5 Key E-commerce Ideas to Kick Off the New Year Right: E-commerce Link Digest

Welcome to 2015, Big Thinkers! I don’t know about you, but I’m really excited for what’s ahead.

Before things really get started next week, take this time to sit back, relax, and enjoy these 5 key e-commerce ideas to kick off the New Year right. On with the links:

1. eMarketer projects that 2014 retail sales worldwide will top $22 trillion and will reach almost $30 trillion in 2015. Considering that some 40%-50% of that of that is e-commerce influenced, that’s some impressive stuff, no?
2. To help understand exactly how much digital — and, in particular, mobile — contributes to retail sales, Google has launched a new “store visits” metric in AdWords. Very cool.
3. Speaking of AdWords (and search, generally), you’re going to want to read my review of the new edition of Search Engine Marketing, Inc. by Bill Hunt and Mike Moran, part of my semi-regular “Book Review of the Week-ish” series. Hunt and Moran offer amazing insights into search overall. If you rely on search for any part of your business, you should definitely check out the review — and the book.
4. Another post from eMarketer looks at mobile’s role in the omnichannel experience. I also rounded-up a number of ways to prove that mobile drives purchases. Both are well worth the read when you get a chance.
5. I hope you didn’t miss this collection of “14 Key Concepts for Next Year: The Top Posts of 2014” from last week. All were selected based on what you and your fellow Big Thinkers read and shared widely over the last year. And, if you prefer to listen, check out 2014’s top episodes from our marketing and e-commerce podcast, Thinks Out Loud, in this list of 15 Key Mobile and E-commerce Trends to Prep You for 2015. Better yet, take a moment to review both lists. You’ll be glad you did.

And if you want to learn even more about how customers changing behavior shapes e-commerce and marketing, be sure an register to receive a special report I’ve produced in conjunction with hotel marketing firm Vizergy, “Digital Hotel Marketing in a Multiscreen World.” While it’s targeted specifically at hotel and resort marketers, the lessons apply to just about any business. You can get your free copy of the report here.

You might also want to check out these “9 Shocking E-Commerce Directions for 2015” and these “5 Must-See Black Friday and Cyber Monday Trends” from our regular E-commerce Link Digest series.

While you’re at it, take a look at the slides and video from my recent webinar, “Digital Marketing Directions: Three Key Trends Driving Your Marketing Next Year”:

And, finally, you won’t want to miss our past coverage of the e-commerce, mobile commerce, and digital marketing overall, including:

• 10 Key Posts about Millennials and Mobile: E-commerce Link Digest
• The Secrets Behind “It’s All E-commerce” for 2014
• The Zen of Digital Marketing Strategy
• 7 Steps to E-Commerce Heaven
• Today and Tomorrow: Mobile and The Changing Customer Journey
• Mobile Makes E-commerce Even More “Frictionless”
• Your 2014 Internet Marketing New Year’s Resolutions – Thinks Out Loud Episode 56