach with broad reach and high visibility so your brand stays top-of-mind.
But TV isn’t just about brand building. It can also drive response. An Ebiquity study found that out of ten marketing channels, including social media and direct mail, TV came out on top for effectiveness and was better at increasing campaign ROI.
The benefits of combining TV and digital advertising
Better yet, TV is proven to improve digital performance. Think about it. What’s actually getting people to type your keywords into a search bar so they see your paid search ads in the first place?
TV meets customers where they are—seeking information or entertainment on their televisions, often with a phone in hand—and nudges them down that sales funnel. The results of that nudge are clear: digital performance improves for weeks after each TV airing. TV and digital are undoubtedly better together, often enhancing each other by more than 50%.
The challenge for brands today is making the most of their newfound potential. Too many get caught in the panic of adjusting to a digital world and neglect the future. Don’t be one of them.
Instead, capitalize on the ecommerce shift with a plan for sustained online success down the road. There’s a good chance TV can help get you there.
Learn more about TV for ecommerce brands.
Listen to Touch of Modern's Head of Marketing Todd Wehmann explain TV's impact on the business.
